Apple Intelligence is now available on iPhone, iPad, and Mac!

You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Upgrading to newer OS

I want to move to a better Apple OS (I am on High Sierra 10.13.6 on a 2017 Mac Book Air) because it seems there are features and software High Sierra does not support

Windows, Windows 6

Posted on Mar 7, 2021 11:45 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Mar 7, 2021 11:48 AM

Your 2017 mac can upgrade to either macOS Mojave 10.14, macOS Catalina 10.15 and the latest macOS Big Sur 11.0


For Mojave or Catalina,


Open Safari and click on this link, 

How to get old versions of macOS – Apple Support

Go to the Download OS section and click on the OS you want to install.


Before upgrading make a full back up of your Mac.


Check that third party apps you use have updates available for the new OS.

https://roaringapps.com

Check that your printers/ scanners etc have updated drivers and software available for the new OS.


Connect your mac to your router via cable rather than rely on WiFi.

Do not use your mac while it is downloading

and do not use any other devices that share the same internet connection.


If the App Store says ‘Open’ then it is detecting a previous download of the install app

go to the Applications folder locate Install macOS ******.app.

Move it to the Trash, empty the Trash.

Restart, click on the link again, the App Store should say ‘Get' or 'Download'.


If you want to or are able to install Big Sur, open Safari and click on the link below.

How to upgrade to macOS Big Sur - Apple Support


If you are considering upgrading to Catalina or Big Sur be warned they do not support 32bit apps.

Your Mac is probably running 32bit apps and these will need to be updated to 64bit apps,

some updates may be free, some may be paid. Use this app to discover which apps you have

are 32bit, https://www.stclairsoft.com/Go64/ then contact the developers of the software to see

if they are offering 64bit updates.

1 reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Mar 7, 2021 11:48 AM in response to GaryABidwell

Your 2017 mac can upgrade to either macOS Mojave 10.14, macOS Catalina 10.15 and the latest macOS Big Sur 11.0


For Mojave or Catalina,


Open Safari and click on this link, 

How to get old versions of macOS – Apple Support

Go to the Download OS section and click on the OS you want to install.


Before upgrading make a full back up of your Mac.


Check that third party apps you use have updates available for the new OS.

https://roaringapps.com

Check that your printers/ scanners etc have updated drivers and software available for the new OS.


Connect your mac to your router via cable rather than rely on WiFi.

Do not use your mac while it is downloading

and do not use any other devices that share the same internet connection.


If the App Store says ‘Open’ then it is detecting a previous download of the install app

go to the Applications folder locate Install macOS ******.app.

Move it to the Trash, empty the Trash.

Restart, click on the link again, the App Store should say ‘Get' or 'Download'.


If you want to or are able to install Big Sur, open Safari and click on the link below.

How to upgrade to macOS Big Sur - Apple Support


If you are considering upgrading to Catalina or Big Sur be warned they do not support 32bit apps.

Your Mac is probably running 32bit apps and these will need to be updated to 64bit apps,

some updates may be free, some may be paid. Use this app to discover which apps you have

are 32bit, https://www.stclairsoft.com/Go64/ then contact the developers of the software to see

if they are offering 64bit updates.

Upgrading to newer OS

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.