how do I update my software?

The following has information from Adobe about Photoshop system requirements: https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/system-requirements.html

Regarding upgrading a MacBook Pro, see the following:

The model year of a MacBook Pro is available at Apple menu > About This Mac.

A mid-2010 through late-2011 MacBook Pro can be upgraded to High Sierra 10.13.6 but no later version.

A mid-2012 through early-2013 MacBook Pro can be upgraded to Catalina 10.15.7. See: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211683

A late-2013 or later can be upgraded to the current version of Big Sur. See: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201475

The App Store Updates page only informs you of updates available for the OS you are running.

Installing a newer OS is called an upgrade.

Which OS you can upgrade to will be governed by which model and year your mac is.

Click on the  top left of your screen click on About This Mac to find out the year of your mac.

If you find your mac can upgrade to the newer OS's like macOS Mojave 10.14, macOS Catalina 10.15, 

macOs Big Sur 11.5 I would recommend you upgrade to macOS High Sierra 10.13 first.

For High Sierra, Mojave or Catalina,

Open Safari and click on this link, 

How to get old versions of macOS – Apple Support

Go to Check Compatibility to see if your mac qualifies for the OS upgrade you want.

Then 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.

Adobe decided that their creative cloud programs (Photoshop cc2020, InDesign cc2020, illustrator cc2020, Lightroom cc2020 as well as nearly all of their other creative cloud cc2020 products) will due to technology that is constantly advancing and their software's hardware requirements (that's shifting over time as we enter the future) keeps on increasing, no longer as a result thereof have any later version of their Adobe Creative Cloud (CC2020) work on any older Older Version prior to the final update for Mac OS Sierra High's last update which is Mac OS 10.13.6. Apple unfortunately has no direct control over the decisions which companies like Adobe makes. I hope this helps anyone else who might still not understand or who is facing the same issue.

[Link Edited by Moderator]