Upgrade path for Big Sur from High Sierra
can I update to big sir from high sirera 10.13.6 or should I go to older iOS like Catalina or Mojave
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Do NOT upgrade your system until after you have made a Time Machine or other backup of your startup drive.
To be clear, software update generally means to install software to update the macOS currently running on the Mac; update Catalina 10.15.1 to Catalina 10.15.7, for example.
A software upgrade is usually a generational step up to a newer macOS; upgrade from 10.13 High Sierra to 10.14 Mojave, for example, or from 10.15 Catalina to macOS 11 Big Sur.
How to Upgrade macOS:
The macOS version you can upgrade to depends on the year your Mac was released.
Click the (Apple) menu at the top left of your screen and choose About This Mac.
❗️ – IMPORTANT – Backup your data, now, before you attempt an upgrade.
Learn How to Back up your Mac with Time Machine:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201250
❗️ – IMPORTANT – NONE of your 32-bit apps will work in Catalina or Big Sur.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208436
Use this free utility to check the compatibility of your apps:
St. Claire Software – Go64: https://www.stclairsoft.com/Go64/
🖥 – Check compatibility of your Mac hardware with newer versions of macOS.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201475
✅ - Using Safari only, download the macOS upgrade installer app:
Click > Mojave, Catalina or Big Sur.
Once downloaded, double-click the installer app in the Applications folder to begin the upgrade.