Upgrading macOS High Sierra to macOS Monterrey?

Question

Level 1

4 points

Upgrading macOS High Sierra to macOS Monterrey?

Hello All,

Quick question. I know I screwed this up, but now I'm not exactly sure how to fix it.

I was trying to upgrade my macOS from High Sierra (10.13.6) to the next available operation system, but I got cocky and tried to go right from High Sierra to Monterrey (I know, I know....I didn't read the fine print about system requirements first). Now, my desktop iMac Retina 4k, 21. 5-inch, 2017 machine gets to the startup screen showing the white apple against the black screen, begins to load for a few seconds, and then starts all over again. It's as if that particular start-up sequence is on a continuous loop.

I need to figure out how to start up my machine and go back to my original High Sierra macOS before I messed this up.

Any ideas?

Thanks,

Mark H.

iMac 21.5″, macOS 10.13

Posted on Aug 29, 2022 2:59 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Best reply

BDAqua

Level 10

240,923 points

Aug 29, 2022 3:35 PM in response to Bagga-D

1. Start up from macOS Recovery

To start up from macOS Recovery, turn on your Mac and immediately press and hold one of the following combinations on your keyboard. Command-R is generally recommended, especially if you never installed macOS Sierra 10.12.4 or later… How to reinstall macOS - Apple Support

Command (⌘)-R

Install the latest macOS that was installed on your Mac.

Option-⌘-R

Upgrade to the latest macOS compatible with your Mac.

Shift-Option-⌘-R

Install the macOS that came with your Mac, or the closest version still available.

2. Decide whether to erase (format) your disk

If you need to erase your disk before installing macOS, select Disk Utility from the Utilities window, then click Continue. You probably don't need to erase, unless you're selling or giving away your Mac or have an issue that requires you to erase. Learn more about when and how to erase.

3. Install macOS

After starting up from macOS Recovery, follow these steps to install macOS:

Choose Reinstall macOS (or Reinstall OS X) from the Utilities window.
Click Continue, then follow the onscreen instructions to choose your disk and begin installation.
If the installer asks to unlock your disk, enter the password you use to log in to your Mac. If it doesn't see your disk, or it says that it can't install on your computer or volume, you might need to erase your disk.

Please allow installation to complete without putting your Mac to sleep or closing its lid. During installation, your Mac might restart and show a progress bar several times, and the screen might be empty for minutes at a time.

If your Mac restarts to a setup assistant, but you're selling or giving it away, press Command-Q to quit the assistant without completing setup. Then click Shut Down. When the new owner starts up the Mac, they can use their own information to complete setup.

If you never installed macOS Sierra 10.12.4

If macOS Sierra 10.12.4 or later was never installed on your Mac, macOS Recovery works differently:

Command-R is still the recommended way to start up from macOS Recovery. This combination makes sure that the installation isn't associated with your Apple ID, which is important if you're selling or giving away your Mac.
Option-Command-R installs the macOS that came with your Mac, or the closest version still available.
Shift-Option-Command-R isn't available.

How to reinstall macOS - Apple Support

Reply

Answer 2

Bagga-D Author

Level 1

4 points

Aug 29, 2022 5:00 PM in response to BDAqua

Hi BDAqua,

Thank you for replying so quickly!

So, your instructions are fantastic and I was able to get almost all the way through them until I hit another snag.

I was able to start with the Command-R reset and get to the macOS Utilities screen. From there, I was able to select "reinstall macOS" from the menu (although it takes about 2 minutes for my wireless mouse to register any activity on that screen). It then brings me through the process of installing my OS to High Sierra (which is what I want), but just when I think the install was successful, it resets to the initial black screen with the white apple and the progress bar, and goes back to the macOS install utility page all over again as if I'm starting the Command-R reset for the first time!!

Would the Option-Command-R method for installing the OS that originally came with my iMac be a possibility?

Reply

Answer 3

BDAqua

Level 10

240,923 points

Aug 29, 2022 5:50 PM in response to Bagga-D

That is worth a try.

Reply

Upgrading macOS High Sierra to macOS Monterrey?

Similar questions