how can I update my Mac without it messing up?
How can I update my Mac without it messing up
MacBook Air 13″, macOS 10.15
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Hi,
That's what backups are for. Make a Time Machine backup (Back up your Mac with Time Machine - Apple Support) and a clone (Carbon Copy Cloner or Super Duper!) on an external drive and then if the upgrade doesn't go smoothly, you can install your current OS again (Catalina?) and restore from TM, or simply clone the CCC or SD clone back to the internal drive.
To upgrade your OS, use Software Update in System Preferences or go to the Apple Menu > About This Mac to see exactly which Mac you have, then find out if it is compatible with a newer OS here: How to get old versions of macOS - Apple Support or here: How to upgrade to macOS Monterey - Apple Support
Before upgrading, backup, check apps and peripherals for compatibility with whichever OS you decide to upgrade to.
Catalina, Big Sur and Monterey will not run 32 bit apps, so download Go64 and scan your Mac to see which of your apps are 32 bit and will need to be upgraded/replaced: https://www.stclairsoft.com/Go64/
Some apps may be 64 bit but still not run on a particular OS; you can check them out here: https://roaringapps.com/apps