how to upgrade macOS on my imac?

❗️ Do NOT upgrade…

until you have made a Time Machine or other backup of your startup drive.

Learn How to Back up your Mac with Time Machine

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 of your screen and choose About This Mac.

Check the Compatibility of your Mac with newer versions of macOS:

➡️ macOS 10.13 High Sierra is compatible with the Macs listed here

➡️ macOS 10.14 Mojave is compatible with the Macs listed here

➡️ macOS 10.15 Catalina is compatible with the Macs listed here

➡️ macOS 11 Big Sur is compatible with the Macs listed here

➡️ macOS 12 Monterey is compatible with the Macs listed here

➡️ macOS 13 Ventura is compatible with the Macs listed here

❗️ – IMPORTANT – None of your 32-bit apps will work in macOS Catalina or newer. This includes MS Office apps and any other older software apps and drivers. These will require that you find 64-bit updates and/or replacement titles.

32-bit app compatibility with macOS High Sierra 10.13.4 and later - Apple Support

Use the free utility Go64 to check the 64-bit compatibility of your apps:

https://www.stclairsoft.com/Go64/

✅ - IF your Mac is compatible, then download the macOS upgrade installer app:

Click > High Sierra,  Mojave,  Catalina,  Big Sur,  Monterey  or  Ventura.

Once downloaded, double-click the “Install macOS…” app in the Applications folder to begin the upgrade.

Please see > How to download macOS.

Please help us help you.

iMacs have been in continuous production since 1998(!) in five broad families. So, yes, your sub-model AND you current macOS version are both critical for us to know to effectively help you determine your exact upgrade path, if any.

If your computer is running macOS 10.7 "Lion" or higher, that information is quickly available by doing "About this Mac..." from your Apple menu. Example:

Depends on what year iMac you have.

Christine1017,

Can you provide the specific iMac you have? If you look at Allan Jones' reply, please provide the entire line of the Model he's pointed to in his graphic.

I purchased my Mac in 2019. The OS is Catalina 10.15.7