Compatible upgrade does not show as available

Question

Level 1

4 points

Compatible upgrade does not show as available

I am trying to upgrade to the latest version of Big Sur or Monterey. All documentation shows that my current hardware and software version matches the hardware and software requirements for both Big Sur and Monterey, as well as the newly updated Mactracker. I have deliberately omitted my current details.

Other than the documented hardware and software, is there anything else that could be causing the upgrade not to show up?

Ignore the AirPod Mac ... I am on a MacBook Pro

AirPods Max

Posted on Jul 13, 2023 9:12 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

dialabrain

Level 10

126,755 points

Jul 13, 2023 9:15 AM in response to generic1015

You can get either here: How to download and install macOS - Apple Support

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Answer 2

Jul 13, 2023 12:09 PM in response to ku4hx

ku4hx wrote:

"app store is not showing availability"

What is showing? What error messages are you getting? Accessing the App Store is a basic feature of the OS. If something is amiss with your OS and you can't get to the App Store , you may be facing additional problems other than upgrade anomalies.

The Mac App Store hides all versions of macOS, except for the latest one, by default.

If you have a system that, say,

is running Sierra
can upgrade as far as Big Sur

then the only thing the Mac App Store will show you, today, is Ventura. Which it won't even let you download (e.g., to install on another, newer, Mac).

The Apple Support article to which dialabrain linked contains several links that cause the Mac App Store to offer old versions of macOS that otherwise would remain hidden. Big Sur and Monterey both fall into this category.

It does not sound like generic1015 has any special App Store problems with his OS.

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Answer 3

generic1015 Author

Level 1

4 points

Jul 13, 2023 9:34 AM in response to dialabrain

Thank you - I had visited that link earlier, but no help because app store is not showing availability - plus I prefer the stability of the upgrade link. I have upgraded this laptop before and did have the upgrade option showing up.

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Answer 4

generic1015 Author

Level 1

4 points

Jul 13, 2023 9:43 AM in response to dialabrain

ps, I will go through each requirement again to see if something is missing - but it is difficult to second guess exactly what the update app is checking under the covers. ... not sophisticated enough to try terminal commands.

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Answer 5

ku4hx

Level 7

23,610 points

Jul 13, 2023 10:08 AM in response to generic1015

"app store is not showing availability"

What is showing? What error messages are you getting? Accessing the App Store is a basic feature of the OS. If something is amiss with your OS and you can't get to the App Store , you may be facing additional problems other than upgrade anomalies.

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Answer 6

generic1015 Author

Level 1

4 points

Jul 13, 2023 11:13 AM in response to ku4hx

I do get to the App Store but when I search for Big Sur or Monterrey, I do not get hits on the os download, just on some of the apps for the upgrade.

the software update button is happy now because I applied the Mac tracker update, does not show any upgrades. Shows no compatible updates.

as I mentioned, I previously used software update to upgrade this same laptop.

i will go back through the doc to determine whether any other req is causing software update to omit. Doc states that for my hardware and software levels, I should be able to update via software update

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Answer 7

generic1015 Author

Level 1

4 points

Jul 14, 2023 11:24 AM in response to generic1015

Reporting that after returning to dialbrain links I was able to access the correct MacOs, all available releases are listed. Perhaps in haste I did not get town to the release list ?

I am torn between Monterey 12 and Big Sur 11. Will post on a new entry.

Thank you.

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