Old Imac updating OS Catalina beyond OS 10.15.7 ?

So on this old iMac which l trying to repurpose , l cant upgrade beyond 10.15.7 even with heaps of storage

iMac 27″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Jul 18, 2023 7:33 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jul 19, 2023 4:16 AM

Storage is not really the issue IMHO


The Age of this computer will Govern what newer version of macOS it will Qualify to install. 


Use About this Mac from the Apple Icon on Desktop - the required Information will be there.


With the above information in-hand - follow this How to get old versions of macOS and verify what version this computer Qualifies to install.  For Best results use Safari to commence the download as Others may not work.


Safari will open a redirect and open the Apple Store where the download can commence.


Does this computer appear as Listed and qualifying for an upGrade to a newer version of macOS ? 


If Yes, suggest having at least 50 GB of Empty Space on the drive.


It will allow the Full Version ( about 12.xx GB ) to download, expand and then commence to install.


If there is Third Party Security Software installed - remove it.


It will interfere with both the download and installation process.


The below links will help identify which version of macOS  this computer may Qualify to run.


Computer Qualifying for macOS 13 Ventura 


Computer Qualify for the Monterey upgrade


macOS Big Sur 11 hardware requirements

2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jul 19, 2023 4:16 AM in response to Grogstar

Storage is not really the issue IMHO


The Age of this computer will Govern what newer version of macOS it will Qualify to install. 


Use About this Mac from the Apple Icon on Desktop - the required Information will be there.


With the above information in-hand - follow this How to get old versions of macOS and verify what version this computer Qualifies to install.  For Best results use Safari to commence the download as Others may not work.


Safari will open a redirect and open the Apple Store where the download can commence.


Does this computer appear as Listed and qualifying for an upGrade to a newer version of macOS ? 


If Yes, suggest having at least 50 GB of Empty Space on the drive.


It will allow the Full Version ( about 12.xx GB ) to download, expand and then commence to install.


If there is Third Party Security Software installed - remove it.


It will interfere with both the download and installation process.


The below links will help identify which version of macOS  this computer may Qualify to run.


Computer Qualifying for macOS 13 Ventura 


Computer Qualify for the Monterey upgrade


macOS Big Sur 11 hardware requirements

Jul 18, 2023 7:42 PM in response to Grogstar

About all you can do to keep using it...


Mostly you just need a more modern Browser than Safari, like Firefox or Brave.

https://brave.com/

https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/83.0/system-requirements/

Firefox 83.0 System Requirements (mozilla.org)


Opera…Thanks

https://www.opera.com/download/requirements

Opera system requirements | Opera


Thanks to A Brody, Browsers by Mac operating system

Browsers by Mac operating system - Apple Community


Look into the Free LibreOffice, it handles MS Office files like Word & Excel, & Page Layout…


https://www.libreoffice.org/


Thanks to Matti Haveri


MS Office for Mac Mini - Apple Community


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Old Imac updating OS Catalina beyond OS 10.15.7 ?

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