mac pro mid 2010 upgrade mac os

Good advice provide by Johnb-one above.

If you are actually running 10.10 Yosemite, You MUST apply all available software updates before you proceed, so that Safari 9 is installed in the process. Older versions of Safari do not contain modern encryption (including updated Root certificates) and everything else will be MUCH more complex until you get to Safari 9.

Then you can freely install any later later version up to and including MacOS 10.13 High Sierra without issue.

When it comes to jumping to 10.14 Mojave, there are additional requirements, INCLUDING that you be running 10.13.6 High Sierra when you make the jump. There is a firmware update that must be installed for this to work, and it requires a Metal-capable graphics card as well.

Install macOS 10.14 Mojave on Mac Pro (Mid 2010) and Mac Pro (Mid 2012) - Apple Support

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Hi there, Dawnmacpro2023, sure you can do that… see this link to download MacOS 10.14 ( Mojave)

—>How to download and install macOS - Apple Support (CA) <——

the links in that link take you to the App Store where the Mojave installer is, use Safari for downloading preferably, other browsers may work too, you just have to click on the sub-link in it, and point it to the App Store… before installing Mojave, make sure you have a Metal capable video/graphics card installed in your Mac Pro, ( go to “About this Mac” to see what you have, and set your system clock to 1998 or so before trying to install… you may also wish to do a reset smc/pmu and zap pram 4 times on startup, using a usb wired keyboard, before trying to install, and you should replace the cmos/pram battery which is behind the video/graphics card on the backplane, as they die after 5 years, it’s easy to

do, goes in plus ( + ) side up, it’s a BR-2032 but CR-2032 will do fine… here’s a link for the reset smc/pmu : https://www.macworld.com/article/224955/how-to-reset-a-macs-nvram-pram-and-smc.html

and a link to which video/graphics cards are supported in Mojave: Graphics card compatibility for Final Cut Pro, Motion, and Compressor - Apple Support (CA)

that’s it from me

John B

<< you have to start off doing the firmware update as part of the installation process, then it checks for a Metal-capable video/graphics card, and presuming it’s found one, it goes ahead and installs Mojave >>

The truth is far more diabolical than that.

Check for metal compatible graphics card is FIRST.

No metal, no firmware upgrade.

There are some hobbyist hacks that can bypass the firmware upgrade and force-install 10.14 Mojave, but without the more advanced firmware, you miss out on some advanced feature support. And without a real Metal graphics card, the interface can seem slow.

Thanks, Grant Bennet-Alder for reminding me ( and us) that you should apply all software updates beforehand, AND a firmware update… actually, if memory serves me, you have to start off doing the firmware update as part of the installation process, then it checks for a Metal-capable video/graphics card, and presuming it’s found one, it goes ahead and installs Mojave

John B