why doesn't my mac offer software updates?

Which Mac do you have? If you go into About This Mac in the Apple () menu, there should be a line indicating the model name and the hardware year / time of year. That will determine how far you can upgrade.

By default, the App Store likes to hide new versions of macOS, so if your Mac is eligible for something that is higher than High Sierra, and lower than Sonoma, you'l need to get it through the link that Niel mentioned ("click here" a.ka. How to download and install macOS - Apple Support).

In Catalina and later, iTunes goes away, replaced by separate apps: What happened to iTunes? - Apple Support

Back up your data, check the application compatibility table, click here, and if your Mac is a 2012 or newer model, or a 2010 desktop Mac Pro upgraded with a Metal-capable graphics card, then on the download link for a higher OS.

Catalina and above won't run 32-bit software; if you choose one of them, use Go64 as well.

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You're confusing updates with upgrades. 10.13.6 is the latest and last update for macOS High Sierra. Other newer macOS versions would be considered as upgrades and are generally available by using the AppStore app as opposed to the System Preferences' Software Update.

If you are stuck on an old version of macOS, you will also be stuck with an old version of Safari.

In that case, you might want to consider installing another Web browser, to make it easier to access sites that do not display correctly in old versions of Safari, or that consider old versions of Safari too insecure.

Firefox 115 ESR is no longer getting new features, but it will run on High Sierra and Mojave. According to Mozilla, they will be providing "critical security updates" for it until September 2024.

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/firefox-users-macos-1012-1013-1014-moving-to-extended-support

If you can update your Mac to Catalina or later, you can run the current version of Firefox.

https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/

Pvazz824 Said:

"why doesn't my mac offer software updates?: Looks like I have an old version of OS (macOS High Sierra version 10.13.6) and I can't find how to update it. Is my mac too old?"

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Obsolete High Sierra & Updates Discontinuance:

Apple (along with Microsoft) typically allows for 7 years until updates are discontinued. If there were another issue like COVID to occur, then a Federal Health Administration of a country may require updates to be created, though obsolete.