How do I upgrade an old iMac mid 2010?

Question

How do I upgrade an old iMac mid 2010?

I have an older iMac mid 2010. I can't update to High Sierra (the latest OS that is supported on that model) because I can't sign in to my Apple ID, and I can't sign in to my Apple ID because my iMac is too out of date.

I know I have the correct password because it works on every other device.

Every time I put in my correct password, it tells me it's incorrect.

If I try and make a new Apple ID on my old computer, it tells me there's a server error.

I've done all of this in SafeMode.

I've restarted my computer countless times.

What do I do?

iMac 27″, OS X 10.10

Posted on Nov 2, 2023 11:04 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Apple_is_the_goat

Level 1

22 points

Nov 2, 2023 1:21 PM in response to IWantHighSierra

If you have a usb flash drive with at least 14 gb of total capacity you can try to make a bootable high sierra flash drive.

NOTE : EVERYTHING ON THAT DRIVE WILL BE WIPED CLEAN.

Instructions on how to do this: Create a bootable installer for macOS - Apple Support

Please let me know if you have any other questions and if this successfully solved your issue

Good luck, Sincerely Apple Community support

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Answer 2

John Galt

Level 10

146,330 points

Nov 2, 2023 2:26 PM in response to IWantHighSierra

You need to install El Capitan as an interim step prior to upgrading that Mac to High Sierra. Refer to How to download and install macOS - Apple Support, and scroll down to El Capitan 10.11.

After it installs, return to that same Apple Support document and install High Sierra.

Back up your Mac as a matter of course. To learn how to use Time Machine please read Back up your files with Time Machine on Mac - Apple Support.

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