Older MacOS

I just successfully installed High Sierra on a 2010 and a 2011 MacBook Pro. I downloaded the High Sierra installer to the 2010, then followed steps from How to download and install macOS - Apple Support to make a bootable installer on an external SSD. I posted my comments on 1/2/2024 to a similar question about upgrading older computers.

Start up from macOS Recovery

Option-⌘-R

Upgrade to the latest macOS compatible with your Mac.

In Disk Utility>View, select Show all Devices, highlight the top left entry.

APFS won't work for Sierra or earlier, Sierra or earlier needs MacOS Extended Journaled. High Sierra won't work for APFS on earlier Macs.

What has often worked for others is to use this Restore Method instead of CMD+r keys...

Option-⌘-R

Upgrade to the latest macOS compatible with your Mac.

Deleted MacIntosh HD and MacIntosh HD - D… - Apple Community

could not create a reboot volume for apfs… - Apple Community

Remote Recovery Fails to install Sierra -… - Apple Community

Messed up Factory Reset on MacBook Pro Mi… - Apple Community

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/254793247?answerId=258936149022#258936149022

Clean Install of High Sierra: Multiple Fa… - Apple Community

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/255040953?answerId=259391356022#259391356022

Open the installer from the Applications folder.

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Open the installer from the Applications folder after running the DMG download; opening it just puts the installer there.

BDAqua: People on a computer with a version prior to 10.12.4 can't upgrade through that method.

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Thanks. :)