how to update or upgrade my Mac OS 10.12.6 Sierra

Your 2012 MBP can be upgraded to 10.15 Catalina but nothing newer.

❗️Do NOT upgrade

…until you have made a Time Machine or other backup of your startup drive.

Learn How to Back up your Mac with Time Machine

The macOS version you can upgrade to depends on the year your Mac was released.

Click the Apple menu () at the top of your screen and choose About This Mac.

✅ Check the compatibility of your Mac hardware with newer versions of macOS software:

➡️ macOS 10.13 High Sierra is compatible with the Macs listed here (c.2009)

➡️ macOS 10.14 Mojave is compatible with the Macs listed here (c.2012)

➡️ macOS 10.15 Catalina is compatible with the Macs listed here (c.2012)

If your Mac is compatible with the OS upgrade, then this:

Update macOS on Mac - Apple Support 

Alternative Method–

➡️ Download the macOS upgrade installer app:

Click > macOS 10.13 High Sierra,  macOS 10.14 Mojave,  macOS 10.15 Catalina.

Once downloaded, double-click the “Install macOS…” app now found in the Applications folder to begin the upgrade.

Please see > How to download macOS - Apple Support.

❗️– IMPORTANT – 

None of your old 32-bit apps will work in macOS Catalina or newer, including MS Office, Adobe Photoshop and many other older apps and drivers. This will require that you find 64-bit updates and/or replacement titles.

32-bit app compatibility with macOS High Sierra 10.13.4 and later - Apple Support

Use the free utility Go64 to check the 64-bit compatibility of your currently installed apps:

https://www.stclairsoft.com/Go64/

Back up your data, check the application compatibility table, click here, and then on the download link for a higher OS. That model's maximum one is Catalina.

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

(250117)