iMac not updating OS or productivity software

When you get the new machine then you recycle the old machine using one of Apple's free recycling programs (Apple Recycling Programs ) after you have done the following:

·       Always connect your old Mac's Time Machine External Hard Disk prior to startup, this will allow a migration from your TM backup and it will be dead simple! When you start the new Mac for the first time it will startup Setup Assistant (SA), SA will get to a point where it asks if you are migrating from another computer, select Yes and follow the on-screen prompts and it's done! It is that simple! This is the easiest, quickest and most reliable method to migrate from the old Mac to the new Mac is to simply connect the old Mac's Time Machine External Hard Disk to the new Mac using a USB cable before you turn on the new Mac. 

·       NOTE 1: You will likely need a USB A to USB C adapter, you can find them on Amazon for $10 or less.

·       NOTE 2: If you have already done SA on the new computer then simply connect the Time Machine External Hard Disk using a USB cable and launch Migration Assistant (MA) which is located in Applications - Utilities - MA. Then follow the on-screen prompts.

·       The ONLY difference between MA and SA is MA will create a new user account that you need to log into.

Both SA and MA migrate applications (not 32 bit apps), data files & settings. They do not migrate Mac OS itself. Some professional apps such as Adobe and Microsoft apps may require re-installing their apps as they will not allow them to be migrated. As long as you kept the security keys for installing their apps, it is not an issue. 

Finally, never EVER use Wi-Fi when doing Setup Assistant or Migration Assistant. Why, it simply fails in most cases. Please read and follow the directions in Setup Assistant and Migration Assistant. If you do not have a Time Machine backup of the older Mac then create one! If you are not aware of Time Machine, please read Back up your Mac with Time Machine and finally if you need an External Hard Disk to use as a Time Machine External Hard Disk then many experience users on these forums prefer the OWC Mercury Elite Pro due to it's reasonable price, high level of quality and ease of use. 

Apple just introduced the M4 Mac Mini this week. The base model will run rings around your 2011 iMac.

You can get a Mini with 16GB of RAM, 1 TB of storage, 4 ports for $1000 and a 27 to 32" LG monitor w/speakers (~$329 or less) for several hundred dollars less than a comparably configured M4 24" iMac ($1900).

Technology has come a long way since 2011.

Nope. it won't run Windows 11 either. doesn't meet Microsoft's minimum hardware requirements.

It's over 13 years old now. It had a good life. It's time to let it go.

You might be able to get a Linux build running on it, but I wouldn't bother.

Sorry, but you can't use it as a monitor for any modern Mac.

If your big concern is running business and productivity apps, you really need to do some research into what you're going to have to replace. My guess is nearly all of your productivity software is going to have to be replaced. The photos and music are no problem.

FaceDeAce wrote:

This is a 27" mid 2011 iMac. Upgraded awhile ago 32 Gb memory, 512 GB SSD system, and 3TB storage drive. macOS High Sierra 10.13.6

What are my options?

For that Mac, High Sierra is the end of the line.

You could install the Firefox 115 ESR Web browser. It no longer gets new features – and Mozilla had been planning to stop providing security updates for it, last month. But now, Mozilla says that they "will provide security updates for Firefox 115 ESR until at least March 2025, when the position will be re-evaluated."

Current versions of LibreOffice require Catalina or better. You may be able to find an unsupported version, in the archives, that will run on High Sierra. The archives are NOT organized well for finding "the latest version that will run on a particular version of macOS." I think 7.4.7 once ran on High Sierra but now requires Mojave, so maybe if you go back slightly before that, you would find a compatible version.

Affinity (Photo, Designer, Publisher) used to run on High Sierra – but when Serif came out with V2 versions (which require Catalina or better), they removed the older versions that were compatible with High Sierra from the market. GraphicConverter 12 runs on High Sierra (although I don't know if it supports layers) – as does the free GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP). Google once offered Picasa for the Mac, but they discontinued it long ago. (Pretty much, if you're going to do photo work on High Sierra, you should either already have everything you need, or get what is left while you still can.)

FaceDeAce wrote:

What are my options?

You have none. The only option would be to replace your obsolete iMac.

Your 2011 will not work as an external display. If you want a MM (wise choice!) then you also need a new external display.

Congratulations on your decision. To migrate please look above for my directions to a seamless migration, it works EVERY time!