Can my MacBook Pro(Mid 2012) be upgraded from macOS Sierra?

macBook Pro 13” Mid 2012 can be upgraded to macOS 10.15.

macOS 10.15 is still a ways back from current, but not as far back as macOS 10.12.

macOS 10.15 drops support for older 32-bit apps, as part of the 64-bit migration that started back around OS X 10.5.

You will want to review which 32-bit apps are installed, and still in use. There are various ways to do that check, including Go64.

I’m running the newer version of Scrivener with no issues, Scrivener 3. I don’t know off-hand how far forward Scrivener 2 will work. Per the vendor, Scrivener 2 is not supported past macOS 10.13. Which usually means purchasing an app upgrade.

Here is how to get macOS 10.15: How to download and install macOS - Apple Support

Have a complete and current backup before you upgrade.

pirhan wrote:

I just use this laptop for light web browsing, watching DVDs, Scrivener and Lightroom. I'm very worried doing some upgrade will remove features that I use and like.

If you upgrade to Catalina, 32-bit applications will stop working. That will include the installation and activation code for any one-time-purchase version of Photoshop or Lightroom.

Both Microsoft and Adobe have a policy of supporting only the last three major versions of macOS, which means that they abandoned Catalina long ago.

On the other hand, Catalina is enough to run

• The current version of the Firefox web browser
• Current versions of the LibreOffice office suite
• The commercial Affinity V2 applications (Photo, Designer, Publisher)

If you stick with Sierra, High Sierra, or Mojave, you could install Firefox 115 ESR.

Mozilla Support - Firefox users on macOS 10.12, 10.13 and 10.14 moving to Extended Support Release

Mozilla was originally planning to stop providing even "critical security updates" for it by September or October of last year, but they extended the deadline, and now Firefox 115 ESR might get those until March 2025.

You have been given quite a bit of great guidance by user @MrHoffman, and all of it spot on. 👍🏽

I'm going to add one wrinkle and an option to their guidance.

You said ❝...I am starting to have issues with certain things and for my sanity I think I might need to upgrade. I really like Sierra and I'm one of those people that don't like change. ... In a perfect world I would like everything to be exactly the same but now have certain software, like my web browser and Quicktime be able to be upgraded as well...❞

The wrinkle: You should consider that the hardware is now nearly thirteen (!) years old, classified as obsolete and in all likelihood is not long for this world. When the computer fails, you will be hard pressed to repair or replace the hardware with anything that can be warranted against further failure.

Even when you've upgraded to Mojave or Catalina, you will continue to have issues with certain things. Your Safari web browser will still be unsupported and unable to access newer secure sites like your bank and other financial businesses. Even the Firefox browser is a short timer regarding continued support from Mozilla. Upgrading the OS on this laptop is only postponing the inevitable hardware upgrade that is very likely to come in the foreseeable future.

The option: I've learned over the years that the more macOS changes, the more it stays the same. You're ready to learn the ins and outs of a new OS, why not bite the bullet and do that on a new computer? Change is inevitable and sometimes painful. I suggest you "rip off the bandaid" as it were and buy a new or refurbished MacBook Air or Pro and let that carry you forward for the next thirteen years.

The new generation of Macs are a joy to use.

Alternatives to Lightroom: https://alternativeto.net/software/adobe-lightroom/?platform=mac

For various uses, Photos app does fine.

For editing past what Photos allows, I use Affinity Pro and Pixelmater, and a few other alternatives to Photoshop: https://alternativeto.net/software/adobe-photoshop/?platform=mac

DVD player gets updated as part of macOS.

As for Android file-transfer tools and Android video formats, there are probably better places to ask about that.

VLC and Handbrake are the usual tools of choice for video, there.

Yes, the mid-2012 MBP will run Catalina like a champ.

I ran Catalina on that same MBP in the 15" version with 16GB & 1TB SSD and finally retired it after 11 years as my daily driver. I still have it. It still works just fine, but I did upgrade to a smaller and lighter 2023 15" MacBook Air w 24GB & 1TB drive and never looked back. Running Ventura just now and, baring some catastrophe, I expect this new one to last another decade before it gets retired.

The warning ⚠️ implies (some) issues await with Lightroom.what that might be, I don’t know as I don’t run Lightroom. Go64 might have more info about that available somewhere.

macOS 10.12 is from 2016.

There are changes with each macOS major version.

The longer you stay on an older version and older apps, the larger the project to update to current becomes.

You’re eight major versions back now, and contemplating moving to five major versions back.

As for uproars around something or another, there are always uproars. The Apple echo chamber is like that.

❝Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.❞ 🤣

I just wanted to put those things out there for your consideration. I'm happy to know that you have obviously give them some thought. I understand how comfortable you are with what you have as I tend to keep my devices for lengthy periods before replacing them, too. I appreciate repair over replace as well.

If you do want to get the longest life out of this MBP, make the leap and upgrade to Catalina. Do whatever it takes and know that you've enable the computer to its fullest. @MrHoffman has provided great guidance.

Good luck! 🍀🙂

pirhan wrote:

...If I may, how to do you store your old laptop?

I just keep it on a book shelf and from time to time I plug in the ac adapter to maintain the battery between 30%-80%, according to the charge LEDs on the side.

And are you just figuring the hardware will be sufficient since you can't upgrade anything in the new laptops? That was my biggest turn off on the new computers; if I paid for it, I should be able to upgrade and otherwise adapt the product to how I want.

I am. That limitation does force one to think ahead. The 16GB RAM and 1TB storage (hovering near 60% free for years) of my MBP was fine so I figured 24GB/1TB would be okay on the MBA. I would love to still have the option to upgrade these, but, oh well. It's not hard to manage file storage using external drives, so that won't be a problem for me.

I'm very happy with my MBA.

pirhan wrote:

Servant of Cats wrote:

That will include the installation and activation code for any one-time-purchase version of Photoshop or Lightroom.

I'm not completely sold on the Lightroom alternatives. My photography group, while having a collective disdain for Adobe's subscription service, give mixed reviews of the alternatives. (I use Lightroom mostly for organization and very light editing.) I will give the alternatives a solid go and depending with that or maybe I'll like Photos (not sure why I never tried it before) I'll ditch Lightroom. Are you a photographer?

I'm more into photography than other people in my family, but I'm not a professional photographer. I have photos stored in several places; although they are backed up, they're not all neatly organized in something like Aperture, or Lightroom 6.14 / Classic, or any other application on that level.

If you are using Lightroom 6.14 now, and you upgrade to a new Mac, you might want to go with one of the Adobe Photography Plans that includes access to Lightroom Classic. I think there's one that offers access to Lightroom, Lightroom Classic, Photoshop, and 20 GB of Adobe cloud storage for $10/month.