My Mac is on Ventura and says it's up to date.... It is a 2017. I use it daily for work (Graphic and Web Design), it clearly needs to be updated... what would be the best way to do that?
iMac (2017 – 2020)
Does it do what you want now? If it does the keep using it. Just because new systems are developed doesn't mean you current iMac won't do the job. As for security as long as you adhere to the recommendations in these documents you'll be fine: Effective defenses against malware and other threats - Apple Community and Recognize and avoid phishing messages, phony support calls, and other scams - Apple Support.
If you decide to upgrade your Macs with new Macs consider the following; a 10 Core Mac Mini M4 with 16 GB RAM and 1 TB SSD ($1084 US) with a 32" LG 4k monitor ($331 US) from Amazon.com) is $1415 US which is $541US less than a similarly configured new 24" iMac ($1956 US) re 07/2025. Keep your keyboard and mouse from your current Mac for use with the Mini.
I got the above Mini with a 32" LG 4K monitor w/speakers for only $60 US more than the 27" (didn't know the Mini had a speaker). There are many monitors available in 27" size on up for $100 US to $500 US depending on what features you want. The monitor prices are before tariffs.
For your workflow maybe 24 or 32 GB of RAM may be what you need. Also the M4 Pro Mini manu also be warranted. I can tell you that the Mini portrayed above runs ring arournd a 2017 i7 27" iMac. It leave it sitting in its dust (to use a racing phrase).
Since Apple doesn't offer a 27" iMac and it's 27" monitor is $1600 or ~$4500 and it's Studio Mac starts at $2000 the Mini with a 3rd party monitor looks like a good, economical alternative.
Oh, by the way Ventura is the latest system your iMac can run.
Just some food for thought.
Does it do what you want now? If it does the keep using it. Just because new systems are developed doesn't mean you current iMac won't do the job. As for security as long as you adhere to the recommendations in these documents you'll be fine: Effective defenses against malware and other threats - Apple Community and Recognize and avoid phishing messages, phony support calls, and other scams - Apple Support.
If you decide to upgrade your Macs with new Macs consider the following; a 10 Core Mac Mini M4 with 16 GB RAM and 1 TB SSD ($1084 US) with a 32" LG 4k monitor ($331 US) from Amazon.com) is $1415 US which is $541US less than a similarly configured new 24" iMac ($1956 US) re 07/2025. Keep your keyboard and mouse from your current Mac for use with the Mini.
I got the above Mini with a 32" LG 4K monitor w/speakers for only $60 US more than the 27" (didn't know the Mini had a speaker). There are many monitors available in 27" size on up for $100 US to $500 US depending on what features you want. The monitor prices are before tariffs.
For your workflow maybe 24 or 32 GB of RAM may be what you need. Also the M4 Pro Mini manu also be warranted. I can tell you that the Mini portrayed above runs ring arournd a 2017 i7 27" iMac. It leave it sitting in its dust (to use a racing phrase).
Since Apple doesn't offer a 27" iMac and it's 27" monitor is $1600 or ~$4500 and it's Studio Mac starts at $2000 the Mini with a 3rd party monitor looks like a good, economical alternative.
Oh, by the way Ventura is the latest system your iMac can run.
Just some food for thought.
That will depend on exactly on what Mac it is.
If it's a 2017 iMac Pro. then it can be updated to macOS 15 Sequoia.
If it's any other model of 2017 Mac, then Ventura is as far as it goes. It cannot update to anything newer than that.
click here ➜ How to download and install macOS - Apple Support
...it clearly needs to be updated...
Is it running slowly, or is upgrading needed because you cannot install the latest software versions? The latter means a newer computer; "slow" can sometimes be helped by those of us here with a lot of Mac experience.
Obviously we can neither see nor remotely access you computer in this setting, but there is a tool that lets us spot many known causes of slowdowns. Fortunately it is a safe and secure option.
If you want a data-driven assessment in this community, please post an EtreCheck report. We can quickly and within the limitations of these forums help you determine what issues are at play without our playing a protracted game of "20 Questions" with you that could go on for days.
EtreCheck Pro is available here: https://etrecheck.com/index
The free version will do nicely for this purpose, although the app is worthy of our financial support.
We can see hard data about drive performance, software issues and interferences, and RAM usage. Etrecheck is the development of a long-serving and trusted ASC contributor. It is a reporting app, not a "fix-it” app, expressly for displaying information in these forums to help us remotely offer suggestions for actio on your part. It will not reveal any personal or secure information.
Please see this excellent user tip on how to post long text reports like EtreCheck's into a forum response:
How to use the Add Text Feature When Post… - Apple Community
Please post the entire report. What seems insignificant to a new Etrecheck user can speak volumes to those of us who have reviewed thousands of those reports.
+1 macOS 13 Ventura is the "Newest compatible operating system" for the 2017 21.5" and 27" iMac models.
How to update a 2017 Mac running macOS Ventura?
