How to update macOS 10.13 despite security software preventing updates?

matthys240 wrote:

Message received: Access blocked: macOS request is invalid…. Then Error 400:invalid request

If your computer is as old as you say it is, you won't be able to access most secure (https) Web sites, and you may also have trouble accessing other things such as the App Store.

None of the MacBook Pros released in 2006 can run anything later than Mac OS X 10.7..* (Lion), and the ones that Apple released before October cannot run anything later than Mac OS X 10.6.* (Snow Leopard). Web browsers for Snow Leopard and Lion are too old to support the security protocols that most modern https sites consider to be acceptable.

macOS 10.13 (High Sierra) is recent enough that it still can connect to some Web sites, especially if you are using Firefox 115 ESR, but High Sierra is not compatible with those machines. If you have one of them, and are running High Sierra on it, that means you are running a hacked OS, and who knows what sorts of problems you might face due to that?

You still have not answered a very basic question: Which specific Mac do you have? (Model and hardware model year). You can usually find this information in the About This Mac dialog in the Apple () menu. Please post that, but not any serial numbers (we don't need them).

matthys240 wrote:

Cannot update iOS 10.13 to latest version.

Macs run macOS – not iOS. The latest release of macOS 10.13 (High Sierra) (released in 2017) is macOS 10.13.6 (released in 2018).

Whether you can upgrade to a later version of macOS will depend on which specific Mac (model and hardware model year) you have. But I can tell you up-front that it is impossible for you to upgrade to the latest version of macOS – macOS 26.* (Tahoe).

High Sierra only runs on Intel-based Macs. Only four models of Intel-based Macs can run Tahoe - and none of those Macs can run anything as old as High Sierra. Conversely, there are many old Intel-based Macs for which macOS 10.13.* (High Sierra) is "the end of the line".

See MacTracker, or the links to compatibility list articles in Update macOS on Mac - Apple Support .

Laptop was not sold to me indicating that security software will prohibit updates

If you have third-party "security software" installed that is preventing updates or upgrades, that would compound the issue. However, it sounds like the issue is that you bought a used Intel-based Mac that is simply too old to run the current major version of macOS. One that may not even be able to run one of the "most recent three".

If the seller misrepresented the capabilities of the laptop, that is something you will have to take up with the seller and/or the marketplace. If they simply omitted information and you did not do any research before buying a used machine, that may be on you.

Re: “Thanks. Yes early 2005/6 model bought in Philippines.”

If it is that old, it is not compatible with High Sierra - and you may be running a hacked OS!

Re: “I am original owner and am led to believe that due to Apple/Mac running security through service providers I cannot upgrade.”

This seems to contradict what you told us before. And the whole “running security through service providers” thing sounds like so much gibberish.

If this is a 20 year old machine, it is long past time to move on to a much newer machine for your everyday computing needs.

P.S. - If the machine you bought is a 13" MacBook Pro, as indicated in your tag line, it would need to have a model year of 2012 or later to upgrade to anything beyond High Sierra. It would need a model year of 2018 to update to Sonoma or Sequoia (two of the "most recent three"). It couldn't be from 2019 or later as those MBPs do not have the ability to run anything as old as High Sierra.

If it cannot upgrade beyond High Sierra, that would indicate that it had a model year of Mid 2009, Mid 2010, Early 2011, or Late 2011 - that is, that it was released roughly 15 to 17 years ago.

What do you think the latest version is?

And specifically, which model/device is this?

The reason I ask is that different iOS versions support different generations of hardware. If may be you're looking to update to iOS 26, but are using a phone model that's too old to support that release.

Also, including the specific message you're getting will help identify the problem - whether it's a matter of hardware compatibility, or some installed software that's preventing an update.

If it is a software lock, then the phone may be associated with some corporate or enterprise managed device account, in which case you'd need to find the original owner and have them unlock/release this device from its management suite. Depending on where you got the device, that may or may not be possible.

matthys240 wrote:

Thanks. Yes early 2005/6 model bought in Philippines. I am original owner and am led to believe that due to Apple/Mac running security through service providers I cannot upgrade. Download happens buy not installed. Have lost the ability to send and receive e mails

Please confirm that Mac is a 2005-2006 model and that was not a typo.

If, in fact, the Mac is that old, then regardless of anything that Apple might have done in the name of security, that Mac cannot run any OS that is usable on the internet today.

And what Apple has done in the name of security that keeps that Mac from upgrading is they updated their OS and their browser each year to keep up with the changing security standards of the modern internet. Eventually all computers will age-out of productive use.

A lot has changed in the twenty years since that Mac was released (assuming the 2006 date is correct).

If that is a newer Mac, say 2015 or 2016, then there may still be options for you.

This is why we need you to confirm exactly what model year the computer is.

I believe the OP is asking about a Mac laptop, and may have mistakenly referred to iOS rather than macOS.

Otherwise and still, I believe your guidance is generally correct for the situation and I agree with your response, my friend. 👍🏽

Servant of Cats wrote:

You still have not answered a very basic question: Which specific Mac do you have? (Model and hardware model year). You can usually find this information in the About This Mac dialog in the Apple () menu. Please post that, but not any serial numbers (we don't need them).

+1. 👍🏻

This is required information before anyone can even begin troubleshooting anything.

P.S. - There were no MacBook Pros in early 2005. Apple did not use that name until they switched from PowerPC processors to Intel ones in 2006.