LittleLucita
Level 1 (4 points)
Windows Software

Q: Does Apple only support two OS versions back?

Hello,

My mac OS X version is 10.9. I've had multiple Mac experts state that Apple only supports two OS versions back from the current one, and thus have been told to update my mac before another update is available. I've just been looking for an official statement of that online, and I haven't found anything. Is this true? What would happen if I didn't update my mac before 10.12 becomes available?


Thanks

Posted on Aug 8, 2016 1:32 PM

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LittleLucita

Q: Does Apple only support two OS versions back?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Niel,

    Niel Niel Aug 8, 2016 1:38 PM in response to LittleLucita
    Level 10 (311,961 points)
    Aug 8, 2016 1:38 PM in response to LittleLucita

    1. That statement applies to security patches, not full OS upgraders. El Capitan can be installed directly onto Snow Leopard if the Mac’s compatible with it.

    2. Nothing special.

     

    (143909)

  • by Phil0124,

    Phil0124 Phil0124 Aug 8, 2016 1:40 PM in response to LittleLucita
    Level 7 (26,958 points)
    iPhone
    Aug 8, 2016 1:40 PM in response to LittleLucita

    You can install any previous version your Mac supports as long as you have access to the installer. There is no 2 version limit.

     

    A Mac from say 2009, can have any version from Snow Leopard up to El Capitan installed and running as long as you have access to the installer.

     

    The only real limitations are access to the installers, since Apple removes them from the Mac App Store after a new version is released, and that a Mac cannot run an OS version older than the one it came with installed from factory.

     

    As long as you have downloaded the previous versions from the Mac App Store at least once, they remain tied to your Apple ID and can be re-downloaded again from the Purchased Tab.

     

    What would happen if I didn't update my mac before 10.12 becomes available?

    Nothing really.

  • by Carolyn Samit,

    Carolyn Samit Carolyn Samit Aug 8, 2016 1:39 PM in response to LittleLucita
    Level 10 (120,618 points)
    Apple Watch
    Aug 8, 2016 1:39 PM in response to LittleLucita

    Apple has not provided updates for Mavericks v10.9.5 for several years.

     

    See if your Mac can "upgrade" (not the same as an update) to El Capitan >  Upgrade to OS X El Capitan - Apple Support

     

    With El Capitan installed, your Mac would be running v10.11.6, the latest El Capitan version available.

  • by JimmyCMPIT,

    JimmyCMPIT JimmyCMPIT Aug 8, 2016 1:46 PM in response to LittleLucita
    Level 5 (7,055 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 8, 2016 1:46 PM in response to LittleLucita

    I have macs I support that went back to Apple for service within the last month that were running Mavericks and they were covered under apple care. Since Apple care is limited to 3 years if the OS is older than that you are no longer supported. On top of that if you bring a mac in for HD replacement under Apple Care then it's possible Apple will install 10.11.6 on it when it's returned to you regardless of if it was running something else.

  • by etresoft,

    etresoft etresoft Aug 8, 2016 3:50 PM in response to LittleLucita
    Level 7 (29,071 points)
    Aug 8, 2016 3:50 PM in response to LittleLucita

    Hello LittleLucita,

    You will find few official statements from Apple about anything. If you don't update your Mac, you will start to have various problems depending on how invested you are in Apple's world. If you have other machine or other devices, it could become a problem pretty quickly. Then again, if you do update, it could also cause a problem pretty quickly. If you update to 10.12 as soon as it is released, that will cause problems too.