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The latest version of the macOS operating system, macOS High Sierra, was released on Monday, September 25, 2017.
How can the answer be improved? Jun 22, 2017 Memory available to OS X may vary depending on graphics needs. Minimum graphics memory usage is 384MB. 1GB=1 billion bytes; actual formatted capacity less. Wireless web testing conducted by Apple in October 2011 using preproduction 2.8GHz dual-core Intel Core i7–based 13-inch MacBook Pro units.
In this article, we will explain how to upgrade mac to macOS High Sierra.
Why Should We Upgrade to macOS High Sierra?
Apple released the latest macOS, High Sierra, and added some new features including a new and improved Apple File System (AFPS), a faster browser, stellar graphics, better gaming capabilities and VR support. MacOS 10.13 is absolutely worthwhile to upgrade your Mac.
macOS High Sierra System Compatibility
You can download and install macOS High Sierra OS for free in 2009 or later. Basically, if your Mac is currently running macOS Sierra system (macOS 10.12), you can smoothly upgrade to macOS High Sierra.
The following is the device compatibility information released by Apple:
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Some features, such as High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) encoding and decoding require newer processors and devices, some of which unfortunately cannot run on older devices.
If you are running OS X Lion (10.7.5) or later, you can upgrade directly to macOS High Sierra.
How to Upgrade macOS
There are two ways to upgrade macOS: directly in Mac App Store, or upgrade using an USB device.
No matter which way you choose, always remember to back up your data before performing an upgrade.
Time Machine Backup
Apple has its own official backup tool: Time Machine. This feature was released in OS X 10.5 Leopard. If you have never backed up, let me tell you how important it is.
Time Machine can connect to your Mac and any external hard drive via USB, FireWire or Thunderbolt port. Back up everything on your Mac directly to your hard drive, in case the Mac cannot upgrade properly.
It also supports Apple’s Time Capsule and backup disks connected over a network as long as the disks support AFPS. As long as the disk is available to your Mac, you can use it for Time Machine backups.
When enabled, Apple’s Time Machine will periodically transfer all files and store data on an inserted external hard drive or on a Time Capsule connected to the network.
You can choose hourly, daily or weekly backup to store your data on the external hard drive. When the external device is full, Time Machine will delete the oldest backup and replace it with the newer version.
Let’s check how to enable Time Machine backup on Mac devices.
1. Choose “System Preferences…” from the Mac menu.
2. Double-click the Time Machine icon.
3. Click “Select Backup Disk…” to select the disk you want to use as a Time Machine backup.
4. Select the “Back Up Automatically” check box so that your Mac will automatically back up data to your chosen disk.
If you want to restore files from Time Machine, make sure your Mac is running. Click “Enter Time Machine”, find the previous file or folder, and then click “Restore.”
Besides Time Machine, you can try other great backup and restore software such as Carbon Copy Cloner (CCC) and SuperDuper.
1. Direct Upgrade in Mac App Store
Generally, you can upgrade your system directly in the Mac App Store by clicking “Check for Updates” or click the following link to download macOS High Sierra:
If you use a Beta version, you still need to click the link above to download the system, or go to the developer’s website for download information.
If you want to choose “USB clean upgrade”, check the detailed information below.
2. Upgrade using USB device
i. USB Preparation
Before formatting your current operating system, download macOS High Sierra from the Mac App Store first. You will need a copy of macOS High Sierra to perform a clean installation later. If you want to upgrade to this version, it is possible as long as your current operating system version is lower than macOS High Sierra.
Natively, look for “Disk Utility” in your application, select an external USB device with a capacity of 8 GB or larger, format it directly, and remember to choose the format “Mac OS Extended (Journaled)”. If it is a hard disk, it would be better to make a partition beforehand.
![Macbook Macbook](/uploads/1/2/5/8/125836143/531068951.jpg)
If you have already downloaded the macOS High Sierra package, do not click on the installation. Directly open the “terminal” program, which you can find in the application.
When typing the following text in the terminal, check the name of the formatted external USB device. If you do not name it “Untitled”, you need to change the command syntax of the path name: Volumes/Untitled. The names of external USB devices cannot contain spaces and are case sensitive.
sudo /Applications/Install macOS High Sierra.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia –volume /Volumes/Untitled –applicationpath /Applications/Install macOS High Sierra.app –nointeraction
Press “Enter” on your keyboard to execute the command. You will then be prompted to enter the administrator password. It will start the process after the operation, which can take a long time, depending on the transfer speed of the external USB device. When done, the terminal window will report “Done.”
ii. USB Upgrade Installation
a. Click the Apple icon .
b. Choose “Restart…” from the drop-down menu.
c. Press and hold “Command+R” when you hear a startup ring (or when the screen on your newer Mac device turns black), and hold down the keys until your computer restarts.
d. Open “Disk Utility”, choose your startup disk, and then click “Erase”.
e. Select “Mac OS Extended (Journaled)” from the list of volume formats and start formatting.
f. When it returns to the former page, insert your USB and click “Continue”.
g. When the installation window appears, click “Continue” again.
h. Agree to the software terms and conditions. Choose your hard drive.
i. Click “Install” and wait until the upgrade is done.
How to Keep Your Mac Always Clean?
If you have done a complete installation of macOS, you must be enjoying the completely new macOS now. I believe you also want to keep your Mac clean. Let’s say someday your Mac has a lot of junk files and duplicate photos. There are also probably many apps you have never used and don’t need them anymore. I must tell you there is a savior for your Mac! Its name is Dr. Cleaner. It’s really great to have such a system optimizing tool. With its “Junk Files” feature, it not only cleans temporary files including logs, mail caches, iTunes and iOS temporary files, and empties trash for the current user, but also detects remaining files after deleting apps.
It also has a function called “Duplicate Files”, which can find duplicate files on your Mac through fast and accurate scanning techniques covering your entire home folder. Duplicates are selected not only by the file name but also by their contents. Files are shown in detailed previews. It can further help you decide which copy to delete by presenting the “Auto Select” button.
Duplicates can be sorted by file type and listed in their full route for you to track. You can decide which way to clean these files; either by sending them to trash or deleting them permanently.
You probably also need an intelligent app uninstaller. Don’t worry, Dr. Cleaner has this function. It can auto-clean leftovers of deleted apps and manage all the applications installed on your Mac easily. When you remove an app you don’t need anymore, it can get rid of all the associated files of the uninstalled app as well. It will also notify you of new updates to installed apps.
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Although Apple makes new software updates available to as many older devices as possible, there are always some reasons why it may not be in your best interest to install the latest and greatest right on day-one, even if your Mac is compatible. With macOS Catalina just around the corner, take a moment to consider whether you should make the leap right away or wait a few days (or even weeks) to update your Mac.
Is my Mac compatible?
If you have the following model of Mac, you can download and install macOS Catalina:
- MacBook (Early 2015 or newer)
- MacBook Air (Mid 2012 or newer)
- MacBook Pro (Mid 2012 or newer)
- Mac mini (Late 2012 or newer)
- iMac (Late 2012 or newer)
- iMac Pro (2017)
- Mac Pro (Late 2013, plus mid-2010 and mid-2012 models with recommended Metal-capable GPU)
If your Mac is older than any of the models listed above, it isn't compatible with macOS Catalina.
What about other minimum requirements?
Are you postponing updating your iPad to iPadOS 13, or are using an iPad that isn't compatible with iPadOS 13? You won't be able to use Sidecar. It requires both macOS Catalina and iPadOS 13. iPadOS 13 is supported on the following devices:
- 12.9-inch iPad Pro
- 11-inch iPad Pro
- 10.5-inch iPad Pro
- 9.7-inch iPad Pro
- iPad (7th generation), iPad (6th generation), and iPad (5th generation)
- iPad mini (5th generation)
- iPad mini 4
- iPad Air (3rd generation)
- iPad Air 2
To take advantage of 4K streaming movies and TV shows in the TV app you'll need a Mac laptop or desktop that supports 4K resolution. According to Apple's Catalina features page:
4K, 4K HDR, 4K Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and HDR10 content is available on all Mac models introduced in 2018 or later with 4K-resolution screens.
To hear Dolby Atmos audio in the TV app, you'll need a Mac notebook from 2018 or later
Do you meet the requirements to use all of macOS Catalina's new features? Are the featrues your Mac doesn't support deal breakers for you? You may want to think about postponing updating a little longer or upgrading your Mac.
What about my iTunes Library?
In macOS Catalina, Apple has redesigned the way we listen to music and podcasts, watch movies, and read books. Similar to how the iPhone works, these features are broken out into individual apps instead of a singular iTunes app.
What does this mean for your well-currated iTunes Library of songs you've burned from CD and meticulously tagged and added customized metadata? It should mean absolutely nothing. iTunes isn't being deleted. It's simply being broken out into separate apps. Your iTunes Library will stay intact. You'll just find it in the new Music app.
If, however, you are concerned with potentially losing all that data you've added manually, I highly recommend postponing updating until the coast is clear. I didn't have any issues getting my entire iTunes Library in the beta of macOS Catalina, but I don't input my own tags and other information, so I don't have first-hand experience with it's migration. Once Catalina is available publicly and more people have installed it, we'll have a bigger audience to know for sure how well metadata syncs.
If you want to take the risk and update on launch day, just be sure to back up your iTunes Library so if something happens, you can get it all back.
What about unsigned third-party apps?
Security gets a little more secure in macOS Catalina. You'll get more notifications about apps accessing data and permission requests to use them. Activation Lock makes it harder for someone else to wipe your data. It also adds some stricter security measures that may make Gatekeeper think apps you've previously given permission to are not secure enough for your Mac. From Apple's Catalina features page:
macOS Catalina runs in its own read-only volume, so it's separate from all other data on your Mac, and nothing can accidentally overwrite your system files. And Gatekeeper ensures that new apps you install have been checked for known security issues before you run them, so you're always using good software.
If you are using apps that, in a former OS (High Sierra or older), you were able to download 'from anywhere,' you should find out from the developer whether their apps are compatible with macOS Catalina before you decide to update.
I'm ready to try it out, but what if I don't like it?
Upgrading to a new software system, especially on a computer, can be a big upheaval that causes stress and confusion. You might be excited about macOS Catalina after reading about everything it can do, but quickly decide that it's not right for you.
The first, and most important thing you should do before upgrading to macOS Catalina (or updating any software, no matter how small), is to back up your Mac.
Next, it is not a bad idea to think about partitioning your Mac so you can install macOS Catalina in tandem with your current Mac operating system. That way, you can get used to the changes while still having access to what you are familiar with. It will also make it easier to simply delete the software if you know you don't want to use Catalina at all.
If you've downloaded macOS Catalina on your main hard drive, you're not out of luck. You can always downgrade back to your previous operating system.
OK. I'm just going to go for it!
Wait!
It's not always such a good idea to download a huge update on Day One. There are a number of factors that can give you a negative experience right out of the gate, which might leave a bad taste in your mouth.
Hundreds (or even thousands) of people will hit the download button the exact moment they hear that macOS Catalina is available to the public, which could put a strain on the servers and make it take a really long time for you to complete the process.
With changes in macOS Catalina, it also means that some third-party apps will need to be updated for compatibility. Not all developers will have their updates ready right away. If there are any apps that you just can't live without, you might be forced to ... well ... live without until they are updated. The best way to see if your must-have apps are going to be ready for macOS Catalina is to visit the companies' websites or check their social media feeds.
Proceed with caution
If, after reading everything I suggested, you still think you are ready to upgrade to macOS Catalina, then, by all means, go for it! I've been using it for a couple of months now, and frankly, I love it. Just make sure you've got a current backup of your Mac, just in case something goes wrong.
Updated October 2019: Updated for macOS Catalina.
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