How do I update my old Mac to the newer operating system?

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1 Upgrade older Mac to the newer operating system

1.2 How to upgrade your old Mac to the newer operating system

Desktop operating systems have a long life. Unlike phones that seem to reach the end of their life fairly quickly when new software updates are stopped, desktop operating systems will continue to run much longer on whatever system they are installed on. This is valid for Windows and macOS.

Upgrade older Mac to the newer operating system

Apple is excellent when it comes to supporting older hardware for both its computers and its phones. The iPhone 6S, which is a 6-year-old model, can run the current version of iOS (iOS 15). In stark contrast, many Android phones that are just two years old haven’t received a single operating system update since launch. Extended operating system support is valid for Mac; iMacs, MacBooks, and Mac Minis. You will find that many older models can run the latest version of macOS.

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Find compatibility

The current version of macOS is macOS 12.1. It’s called Monterey and it’s compatible with a large number of Mac models. You can find the complete list of compatible Macs here.

To find which model you have, follow these steps.

Click on the Apple icon in the menu bar (it is ubiquitous regardless of the selected application).
Select About This Mac from the menu.
The first line of specs will tell you the model of your Mac.

How to upgrade your old Mac to the newer operating system

When you update an older Mac, you usually update it to the newer or newer version. You do not need to install all the intermediate versions that you have skipped.

Open System Preferences.
Select Software update.
Let the app check if an update is available.
Once the latest update is detected, click Update Now.
The update will download and you will be prompted to install it.

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Mac updates do not start autonomously. You will need to allow the update to install or it will remain downloaded on your system.

conclusion

If your Mac is no longer supported, you may be able to upgrade to a slightly older version of macOS. The previous version will appear when you check for updates. As for forcing the system to upgrade to a version that it is not compatible with, it may be possible, however you will need to use some kind of trick to do so. Hacks are not approved by Apple. They may work, but they can interfere with how macOS works. Some applications or functions may not work. It can also make the system unstable. Better to buy a new Mac. They last quite a few years and Apple doesn’t slow them down.