Upgrade Your Mac to the Latest Version of macOS

The most recent version of macOS is macOS Big Sur.

First, Check if your Mac is compatible:

Go to the Apple logo up the top-left (), then click About this Mac.

You'll see some information about your Mac like the below screenshot. Use this information to check that your Mac is compatible by checking off each of the requirements below the screenshot:

2. Check that your Mac is one from the list of computers below:

• MacBook introduced in 2015 or later
• MacBook Air introduced in 2013 or later
• MacBook Pro introduced in late 2013 or later
• Mac mini introduced in 2014 or later
• iMac introduced in 2014 or later
• iMac Pro
• Mac Pro introduced in 2013 or later

3. Your Mac also needs around ~25GB of storage (check this by clicking on the storage tab of the About this Mac window), and it will need at least 4GB of memory - you can check this in the same place as you checked your macOS version.

If your Mac does not meet any of these requirements, you may not be able to update to the latest version of macOS. Please let ILT know if this is the case.

Make a backup

Before installing any upgrade, it’s a good idea to back up your Mac. You can choose to back it up to an external drive, or somewhere like the Google Drive or iCloud Drive.

Get connected

It takes time to download and install macOS, so make sure that you have a reliable Internet connection. If you're using a Mac notebook computer, plug it into AC power. 

Download macOS Big Sur

If you're using macOS Mojave or later, get macOS Big Sur via Software Update: Choose Apple menu  > System Preferences, then click Software Update.

Or if you're not using macOS Catalina, use this link to open the macOS Big Sur page on the App Store: Get macOS Big Sur. Then click the Get button or iCloud download icon. If you see the Open button, great! It means you've already downloaded it. Click Open and continue below.

Begin installation

After downloading, the installer opens automatically.

Click Continue and follow the onscreen instructions. You might find it easiest to begin installation in the evening so that it can complete overnight, if needed. 

If the installer asks for permission to install a helper tool, enter the administrator name and password that you use to log in to your Mac, then click Add Helper.

Allow installation to complete

Please allow installation to complete without putting your Mac to sleep or closing its lid. Your Mac might restart, show a progress bar, or show a blank screen several times as it installs both macOS and related updates to your Mac firmware.

Stay up to date

After installing macOS Catalina, you will be notified when updates to macOS Big Sur are available. You can also use Software Update to check for updates: Choose Apple menu  > System Preferences, then click Software Update.

Or get macOS Big Sur automatically

If you have any trouble with these instructions please contact ILT at helpdesk@stcuthberts.school.nz