How To Update Macos High Sierra 10.13.6 To 10.15 【Web】
To update macOS High Sierra 10.13.6 to macOS Catalina 10.15, the process depends primarily on whether your hardware is officially supported. Unlike regular point updates, this is a major system upgrade that requires a full installer from the Mac App Store. 1. Verify Hardware Compatibility
First, confirm your Mac is on the official compatibility list: 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 or newer 2. Pre-Upgrade Checklist
Back Up Your Data: Use Time Machine to create a full system backup before proceeding.
Check Storage Space: You need at least 18.5 GB of available storage to upgrade from High Sierra.
App Compatibility: Catalina does not support 32-bit apps. Use a tool like Go64 to identify older software that will stop working after the update.
Stable Internet: Ensure you have a strong connection, as the installer is approximately 8GB. 3. Step-by-Step Installation
Since you are on High Sierra, the update will not appear in the standard "Software Update" tab in System Preferences. You must download it manually.
how can I update mac os from High Sierra 10.13.6 version to 10.15? how to update macos high sierra 10.13.6 to 10.15
Upgrading from macOS High Sierra 10.13.6 macOS Catalina 10.15
is a significant transition that modernizes your Mac but requires careful preparation, especially regarding application compatibility. Apple Support Community The Verdict Performance
: Users generally report a "snappier" feel, likely due to a fresh system installation. Key Features : You gain the Screen Time
(using an iPad as a second display), plus improved security. Major Warning : Catalina is the first macOS to drop all support for 32-bit applications
. Old versions of Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office 2011, and many legacy drivers will completely stop working. Apple Support Community Pre-Update Checklist macOS Catalina - Technical Specifications - Apple Support
Upgrading from macOS High Sierra 10.13.6 to macOS Catalina 10.15 is a significant jump that transitions your system from a 32-bit/64-bit hybrid to a strictly 64-bit
architecture. This update is free and generally straightforward if your hardware is compatible. Apple Support Community 1. Check Hardware Compatibility To update macOS High Sierra 10
Before starting, ensure your Mac model supports Catalina. Officially, it requires a Metal-capable GPU Early 2015 or newer MacBook Air: Mid 2012 or newer MacBook Pro: Mid 2012 or newer Late 2012 or newer Late 2012 or newer 2017 or newer Late 2013 or newer Apple Support Upgrade to macOS Catalina. - Apple
9. Conclusion
Upgrading from High Sierra 10.13.6 to Catalina 10.15 is a feasible but increasingly obsolete upgrade path. Users should prioritize checking 32-bit app compatibility, backing up data, and verifying hardware support. For most Macs that support Catalina, upgrading to a newer, still-supported macOS version is strongly advised unless legacy 32-bit software requires Catalina as a final compatible OS.
End of Report
6. Post-Installation Steps
-
Check for Catalina updates:
Apple menu → System Preferences → Software Update → install any available updates (final version is 10.15.7 with security updates through mid-2022). -
Test critical applications: Ensure your main apps launch and run correctly.
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Reconnect peripherals one by one, checking for driver updates.
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Review Security & Privacy settings: Catalina introduces stricter permissions for camera, microphone, files, and screen recording. Check Your Mac Model:
-
Consider further upgrade: If your Mac supports it (2013–2019 models generally do), upgrade to macOS Monterey (12) or Ventura (13) for continued security patches. Use the same App Store method.
Step 1: Check Compatibility
macOS Catalina runs on the following Macs (most Macs that ran High Sierra can run 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 or newer)
1) Check compatibility
- Supported models (example shortlist):
- 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; mid-2010 and mid-2012 models with recommended GPU)
- If unsure, click Apple menu → About This Mac → note Model and Year and confirm it’s in the list above.
2. System Compatibility Check
Before proceeding, verify that your Mac supports macOS Catalina.
Minimum Requirements for Catalina (10.15):
- MacBook (Early 2015 or later)
- MacBook Air (Mid 2012 or later)
- MacBook Pro (Mid 2012 or later)
- Mac mini (Late 2012 or later)
- iMac (Late 2012 or later)
- iMac Pro (2017)
- Mac Pro (Late 2013 or later)
Check Your Mac Model:
- Click the Apple logo → About This Mac → note the year and model.
Important: If your Mac is older than the models listed above, you cannot install Catalina. Your final supported version is High Sierra or Mojave (10.14).
Step 4: Enter Administrator Credentials
Type your admin username and password.
6.2 Method B: Clean Install (Advanced)
This method erases the hard drive, providing a fresh system free of legacy errors. It requires a USB flash drive (16GB minimum).
- Connect the USB drive and format it as "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)" with the name "MyVolume."
- Open Terminal and enter the following command:
sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Catalina.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume - Enter the administrator password when prompted. Type 'Y' to confirm.
- Once the bootable drive is created, restart the Mac holding the Option (Alt) key.
- Select the Install Disk from the startup manager.
- Use Disk Utility from the menu to erase "Macintosh HD" before installing.