Since OS-X Mavericks (10.9) Apple have been releasing their OS X upgrades for free. This means if you have any version of OS X newer than 10.9 then you can upgrade it to the latest version for free. There are three ways you can upgrade.
- I replaced my 2011-era MacBook Pro's 500GB hard drive with the 500GB Samsung 850 Evo. The whole procedure took less than an hour (not counting the half a day it took to clone my MacBook's hard.
- Update macOS to the newest version in 2019.
- After all, some updates might also come with their own set of issues like full-on system crashes – or worse, break your MacBook or Mac. Take matters into your own hands, and handle those macOS.
- Download the Installer from Apple directly to the computer that you want to install the new OS X onto.
- Take your computer into the nearest Apple Store and they will do the upgrade for you.
- Make a USB thumb drive installer that you can plug into your computer to upgrade it.
Method 1 is Apple’s suggestion method, but if you have more than one computer it requires you to download the OS X update more than once. Method 3 gives you a thumb drive that you can use multiple times to install OSX, and you can even boot off it in an emergency if your hard drive crashes. It is very handy to have a bootable version of the latest OSX on a thumb drive lying around So I suggest option three
As requested by readers, this single page provides direct links to upgrade related Q&As for G3 and later Macs for your convenience. It is hoped that these Q&As will help you get the most out of your notebook or desktop Mac regardless of its age. MacBook Air: Most models from 2017 or older have hard drive upgrade options. MacBook Pros: Both 13-inch and 15-inch models 2015 and older can be upgraded. Non-Retina MacBook Pro units up to late.
This article tells you how to make a USB thumb drive installer so you can upgrade any computer to the latest OS X.
It also tells you how to work out what is the newest version of OSX that you can run on your computer.
![Can I Update My Macbook Can I Update My Macbook](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/qCIM6YdcyRE/maxresdefault.jpg)
1. Look up what version of OS X your Macintosh can run.
Some older Macintosh computers won’t run the latest version of OS X.
For example, the 2006 Mac mini “Core Duo” 1.83 will only run up to System 10.6.8, while the the 2008 Apple MacBook Air will only run up to 10.7.5.
So before you go downloading it’s good to check which version your computer is able to run. The folks over at everyMac.com have helpfully made a list of what the newest OSX that runs on every Mac model is. You can access that list here.
2. Update to the newest update of your OSX version.
(e.g. 10.6.8)
The major OS X versions have different names and numbers.
For example:
10.4: “Tiger”
10.5: “Leopard”
10.6: “Snow Leopard”
10.7: “Lion”
10.8: “Mountain Lion”
10.9: “Mavericks”
10.10: “Yosemite”
10.11: “El Capitan”
10.5: “Leopard”
10.6: “Snow Leopard”
10.7: “Lion”
10.8: “Mountain Lion”
10.9: “Mavericks”
10.10: “Yosemite”
10.11: “El Capitan”
Within these major versions there are also smaller software updates. For example 10.6.1, 10.6.2 etc. These minor updates are simple updates and you just update them by going to the Apple menu and selecting ‘Software Update’ or by going to the Apple menu, App Store and then ‘check for software update’.
Before you do a major update to a new version of OS X it is good to make sure that your current version is up to date because some installers require you to have an updated version of your current version. My laptop had Snow Leopard 10.6.5, but the ‘Mountain Lion’ Installer I wanted to use needed 10.6.8 so I ran Software Update’ and it upgraded to 10.6.8 first.
3. Download the Installer for the new version that you want
(e.g. 10.11 El Capitan)
The easiest way to get a copy of the installer for OS X is to go the Apple website or the App Store and type in the version that you want. I went to the ‘App Store’ and typed in El Capitan and this was the first result that appeared:
All you need to do is click on the download icon and it will download to your computer.
If you are looking for a version of OSX that does not appear on the App Store, you can find it in ‘Purchased’ if you have downloaded it previously. In my ‘Purchased’ tab of App Store I can see Yosemite, Mavericks, Mountain Lion, Lion ( even though I did not purchase them I simply downloaded them). Tf you have not downloaded it previously and you want an older version that is not the latest version, you may need to find a friend who has downloaded it previously and get it from there computer.
If you have a version of OS X that is older than 10.6 you will need to pay to upgrade to Mountain Lion (10.8) first because it is only versions later than 10.8 that are free. You can buy 10.7 or 10.8 at the Apple Store here.
4. Make a copy of the OS X Installer.
The installer will download to your ‘Applications’ folder. If you run it from there, it will install the latest OSX but then it will delete itself. Given that these installers are huge files – 6 or 7 GB, it makes sense to save a copy so that if you ever need to install it on another computer you don’t need to do the entire download again. This is especially the case if you have three or four different computers. You can use the same installer file on different computers. An iMac, a MacBook Air, a Mac Mini, a MacBook Pro all use the same OSX installer. So it is much faster and uses less of your Internet bandwidth to download the installer once and use it on your different computers via a thumb drive rather than downloading it four times.
To make a copy of the installer you simply need to click on it, hold the ‘option’ key and drag it to your desktop. A green plus will appear to indicate that it will make a copy of the installer.
Hold down the option key while dragging installer to your desktop and a copy will be made.
5. Use DiskMaker X to make the installer USB drive.
Now that you have made a copy of the installer, grab an 8GB thumb drive, and download this program called Disk Maker X.
You can do this manually, and I have explained how here, but DiskMaker X automates the process and makes it a lot simpler.
Run Disk Maker X and it will ask you for the location of the Installer file. It will also ask you to choose your thumb drive. Show it where the installer file is, select your USB thumb drive, and it will make a bootable version of the OS X installer.
This maker X will ask you what version of OSX you want to make an installer for. Click on the version you want and then it will ask you for the installer file that you downloaded in step 3. It does the rest!
You might notice that the latest version of DiskMaker X only works with the latest three versions of OS X
If you want to work with a version of OSX older than Mavericks (e.g. 10.8 Mountain Lion) then you can download an older version of DiskMaker X from their website which works with the older installers.
6. Install OSX from the USB
Now all you need to do is take that USB thumbdrive, stick it in the computer that you want to upgrade, and double click on the icon that appears on desktop. The installation is automatic. This installer thumb drive is identical to the thumb drive that you would have if you purchased it from Apple.
Say hello to macOS 10.13 High Sierra, the new operating system for Mac desktops and notebooks that brings some impressive under-the-hood refinements. If you were expecting some big overhauls, chances are you’ll be disappointed at a first view. But look closer and you’ll discover the fine details that amount to a better user experience and more power for your Mac.
Upgrading to macOS High Sierra is seamlessly simple, taking up little time and almost no effort. And with the upgrade guide we’ve prepared, you’re going to be running the new OS in no time.
Why you should upgrade to macOS High Sierra
The team at Apple went right on target, tweaking those features and apps that promise to be in the spotlight in the near future. With a new and improved AFPS file system, a faster browser (which promises to be the fastest on the market), stellar graphics, better gaming capabilities, and VR support, macOS 10.13 is definitely here to make a stand.
To really give your Mac a boost, upgrading to the new High Sierra is kind of mandatory. Think only about how much space you’ll save with the new operating system that compresses video up to 40% more. macOS High Sierra also comes with an improved Photos app, that now offers professional editing tools that will keep you hooked to find the perfect composition. Of course, the most important upgrade comes from Metal 2, which promises stellar GPU and CPU capabilities while opening the world toward VR and AR.
So, to conclude: upgrade to macOS High Sierra for more space, speed, and power. We should have started with that, right?
How to prepare for the macOS High Sierra upgrade
Now that you’ve decided that you cannot live without the new macOS 10.13 High Sierra, it’s time to thoroughly prepare for the upgrade. Do note that the beta version now available may not contain all the features, so if you want to upgrade for a specific feature, make sure it’s included. Let’s go!
In order to prepare to upgrade to High Sierra you should, of course, verify if your Mac is compatible with the new system. As a general rule, any late 2009 Mac or newer will theoretically be able to run it without any issues.
Next, you should do a thorough Mac cleanup to have it running smoothly even before upgrading. A complete cleaning process includes deleting duplicate documents, photos, and files, while also removing temporary files and cache data that built up in the background. You can do this manually (if you have the patience) or you can turn to an app such as CleanMyMac X to have it do all the dirty work for you.
How Can I Update My Macbook
Having a healthy Mac is key to making the most and enjoying the best of macOS High Sierra. Thus, it’s mandatory to check if your Mac has any issues before performing the upgrade. How?
- Open Disk Utility
- Select your startup drive
- Click on the First Aid tab
Apple Updates For Macbook Pro
If you’re lucky, your Mac won’t have any problems. But if you live in the real world, you’ll have to perform some repairs by using the Repair Disk. Restart and hold Command+R to perform the repairs with Disk Utility.
The final preparation step regards the free space necessary for macOS High Sierra. The official sources from apple.com recommend having 8GB of free space before upgrading to the new system, but we feel more comfortable with reserving about 15GB. What can we say, we like our space. If you don’t have enough space, that means you Mac still needs a bit of cleaning.
CHECK OUT: How to clean up your Mac to get more free storage space.
How to backup Mac before the upgrade
Backing up your Mac before a major upgrade is a necessity, especially if you’re going for a beta version. You don’t want to risk losing any precious info, so there’s no excuse for skipping this step.
You can easily backup your Mac by turning to Apple’s own software, Time Machine, that saves a copy of everything on your Mac on hourly, daily, monthly, and weekly backups. What’s more, except the automatic backups, you can also customize the process and have your most precious docs and files backed up manually from System Preferences.
In order to use Time Machine, you also need an external storage device. How big? The bigger the better. Choose your favorite from USB, SDD, NAS drive, or Thunderbolt hard drive.
Step by step upgrade to macOS High Sierra
Once you’ve prepared your Mac for the upgrade, it’s time to get the process started. Read on to find a comprehensive guide to a fast and safe upgrade.
Can I Update My Macbook Pro 2011
- Choose a safe and trusted network for the upgrade
All major upgrades should be done from a trusted network, adding speed and safety to your download and installation. The best place to perform the upgrade is from the comfort of your home network and you should avoid WIFI connections and especially hotels, restaurants, or public networks. - Log into iCloud
This step is pretty straightforward, yet necessary for the upgrade process, as many Mac apps have iCloud integrated parts. So, to have everything run smoothly, log into your account, and proceed. - Update to the latest version of your current OS
To avoid any problems in the upgrade process, having the latest updated version for your current OS is mandatory. Why? Because your OS is going to be as stable as possible, with all the initial issues fixed and all bugs eliminated.
Make sure you’re running the latest updated version by checking the Updates folder in the App store.
It’s also important to have all 3rd party apps updated to their latest version as well. Check the apps purchased through the App Store by using the same method as above. For the other apps you’ve externally brought in you’ll need to perform a manual update. - Download macOS High Sierra
Right now, macOS High Sierra is already available for all users. You can download it in the standard fashion on the Mac App Store.
Here's the direct link. - Upgrade to macOS High Sierra
Open the installer from Applications (if it doesn’t open automatically) and hit continue. The on-screen instructions are going to make it really easy for you, so follow them religiously and you won’t be able to do any wrong. That’s it!
Next, make sure to set up for automatic updates from your System Preferences and the App Store, in order to always have your Mac performing at its best.
![Can I Update My Macbook Can I Update My Macbook](https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/59/590x/secondary/new-whatsapp-update-emoji-not-showing-fail-833761.jpg)
So there you have it! We hope you enjoy the upgraded features and your Mac’s new regained speed and, hopefully, extra space.