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Upgrading Sierra 10.12.6

I have a 21.5” iMac purchased 11/2017, Intel Core i5 chip. Plenty of free storage. I am still running Sierra 10.2.6 (I regret having to to say it) and want to finally upgrade. I understand that the major OS overhaul happened with Catalina and I am asking it might be safer to first upgrade to Mojave and as a second step upgrade to Big Sur or Ventura? What are the risks of upgrading this way, and likewise the risks of going directly to the most current OS? Note: I intend to buy a new iMac in a year, 2 years latest. Better to wait on upgrading until then?

iMac 21.5″, macOS 10.12

Posted on Nov 12, 2022 10:10 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Nov 12, 2022 10:14 AM

I prefer to upgrade in steps, make certain you have a good backup or clone or 2...


macOS High Sierra - Technical Specifications


General Requirements

  • OS X 10.8 or later
  • 2GB of memory
  • 14.3GB of available storage to perform upgrade*
  • Some features require an Apple ID; terms apply.
  • Some features require a compatible Internet service provider; fees may apply.

Mac Hardware Requirements

For details about your Mac model, click the Apple icon at the top left of your screen, choose About This Mac. These Mac models are compatible with macOS High Sierra:

  • MacBook (Late 2009 or newer)
  • MacBook Pro (Mid 2010 or newer)
  • MacBook Air (Late 2010 or newer)
  • Mac mini (Mid 2010 or newer)
  • iMac (Late 2009 or newer)
  • Mac Pro (Mid 2010 or newer)

macOS High Sierra - Technical Specifications

https://itunes.apple.com/app/macos-high-sierra/id1246284741?mt=12

macappstores://apps.apple.com/app/macos-high-sierra/id1246284741?mt=12



macOS Mojave 10.14.6 - Technical Specifications


General Requirements

OS X 10.8 or later

2GB of memory

12.5GB of available storage (OS X El Capitan 10.11.5 or later)*

Some features require an Apple ID; terms apply.

Some features require a compatible Internet service provider; fees may apply.

Mac Hardware Requirements

For details about your Mac model, click the Apple icon at the top left of your screen and choose About This Mac. These Mac models are compatible with macOS Mojave:

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 Metal-capable graphics cards)


https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/macos-mojave/id1398502828?mt=12


MacOS Catalina 10.15.7 - Technical Specifications


General Requirements

OS X 10.9 or later

4GB of memory

12.5GB of available storage (OS X El Capitan 10.11.5 or later)*

Some features require an Apple ID; terms apply.

Some features require a compatible internet service provider; fees may apply.

Mac Hardware Requirements

For details about your Mac model, click the Apple icon at the top left of your screen and choose About This Mac. These Mac models are compatible with 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 or newer)

How to download macOS - Apple Support


https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/macos-catalina/id1466841314?ls=1&mt=12


How to upgrade to macOS Catalina – Apple Support


And caution on 10.15 or higher, to see which Apps will no longer work in 10.15 get Go64...


https://www.stclairsoft.com/Go64/


macOS Big Sur - Technical Specifications


General Requirements

OS X 10.9 or later

4GB of memory

35.5GB available storage on macOS Sierra or later*

Some features require an Apple ID; terms apply.

Some features require a compatible internet service provider; fees may apply.

Mac Hardware Requirements

For details about your Mac model, click the Apple icon at the top left of your screen and choose About This Mac. These Mac models are compatible with macOS Big Sur:

MacBook (2015 or later)

MacBook Air (2013 or later)

MacBook Pro (Late 2013 or later)

Mac mini (2014 or later)

iMac (2014 or later)

iMac Pro (2017 or later)

Mac Pro (2013 or later)

Learn about compatibility and how to identify your specific Mac model


https://apps.apple.com/us/app/macos-big-sur/id1526878132?ls=1&mt=12


And caution on 10.15 or higher, to see which Apps will no longer work in 10.15 get Go64...


https://www.stclairsoft.com/Go64/


Monterey…

macOS Monterey is compatible with these computers - Apple Support


https://wpbeaches.com/apple-minimum-system-requirements-for-macos-monterey-12/


https://apps.apple.com/us/app/macos-monterey/id1576738294


macOS Monterey on the App Store (apple.com)


https://apps.apple.com/us/app/macos-monterey/id1576738294?mt=12


The following Mac computers are supported by macOS Ventura:

MacBook (2017 and newer)

MacBook Air (2018 and newer)

MacBook Pro (2017 and newer)

Mac mini (2018 and newer)

Mac Studio (2022)

iMac (2017 and newer)

iMac Pro (2017)

Mac Pro (2019 and newer)

macOS Ventura system requirements: Can your Mac run macOS 13? (idownloadblog.com)


Similar questions

7 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Nov 12, 2022 10:14 AM in response to RonS

I prefer to upgrade in steps, make certain you have a good backup or clone or 2...


macOS High Sierra - Technical Specifications


General Requirements

  • OS X 10.8 or later
  • 2GB of memory
  • 14.3GB of available storage to perform upgrade*
  • Some features require an Apple ID; terms apply.
  • Some features require a compatible Internet service provider; fees may apply.

Mac Hardware Requirements

For details about your Mac model, click the Apple icon at the top left of your screen, choose About This Mac. These Mac models are compatible with macOS High Sierra:

  • MacBook (Late 2009 or newer)
  • MacBook Pro (Mid 2010 or newer)
  • MacBook Air (Late 2010 or newer)
  • Mac mini (Mid 2010 or newer)
  • iMac (Late 2009 or newer)
  • Mac Pro (Mid 2010 or newer)

macOS High Sierra - Technical Specifications

https://itunes.apple.com/app/macos-high-sierra/id1246284741?mt=12

macappstores://apps.apple.com/app/macos-high-sierra/id1246284741?mt=12



macOS Mojave 10.14.6 - Technical Specifications


General Requirements

OS X 10.8 or later

2GB of memory

12.5GB of available storage (OS X El Capitan 10.11.5 or later)*

Some features require an Apple ID; terms apply.

Some features require a compatible Internet service provider; fees may apply.

Mac Hardware Requirements

For details about your Mac model, click the Apple icon at the top left of your screen and choose About This Mac. These Mac models are compatible with macOS Mojave:

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 Metal-capable graphics cards)


https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/macos-mojave/id1398502828?mt=12


MacOS Catalina 10.15.7 - Technical Specifications


General Requirements

OS X 10.9 or later

4GB of memory

12.5GB of available storage (OS X El Capitan 10.11.5 or later)*

Some features require an Apple ID; terms apply.

Some features require a compatible internet service provider; fees may apply.

Mac Hardware Requirements

For details about your Mac model, click the Apple icon at the top left of your screen and choose About This Mac. These Mac models are compatible with 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 or newer)

How to download macOS - Apple Support


https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/macos-catalina/id1466841314?ls=1&mt=12


How to upgrade to macOS Catalina – Apple Support


And caution on 10.15 or higher, to see which Apps will no longer work in 10.15 get Go64...


https://www.stclairsoft.com/Go64/


macOS Big Sur - Technical Specifications


General Requirements

OS X 10.9 or later

4GB of memory

35.5GB available storage on macOS Sierra or later*

Some features require an Apple ID; terms apply.

Some features require a compatible internet service provider; fees may apply.

Mac Hardware Requirements

For details about your Mac model, click the Apple icon at the top left of your screen and choose About This Mac. These Mac models are compatible with macOS Big Sur:

MacBook (2015 or later)

MacBook Air (2013 or later)

MacBook Pro (Late 2013 or later)

Mac mini (2014 or later)

iMac (2014 or later)

iMac Pro (2017 or later)

Mac Pro (2013 or later)

Learn about compatibility and how to identify your specific Mac model


https://apps.apple.com/us/app/macos-big-sur/id1526878132?ls=1&mt=12


And caution on 10.15 or higher, to see which Apps will no longer work in 10.15 get Go64...


https://www.stclairsoft.com/Go64/


Monterey…

macOS Monterey is compatible with these computers - Apple Support


https://wpbeaches.com/apple-minimum-system-requirements-for-macos-monterey-12/


https://apps.apple.com/us/app/macos-monterey/id1576738294


macOS Monterey on the App Store (apple.com)


https://apps.apple.com/us/app/macos-monterey/id1576738294?mt=12


The following Mac computers are supported by macOS Ventura:

MacBook (2017 and newer)

MacBook Air (2018 and newer)

MacBook Pro (2017 and newer)

Mac mini (2018 and newer)

Mac Studio (2022)

iMac (2017 and newer)

iMac Pro (2017)

Mac Pro (2019 and newer)

macOS Ventura system requirements: Can your Mac run macOS 13? (idownloadblog.com)


Nov 12, 2022 10:34 AM in response to BDAqua

This is very helpful. A lot to digest. Thank you. Should have noted I have 8GB Memory and 427GB of 1T storage free (an iMac 18,1). Factoring in the 64-bit jump with OS15 (thanks for pointing that out) I'm considering upgrading to 10.14 and stopping there until I replace my iMac. And maybe offloading old apps before the new Mac.

Upgrading Sierra 10.12.6

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