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 Upgrade Your Mac from High Sierra (10.13.6) to Catalina (10.15) Upgrading from macOS High Sierra to macOS Catalina (10.15) is a major leap that brings new features like Sidecar (using your iPad as a second display) and dedicated apps for Music, TV, and Podcasts. However, this version also marks the end of support for 32-bit applications. Follow this guide to ensure a smooth transition. Step 1: Check Hardware Compatibility Before you begin, verify that your Mac model is officially supported by Catalina. Generally, most Macs from 2012 or newer are compatible. 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 Technical Requirements: OS: OS X 10.9 (Mavericks) or later. Memory: At least 4GB of RAM (8GB recommended). Storage: At least 12.5GB of available space (up to 18.5GB if upgrading from versions earlier than El Capitan). Step 2: Prepare for the Move (The "32-bit Warning") Unlike High Sierra, macOS Catalina does not support 32-bit apps . This means older versions of Microsoft Office (like Office 2011), Adobe Creative Suite, and many legacy drivers will stop working. Action: Use a utility like Go64 to check which of your current apps are 32-bit. You will need to find 64-bit updates or replacements for these before upgrading. Step 3: Back Up Your Data Never perform a major OS upgrade without a backup. If the installation fails, you could lose your files. Updating and Upgrading macOS High sierra - Apple Community
How to Upgrade from macOS High Sierra (10.13.6) to macOS Catalina (10.15) If you are currently running macOS High Sierra (10.13.6) and want to update to macOS Catalina (10.15), you might have noticed something frustrating: it doesn't show up in your regular Software Updates. This is because macOS Catalina is considered an older operating system by Apple and has been pushed to the "Hidden" section of the App Store. You cannot simply click "Update" in System Preferences; you must download the full installer manually. Here is the step-by-step guide to safely making the jump.
⚠️ Before You Begin: The 32-Bit Warning This is the most important change between High Sierra and Catalina. macOS Catalina does not support 32-bit applications. Before updating, check if you rely on older software (like older versions of Photoshop, Microsoft Office 2011, or some music production software). If you have 32-bit apps you cannot live without, they will stop working after you update. You can check your apps by going to the Apple Menu > About This Mac > System Report > Applications and looking at the "64-bit" column. how to update macos high sierra 10.13.6 to 10.15
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)
Step 2: Back Up Your Data Since you are jumping a full version (from 10.13 to 10.15), this is a significant update. Do not skip a backup. Use Time Machine or an external hard drive to back up your files. If anything goes wrong during installation, you can restore your Mac to its previous state. Step 3: Download the Installer Since Apple hides older OS versions, you have two main ways to get the installer. Method A: The Direct App Store Link (Easiest) Apple provides a direct link to the Catalina installer, but it can be tricky to find via search. To update macOS High Sierra 10
Open the Mac App Store . Click this direct link: Download macOS Catalina . This will launch the "Get" prompt in the App Store. Click Get . The "Install macOS Catalina" application will download to your Applications folder .
Method B: Using Terminal (For Advanced Users) If the link above doesn't work or gives you an error, you can try Apple’s built-in software retrieval tool.
Open Terminal (found in Applications > Utilities). Paste the following command and hit Enter: softwareupdate --fetch-full-installer --full-installer-version 10.15.7 Terminal will verify with Apple and download the installer. Wait until you see "Install finished successfully." Verify Hardware Compatibility First, confirm your Mac is
Step 4: Run the Installation Once the download is complete, the installer may open automatically. If not, find "Install macOS Catalina" in your Applications folder and double-click it.
Click Continue and follow the on-screen prompts. Agree to the software license agreement. Select your main hard drive (usually named "Macintosh HD") as the destination. Click Install . Your Mac will restart. The screen will show an Apple logo and a progress bar. This takes a while —usually 30 minutes to an hour depending on your Mac's speed. Do not close the lid on a MacBook or unplug a desktop Mac during this time.