Upgrading Older Macs To Earlier Versions Of macOS

If your Mac is too old to install macOS Mojave, you can still upgrade to the latest version of macOS that is compatible with it, even if you can't find those versions of macOS in the Mac App Store. Apple has pages for High Sierra, Sierra and El Capitan than include links directly to the hidden Mac App Store pages with those downloads.

Comments: 13 Responses to “Upgrading Older Macs To Earlier Versions Of macOS”

    tim
    6 years ago

    I have a 2011 iMac with MacOS Sierra and of course its not compatible to upgrade to High Sierra plus I have heard of some with a hard drive like mine found ways to upgrade to High Sierra but had a lot of problems. I know mine is 7yrs old but runs great. I could have security problems but I do have Norton 360. I do like High Sierra I run it on my 2015 MacBook Pro so I guess I will have to be satisfied with my iMac as it is.

    6 years ago

    Tim: Look at the link. High Sierra runs on "iMac introduced in late 2009 or later." So if your iMac is the 2011 model, you should be able to run High Sierra.

    Antonis Kimonis
    6 years ago

    I have mid 2011 iMac, do you think that I can upgrade to Mojave? I can see the Mojave in the apple store, at the moment I run High Sierra.
    Thank you

    6 years ago

    Antonis: No need to guess. Just follow the link above. For iMacs you need 2012 or newer.

    Howard Pettigrew
    6 years ago

    Unless you want to watch a spinning beachball for a lot of the time, I wouldnʻt put anything beyond 10.9 on a MacBook Pro with Hard drive. Upgrade the Hard drive to an SSD and you can then put the latest your laptop will take. Bigger job but perhaps a Fusion Drive in an iMac? Makes them new computers!!!

    Bill Taylor
    6 years ago

    I have a 2008 iMac with El Capitan so I probably cannot upgrade anymore, so does Apple have a 'trade in' program for older computers? (mine is running pretty well but slow.)

    6 years ago

    Bill: Apple does have a program called Give Back (https://www.apple.com/shop/trade-in) but if you have something that old (10+ years) you won't get anything for it. They will recycle it for you though, I believe. You could always try to sell it, but you still won't get much for something that old.

    Mick Cartwright
    6 years ago

    Hi Gary, my wife has a macbook running Mavericks, I would like to update it to Yosemite. I have watched your video but can't seem to find Yosemite. Does it go back that far? If so could you send a link? Many thanks.

    6 years ago

    Mick: No, Yosemite isn't available for download anymore. Is the Mac too old for El Capitan?

    Mick Cartwright
    6 years ago

    Gary, thanks for your reply, the Macbook is late 2008 so maybe not suitable for El Capitan? Unless you know different! Thanks Mick.

    6 years ago

    Mick: Just check the link above. It says it is.

    mishiko
    6 years ago

    i have mac pro 2008 macos el capitan version 10.11.6.
    i cant update to macos sierra
    why?

    6 years ago

    mishiko: Look at the links above. You'll see that a 2008 can't upgrade to Sierra.

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