how to update mac from high sierra to catalina

I still wanted to get some feedback on the move though. It would seem sensible to upgrade to Catalina first as I know historically Apple makes downgrading difficult. So I'm currently backing up my entire HDD to a bootable volume and going to install either Catalina or Big Sur. Some things are now starting to protest that the OS version is too old to support updates to software e.g. There were a few things like still being able to use Aperture where I have a large catalogue of organised raw photos and 1 Password version 6.86 from the App Store that I paid for (where as the upgraded version work on a subscription model).

I've been running High Sierra (10.13.6) for ages on my iMac for no other reason than it works and I didn't feel like I was missing anything. When the restore process is finished, restart your Mac.I'll go and read the Ars reviews but thought I'd post here for individual experiences also.Select the destination disk for the contents of your backup (this will be your Mac's hard drive).

This should be your most recent backup, which you made right before the upgrade. Next, select the backup to restore from.Select your Time Machine backup disk as the Restore Source and click Continue.Click Continue, and then Continue again.In the macOS Utilities window, select Restore From Time Machine Backup.Immediately after powering it on, press and hold Cmd + R to start up from macOS Recovery.Connect your Time Machine disk and restart or turn on your Mac.To downgrade from macOS Catalina using a Time Machine backup, do the following: Keep in mind that you can get certain macOS Catalina features without upgrading your Mac in the first place. If you're not familiar with the process yet, make sure you have the steps handy on your phone or another computer. With a backup ready, you'll be able to downgrade from macOS Catalina should the need arise.

That way, you ensure no recent files were left behind. If you already had Time Machine backups set up, we'd recommend making a manual backup right before you install the new macOS. After you set a backup disk, Time Machine starts automatically backing up your data without disrupting your workflow.If you want to protect the backup, check the box to Encrypt backups, though you should know that this will dramatically increase the time it takes. If that doesn't happen, go to Apple menu > System Preferences > Time Machine. When you connect the drive, you might be prompted to use it as a Time Machine backup disk.This Apple Support page lists the backup disks you can use with Time Machine. Connect an external storage device like a USB or Thunderbolt drive, an AirPort Time Capsule, or similar.Here's how to back up your Mac with Time Machine: It's an easy choice for your pre-update backup. How to Back Up Your Mac Using Time MachineĪs you probably know, macOS comes with a native backup tool called Time Machine.

How to update mac from high sierra to catalina