Imac Upgrade To High Sierra

• Should I Upgrade To High Sierra
• Upgrade Imac From Sierra To High Sierra

Q: How do I upgrade my Mac from El Capitan to High Sierra? A: According to Apple: Check compatibility You can upgrade to macOS High Sierra from OS X Mountain Lion.

1. Before you upgrade, we recommend that you back up your Mac. If your Mac is running OS X Mavericks 10.9 or later, you can upgrade directly to macOS Big Sur. You'll need the following: 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.
2. If your current operating system is OS X Lion (10.7), you can skip a few versions, and upgrade directly to macOS High Sierra. To upgrade to Sierra from, say, Mavericks, you'll have to consequently upgrade to Yosemite and then to El Capitan first.

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.

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?

1. Open Disk Utility
2. Select your startup drive
3. Click on the First Aid tab

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.

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.

Should I Upgrade To High Sierra

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.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
   
5. 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.

So there you have it! We hope you enjoy the upgraded features and your Mac's new regained speed and, hopefully, extra space.

These might also interest you:

Haven't joined the bandwagon and upgraded your macOS from Sierra to High Sierra yet? Good thing you're reading this article before you do because we have some important reminders and tips that might help you ensure a smooth transition from Mac Sierra to High Sierra.

What's New with macOS High Sierra

MacOS High Sierra is basically an improved version of the Sierra. It was developed mainly for software refinements, thus the tagline, 'Your Mac. Elevated.' However, it also lays the foundation for additional features like virtual and augmented reality (VR and AR).

High Sierra offers several neat improvements, included are these four upgrades, we think, are the most noticeable:

• New (and better) file system – The new Apple File System (APFS) will change the way your Mac handles and organizes data. Based on the 64-bit architecture, the new APFS is now more secure and responsive, as it was designed for today's flash technology. You can expect fast response time when you find and copy a bunch of files and folders. Files and data will also be better protected from being corrupted due to system crashes.
• Better photos and videos – Photos feature will have new features including looped Live Photos and new Memories categories. A built-in editing tool will also be included. Videos, on the other hand, got upgraded to High-Efficiency Video Coding (H.265), the new industry standard. This will make for a smoother streaming experience.
• Better Safari – Apple's official and default browser, Safari, is made to run even faster than what it was before. The browser will automatically stop videos from playing and it will have an even better privacy protection features, meaning, less annoying ads.
• Better Metal – When Metal was first introduced in Mac OS El Capitan, it came with a slew of features that took graphics to a whole new level. High Sierra's Metal 2 is slated to become more superior than its predecessor. It will now support virtual reality and will have an additional external GPU support, which hardcore gamers will definitely love.

Should You Go for the Update?

Updating to High Sierra is free and with all the features and upgrades it comes with, this shouldn't even be a question. But if you're still not convinced, below is a checklist to help you decide. If you say ‘yes' to these, then you should definitely consider going for the update.

• You care a lot about security and privacy.
• You have an SSD — not HDD or Fusion Drive.
• You have iOS 11 on your iPhone or iPad and you shoot photos and videos with the new file formats.
• You use Photos often.
• You use iCloud a lot.
• You want your Mac to be better than ever.

With all your yeses, try to hold your horses, first. Before you even download macOS High Sierra, you need to be sure that your Mac's up for the update.

Upgrade Imac From Sierra To High Sierra

Preparing Your Mac for the Upgrade

Before you get all excited and hit the upgrade button, you should first make sure if your Mac's current specs can run the new macOS. If your Mac can run Sierra, it is highly compatible with High Sierra. Below is a list of the compatible devices:

• MacBook (from late 2009 to the latest)
• MacBook Pro (from mid-2010 to the latest)
• MacBook Air (from late 2010 to the latest)
• Mac Mini (from mid-2010 to the latest)
• iMac (from late 2009 to the latest)
• Mac Pro (from mid-2010 to the latest)

You can also determine your Mac's pedigree by going to Apple menu > About This Mac. A window will open, showing your Mac's information.

Ensuring Sufficient Disk Space

Apple recommends having at least 8.8 GB of free disk space to accommodate the High Sierra upgrade, but to ensure that everything runs smoothly, you'll need more than that. And if you have just enough disk space to install High Sierra, you seriously need to consider cleaning up your drive. Sure, macOS High Sierra might install fine, but if it doesn't have space for temporary files and caches, you are likely to run into problems later on.

So, before you download and install macOS High Sierra, take a look at your hard drive and delete or move some files. It's best to delete old and unused temporary and cache files, too. To help you do that faster and easier, try running a 3rd party cleaning tool like Outbyte MacRepair. It will scan your disk for junk files that are eating too much space, allowing you to get rid of them with just a click of a button.

Backing Up Your Mac

So there you have it! We hope you enjoy the upgraded features and your Mac's new regained speed and, hopefully, extra space.

These might also interest you:

Haven't joined the bandwagon and upgraded your macOS from Sierra to High Sierra yet? Good thing you're reading this article before you do because we have some important reminders and tips that might help you ensure a smooth transition from Mac Sierra to High Sierra.

What's New with macOS High Sierra

MacOS High Sierra is basically an improved version of the Sierra. It was developed mainly for software refinements, thus the tagline, 'Your Mac. Elevated.' However, it also lays the foundation for additional features like virtual and augmented reality (VR and AR).

High Sierra offers several neat improvements, included are these four upgrades, we think, are the most noticeable:

• New (and better) file system – The new Apple File System (APFS) will change the way your Mac handles and organizes data. Based on the 64-bit architecture, the new APFS is now more secure and responsive, as it was designed for today's flash technology. You can expect fast response time when you find and copy a bunch of files and folders. Files and data will also be better protected from being corrupted due to system crashes.
• Better photos and videos – Photos feature will have new features including looped Live Photos and new Memories categories. A built-in editing tool will also be included. Videos, on the other hand, got upgraded to High-Efficiency Video Coding (H.265), the new industry standard. This will make for a smoother streaming experience.
• Better Safari – Apple's official and default browser, Safari, is made to run even faster than what it was before. The browser will automatically stop videos from playing and it will have an even better privacy protection features, meaning, less annoying ads.
• Better Metal – When Metal was first introduced in Mac OS El Capitan, it came with a slew of features that took graphics to a whole new level. High Sierra's Metal 2 is slated to become more superior than its predecessor. It will now support virtual reality and will have an additional external GPU support, which hardcore gamers will definitely love.

Should You Go for the Update?

Updating to High Sierra is free and with all the features and upgrades it comes with, this shouldn't even be a question. But if you're still not convinced, below is a checklist to help you decide. If you say ‘yes' to these, then you should definitely consider going for the update.

• You care a lot about security and privacy.
• You have an SSD — not HDD or Fusion Drive.
• You have iOS 11 on your iPhone or iPad and you shoot photos and videos with the new file formats.
• You use Photos often.
• You use iCloud a lot.
• You want your Mac to be better than ever.

With all your yeses, try to hold your horses, first. Before you even download macOS High Sierra, you need to be sure that your Mac's up for the update.

Upgrade Imac From Sierra To High Sierra

Preparing Your Mac for the Upgrade

Before you get all excited and hit the upgrade button, you should first make sure if your Mac's current specs can run the new macOS. If your Mac can run Sierra, it is highly compatible with High Sierra. Below is a list of the compatible devices:

• MacBook (from late 2009 to the latest)
• MacBook Pro (from mid-2010 to the latest)
• MacBook Air (from late 2010 to the latest)
• Mac Mini (from mid-2010 to the latest)
• iMac (from late 2009 to the latest)
• Mac Pro (from mid-2010 to the latest)

You can also determine your Mac's pedigree by going to Apple menu > About This Mac. A window will open, showing your Mac's information.

Ensuring Sufficient Disk Space

Apple recommends having at least 8.8 GB of free disk space to accommodate the High Sierra upgrade, but to ensure that everything runs smoothly, you'll need more than that. And if you have just enough disk space to install High Sierra, you seriously need to consider cleaning up your drive. Sure, macOS High Sierra might install fine, but if it doesn't have space for temporary files and caches, you are likely to run into problems later on.

So, before you download and install macOS High Sierra, take a look at your hard drive and delete or move some files. It's best to delete old and unused temporary and cache files, too. To help you do that faster and easier, try running a 3rd party cleaning tool like Outbyte MacRepair. It will scan your disk for junk files that are eating too much space, allowing you to get rid of them with just a click of a button.

Backing Up Your Mac

Before performing anything major on your Mac like upgrading to a new OS, it is necessary to create a backup. You can use the machine's built-in Time Machine, but we also recommend backing up to another external device or another program. Having two backups creates a safety cushion in case one of them gets corrupted.

MacOS High Sierra and App Compatibility

Os x boot usb windows. If there are programs or apps that you are currently using and probably will be using after the upgrade, check with the developers of the apps if they are already compatible with macOS High Sierra or if an update has already been released.

You also need to check compatibility for helper apps and drivers, as well as the software required by any of your unit's hardware and peripherals. Some utilities might need to be updated, too. To be safe, update all of these first before upgrading the macOS itself.

While macOS High Sierra certainly proves to be an excellent upgrade, you have to make sure that your Mac, its drive, and the programs and software you use are prepared for the change.