This page covers the full process of how to update and install the latest macOS Big Sur, Catalina, Mojave, etc. on Mac without losing any data. If you need a detailed guide, follow through this page to get the desired macOS installed on your computer now:
- Upgrade Mac Os High Sierra
- Mac Os Upgrade To Sierra
- Upgrade To Sierra From Yosemite
- Updating Mac Os Sierra
- Mac Os Upgrade To Sierra
MacOS 10.13 High Sierra - End of Life Support Ending January 31, 2021 Updated 11/18/20. On November 12, 2020, Apple released macOS 11, Big Sur. In keeping with Apple's release cycle, we anticipate macOS 10.13 High Sierra will no longer receive security updates starting in January 2021. Who Should Upgrade Right Away If your Mac is less than a few years old and you’re pretty invested in Apple’s ecosystem, then it’s a no-brainer to upgrade to Sierra right now. The upgrade process is. Reset the PRAM / NVRAM. NVRAM refers to special memory sections on your Mac that store data. Assuming you've got a mac older than the iMac Pro that works with macOS 10.12 Sierra, there is a way to revert to the older system.
Workable Solutions | Step-by-step Troubleshooting |
---|---|
Phrase 1. Preparations | 2GB+ memory and 9GB+ storage space left on Mac > 45% + battery > Connect to internet..Full steps |
Phrase 2. Change a USB port | Start Mac from macOS Recovery > Select 'Reinstall macOS' > 'Continue'..Full steps |
Phrase 3. Recover Lost Data | After macOS installation, run EaseUS Mac data recovery software > Scan and recover lost data..Full steps |
Applies To: macOS Big Sur, macOS Catalina, macOS Mojave, macOS High Sierra, macOS Sierra, or earlier Mac operating systems
The need to update or reinstall your macOS always follow the release of a new operating system, the slow performance of your Mac, or a system crash. When it comes to reinstalling macOS, users biggest concern is losing data on their computer.
The good news is that, if you follow the instructions strictly to update your Mac Operating System, the chance to lose data on your Mac is quite slim, since a reinstallation just needs to create a new copy of the OS, your existing files stored on your Mac won't be lost. Thus, as long as you don't choose to erase your startup disk during the reinstallation, you won't lose files. However, you know what 'Slim' means - it's not 100% safe and is still at the risk of losing some data.
Then how to reinstall macOS without any data loss? To provide a double guarantee to the precious data on your Mac, you can make a copy of the files on your Mac before you perform the reinstallation, or equip your Mac with a data recovery tool that can rescue your data after the reinstallation.
Preparations you Need to Make Before You Reinstall macOS
To reinstall macOS on your computer smoothly. Follow the tips below to prepare your Mac ready for the new macOS update now:
- Leave at least 2GB memory and 8.8 GB storage space on your Mac
- Leave at least 45% battery on your Mac
- Connect Mac to the internet or WiFi
- Update your Mac Apps to the latest versions
- Backup all your personal data and even create backups for your present Mac data through Time Machine
Remember to back up your Mac to an external hard drive for preventing system update failure or unexpected troubles from happening. Then follow the detailed guide below to reinstall Mac OS via macOS Recovery mode, which enables you to reinstall macOS, restore your files from Time Machine, repair or erase a disk, and more.
How to Update & Reinstall macOS Without Losing Data
*Print this page or open this page on another device so you can refer to it later.
Step 1. Start up your Mac from macOS Recovery
- Turn on your Mac and immediately press and hold 'Command + R', 'Option + Command + R', or 'Shift + Option + Command + R'.
- Release the keys when the Apple logo, a spinning globe, or a pop-up for a firmware password appears.
Step 2. Select 'Reinstall macOS' from the Utilities Window and click 'Continue'.
Step 3. Follow the onscreen instructions to select the hard drive you want to install the OS on and start the installation. Photoshop photos online, free.
Upgrade Mac Os High Sierra
![Mac Mac](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/opVNaHY4UiQ/maxresdefault.jpg)
Step 4. Don't put your Mac to sleep mode or close its lid during the installation. It's normal to see your Mac restart several times or the screen is white while you reinstall the Mac OS. Just wait patiently for the process to finish.
If data loss occurred after you reinstalled macOS, you can follow the next part to recover your missing files.
Recover Lost Data After macOS Reinstallation
If you have backed up your Mac before the reinstallation, you can retrieve your data from Time Machine, an external hard drive, or somewhere else, depending on the way you used to make the backup. If you haven't created any backups for your Mac, then you'll need the professional Mac data recovery software tool - EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, to perform data recovery. With the help of this tool, you can easily recover the data lost due to macOS reinstallation:
Step 1. Select a location and start scanning.
Launch EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, hover on the location(hard drive partition, external HDD, Card devices) where you lost data, then click 'Scan'.
Step 2. Preview and select the files.
Wait until the scanning completes. If you need to double-click the item to preview the file, then select the data you attempt to recover.
Step 3. Recover lost data.
Click 'Recover', choose a location to save the recovered data, then click 'OK'. You should store the data in another place instead of the original one.
There are lots of data recovery tools available. But EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, one of the best Mac data recovery tools, is our pick. It fully supports all macOS systems including the newest Big Sur, Catalina, Mojave, High Sierra, Sierra, EI Capitan, Yosemite etc. It allows you to restore all lost data with simple clicks. Office files, music, videos, emails or other archives can all be restored on your own.
Performing an El Capitan-to-Sierra upgrade is easy. Although it does not come like a push-one-button-and-proceed method, the truth is it’s quite close.
Requirements for Upgrading from El Capitan to Sierra
Before we proceed with our step-by-step guide, allow us to answer an important question that some Mac users have in mind: “Can an old Mac still upgrade to Sierra?”
The answer is, of course, a YES. However, there are a few minimum requirements that need to be met, such as the following:
- 2 GB RAM
- 8 GB Storage Space
- Mac Models: Late 2009 iMac, 2009 MacBook, 2010 MacBook Pro, 2010 MacBook Air, 2010 Mac Mini, 2010 Mac Pro
Once you are certain that your Mac has met the requirements above, make sure you have backed up your Mac. This backup will come in handy in case something comes up in the process of upgrading to High Sierra.
Upgrading from El Capitan to Sierra
After backing up your Mac’s important files and folders, it’s time to get started. Here’s how to upgrade from El Capitan to Sierra.
1. Download High Sierra from the App Store.
High Sierra is available for download from the App Store. To get it, follow these steps:
- Open the Mac App Store by simply clicking on the App Store icon in the dock.
- Navigate to the Featured tab.
- Find macOS Sierra in the rightmost column and click on it.
- Click Download.
- At this point, the download will start. It may take long, especially if it’s your first time accessing the App Store. Just be patient.
- Once the download is completed, the installer should launch automatically.
2. Start the Upgrade.
Mac Os Upgrade To Sierra
With the High Sierra installer ready, it’s time to actually install it. Here’s how:
- The High Sierra installer should now be open on your Mac. If you have accidentally quit it, you can restart it by going to the Applications folder and double-clicking on the installer.
- Click Continue to proceed.
- Press on the Agree button to agree with the software licensing terms and agreements flashed on your screen.
- Click on the Agree button again to verify your action.
- Hit Install.
- A new dialog box will pop up, requiring you to input your administrator password. Provide that information and click Add Helper.
- The High Sierra installer will begin copying the system files to the new target drive. The progress will show in a new window.
- As soon as all the system files are copied, your Mac will automatically reboot. Don’t panic if the restart process takes a while. It only means your Mac is coping with the installation process.
3. Utilize the Setup Assistant to Complete the Installation.
Your Mac should already be finished with the basic installation process. The next thing you should do is run the Setup Assistant to configure some important macOS High Sierra options and settings.
Upgrade To Sierra From Yosemite
Take note, though, that if your Mac is configured to ask for your login details, a normal login window will show. Provide your login credentials so you can proceed with the following steps:
- The Setup Assistant starts off by asking you for your Apple ID details. If you wish to leave everything as it is, click the Set Up Later option.
- Let the Setup Assistant configure all vital services that need your Apple ID credentials. Simply provide your Apple ID password and hit Continue.
- Click Agree if you agree with the Terms and Conditions flashed on your screen.
- You will be asked to verify your action again. To continue, click Agree again.
- The Setup Assistant should then continue with configuring your iCloud account information. It will also ask you whether you want to set up iCloud Keychain. You can just skip it to avoid confusing yourself.
- Next, there will be options displayed on your screen regarding how you wish to use iCloud for storing images and documents. Choose which of them apply to you by clicking on the boxes next to each one of them:
- Store Files from Documents and Desktop in iCloud Drive – This option will allow you to automatically upload files from your Desktop and Documents folder to your iCloud Drive. Be mindful, though, that Apple only offers a limited amount of storage space for free users. If all this free space is exhausted, you will be asked to purchase additional storage.
- Store Photos and Videos in iCloud Photo Library – This will let you upload videos and images from your Photo Library to iCloud. As with the first option, you have to remember that you only have limited free storage space.
- Hit Continue.
- Wait for the Setup Assistant to finish the setup process.
- You will know when it’s done because you will be taken to your desktop.
![Free download mac os sierra Free download mac os sierra](https://photos5.appleinsider.com/gallery/24666-32525-1-(1)-xl.jpg)
Summary
We hope you found this guide useful. But before you download macOS Sierra and perform an upgrade, do not forget to clean up your Mac with a reliable Mac repair tool first. This way, you can ensure that nothing comes your way and keeps you from making the most of High Sierra.
Updating Mac Os Sierra
Did we miss some important steps above? Do you know other, easier methods to upgrade from El Capitan from Sierra? We’d love to know. Comment on them below!
Mac Os Upgrade To Sierra
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See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy Policy.