Download and install current or previous versions of the Mac operating system.
Apple recommends using the latest [newest] macOS that is compatible with your Mac. macOS updates and upgrades help to maintain your computer's security, stability and compatibility, and they include the latest features and built-in apps.
Before installing, it's a good idea to back up your Mac. While installing, avoid putting your Mac to sleep or closing its lid. Your Mac will restart, and it may display a progress bar or blank screen several times.
Use Software Update
Using Software Update is faster and easier than upgrading by other methods, and it may require less storage space to download and install the upgrade. Software Update will only display upgrades that are compatible with your Mac.
Update macOS on your Mac
Or use the App Store or your browser
When you use these methods instead of Software Update, your Mac may need more storage space to download macOS and complete the installation.
- Click the link to open the App Store page for that macOS.
- In the App Store, click the Get button to start downloading the macOS installer.
- After downloading to your Applications folder, the installer will open automatically. Follow the onscreen instructions to install macOS.
- Click the link to download a disk image [.dmg] file for that macOS.
- Double-click the .dmg file to open it and see the .pkg file within.
- Double-click the .pkg file, then follow the onscreen instructions. This will install the macOS installer into your Applications folder.
- Open your Applications folder and double-click the macOS installer, named Install [Version Name]. Follow the onscreen instructions to install macOS.
If you need help
If you're having difficulty getting the links to work, try again using Safari. It's in your Applications folder.
If you need more storage space to download or install, find out how to free up storage space.
If the macOS that you want isn't compatible with your Mac or the currently installed macOS, the installer will let you know and the App Store may prevent you from downloading it. For example, it may dim the Get button, say that the macOS is not compatible with this device or say that the requested version of macOS is not available.
Find out what to do if you receive an error message saying that an error occurred while downloading, preparing or installing, or that the installer is damaged or could not be verified.
Other ways to update or upgrade macOS include using macOS Recovery or using a bootable installer.
Published Date: November 03, 2022
Question marked as Apple recommended
Aug 18, 2020 8:51 AM in response to mike!
Yes, I'm downloading it now. My current OS is High Sierra.
After it finished downloading
And the installer is still in my /Applications folder.
Aug 18, 2020 9:50 AM in response to mike!
I believe you need to be on a version of OS that is equal to or less than the OS you're trying to download which is why it worked for me and not you.
If you have another Mac that has High Sierra or less, you could try that one. Or you could reboot your iMac into Internet Recovery using Shift+Option+Command+R and install the OS that was shipped with your iMac to an external USB drive. Then boot to the external and download High Sierra.
Aug 18, 2020 10:00 AM in response to mike!
mike! wrote:
Unfortunately, is not the same for me. I've Catalina on my MacBook Pro that I use for dowloading
You need to open this page in Safari. The download link will not work from Firefox.
How to upgrade to macOS High Sierra - Apple Support
Aug 18, 2020 12:05 PM in response to mike!
I believe, as I mentioned previously, you're trying to downgrade your current OS instead of upgrading it.
Aug 18, 2020 12:37 PM in response to mike!
When you go to the App Store High Sierra download page, it should say Get or Download.
If the App Store says ‘Open’ then it is detecting a previous download of the install app
go to the Applications folder locate Install macOS High Sierra.app.
Move it to the Trash, empty the Trash.
Restart, click on the link again, the App Store should say ‘Get' or 'Download'.
Aug 18, 2020 12:46 PM in response to keg55
keg55 wrote:
I believe, as I mentioned previously, you're trying to downgrade your current OS instead of upgrading it.
Actually the user is trying to download the High Sierra installer which should work.
And FWIW…
"I believe you need to be on a version of OS that is equal to or less than the OS you're trying to download which is why it worked for me and not you."
Is incorrect. I can download it from Catalina.
Aug 19, 2020 12:57 AM in response to Eau Rouge Hi, I've tryed many times unsuccesfully. I've no Install macOS High Sierra.app in my mac... Can you give me a link to download your copy of Install macOS High Sierra.app please? It could be easy for
me. Thanks in advance
Aug 19, 2020 1:40 AM in response to mike!
Mike you are trying to download High Sierra to your MacBook Pro, did this MacBook Pro come preinstalled with Mojave or Catalina. The reason I ask is that any mac that came preinstalled with a newer OS than High Sierra will not be allowed to download High Sierra or any older OS. Apple does not take into consideration that you want to download the installer and then install it on another older compatible mac.
If that is not the case then I probably do the same a you.
I am doing this on a mac with macOS Mojave 10.14.6 installed.
[My mac is/ was capable of running High Sierra]
Open Safari and click on this link,
How to upgrade to macOS High Sierra - Apple Support
Go to Section 4 and click on Get macOS High Sierra
this will redirect you to the App Store High Sierra page
It should say 'Get' or 'Download'
When I click on Download the Software Updates window opens
and after a couple of minutes I see this,
Then I click on Download and see this,
"Downloading new updates..." is a bit misleading it is in fact downloading Install macOS High Sierra.app
to the Applications folder.
From your earlier screenshot of the Software Update panel you have checked the box Automatically keep my mac up to date.
I am not entirely sure it will make a difference but uncheck that box.
Restart your mac and try downloading High Sierra again.
Aug 19, 2020 3:57 AM in response to mike!
Are you logged in with your apple id on this Mac?
Aug 20, 2020 6:59 AM in response to dialabrain Thank you all for your
information. I was able to download the macOS High Sierra 10.13.6 full installer version thanks to a mid 2012 macbook pro with macOS El Capitan installed. All other attempts with the latest mac book pro and already installed versions of the operating system [Catalina or Mojave] have been unsuccessful. Then I created an installer via usb stick, and tried to install the operating system on my iMac Mid 2010 [iMac11,3]. Unfortunately, none of the various attempts were successful.
At each attempt, this message appeared: cannot complete the installation due to a problem. Please restart and try again. This is probably due to a problem on the internal hard drive, the original 1TB HDD. So I installed High Sierra 10.13.6 on an external hard drive [USB] to test my guess [HDD corrupt]... and I was able to reboot my iMac mid 2010 [with very long USB loading times]. I think it is therefore necessary to replace the internal HDD with a 128 or 256 GB SSD. Do you have any
suggestions on which SSD to buy for my iMac mid 2010 and if I need to buy also an adapter for the new SSD as well?
Aug 20, 2020 8:05 AM in response to mike!
Hi,
Go for any really, and buy a power slitter to avoid mac moaning that you don't have a temperature sensor. You don't need one with SSD as they do not get hot. Watch some videos on yt.