Under 'Macintosh HD,' check if you have enough storage space available.

Here's how to check your system to see if your Mac is eligible for an Apple OS update:

You can even choose how many backups you want to keep Time Machine doesn't allow such customizations! Make sure you have sufficient space for macOS UpdateĪpple recommends you have a minimum of 26 GB of available storage when upgrading your Mac from macOS Sierra and even more - 44 GB - for older macOS versions. (It's also wise to have a strong internet connection, as the download can take quite a bit of time!) Get Backup Pro lets you back your Mac up to any device you like, and you can set the schedule you want for backing your Mac up. One issue many have with Time Machine is it often starts backing up during the day, which consumes resources on your Mac, and things you're working on may not save in your backup. Get Backup Pro makes backing up your Mac simple, and you remain in total control. There's a much better way to backup your Mac, though: Get Backup Pro.

Select 'Use Disk' in the new popup window.

Select the external drive you connected to your Mac.

From your Mac menu bar, go to Apple > System Preferences > Time Machine.

This is where your backup will be stored. Here's how to create a backup of your Mac using Time Machine:

It's important to do as often as possible. The purpose of creating a backup is most often to have a recent save point you can reboot from. When you backup your Mac, you're making a compressed version of your entire operating system. When you use Time Machine, it keeps what's called an 'image' of your Mac, which is what a backup really is. When it's time to back your Mac up, Apple has an official method dubbed Time Machine. When you want to upgrade macOS, keep in mind the latest version of macOS is only available for these models:

Note: To see how much available storage space you have, follow the two step process above, then 'Storage' tab at the top of the window. These are important to know, as upgrading to the latest version of macOS – macOS 12 Monterey – requires 26 GB of storage if you are upgrading from macOS Sierra or newer, and up to 44 GB of storage available on your Mac if you are upgrading from an older macOS. This will tell you what year your Mac was made, the version of macOS or OS X you're currently on, the computer's RAM (Memory), processor, and which graphics card your Mac has. Select 'About This Mac' from the drop down menu.From the menu bar on your Mac, select the Apple icon on the top left.To see what specs your Mac has, follow these steps: Check the General Requirements (and Hardware)

How to update my mac from 10.6 to 10.8