MacOS Upgrade
Upgrade to macOS 11, macOS 12 or macOS 13
The following instructions will show you how to upgrade the Operating System on your University of Edinburgh Supported macOS Device.
Before beginning, it is important to know why it is essential that this upgrade is performed.
Apple ended support for any Operating Systems before macOS 11 (Big Sur) in November 2022 (10.15 - Catalina and below), therefore they no longer release any security updates for any prior Operating System. If you are still running Catalina or below, it is essential that you upgrade the Operating System on your device to make sure that it is secure and running the latest security updates. Any device that does not have the latest security updates installed is considered vulnerable.
Before performing the upgrade, please take into consideration the following:
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Your data - An upgrade is a "non-destructive" process, meaning that it should keep all data intact. However, we would always recommend that you backup your data before attempting this process in the event of a worst-case-scenario. The UoE offers two services for keeping your data backed up and secure:
Please note that Information Services cannot be held responsible for any data loss.
- Installed software - Any standard licensed UoE software will also be upgraded. However, if you use any specialised software you may need to look at the software manufacturers website (or contact them directly) to make sure that the installed version of the software you use is compatible with the Operating system you choose to upgrade to (macOS 11 - Big Sur, macOS 12 - Monterey or macOS 13 - Ventura).
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Device compatibility - Within Self Service, if you do not see the option to upgrade to macOS 12 (Monterey) or macOS 13 (Ventura) then your device is not compatible. In this instance, you will need to install macOS 11 Big Sur. However, please note that support for Big Sur will stop around November 2023, and Monterey will then become the minimum Apple supported Operating System. By the end of November 2023, any device not capable of running Monterey will no longer be supported by Information Services, and to continue to receive support you will need to purchase a device with more up to date hardware that can run an Apple supported Operating System. The estimated date that Apple will stop support for each of these Operating Systems (please note these dates may change):
- macOS 11 (Big Sur) - November 2023
- macOS 12 (Monterey) - November 2024
- macOS 13 (Ventura) - November 2025
- Time required - The process can take between 1 - 5 hours depending on the specification of your device and your network speed.
Upgrading your Operating System
- Open the Self Service Application. There should be an icon in your dock:
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If not then you will find it in your Applications folder:
Within Self Service:
- Select Browse
- Select OS
If you see all options for upgrading then we would recommend that you upgrade to Ventura (taking into account the Installed software point listed above). This will most likely mean that you do not need to perform another upgrade until November 2025.
If you do not see the Upgrade to Ventura option then your device is not capable of upgrading to this Operating System. In this instance you should attempt to install Monterey (supported until approximately November 2024). If you do not see the option to install Monterey, then you should install Big Sur. If you only see the option to install Big Sur, then please note that Apple will stop support for your device in November 2023, which consequently means that Information Services will also be required to stop support for the device.
- Select Install to begin the upgrade process.