Applies to. Does not apply to. We updated Core5 this summer, and system requirements changed. Older versions of the Core5 iPad app were retired in July You will no longer be able to use iPad versions below 4.
If a software update is available, select Update. Depending on the size of the update, this can take a few minutes to nearly an hour. When the update finishes, your MacBook Air restarts. While a backup is rarely ever needed when updating a MacBook Air, it's still a good idea to make a backup in case something goes wrong during the update process.
The easiest way is to use the Mac's built-in Time Machine app. From the menu bar, select the Apple icon in the upper-left corner of the Mac screen. Select System Preferences. Select the external drive you're using and then select Encrypt backups. Select Use Disk. This begins the backup process, which is regularly and automatically repeated in the future if you keep Time Machine linked to your storage device in the On position.
If your laptop is on the old side, check its compatibility with the macOS version you want to download and install. Here's what you need if you plan to update to any of the following operating systems:. Do the following to find out which operating system your MacBook Air has:. Select About This Mac under the Apple menu. The current version of macOS appears in the center of the next window. Use this information to decide whether you can upgrade.
Apple occasionally issues updates for the MacBook Air's operating system to introduce new features, fix bugs, and improve security. By Simon Chandler. Simon Chandler. Simon Chandler is a former Lifewire writer who covered cryptocurrency, social media, AI and other topics.
You can also click More info to see what changes will be made with the update and if there are any system requirements, such as how much storage space you need to update your Mac. You can also try restarting your computer and downloading the update manually. Finally, try booting in safe mode or repairing your hard drive in Disk Utility. To check how much available storage space you have on your Mac, click the Apple icon in the top-left corner of your screen and select About This Mac.
Then select the Storage tab at the top of the window. You will see how much available storage space you have just above the bar graph. To download the Big Sur update, you need to have at least If you are upgrading from macOS Sierra or earlier, you will need at least If all else fails, you can reinstall macOS using Recovery Mode and try downloading the updates again. Enter your email address below to receive your promo code and stay up to date on the latest tech news and updates.
Before You Update: Before you update your Mac, you should back up your files in case your computer crashes. Finally, remove any external hard drives or peripherals connected to your Mac. Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of your screen. Then click System Preferences. If an update is available, you might see a notification in the drop-down menu.
Next, select Software Update. This is the menu option with the gear icon. If an update is available, you might see a red badge icon in the top-right corner of the gear icon. Wait for your Mac to check for available updates. It might take a while for the progress wheel to stop spinning as your computer searches for an update.
So, this is not unique to Apple Macs. Having to update the firmware to run High Sierra makes sense. The APFS is new and older Macs would need a firmware update before being able to recognize this filesystem and read the boot files. You used to manually update the firmware. At some point, Apple decided to include firmware updates in the macOS installs.
Just wanted to post on this topic since I had a related problem in an Apple store yesterday and this was the post I found. Apple had replaced my logic board but didn't install the newer firmware and so I could no longer boot off of my existing SSD drive which was formatted with APFS, and had my original Mojave and all of my files.
Luckily one of the geniuses had a good idea. Boot off of Mojave on a USB, and plug in a new blank external hard drive, and install Mojave onto that. As part of the installation process, the firmware was installed. Then, the USB stick and external hard drive were removed, the machine rebooted, and it could finally boot off of its original Mojave on the existing SSD drive.
Then unplug the second internal disk. Boot the machine with an USB to install high sierra, by following the standard installation guide. After that, the firmware will be upgraded. Alternatively, you may use bless to update it manually, as long as the primary internal disk is there. Unfortunately this is no longer the case Apple changed their installers assuming to make sure older devices can't take advantage anymore , and now when you do a fresh install, it basically skips the firmware update.
At least on my Mac Mini. Sign up to join this community. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top. Stack Overflow for Teams — Start collaborating and sharing organizational knowledge. Create a free Team Why Teams? Learn more. Ask Question. Asked 4 years, 3 months ago. Modified 3 months ago. Viewed 89k times. Failed to get disk for UUID specified for rebless.
Attempt 2 - update EFI firmware manually According to the chapter 2. Any idea? Update 11 Jan I've just seem a related post Is there any way to manually bless firmware when main disk is external? Update 13 Jan Confirmed the following methods do not work. The ia. Thus, same result as above. Got the log as No appropriate ESP could be found.
Error while writing firmware updater for EFI. Improve this question. Kent Kent 1 1 gold badge 3 3 silver badges 9 9 bronze badges. May I know your situation now? Have you been able to update to High Sierra? I am having the same issue. Averell My MacBook has upgraded successfully. I replaced the primary disk cable and make it work again. These Mac models are compatible with macOS Catalina:. Learn about compatibility and how to identify your specific Mac model. Supported by all iPad models with Apple Pencil support: Requires Personal Hotspot service through your carrier.
Learn more. Installing the latest Service Packs is recommended. Upgrade now. Upgrade to macOS Catalina. Chances are, your Mac can run macOS Catalina. Upgrading is free. And easier than you think. Upgrading from macOS Mojave? Upgrading from an older version of macOS? General Requirements. OS X Some features require an Apple ID; terms apply. Some features require a compatible internet service provider; fees may apply. Mac Hardware Requirements. Feature Requirements.
Experience dedicated apps for music, TV, and podcasts. Smart new features in the apps you use every day. And Sidecar, which lets you use iPad as a second Mac display. Best of all, upgrading is free and easy. Check your Mac hardware. Before you upgrade, we recommend that you back up your Mac. Learn how to back up your Mac. Click Upgrade Now and follow the onscreen instructions to begin your upgrade. Learn more about how to upgrade to macOS Catalina.
For details about your Mac model, click the Apple icon at the top left of your screen and choose About This Mac. These Mac models are compatible with macOS Catalina:. Learn about compatibility and how to identify your specific Mac model. Supported by all iPad models with Apple Pencil support: Requires Personal Hotspot service through your carrier. Learn more. Installing the latest Service Packs is recommended. Upgrade now. Upgrade to macOS Catalina. Chances are, your Mac can run macOS Catalina.
Major operating system updates can take a while to download. Once the download is complete, the update process should automatically start. Upgrading your operating system can take anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours, and will result in multiple restarts while the update is applied. The Mac App Store makes it easy to find, install, and maintain software on your Mac. Not all apps are available on the Mac App Store.
If you have to install an app manually, it will need to be updated differently. Most apps will automatically check for updates and notify you. You can force a check by finding the relevant menu bar item. If so, download it. Drag the app icon to the Trash in your dock. Be aware you may lose some app data. Now, install the app as you would normally. Apple detects your hardware and provides you with the latest updates for your particular configuration. The exception is third-party drivers and system tools.
These tools often install a kernel extension and an icon in System Preferences, usually at the bottom of the screen. If you have any such system tools or third-party drivers installed, look for the tweak under System Preferences. Outdated Safari extensions can put your Mac at risk. Make sure you disable any outdated extensions for which no updates exist.
Homebrew is a package distribution system for macOS that allows you to install apps via the command line Terminal. Any apps you install via Homebrew can be updated with a single command. First, you must install Homebrew on your Mac.
You can then use Terminal to search for apps to install using the following command:. Where possible, enable automatic updates and make sure to create regular backups of your Mac for ultimate peace of mind. Take the time to upgrade your computer once a year to the latest version, but make sure all of your software is compatible before pulling the trigger. Installing software updates is the best thing you can do to ward off newly discovered security vulnerabilities.
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From the Apple menu in the corner of your screen, choose System Preferences. In the System Preferences window, click Software Update. Click Update Now or Upgrade Now.