Skip to main content

You can upgrade to MacOS Sierra for free, unless you have these Macs

Promotional logo for WWDC 2023.
This story is part of our complete Apple WWDC coverage

macs that cant upgrade to macos sierra apple mac os 0011
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Apple has officially announced MacOS Sierra, and the change to its naming convention isn’t the only way that the package will make a clean break from OS X. The company has also confirmed that the release will not supported by certain older pieces of hardware.

When Sierra releases in the fall, certain systems will not be able to make the upgrade — in much the same way that iOS 10 shuts out devices using an A5 chip. Here’s the full list of Mac computers that are compatible with MacOS:

  • MacBook from late 2009 and later
  • MacBook Air from 2010 and later
  • MacBook Pro from 2010 and later
  • Mac Mini from 2010 and later
  • Mac Pro from 2010 and later
  • iMac from late 2009 and later
Recommended Videos

Many of the computers that can’t upgrade to MacOS have already been unable to support certain functionality in recent years. Features like AirDrop, Continuity support, and the Metal graphics API were some victims of this gulf.

However, this doesn’t mean that the computers reaching their end of life will no longer be of use. Apple has previously supported legacy OS releases with a few years of security updates, so anyone that wants to carry on surfing the web on their older hardware can do so in safety.

We’re all aware of the constant forward progress of computer hardware, and seeing systems reach end of life sooner than expected is an inevitable side effect of the trend toward more powerful rigs. OS makers like Apple can’t be expected to anchor their development to older models, especially when MacOS marks an attempt to shake off the baggage of OS X.

Just last week, we saw some of the first Chromebooks reach end of life — and there’s sure to be more relatively recent hardware that will soon fail to keep up with the systems of today.

Brad Jones
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Brad is an English-born writer currently splitting his time between Edinburgh and Pennsylvania. You can find him on Twitter…
A new malware threat to macOS adds to the data-stealing surge
Apple MacBook Pro 16 downward view showing keyboard and speaker.

If you still think Macs are inherently safe from malware, think again.

Mac users have another threat to worry about. Cthulhu Stealer, a new Mac malware threat, tries to steal sensitive data such as passwords and cryptocurrency wallets, Cado Security reports in a blog post. The malware threat disguises itself as authentic software to gather login credentials.

Read more
I finally tried Apple Intelligence in macOS Sequoia to see if it lived up to the hype
The redeisgned Siri user interface in macOS Sequoia.

For the last few years, Apple’s macOS releases have been interesting, if not particularly exciting. But that’s all set to change this year with the launch of macOS Sequoia, and it’s all thanks to one feature: Apple Intelligence.

Apple’s artificial intelligence (AI) platform has the potential to completely change how you use your Mac on a daily basis. From generating images, rewriting emails, and summarizing your audio recordings to revamping Siri into a much more capable virtual assistant, Apple Intelligence could be the most significant new macOS feature in years.

Read more
You can finally try out Apple Intelligence on your Mac. Here’s how
macOS Sequoia being introduced by Apple's Craig Federighi at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2024.

The second developer beta of macOS Sequoia is open for business and it includes Apple Intelligence features. It looks like anyone can try it out as long as you're not in China. That includes people in the EU -- even though the AI features might not launch there right away. The features available for testing include Writing Tools, Siri, Safari and Mail summaries, Smart Replies, Memory Movies, transcription features, Reduce Interruptions Focus Mode, and a few more. If you want to have a look yourself, here's everything you need to do to download the beta and activate Apple Intelligence.

Before you start, make sure you've backed up your Mac with Time Machine so you can restore the previous version if anything goes wrong. You can also use a secondary device if you have another Apple silicon Mac lying around because beta versions can go wrong and you have to download them at your own risk.

Read more