Upgrading your macOS

Apple released the latest version of macOS Monterey in November 2021. The current supported versions are Catalina (10.15), Big Sur (11.0) and Monterey (12.0). ICT recommend that you update your macOS as the latest supported versions provide you with the best experience for Office 365 as well as macOS security updates so are important in ensuring the integrity of College systems.

How to update your macOS?

Your Mac should keep itself updated automatically, however, you can manually check for updates by going to the Apple menu , then click Software Update to check for updates. Apple’s support pages provide detailed instructions on how to keep your Mac up to date. 

Updating your MacOS

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If you want to upgrade to an older OS, use the links below for instructions:

Before you upgrade

  • Backup any important files to OneDrive for Business or any similar storage solution that is not the local drive on your Mac.
  • If you have applications on your Mac that are 32-bit apps, then they will not work after you have updated to macOS Catalina or Big Sur. To prevent this, please make sure you update all your apps to the latest version. Some apps such as EndNote need to be upgraded to the very latest version before the upgrade to avoid breaking and having to reinstall. Read this online article for instructions on how to check if your Mac is still running 32-bit apps.
  • Microsoft Office 365 is fully supported on macOS. Microsoft recommends being on one of the last 3 versions of macOS (Catalina, Big Sur or Monterey). If you are not on one of these versions Office will not receive any updates or security patches so you are advised to upgrade your OS. Please see Microsoft's help pages for more information. 

NOTE: If you do not have admin rights on your machine or are uncertain about how best to go about upgrading, please contact the Service Desk who will be able to provide support.