If you’re willing, you can install newer versions of macOS than your Mac supports with tools like Patched Sur. You can find out which Mac you have by clicking on the Apple logo in the top-left corner and selecting “About This Mac” to see the name and year of release. If you’re not sure what your Mac came with, head to Apple Support and search for your exact model. Your Mac’s “earliest” supported version of macOS is the one that it came with. Older versions were written for Intel chips, which use the x86_64 instruction set, while the newer Apple Silicon chips use the ARM instruction set. It’s common knowledge that new macOS releases often drop support for older hardware, but the same is true for newer Mac models and older software, too.įor example, you cannot install any version of macOS prior to Big Sur (released in 2020) on a Mac with an Apple Silicon chip, including the M1.
It’s important to understand that not all versions of macOS (or Mac OS X) work with all hardware configurations. While the process is pretty straightforward, getting your hands on older releases of macOS isn’t so easy. Got an old Mac and want to reinstall macOS? Maybe you want to roll back your Mac to an earlier version of macOS than the one you currently have installed?
