How To Update Macos High Sierra 10.13.6 To 10.15
| Problem | Solution |
|--------|----------|
| “This copy of the Install macOS Catalina application is damaged” | Set date manually: Open Terminal → date 0101010116 (temporarily) |
| Installer freezes at “less than a minute remaining” | Wait 30+ minutes. Restart if stuck (safe to interrupt). |
| Mac restarts into High Sierra | The installer failed. Redownload from App Store and try again. |
| “You may not install to this volume because it is currently being encrypted” | Go to System Preferences → Security & Privacy → FileVault → turn off encryption first, then install. |
Option A: Standard upgrade (keeps your files)
Option B: Clean install (erases everything – only if you want a fresh start) how to update macos high sierra 10.13.6 to 10.15
Most users should choose Option A.
Upgrading directly from macOS High Sierra (10.13.6) to macOS Catalina (10.15) is possible without intermediate upgrades, provided the target Mac hardware meets Catalina’s system requirements. This report outlines the necessary compatibility checks, data backup procedures, and step-by-step installation instructions. Important note: As of 2023–2024, macOS Catalina no longer receives security updates from Apple. Upgrading further to macOS Big Sur (11), Monterey (12), Ventura (13), or Sonoma (14) is strongly recommended if hardware permits. Total time: 45 minutes to 2 hours depending on HDD vs
Important assumptions made: you have a Mac that supports macOS Catalina (2012–2019 Macs generally; see Apple compatibility list below). This guide prescribes a safe, actionable upgrade path and fallback steps.
If your Mac is stuck on High Sierra because it lacks Metal graphics, do not try to force Catalina via patches (like DosDude1’s patcher). While possible, those patched systems are highly unstable on modern internet services in 2026. | Problem | Solution | |--------|----------| | “This
Instead, consider staying on High Sierra but switching to a security-focused browser (like Firefox ESR) or upgrading your hardware. Catalina is dead software; Apple stopped supporting it in 2022. If you want real security, you need macOS Monterey (12) or newer.
Summary: If you have a 2013+ Mac with an SSD and no 32-bit apps, download the installer from Apple’s legacy URL, backup, and run the installer. If not, stay on High Sierra.
Before initiating the upgrade, the user must verify that their hardware supports macOS Catalina. The following models are compatible with 10.15 but are generally compatible with High Sierra: