Best path to upgrading from OS 10.11.6 to a more recent (not necesarily the latest) Mac OS

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Best path to upgrading from OS 10.11.6 to a more recent (not necesarily the latest) Mac OS

I have a 2012 (made in 2014) Mac Mini Server with 2 internal hds - upgraded to SSDs. My main OS is 11.6 because I have some old - and expensive - sw that cannot be updated, like Photoshop 5. On the other hand there are things only available in more recent OS versions that I would like to access, so I was thinking of installing a more recent OS on the 2nd, presently empty 1Tb internal hd and see how it runs. What is the best method of installing a fairly recent OS version on that 2nd internal hd?

Mac mini, OS X 10.11

Posted on Dec 28, 2021 11:07 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Niel

Level 10

731,297 points

Dec 28, 2021 11:22 AM in response to Nina Contini Melis

Back up your data, check your applications for compatibility, and click on High Sierra, Mojave, or Catalina. You'll be given the option of specifying the second drive when setting up the installation.

(210777)

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Answer 2

Dec 28, 2021 11:20 AM in response to den.thed

Yes, that's what I have. 16Gb RAM and 2 SSD drives. But I have read of hiccups with Catalina and am not (obviously) an early adventurer into new OS versions. I would prefer something more stable, confirmed by Apple updates and user reports. Suggestions? And can I download earlier versions than the latest?

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Answer 3

den.thed

Level 10

81,640 points

Dec 28, 2021 11:14 AM in response to Nina Contini Melis

You can run up to 10.15 Catalina on a Late 2012 Mac Mini.

see > https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211683

FWIW it runs great on both of our Late 2012 Mac Mini’s, that have SSDs and 16GB of RAM.

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Answer 4

Dec 28, 2021 11:27 AM in response to Niel

thanks. Will try that with Catalina.

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Best path to upgrading from OS 10.11.6 to a more recent (not necesarily the latest) Mac OS

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