No OS compatible upgrade for my late 2015 iMac?

My employer asked everyone to upgrade our home and/or work operating systems for security reasons. I have a late 2015 iMac running Big Sur version 11.7.10 at home, but Software Update shows no compatible upgrades and tells me I'm already "up to date." When I try to find one at the App store it refers me back to Software Update. Does anyone have any suggestions?


Thanks

Earlier displays & monitors

Posted on Oct 13, 2023 09:05 PM

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Posted on Oct 14, 2023 02:12 PM

If you have a late 2015 iMac you can upgrade to Monterey. There is a mid 2015 27" iMac that can't run any system newer than Big Sur. Which do you have.


If you go to Big Sur to Monterey any 32 bit application (including print drivers) will not work and you'll have to update those apps to 64 bit versions or find alternatives. The best tool to determine which apps will need to be updated is the free GO64 app. It will tell you which apps are 32 big, which are 64 bit and which have 32 bit components that may or may not work with Monterey.


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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Oct 14, 2023 02:12 PM in response to ProfesorT

If you have a late 2015 iMac you can upgrade to Monterey. There is a mid 2015 27" iMac that can't run any system newer than Big Sur. Which do you have.


If you go to Big Sur to Monterey any 32 bit application (including print drivers) will not work and you'll have to update those apps to 64 bit versions or find alternatives. The best tool to determine which apps will need to be updated is the free GO64 app. It will tell you which apps are 32 big, which are 64 bit and which have 32 bit components that may or may not work with Monterey.


Oct 13, 2023 09:21 PM in response to ProfesorT

By default, the App Store hides old versions of macOS. So right now, it only prominently features Sonoma – even though it knows your Mac can't run it.


That's why you need to go through the Apple Support article to which Niel linked ("click here") to get to Monterey. When accessing that Support article, use Safari, and have Safari set as your default Web browser.

Oct 14, 2023 04:09 PM in response to Old Toad

Old Toad wrote:

If you have a late 2015 iMac you can upgrade to Monterey. There is a mid 2015 27" iMac that can't run any system newer than Big Sur. Which do you have.

Thought I said that. 😎

If you go to Big Sur to Monterey any 32 bit application (including print drivers) will not work and you'll have to update those apps to 64 bit versions or find alternatives. The best tool to determine which apps will need to be updated is the free GO64 app. It will tell you which apps are 32 big, which are 64 bit and which have 32 bit components that may or may not work with Monterey.

Thought the OP said they were running Big Sur. 😎

Oct 15, 2023 06:47 PM in response to dialabrain

Thanks, everyone for your very helpful replies. According to my unit's "About This Mac" info, mine is indeed a late 2015 iMac. It was running Big Sur 11.7.10, and Software Updates passed on every effort to get it to identify a compatible upgrade. I did try the App store, which (as Servant of Cats pointed out) aggressively pushes Sonoma and seemed to ignore other needs. But after several days of checking Software Updates for a more recent OS option for my unit, one finally came through today offering Monterey 12.7, which is now installed and running. Most apps I use are functioning, though a few will definitely need the updates that Old Toad mentioned.


Thanks again for all the help, folks!

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No OS compatible upgrade for my late 2015 iMac?

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