I recently got a 2011 macbook air 4.1 but I cant go on apple websites to upgrade the software

My macbook air is currently running on macOS X lion 10.7.5, I'm trying to upgrade it to high sierra but I was recommended to upgrade it to sierra before I do that. The problem is I can't reach any apple websites to reach the upgrade download as it says it can not establish a secure connection. Does anyone know how to fix this?


(I've already updated safari and did all the network settings I've seen on different posts)

Posted on May 3, 2025 05:42 PM

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Posted on May 3, 2025 06:29 PM

Download macOS 10.13 from the Mac App Store (if you can), build a bootable installer on a flash drive, boot the flash drive installer, erase the Mac storage, and install macOS 10.13.



If you can’t get that download to work with this Mac, download on a different Mac.


You will have issues with macOS 10.7, and macOS 10.13 is getting dicy.



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May 3, 2025 06:29 PM in response to Mr_meowster

Download macOS 10.13 from the Mac App Store (if you can), build a bootable installer on a flash drive, boot the flash drive installer, erase the Mac storage, and install macOS 10.13.



If you can’t get that download to work with this Mac, download on a different Mac.


You will have issues with macOS 10.7, and macOS 10.13 is getting dicy.



May 3, 2025 06:57 PM in response to Mr_meowster

Use a modern computer (Mac or PC) to download the .DMG file containing the Sierra installer to a USB flash drive. Transfer the .DMG file to the old Mac, open it (mount the disk image), and run the Sierra installer application inside on the old Mac itself.


Once Sierra is installed successfully, then the old Mac can try getting High Sierra from the App Store.

May 4, 2025 06:03 PM in response to Mr_meowster

Mr_meowster wrote:
I've tried this but when installing it gives me a error prompt saying it cant connect to the servers. I have tried a bunch of ways to fix the error but nothing worked.


If you made it that far High Sierra “The Recovery Server Could Not Be Contacted” Error. FIXED 2024 - Apple Community may offer the solution for you.


MrHoffman wrote:
You will have issues with macOS 10.7, and macOS 10.13 is getting dicy.


Support for HS is indeed hanging by a thread. Case in point.

May 6, 2025 07:16 AM in response to Mr_meowster

Mr_meowster wrote:

My macbook air is currently running on macOS X lion 10.7.5, I'm trying to upgrade it to high sierra but I was recommended to upgrade it to sierra before I do that. The problem is I can't reach any apple websites to reach the upgrade download as it says it can not establish a secure connection. Does anyone know how to fix this?

(I've already updated safari and did all the network settings I've seen on different posts)

You're wasting your time using Safari in Lion - I'm using Mavericks 10.9 and I had to give up Safari years ago. I use a 2011 iMac and have got around the browser problems (for now...) by using these :




Chromium Legacy built on Chrome 124 (not being updated further but fine for now):


https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/chromium-legacy-google-chrome-for-os-x-10-7-10-9.2283612/




Firefox Dynasty (constantly being updated with build based on latest Firefox):


https://github.com/i3roly/firefox-dynasty ('Latest' download under 'Releases' lower right)


Either of those will get you to the Apple website without problem.





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I recently got a 2011 macbook air 4.1 but I cant go on apple websites to upgrade the software

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