MacBook Air OS upgrade compatibility question

KiltedTim wrote:

That machine is capable of running Tahoe (26.0.1).

That machine is not capable of running Tahoe.

The OP said that it was a 2020 MacBook Air with an Intel Core i5 processor. Apple says that macOS Tahoe is compatible with "MacBook Air with Apple silicon (2020 and later)." That would include the M1 MacBook Air, released in November 2020 – but not the Intel-based models introduced earlier in March 2020.

Sequoia is the last major version of macOS that 2020 Intel MacBook Air will ever get.

How to download and install macOS - Apple Support

That machine is capable of running Tahoe (26.0.1).

You are significantly behind. No matter what you decide to upgrade do, check your apps for compatibility before you do so.

Tahoe is the last major update that machine will get.

For the long run and the greatest functional longevity of your hardware, you would be wise to keep the Mac upgraded until there is no further support.

Too often users will resist keeping their computers upgraded and eventually find that they are many years behind the curve and upgrading through several generations of OS becomes more intractable.