Unsupported Mac Big Sur: Can You Still Update?

Are you wondering if your older Mac device is compatible with the latest version of macOS, specifically Big Sur? Before diving into the details, it's essential to check if Apple still supports your device.

To begin with, you can directly update your device from the About This Mac window by clicking 'Software Update' if Apple still supports your device. However, if you're using an older device, it will show that your system is called 'OS X' (starting from OS X 10.11 El Capitan) instead of 'macOS' (starting from macOS 10.12 Sierra onwards).

To know which version of macOS you are using, click the Apple icon at the top left corner of your screen and select About This Mac. The window will appear showing the version of macOS running on your device.

In general, macOS automatically updates itself once the software is rolled out to its users. However, it's crucial to check if your Mac is compatible with the latest version by visiting the Apple website or going to the App Store and selecting 'Updates.' If there are no updates available, it may mean that your Mac is no longer supported.

Unfortunately, if your Mac is older than mentioned above (MacBook Pro introduced in late 2013 or later, MacBook Air introduced in 2013 or later), you can't expect to update your device to newer macOS versions. According to Apple, macOS Big Sur supports devices such as the Mac Pro (Late 20 and Mid 2012 models).

While most pre-2012 officially cannot be upgraded, there are unofficial workarounds for older Macs. With every new macOS release, the minimum year of Mac hardware increases, which means that Apple stopped supporting all its macOS and iOS devices with continuous software and operating system updates due to hardware limitations.

In this article, we will determine if your old Mac can still be updated to newer versions of macOS.

Unsupported mac big sur