{"id":52253,"date":"2019-09-04T08:52:13","date_gmt":"2019-09-04T13:52:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/?p=52253"},"modified":"2019-09-11T16:31:20","modified_gmt":"2019-09-11T21:31:20","slug":"how-to-upgrade-install-macos-catalina-safely","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/52253-how-to-upgrade-install-macos-catalina-safely\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Upgrade Install macOS Catalina Safely"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you\u2019re getting ready to install macOS Catalina on your Mac, you have some preparations to make and a few choices to make. While many people just download the new operating system and let the installer do its thing, it\u2019s a much wiser choice to do a bit of housecleaning<\/a> and preparation before you perform the upgrade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In this Rocket Yard guide we’re going to exam the two primary ways you can install macOS Catalina, as well as the preparations you should make before you update your Mac.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Types of Installs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Like most versions of the Mac OS, Catalina allows you to perform two types of installs: an upgrade install and a clean install. The same installer is used for both types but the steps involved are a bit different for each.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clean Install:<\/strong> This type of installation is used when you want to completely remove all traces of a previous version of the OS. The clean install process includes erasing the Mac’s startup drive or the selected destination drive, removing any data it may have held, likely including all of your user data and applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The advantage is the ability of a clean install to let you start over, just as if you had just turned your Mac on for the first time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can find out more about performing a clean install with the guide:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Clean Install macOS Catalina<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Upgrade Install:<\/strong> This is the most common type of installation. It allows you to keep all of your current apps, data, and many of the existing operating system settings and preferences. The upgrade install merges the new macOS Catalina with your existing Mac OS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is the upgrade method we will cover in this Rocket Yard guide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before we begin the upgrade process, a few tips and notes about macOS Catalina and what you need to do to be ready for the install on your Mac.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Compatible Macs: <\/strong>If you\u2019re running macOS Mojave, there\u2019s a good chance your Mac is compatible with Catalina. The main exception is the 2010-2013 Mac Pro<\/a>, which didn’t make the cut. You can find out more about Mac compatibility in the Rocket Yard guide:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Complete List of Catalina Compatible Macs<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back Up Your Mac Before You Install<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Although an upgrade install shouldn\u2019t directly cause data loss, you should be prepared in case a problem arises when you install Catalina. A backup can allow you to get your Mac back up and running if something goes wrong. It can also serve as protection against the possibility of the new operating system removing any information<\/g> you need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Having a current backup is a must before you install macOS Catalina.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Another bonus of having a backup is that it can serve as a way to downgrade from macOS Catalina should you discover Catalina isn\u2019t for you, or an app you need no longer works, or your Mac just isn\u2019t performing well with the new OS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are two popular backup methods you may consider employing: a Time Machine backup<\/a>, and creating a clone<\/a> of the current startup drive. Both are good choices for a backup before you install Catalina (or any new OS). I actually use both methods; a clone is a great way to quickly recover from a failed installation, and Time Machine can not only be used to recover individual files, it can also be used as a downgrade source if you need to return to a previous version of the Mac OS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be sure to have a current Time Machine backup, a clone, or both before proceeding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be Prepared for Downgrading<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There may come a time after installing macOS Catalina that you wish to revert to an earlier version of the Mac OS. This could be for a number of reasons: an important app that doesn\u2019t run under Catalina, an overall performance issue with your Mac and Catalina, or perhaps you just don\u2019t like Catalina and want to go back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The reason for downgrading really doesn’t matter, but there some things you should do now, before you ever install macOS Catalina, to make the downgrade process as easy as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be aware that although it\u2019s possible to revert to an earlier version of the Mac OS, you may not be able to make use of specific app data files that could have been converted to new formats by the Catalina version of the application. This has the potential to force you to use older data files from a backup that may not contain all the information you had before beginning the downgrade process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can find out more in the article:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

macOS Reversion: How to Downgrade from Mojave<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The above article is written for the Mojave OS, but the process is the same for downgrading from macOS Catalina.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you need an earlier macOS installer you can find them here:<\/p>\n\n\n\n