Can you still update a 2013 iMac?
A 2013 iMac can upgrade to the newer OS's like macOS Mojave 10.14 or macOS Catalina 10.15, I would recommend you upgrade to macOS High Sierra 10.13 first. Go to the Download OS section and click on the OS you want to install. Before upgrading make a full back up of your Mac.
macOS Monterey won't run on MacBook Air, MacBook Pro or iMac models that launched before late 2015. The 2016 MacBook is supported, and if you have a 2014 Mac mini or a 2013 Mac Pro you are in luck, but those are basically the oldest Macs that can support macOS Monterey.
Use Software Update
It's in System Settings (or System Preferences), which you can open from the Apple menu in the corner of your screen: Choose Apple menu > System Settings. Click General on the left side of the System Settings window, then click Software Update on the right.
MacBook Pro Models | macOS Big Sur | OS X Yosemite |
---|---|---|
iMac (27-inch, Late 2013) | No | Yes |
iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2013) | No | Yes |
iMac (21.5-inch, Early 2013) | No | Yes |
iMac (27-inch, Late 2012) | No | Yes |
Before you upgrade, we recommend that you back up your Mac. Then, if your Mac is running OS X Mavericks 10.9 or later, you can upgrade directly to macOS Catalina.
These Macs were previously on the vintage list, but are now considered obsolete and are no longer eligible for repair. Obsoleted Macs include the late 2013 21.5 and 27-inch iMacs, the mid-2014 21.5-inch iMac, and the late 2014 27-inch Retina 5K iMac.
Adding memory or faster and larger hard drives may make your iMac last longer. iMacs typically last between 3 to 8 years depending on how they are configured.
You can upgrade your Apple iMac 21.5-Inch (Late 2013) Computer to up to a maximum memory capacity of 16GB Memory.
The instructions are for a 2013 iMac. Most (if not all) 2013 Macs were designed to UEFI boot Windows 10. All 2011 Macs are designed to BIOS boot Windows. You should not be using these instruction to install Windows 10 on your Mac.
You can enjoy Windows 10 on your Apple Mac with the help of Boot Camp Assistant. Once installed, it allows you to easily switch between macOS and Windows by simply restarting your Mac. For details and installation steps, follow the instructions at https://support.apple.com/HT201468.
What is the best operating system for 2013 iMac?
I think High Sierra/10.13. 6 is the best & least buggy.
Memory. Configurable to 16GB or 32GB.

Version 10.9: "Mavericks"
OS X Mavericks was released on October 22, 2013, as a free update through the Mac App Store worldwide.
Any Mac purchased from late 2013 could be compatible. So, before installing macOS 11 on any device, it is important to verify if it is among the supported Macs. The following is a list of the supported Mac versions that can receive all macOS 11, Big Sur, updates without errors. iMac Pro 2017 and all later models.
macOS Catalina compatibility
MacBook Pro (Mid-2012 to 2019) Mac mini (Late 2012 to late-2018) iMac (Late 2012 to 2019) iMac Pro (all models)
With regards to the iMac; machines released in late 2009 or newer can still be useful today. These models are: Unibody iMac (Late 2009 to 2013) Slim Unibody iMac (Late 2012 to 2021)
This means that Apple doesn't currently support software updates for Macs from before 2012, and as of the end of 2023 this is likely to extend to Macs from before 2013. All other Macs that pre-date those mentioned above are no longer supported by Apple's software updates.
Apple considers Mac "vintage" if they were released between 5 and 7 years ago, and obsolete if older than 7 years. Obsolete Macs no longer qualify for service and support. Security updates are no longer available.
- The 2013 Mac Pro will get a compatible release of macOS in 2022, which will be supported through 2025 (6 years after the system was discontinued).
An iMac from 2013 can upgrade to either macOS High Sierra 10.13. 6, macOS Mojave 10.14. 6, or macOS Catalina 10.15.
Is iMac 2013 compatible with High Sierra?
In short, any Mac from 2009 or newer has the configuration to support macOS 10.13 High Sierra.
iMac (2012 or newer) iMac Pro (2017) Mac Pro (Late 2013)
Older versions of macOS also continue to get security updates for a while after subsequent versions are released. For example, macOS Big Sur, released in 2020, received a security update as late as December 2022. A 2013 MacBook Air could be running macOS Big Sur and still getting updates today, nine years later.
Yes. The 2013–2015 Macbook Pros are arguably the best and last of their kind. In its favor you have: the superior butterfly keyboard, that doesn't have noise or reliability issues.
- Check your Secure Boot setting. Learn how to check your Secure Boot setting. ...
- Use Boot Camp Assistant to create a Windows partition. ...
- Format the Windows (BOOTCAMP) partition. ...
- Install Windows. ...
- Use the Boot Camp installer in Windows.
From the Apple menu in the corner of your screen, choose System Settings. Click General in the sidebar. Click Transfer or Reset on the right. Click Erase All Content and Settings.
Yes, you can use the iMac as a monitor for a PC as long as the iMac offers a target display mode and the Thunderbolt port or the Mini DisplayPort.
macOS (originally named "Mac OS X" until 2012 and then "OS X" until 2016) is the current Mac operating system that officially succeeded the classic Mac OS in 2001.
Mac device | Models that allow RAM upgrade |
---|---|
MacBook | All models from 2008-2011 |
iMac | All models from 2009-2011 All 27” models |
Mac mini | All models from 2010-2012 |
Mac Pro | All models |
One of the best ways to improve the performance of your iMac is to upgrade the Random Access Memory, or RAM. More RAM allows your computer to have more virtual memory, which gives it the ability to store more data and instructions from programs that are currently running.
Will Monterey run on 2013 iMac?
Is Your Mac ready for Monterey? macOS Monterey is compatible with Macs going back as far as late 2013. If your Mac is compatible, there's no reason not to upgrade. Apple operating system upgrades in recent years don't slow down your computer, as used to be the case, but often make them more efficient.
What to Do if Your Mac Won't Update. If you're having issues updating your Mac, make sure that you have enough RAM and storage space to download the update. You can also try restarting your computer and downloading the update manually. Finally, try booting in safe mode or repairing your hard drive in Disk Utility.
Simply launch the “Install MacOS Monterey. app” installer found in your /Applications folder and walk through the installer to upgrade directly to Monterey. At this point, the upgrade process is the same as every other upgrade of MacOS.
- iMac (Mid 2014 or later)
- iMac Pro (2017)
- MacBook (Early 2015 or later)
- MacBook Air (Mid 2013 or later)
- MacBook Pro (Late 2013 or later)
- Mac Mini (Late 2014 or later)
- Mac Pro (Late 2013 or later)
- Developer Transition Kit (only up to Big Sur 11.3 beta 2)
Back up your Mac before installing Big Sur
Whether you're installing Big Sur via an update or a clean install, backing up your data is an absolute must.
If you're confused about which one to run on your Mac, we'd recommend running macOS Big Sur, mainly because it's the newer version and has more added features than Catalina. Sure, macOS Catalina and Big Sur are great iterations of macOS, but they're not the latest.
Slow Mac Startup
Be aware that the first time you start up your Mac after upgrading to Catalina or any new version of the Mac OS, your Mac may indeed experience a slow startup. This is normal as your Mac performs routine housekeeping chores, removes old temp files and caches, and rebuilds new ones.
In keeping with Apple's release cycle, we anticipate, macOS 10.15 Catalina will no longer receive security updates starting in November 2022. As a result, we are phasing out software support for all computers running macOS 10.15 Catalina and will end support on November 30, 2022.
Over time, Apple drops support for older Macs. Those lacking support can't upgrade to the new OS. Here's the official list of supported Macs for the latest version of macOS, macOS Monterey. Older, unsupported Macs continue to function but won't receive the latest feature updates.
Yes! Upgrading to macOS Monterey is highly recommended, especially if you have a newer Mac powered by one of the Apple silicon chips, such as the M1 or M2 processors.
How do I install Catalina on my Mac 2013?
Access System Preferences > Startup Disk and choose your Catalina installer. Restart your Mac and hold Command-R. Connect your bootable USB. In the macOS Utilities window, click Reinstall a new copy of macOS.
What is this? If you're using an older MacBook, Catalina is the better choice. It's compatible with the late 2009 or later MacBook, and you won't have any major problems upgrading from High Sierra to Catalina. If you're unsure, make sure you back up your Mac before upgrading.
This means that Apple doesn't currently support software updates for Macs from before 2012, and as of the end of 2023 this is likely to extend to Macs from before 2013.
- The 2013 Mac Pro will get a compatible release of macOS in 2022, which will be supported through 2025 (6 years after the system was discontinued).
The Monterey update will work with almost any Mac built in the past six years and some as old as late 2013. Your Mac may prompt you to install the upgrade, one way to know your machine is compatible. But these Macs are supported: iMac starting in late 2015.
Apple considers Mac "vintage" if they were released between 5 and 7 years ago, and obsolete if older than 7 years. Obsolete Macs no longer qualify for service and support. Security updates are no longer available.
...
Which macOS version is installed?
- From the Apple menu in the top left corner of your screen, choose About This Mac.
- You'll see the macOS name and version number, such as macOS Catalina 10.15.
What to Do if Your Mac Won't Update. If you're having issues updating your Mac, make sure that you have enough RAM and storage space to download the update. You can also try restarting your computer and downloading the update manually. Finally, try booting in safe mode or repairing your hard drive in Disk Utility.
There are special cases where you might need to run an older version of macOS, like if you need to use old software or your hardware can't handle the newer OS. But in most cases, if you're using the Mac daily and keep important information on it, you should update it. macOS makes it easy to keep your Mac updated too.
Older versions of macOS also continue to get security updates for a while after subsequent versions are released. For example, macOS Big Sur, released in 2020, received a security update as late as December 2022. A 2013 MacBook Air could be running macOS Big Sur and still getting updates today, nine years later.