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Can't find a way to update my Late 2012 Mac Mini to MacOS Catalina

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macrumors 68040
Original poster
May 6, 2008
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I have a Late 2012 Mac Mini running MacOS Sierra. I'm using it as a media server and DVR (Channels DVR) and now would like to also run Docker on it for some related capabilities. I need to update the OS to Catalina, which according to everything I fan find it supports.

If I go into the App Store and select Updates, its not showing a MacOS update available. My understanding is that is where it should show up. I also tried searching in the App Store for MacOS Catalina and it brings up Big Sur, which this Mac doesn't support. Strange.

How can I do this update?

EDIT - I think Mojave would also be OK for Docker, so that would work too.

Thanks.
 
CoastalOR said:
Select the "macOS Catalina 10.15" link in the "Download macOS" section:

How to download and install macOS - Apple Support

Download and install current or previous versions of the Mac operating system on compatible Mac computers.
support.apple.com support.apple.com
Click to expand...

Thanks for the quick reply. In the interim I also found the "combo updates" available on Apple Support. Is what you suggested the same thing, or should I do one over the other?
 
convergent said:
Thanks for the quick reply. In the interim I also found the "combo updates" available on Apple Support. Is what you suggested the same thing, or should I do one over the other?
Click to expand...
Since you are upgrading from Sierra to Catalina, you need the full Catalina installer (the link I provided). The Catalina Combo Updates are only for updating from older versions of Catalina. You must already have Catalina installed to use the Combo Update.

You're making a major upgrade from 10.12 to 10.15, so make sure you have a good backup before installing Catalina.
 
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CoastalOR said:
Since you are upgrading from Sierra to Catalina, you need the full Catalina installer (the link I provided). The Catalina Combo Updates are only for updating from older versions of Catalina. You must already have Catalina installed to use the Combo Update.

You're making a major upgrade from 10.12 to 10.15, so make sure you have a good backup before installing Catalina.
Click to expand...

Thanks, your link got me all set... thanks. I decided to just go to Mojave for now since that will get me far enough to install Docker, and minimize other compatibility issues. Thanks again.
 
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Mojave will still let you run legacy 32-bit apps which can be important if you've made a significant investment in 32-bit apps that either haven't been updated or would be expensive to update to the new version. For this reason some will boot at least some of the time into Mojave (or run it in a VM) for the foreseeable future even though it'll only get security updates for less than a year.
 
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FWIW, I run Catalina on my 2018 Mini with Mountain Lion and Sierra virtual machines in Parallels for my (very expensive) legacy software. Works really well.

But I run Mojave on my 2014 Mini media server because it's the last version that supports iTunes. My 2012 quad Mini is only used as a file and time machine server, so I installed Catalina on it and haven't had any problems.
 
Great help but I am now 10/apr/2022. Have two Mac mini’s. Both late 2012.one is 10.15.7 running fine Owc NAZ/SoftRaid now setting up number 2 as back up. Can not find Catalina on App Store. Help please options?
 
Have you tried clicking the link to Catalina?

apps.apple.com

‎macOS Catalina

‎macOS Catalina gives you more of everything you love about Mac. Experience three all-new media apps: Apple Music, Apple TV and Apple Podcasts. Locate a missing Mac with the new Find My app. And now coming to Mac, your favourite iPad apps. You can even extend your desktop using iPad as a second...
apps.apple.com
 
Howard Ellacott said:
Have you tried clicking the link to Catalina?

apps.apple.com

‎macOS Catalina

‎macOS Catalina gives you more of everything you love about Mac. Experience three all-new media apps: Apple Music, Apple TV and Apple Podcasts. Locate a missing Mac with the new Find My app. And now coming to Mac, your favourite iPad apps. You can even extend your desktop using iPad as a second...
apps.apple.com
Click to expand...
Yes I tried there are a number I found starting with 10.15.1 Oct 2019 to current. So far nothing will load.
 
Howard Ellacott said:
Have you tried clicking the link to Catalina?

apps.apple.com

‎macOS Catalina

‎macOS Catalina gives you more of everything you love about Mac. Experience three all-new media apps: Apple Music, Apple TV and Apple Podcasts. Locate a missing Mac with the new Find My app. And now coming to Mac, your favourite iPad apps. You can even extend your desktop using iPad as a second...
apps.apple.com
Click to expand...
I really want the Catalina.
 
Thank you but it responded “do not exist.”
 

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It looks like a copy-paste error, here it is again with a different quote symbol

Code: 
open 'x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preferences.softwareupdate?installMajorOSVersion=10.15.7'

You can also try with

Code: 
softwareupdate --fetch-full-installer --full-installer-version 10.15.7
 
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