MacAir Help - Software

[IfYoureHappyAndYouKnowIt]

Can you help?

I have to start using my three year old MacAir for everything and am not used to Mac.

I reckon that some base software is out of date but the standard Software Update facility is saying that no updates are due. Last operating system update was September 2016 and says OS X. Safari is 2015 and says 6.1.6. is the current version. How can I update them?

When I go into Gmail it says that my safari version is no longer supported.

What version of OS are you on? I'm on 10.13. Go to the apple in the top left and click on 'about this mac'.

Thanks.

I'm on Lion 10.7.5.

I've done the check for software updates and it won't update to a more recent version than that one.

I'm assuming that I somehow need to get a more recent OS version and that somehow I can update Safari after that.

For an easy / temporary fix, can you use Chrome or Opera to access your Gmail?

I have a much older MacBook Air and I actively avoid updating the OS.

Download and use Chrome for a quick fix. Otherwise go to the App Store and download High Sierra, it’s Free and is the most recent OS.

Why are you avoiding updating the os Broccoli?

Yes, you should be able to update the OS to High Sierra for free.

Thanks. I can access my Gmail. It's just that when going into Gmail and other sites like You Tube for example it gives me the unsupported Safari message.

As I now need to use this Mac for everything and want it to be solid should I be looking to get High Sierra? .. might the Safari version then perhaps auto update?
Is it risky for me to just download High Sierra and will this just replace the current OS then?

I'm wondering whether I ought to perhaps go the apple shop given my lack of mac knowledge. Not sure if they would charge but I guess it might help me get more familiar.

I’m not a total expert but I downloaded High Sierra onto my MacBook Air yesterday it’s it seems 10x better. It was trouble free and all the software is still working. You don’t need to go into a Mac store to do it.

Yes it will update your current OS.

Have you got an external drive? If so you can use it to take a time machine back up of your current system just in case anything gets lost in the upgrade. (I use time machine to back up all the time - you can go back to a point in time and see what was there, even if you've deleted it at a later point, so nothing gets lost). Upgrading is usually very straightforward.

I'd definitely recommend upgrading to Sierra - it's very straightforward to do and you won't have the annoying messages. I'm currently using an iMac 2009 that I bought with a really old OS, it's now running Sierra and works beautifully. Just make sure you read through the installation instructions before you start (and make sure you've got your backup!)

Always worth backing up before you update the operating system. Just go on the app store, click on 'featured' and click on where it says 'High Sierra'. Your laptop is not that old so it should be fine. Yes, then you will be able to download a newer version of Safari.

support.apple.com/en-gb/HT201250

Sorry - should have said that above is the link to using the time machine facility to make a back up

Here's the apple link to High Sierra and more information.

support.apple.com/en-gb/HT201475

Thanks very much. I'm listening.

Very unused to all of this and just made redundant so trying to get all of my life on this mac this week.

I don't have an external drive but had been thinking that I need one over the weekend. Seems essential. Any thoughts on how I get the best / right one? I'm very used to being an ordinary pc user but completely new to this.

Thanks everyone for your help. Am kind of progressing I think.

Did back up.

Currently installing El Capitan as this appears to a necessary step towards High Sierra according to Apple.