GUIDE How to Upgrade your Mac to macOS Tahoe [Intel/Silicon]

How to Upgrade your Mac to macOS Tahoe [Intel/Silicon]

This guide is about upgrading your Mac to macOS Tahoe - the latest version of the Mac Operating System from Apple. You can use this guide to upgrade your Mac to macOS Tahoe. This guide supports both, Intel and Silicon based Macs.

If you plan to perform a clean installation, follow the guide below:

Compatibility​

Before you proceed with the macOS Tahoe Upgrade, we suggest you to check the compatibility of the Mac model:

https://elitemacx86.com/threads/macos-tahoe-26-0-compatibility-list-will-your-mac-support-it.2349/

NOTES: If you're running macOS Big Sur or later and planning to upgrade to macOS Tahoe, you'll require 40 GB of storage for an upgrade. If you're running a previous release than macOS Big Sur, you'll need upto 50 GB of storage for an upgrade to macOS Tahoe. Currently, macOS Tahoe is under Beta and it's not recommended for daily driver use.

STEP 1: Create a Backup of your Mac​

Before you proceed with an upgrade, we advise you to perform a backup of your Mac. In case the upgrade fails or you encounter any issue with the upgrade, you can roll back to your existing installation.

To create a Backup for your Mac, follow the guide below:

STEP 2: Apply Pending Updates​

If there are any pending updates that you haven't applied yet, complete any pending updates first.

1. Open System Settings and navigate to General>Software Update.
2. Click on Check for Updates.
3. Apply the pending updates.

STEP 3: Enable Beta Updates​

1. In order to upgrade to macOS Tahoe, you must be signed in into your Apple developer account. Use your Apple credentials and log in into your Apple developer account from System Settings.
2. Once signed in, quit System Settings.
3. Open System Settings and navigate to General>Software Update
4. Click on info button next to Beta Updates and select macOS Tahoe 26 Developer Beta from the drop-down list and click on Done.

STEP 4: Check for Updates​

1. Quit System Settings
2. Open System Settings and navigate to General>Software Update
3. Click on Check for Updates and the updates will be fetched from Apple servers in a while.

STEP 5: Start Upgrading​

1. After the upgrade package is fetched from Apple servers, click on Upgrade Now button.
2. When prompted, click on Agree to accept the license terms.
3. When prompted, enter your password and wait for the upgrade to complete.
During this time, the system will download the upgrade package and install it automatically.

NOTE: During the upgrade, your Mac may restart a few times.

Spoiler: If for any reason, the upgrade file does not download or is incomplete, follow the steps below:

STEP 1: Download macOS Tahoe​

The second step is to download macOS Tahoe. A copy of macOS Tahoe is currently available to developers who have enrolled in the Apple Developer Program. If you have still not enrolled in the program, there's still a way to it which has been referenced below:

https://elitemacx86.com/threads/how-to-download-macos-tahoe-without-developer-account.2350/

1. If you're using macOS Mojave or later, you can obtain macOS Monterey via your developer account. Sign in to your Apple Developer Account
2. From the left pane, click on Downloads
3. Scroll down and under Overview, select macOS.
4. Under macOS Beta Software, use the link to download macOS Developer Beta Access Utility.

STEP 2: Installation​

Once the download completes, the installer will open automatically. Click on Continue and follow the instructions. At last, select your target drive and click on Install

NOTES: If the installer asks for permission, enter your password when prompted. During the upgrade process, your Mac might restart several times. You might get a blank screen at certain times but that's normal and the installer is still working in the background.

1. From the Applications folder, right-click on Install macOS Sequoia beta and click on open
2. Click on Continue and then continue with the options as shown below.

Now, macOS Tahoe will begin installing to your selected disk.

3. Once the first phase completes, the installer will prompt you for restarting your Mac and your Mac will restart automatically.

Here it ends the first phase of the installation and Your Mac will restart a couple of times and will continue the installation.

STEP 6: Complete Setup​

When prompted for setting up a few newer options, set it up by following onscreen instructions and you should be at your Desktop.



Now the upgrade is complete!

NOTES: The first boot may be slower as the caches are not built yet. Once the caches are built, it will boot normally, with the expected speed.

Enjoy macOS Tahoe on your Mac