do i need to backup my mac before upgrading

The same installer is used for both types but the steps involved are a bit different for each.Ĭlean Install: This type of installation is used when you want to completely remove all traces of a previous version of the OS. Like most versions of the Mac OS, Catalina allows you to perform two types of installs: an upgrade install and a clean install.

Move files to an external storage driveįor more details on how to clear some space on your Mac, see our recent article, How to Free Up Storage Space on your Mac.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.

Delete media files like movies, shows and music.

Move files and photos to iCloud storage.

If you don’t have at least 20 GB available, you can do some of the following things to clear some storage space on your storage drive: See also: How To Delete Music From Your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch or Mac If you are running short on space, there are many things you can do to free up the necessary space. The amount of free storage space you need may be up to 20 GB.

When you upgrade to Big Sur, you’re going to need some space on your Mac to download the upgrade.

If you need more than the free 5GB of iCloud storage, you can purchase a storage plan starting at $0.99 for 50GB (U.S.). You can also share your files through iCloud Drive. With iCloud Drive, your files will be saved in cloud storage and will be available on all your devices. You can also choose to use iCloud to backup/store some of your most important files like your photos, documents and your music. See also: Sound Not Working On Mac? Fix iCloud For more details on how to make backups using Time Machine, see our recent article on the topic, How to Back Up your Mac with Time Machine. In order to use Time Machine to back up your Mac, you will need an external device, usually an external hard disk, to store your backups. With Time Machine, you can set up regular backups that happen automatically, or you can do a single backup. Time Machine comes with all Macs and is designed to be a complete backup solution. Mac Running Slow, Noisy Fan: accountsd High CPU Usage.You can use Time Machine or iCloud to make sure your files and data are safely backed up. Before you upgrade your computer, you should make a complete backup.

Do i need to backup my mac before upgrading