Prepare your Mac for the upgrade to a new macOS operating system
Ensure that you are connected to a stable power supply. The worse thing that can happen is that your mac looses power or is turned off while installing the upgrade!
Ensure that you are connected to a stable power supply. The worse thing that can happen is that your mac looses power or is turned off while installing the upgrade!
Back-Up Data, Back-Up your Data!
The easiest way is to use Time Machine alternatively you can also use cloning software like Super Duper or Carbon Copy Cloner to make static backup of your computer.
Ideally, you do both, one Time Machine that is continuously backing up that allows you to roll back in time and retrieve files back by the hour - day - week - month. A static backup is stored on a separate drive that is stored in a secure location. You will have to periodically update this static backup.
Super-sensitive data like a book keeping or other important files, should have an additional copy on a USB flash drive.
Verify your backups!!!!!
Nothing is more painful than the need to restore your Mac from a backup only to determine that the backup has not been working.
Verify that Cloud based data storage is working
iCloud:
Log into iCloud.com and see if that you have stored in iCloud Drive - Mail - Contacts - Calendars and Photos is the same as on your Mac. While logged into your iCloud.com account, you can test the synchronization by changing a file and verify that it is updating across all your other Apple devices that are signed in with the same Apple iD.
Gmail (Google Workspace):
Log into google.com and see if that you have stored in Google Drive - Mail - Contacts - Calendars is the same as on your Mac. While logged into your Google account, you can test the synchronization by changing a file and verify that it is updating across all your other Apple devices that are signed in with the same Google account.
DropBox:
Log into DropBox.com and verify that what is showing in Finder is the same as online. While logged into your DropBox account you can test the synchronization by changing a file and verify that it is updating across all your other Apple devices that are signed in with the same DropBox account.
Repeat with all other cloud based storage service using the same methods as above.
Prepare a couple of hours to complete the process of preparing and installing the upgrade to a new macOS
Install upDates your Mac
Update for all Applications
Remove Applications you no longer use
Check in System Preferences that you are logged into iCloud
Restart the Mac and verify that everything is working
Install the upGrade
Take a break while your Mac is doing the work
Never disconnect power, shut down or close the lid off your Macbook!!!
Wait for your mac to reboot
Check in System Preferences that you are logged into iCloud
Update all applications
Reconnect Time Machine
Wait a week or so before making a new static back-up.
