macOS High Sierra, the next generation of Mac software, is now available as a public beta.
Apple has been offering public betas for macOS for a couple of years now as a way for those interested in testing out the upcoming software on their Macs, and providing feedback. If that's you, you'll need to sign up, enroll your Mac, download macOS High Sierra, and install it. It's not an overly complicated process, but we're here to walk you through it and, if you need it, a place to get extra help.
How to make a back up of your Mac
Before joining the public beta, you need to make a backup of your Mac
- Click on the Time Machine icon in your Mac Menubar.
- Click on Backup now.
Let the backup finish before proceeding.
Note: If you're not adverse to the Terminal, you can also make a bootable Sierra installer as way to jumpstart reversion, if needed.
How to register your account for the macOS High Sierra public beta
If you've already joined a public beta for macOS in the past, you don't need to register again for macOS High Sierra. Simply sign in with the same Apple ID. If you've never joined a public beta before, you'll need to start by signing up with your Apple ID.
- Go to beta.apple.com in Safari on your Mac.
- Click on Sign up to get started. (If you've already signed up for a previous public beta, Click on Sign in and skip to "How to enroll your Mac", below.)
- Enter you Apple ID email address and password.
- Click Sign in.
Once you're signed up and signed in, it's time to start downloading.
How to install the macOS High Sierra public beta
The macOS High Sierra installer will automatically open when it's downloaded. If it doesn't, or if you prefer to do it later, you open Install macOS High Sierra Public Beta at any time via Spotlight or Launchpad, or from the Application folder in the Finder.
- Launch Install macOS High Sierra Public Beta app, if it's not launched already.
- Click Continue at the bottom.
- If prompted to make a backup, and you didn't before, click Continue in the dropdown. If you just made a backup, click Cancel.
- Click Continue at the bottom once your backup completes, or if you skipped it.
- Click Agree to accept the licensing terms.
- Click Agree again to confirm.
- Click on the drive you want to install onto (if you have multiple options; most people won't.)
- Click Install.
- Enter you administrator password and click OK.
- Click Restart (if your Mac doesn't restart automatically, or you don't want to wait).
Once your Mac reboots, it'll be running macOS High Sierra. There's a brief bit of setup you'll need to go through, however, as the system will have changed enough that it'll need your login to complete the update.
Once that's done, you'll be ready to rock macOS High Sierra.