macOS Big Sur elevates the most advanced desktop operating system in the world to a new level of power and beauty. Experience Mac to the fullest with a refined new design. Enjoy the biggest Safari update ever. Discover new features for Maps and Messages. And get even more transparency around your privacy.

• How To Upgrade From Mountain Lion To Catalina
• Can You Upgrade From Mountain Lion To Catalina
• Can I Upgrade From Mountain Lion To Catalina

Check compatibility

MacOS Big Sur elevates Mac to a new level of power and beauty with a refined new design, major app updates, and more transparency around your privacy. Carbon Copy Cloner 4.1.24 is compatible with Mountain Lion (10.8), Mavericks (10.9), Yosemite (10.10), El Capitan(10.11), Sierra (10.12) and High Sierra (10.13). Note that while this version of CCC may work on El Capitan and newer OSes, we recommend that El Capitan+ users upgrade to CCC 5.

macOS Big Sur is compatible with these computers:

MacBook introduced in 2015 or later
MacBook Air introduced in 2013 or later
MacBook Pro introduced in late 2013 or later
Mac mini introduced in 2014 or later
iMac introduced in 2014 or later
iMac Pro
Mac Pro introduced in 2013 or later
View the complete list of compatible computers.

If upgrading from macOS Sierra or later, macOS Big Sur requires 35.5GB of available storage to upgrade. If upgrading from an earlier release, macOS Big Sur requires up to 44.5GB of available storage. To upgrade from OS X Mountain Lion, first upgrade to OS X El Capitan, then upgrade to macOS Big Sur.

Make a backup

Before installing any upgrade, it’s a good idea to back up your Mac. Time Machine makes it simple, and other backup methods are also available. Learn how to back up your Mac.

Get connected

It takes time to download and install macOS, so make sure that you have a reliable Internet connection. If you're using a Mac notebook computer, plug it into AC power.

Download macOS Big Sur

If you're using macOS Mojave or later, get macOS Big Sur via Software Update: Choose Apple menu  > System Preferences, then click Software Update.

Or use this link to open the macOS Big Sur page on the App Store: Get macOS Big Sur. Then click the Get button or iCloud download icon.

Begin installation

After downloading, the installer opens automatically.

Click Continue and follow the onscreen instructions. You might find it easiest to begin installation in the evening so that it can complete overnight, if needed.

If the installer asks for permission to install a helper tool, enter the administrator name and password that you use to log in to your Mac, then click Add Helper.

Allow installation to complete

Please allow installation to complete without putting your Mac to sleep or closing its lid. Your Mac might restart, show a progress bar, or show a blank screen several times as it installs both macOS and related updates to your Mac firmware.

Stay up to date

After installing macOS Big Sur, you will be notified when updates to macOS Big Sur are available. You can also use Software Update to check for updates: Choose Apple menu  > System Preferences, then click Software Update.

How To Upgrade From Mountain Lion To Catalina

Or get macOS Big Sur automatically

If you're using OS X El Capitan v10.11.5 or later and your App Store preferences or Software Update preferences are set to download new updates when available, macOS Big Sur will download conveniently in the background, making it even easier to upgrade. A notification will inform you when macOS Big Sur is ready to be installed. Click Install to get started, or dismiss the notification to install later. When you're ready to install, just open the file named Install macOS Big Sur from your Applications folder.

Learn more

• If the installer shows a list of apps that are not optimized for your Mac, learn about 32-bit app compatibility, then choose whether to proceed with the installation.
• For the strongest security and latest features, upgrade to macOS Big Sur. If you have hardware or software that isn't compatible with Big Sur, you might be able to install an earlier macOS.
• You can also use macOS Recovery to reinstall the macOS you're using now, upgrade to the latest compatible macOS, or install the macOS that came with your Mac.

Carbon Copy Cloner requires macOS. CCC will not run on Windows.

Carbon Copy Cloner 5 is the latest version available. Users running Yosemite (10.10), El Capitan (10.11), Sierra (10.12), High Sierra (10.13), Mojave (10.14), or Catalina (10.15) should use this version of CCC. If you are having trouble downloading CCC from the link above, try this alternate download location.

Upgrading from CCC 4? CCC 5 is a paid upgrade. CCC 4 Personal and Household licenses purchased prior to May 22, 2017 are eligible for upgrade pricing. When you open CCC 5, it will automatically retrieve your new license or an upgrade coupon that you can use to purchase CCC 5 at 50% off. CCC 4 licenses purchased on or after May 22, 2017 are eligible for a free CCC 5 upgrade license.

CCC 5: Support for macOS 11 Big Sur

Can You Upgrade From Mountain Lion To Catalina

CCC 5.1.22 (and later) is qualified for macOS 11 Big Sur. Open CCC and choose 'Check for updates...' from the Carbon Copy Cloner to get the update, or click the 'Download CCC 5' button above. Please take a moment to review the following resources prior to upgrading to macOS Big Sur:

Carbon Copy Cloner 4.1.24 is compatible with Mountain Lion (10.8), Mavericks (10.9), Yosemite (10.10), El Capitan(10.11), Sierra (10.12) and High Sierra (10.13). Note that while this version of CCC may work on El Capitan and newer OSes, we recommend that El Capitan+ users upgrade to CCC 5. We offer technical support for CCC 4, but we are no longer actively developing it. If you are having trouble downloading CCC from the link above, try this alternate download location.

CCC 4 and Mojave+: CCC 4 is qualified up to macOS High Sierra. CCC 4 license holders are welcome to continue using CCC 4 on later OSes with the understanding that this is an untested and unsupported configuration. CCC 5 is fully qualified on macOS Mojave and offers extensive support for APFS, including support for point-in-time restores via APFS filesystem snapshots.

Unsupported Versions

Can I Upgrade From Mountain Lion To Catalina

Download CCC 3.5.7 for use on Snow Leopard (10.6) and Lion (10.7). Download CCC 3.4.7 for use on Tiger (10.4) and Leopard (10.5). CCC 3.4.7 and 3.5.7 are provided as-is; we regret that we cannot offer any support for the installation or use of these older versions of CCC.