The macOS High Sierra update is big, but for most users, the longest part of the upgrade is the installation. If you’re ready, it won’t be long before the new upgrade installs on your MacBook, MacBook Air, iMac, MacBook Pro or other Mac.
Apple’s High Sierra update arrived in late 2017 with lots of new features for your Mac. The new macOS 10.13.5 update is smaller and more focused, but still takes some time to install.
The macOS High Sierra update is massive, and if you’re not coming from macOS Sierra, you may see an even larger update size. One of the most frequently asked questions is, “How long will it take for the macOS High Sierra update to complete?”
Upgrading from macOS Sierra to macOS High Sierra takes longer. If you are already using macOS High Sierra and need to install the latest version like macOS 10.13.5, it will take at least 20 minutes to install. Plan to take some time for this update, when you won’t be able to use your computer.
Task | Time |
---|---|
Backup to Time Machine (Optional) | 5 minutes a day |
macOS High Sierra Download | 20 minutes to 1 hour |
macOS High Sierra Installation Time | 20 to 50 minutes |
Total macOS High Sierra Update Time | 45 minutes to one hour 50 minutes |
We don’t know exactly how long your macOS High Sierra update will take, as download times will vary depending on your Internet connection and device. We can help you determine the most likely time it will take you to complete the upgrade.
One of the biggest factors will be whether you’re ready for the macOS High Sierra update with a Time Machine backup. Otherwise, it may take a long time to complete. Below you can see how much time you should plan for each of the main steps you need to take to install High Sierra.
Prepare for macOS High Sierra
You don’t need to do a Time Machine Backup before installing macOS High Sierra, but we recommend taking this step and following the other preparation we’ve outlined in What to do before installing macOS High Sierra.
This will take a little longer, especially if you don’t have a valid Time Machine backup, but it’s something you should do if you don’t have any other backup strategy.
macOS High Sierra Download Time
Count on a long macOS High Sierra download time.
The biggest wildcard is how long it takes to download macOS High Sierra. This will vary depending on your Internet connection and the number of people you try to download the update. If you can’t see the update, Click here to view on the App Store.
Nothing to see the remaining update time jump from one hour to eight hours and back to one hour in the first day or two of release. Plan to spend at least an hour on this, possibly longer.
You can continue to use your Mac while you download macOS High Sierra. This will take less time for smaller macOS 10.13 updates than a full upgrade from macOS Sierra.
macOS High Sierra installation Time
This is the last screen you’ll see before the macOS High Sierra installation is complete.
If all goes well, the macOS High Sierra installation time will take around 30 to 45 minutes to complete. This assumes nothing goes wrong and would be the best case scenario.
When you install a smaller update like macOS High Sierra 10.13.5, expect it to take around 20 minutes to install, but it could take us half an hour. This was on the 2016 MacBook Pro and your times may vary on older computers.
The computer will reboot multiple times and you will see different countdowns showing how much time is left. You will see different countdowns and when you see the Installation Completing message: About 10 minutes left, you should be in the last part of the installation. You cannot use your Mac while the installation is taking place.