Updating macOS usually goes smoothly, but a few minutes of preparation help. These apps help you back up your Mac, free up space, and keep your files safe before you click Update. macOS 27 Golden Gate runs only on Macs with Apple silicon. To check your chip, choose Apple menu > About This Mac.
- Chip (e.g., Apple M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, or A18 Pro): Your Mac is compatible with macOS 27 Golden Gate.
- Processor (e.g., Intel Core i5/i7/i9): Your Mac has an Intel processor and cannot upgrade to macOS 27.
Back up before you do anything else
A backup is the one step you shouldn't skip. Get Backup Pro backs up your whole Mac or only the folders you choose, and uses compressed, incremental backups to save space. It can also create a bootable clone, so you can get back to work quickly if something goes wrong.
To start, open Get Backup Pro, create a new backup plan, choose what to copy and where to save it. Set a schedule, then turn on Stealth mode to close the app automatically when the backup finishes.
Tip: Keep the backup for a week after upgrading, until you're sure everything works as it should.
Make room for the update
macOS 27 installs Apple Intelligence automatically, and there's no longer a switch to turn it off. Apple says it needs up to 14GB of storage on Macs with an M3 chip or later and at least 12GB of memory, and up to 8GB on other Macs. Some users report 20GB or more. To check your own number, open System Settings > General > Storage.
Open CleanMyMac and click Scan to run Smart Care. Review what it found, then click Run. To see what's taking up the most space, open Space Lens for a visual map, and use My Clutter to find duplicates, old downloads, and large files you no longer need.
Be ready to recover lost files
If a file goes missing during the update, iBoysoft Data Recovery scans your Mac or connected drives and helps you get it back. It supports more than 1,000 file formats, and you can preview files before recovering them, so you only restore what you need.
Tip: Recovery works best when you act fast and avoid saving new files to the same drive.
Check your Mac and your logins
Start from a clean system. Moonlock scans for malware and suspicious files, so you don’t carry problems into the new macOS. Open the Malware Scanner tab, choose a scan depth, and run it. A quick scan is enough before an update.
Hope this how-to will help you solve tasks faster, and enjoy solving them, too! Check out more how-tos picked for you below.
