Theoretically, sometime later today, Apple will officially release macOS Sierra. One way to tell is to fire up the Mac App Store. I suspect Apple will make it big and obvious, with macOS Sierra presence right there on the front page. You can also type macOS Sierra in the search field or tap on the Updates tab to see what’s new.
If you are new to macOS Sierra, take a few minutes to look through Apple’s official Sierra home page and, perhaps more importantly, their How to Upgrade page.
From the How to Upgrade page:
Before you upgrade, we recommend that you back up your Mac. You should also have your Apple ID and password handy. Then, if your Mac is running OS X Lion 10.7.5 or later, you can upgrade directly to macOS Sierra.
If you follow no other piece of advice, follow this one. Back up your Mac before you start. A major OS upgrade is never bulletproof. In fact, you might also take a few minutes to read this post from Mac Kung Fu: Help! macOS Sierra won’t install on my Mac!, paying special attention to the section entitled, “Before you install!”
Some sage advice there.
Wondering if your Mac is compatible? Here’s the list:
- MacBook (Late 2009 or newer)
- MacBook Pro (Mid 2010 or newer)
- MacBook Air (Late 2010 or newer)
- Mac mini (Mid 2010 or newer)
- iMac (Late 2009 or newer)
- Mac Pro (Mid 2010 or newer)
If your Mac is one of these, you’re in. To find out your Mac model, click the Apple menu, then About This Mac.
Best of luck. See you on the other side.