There are several ways to help identify your Mac. The simplest is About This Mac, available by choosing About This Mac from the Apple menu in the upper-left corner of your screen. The other is the System Information app. Learn how to use these tools to identify your Mac.
I have a 2012 Mac Pro 5,1, running El Capitan. I wish to make it a dual-boot system, El Capitan and Mojave. I understand that I must install High Sierra preliminary to Mojave, and must install a 'metal'-capable graphics card (I've purchased, but not yet installed, a Sapphire PULSE Radeon RX 580). IMac Pro (all models) Mac Pro (Late 2013) Mac Pro (2010 or later with Metal-compatible GPU) Because of the need for graphics cards that support Metal with Mojave, the list is even shorter than it was with macOS High Sierra and that rules out the Late 2009 MacBook, the Mid-2010 MacBook Pro, Late 2010 MacBook Air, Mid-2010 Mac mini, and Late 2009.
If you don't have your Mac or it doesn't start up, use one of these solutions instead:
- Find the serial number printed on the underside of your Mac, near the regulatory markings. On previous Mac Pro models, the serial number is printed on the computer's back panel, below the video ports. It's also on the original packaging, next to a barcode label. You can then enter that serial number on the Check Coverage page to find your model.
- The original packaging might also show an Apple part number, such as MLH12xx/A ('xx' is a variable that differs by country or region). You can match the Apple part number to one in the list below to find your model.
List of Mac Pro models
Mac Pro models are organized by the year they were introduced, starting with the most recent. Click the model name for detailed technical specifications.
Mac Pro models introduced in 2013 and later can run the latest version of macOS. For models introduced before 2013, the latest compatible operating system is noted.
2019
Mac Pro (2019)
Model Identifier: MacPro7,1
Tech Specs: Mac Pro (2019)
Model Identifier: MacPro7,1
Tech Specs: Mac Pro (2019)
Mac Pro (Rack, 2019)
Model Identifier: MacPro7,1
Tech Specs: Mac Pro (Rack, 2019)
Model Identifier: MacPro7,1
Tech Specs: Mac Pro (Rack, 2019)
2013
Mac Pro (Late 2013)
Model Identifier: MacPro6,1
Part Numbers: ME253xx/A, MD878xx/A
Tech Specs: Mac Pro (Late 2013)
Model Identifier: MacPro6,1
Part Numbers: ME253xx/A, MD878xx/A
Tech Specs: Mac Pro (Late 2013)
2012
Mac Pro (Mid 2012)
Model Identifier: MacPro5,1
Part Numbers: MD770xx/A, MD771xx/A
Newest compatible operating system: macOS Mojave 10.14.6.*
Tech Specs: Mac Pro (Mid 2012)
Model Identifier: MacPro5,1
Part Numbers: MD770xx/A, MD771xx/A
Newest compatible operating system: macOS Mojave 10.14.6.*
Tech Specs: Mac Pro (Mid 2012)
Mac Pro Server (Mid 2012)
Model Identifier: MacPro5,1
Part Number: MD772xx/A
Newest compatible operating system: macOS Mojave 10.14.6.*
Tech Specs: Mac Pro Server (Mid 2012)
Model Identifier: MacPro5,1
Part Number: MD772xx/A
Newest compatible operating system: macOS Mojave 10.14.6.*
Tech Specs: Mac Pro Server (Mid 2012)
* To install macOS Mojave on Mac Pro models from 2012, a Metal-capable graphics card is required.
2010
The dicenomicon: starter mac os. Mac Pro (Mid 2010)
Model Identifier: MacPro5,1
Part Numbers: MC250xx/A, MC560xx/A, MC561xx/A
Newest compatible operating system: macOS Mojave 10.14.6.*
Tech Specs: Mac Pro (Mid 2010)
Model Identifier: MacPro5,1
Part Numbers: MC250xx/A, MC560xx/A, MC561xx/A
Newest compatible operating system: macOS Mojave 10.14.6.*
Tech Specs: Mac Pro (Mid 2010)
Mac Pro Server (Mid 2010)
Model Identifier: MacPro5,1
Part Number: MC915xx/A
Newest compatible operating system: macOS Mojave 10.14.6.*
Tech Specs: Mac Pro Server (Mid 2010)
Model Identifier: MacPro5,1
Part Number: MC915xx/A
Newest compatible operating system: macOS Mojave 10.14.6.*
Tech Specs: Mac Pro Server (Mid 2010)
* To install macOS Mojave on Mac Pro models from 2010, a Metal-capable graphics card is required.
2009
Mac Pro (Early 2009)
Model Identifier: MacPro4,1
Part Numbers: MB871xx/A, MB535xx/A
Newest compatible operating system: OS X El Capitan 10.11.6
Tech Specs: Mac Pro (Early 2009)
Model Identifier: MacPro4,1
Part Numbers: MB871xx/A, MB535xx/A
Newest compatible operating system: OS X El Capitan 10.11.6
Tech Specs: Mac Pro (Early 2009)
Learn more
To get the latest features and maintain the security, stability, compatibility, and performance of your Mac, it's important to keep your software up to date. Apple recommends that you always use the latest macOS that is compatible with your Mac.
Learn how to upgrade to macOS Big Sur, the latest version of macOS.
Apple Mac Pro 5.1
Check compatibility
If a macOS installer can't be used on your Mac, the installer will let you know. For example, it might say that it's too old to be opened on this version of macOS, or that your Mac doesn't have enough free storage space for the installation.
To confirm compatibility before downloading, check the minimum requirements for macOS Catalina, Mojave, High Sierra, Sierra, El Capitan, or Yosemite. You can also find compatibility information on the product-ID page for MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, MacBook, iMac, Mac mini, or Mac Pro.
Make a backup
Before installing, 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.
Download macOS
It takes time to download and install macOS, so make sure that you're plugged into AC power and have a reliable internet connection.
Safari uses these links to find the old installers in the App Store. After downloading from the App Store, the installer opens automatically.
- macOS Catalina 10.15 can upgrade Mojave, High Sierra, Sierra, El Capitan, Yosemite, Mavericks
- macOS Mojave 10.14 can upgrade High Sierra, Sierra, El Capitan, Yosemite, Mavericks, Mountain Lion
- macOS High Sierra 10.13 can upgrade Sierra, El Capitan, Yosemite, Mavericks, Mountain Lion
Safari downloads the following older installers as a disk image named InstallOS.dmg or InstallMacOSX.dmg. Open the disk image, then open the .pkg installer inside the disk image. It installs an app named Install [Version Name]. Open that app from your Applications folder to begin installing the operating system.
- macOS Sierra 10.12 can upgrade El Capitan, Yosemite, Mavericks, Mountain Lion, or Lion
- OS X El Capitan 10.11 can upgrade Yosemite, Mavericks, Mountain Lion, Lion, or Snow Leopard
- OS X Yosemite 10.10can upgrade Mavericks, Mountain Lion, Lion, or Snow Leopard
Install macOS
Follow the onscreen instructions in the installer. It might be 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.
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 macOS and related firmware updates.
Learn more
2009 Mac Pro Tower
You might also be able to 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.