User level: Level 1 (4 points)I have a beautiful iMac 2020. Apple no longer support updates, basically forcing an up grade to newer architecture. I get that but my system still meets my needs can anyone advice a cheaper work around than new system. Only 6 years old, technology changes quickly but should be supported. Any advice?
Posted on Oct 15, 2026 2:31 PM
User level: Level 9 (55,707 points)Oct 15, 2026 4:32 PM in response to Alfie005
The iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2020) is one of only a handful of Intel-based Macs that can run macOS 26 (Tahoe).
Tahoe is one of the "most recent three" that
and will be until macOS 29 comes out in the Fall of 2028.
Even after that, Tahoe may be enough to keep up with current versions of third-party applications such as Firefox and LibreOffice for several years.
User level: Level 10 (242,520 points)Oct 15, 2026 2:55 PM in response to Alfie005
If it still does what you need it to do, then keep it, and use it as is.
There is no workaround to get an update it cannot support if that is what you are aiming at.
2020 iMacs can update to macOS 26 Tahoe which is just below the current macOS 27 Golden Gate and which at this point is still very much supported by Apple with Security patches and vulnerability fixes, and will continue to receive them at least for 2 more years. Also, pretty muchy every App developer will still support Tahoe for app updates at this point and for the forseeable future.
There is no real pressing need to buy a new Mac, speically if your current one still does what you need it to do.
The current release for Tahoe is 26.7.1. Make sure your Mac is updated to that version by going to System Settings ➜ General ➜ Software Updates.
click here ➜ Update macOS on Mac - Apple Support
User level: Level 7 (21,929 points)Oct 16, 2026 6:19 PM in response to Phil0124
If you switch to the Firefox browser, you will keep getting updates for that after Apple has stopped.
User level: Level 7 (20,243 points)Oct 15, 2026 7:49 PM in response to Alfie005
Alfie005 wrote:
I have a beautiful iMac 2020. Apple no longer support updates, basically forcing an up grade to newer architecture. I get that but my system still meets my needs can anyone advice a cheaper work around than new system. Only 6 years old, technology changes quickly but should be supported. Any advice?
The iMacs with their elegant screens are certainly very functional and fun to use as well. They have plenty of ports and good WiFi (or ethernet) capabilities. With a fast internal SSD it's a great computer. I have a 2019 MacBook Pro 16" which is also plenty fast and is on Tahoe (but cannot run macOS 27, too old like yours).
If machines like these are running well and there are no apps that require something past Tahoe, there is no reason to replace them, until you have to, or simply want to. Software from Adobe, Microsoft, Intuit (TurboTax) all run on these Macs and will continue to do so for another year or more. You also continue to get security updates for more than another two years at least.
What to watch for is signs of hardware wearing out. You are ok on the macOS and other software front. With these older Macs, having good backups is key, as the older they get the more likely it is that something will fail.
User level: Level 1 (4 points)Oct 15, 2026 3:07 PM in response to Phil0124
Thanks I will watch out for the update
Originally posted at discussions.apple.com/thread/256376869