Does Upgrade to High Sierra Alter Drives?

Upgrading to a new operating system can be an exciting time for users, as it brings with it new features, improved performance, and enhanced security. However, for those who rely on external drives for storing their data, the question of whether upgrading to macOS High Sierra will alter their drives is a crucial one. In this article, we will explore the potential impact of upgrading to High Sierra on external drives and provide some guidance on how to ensure a smooth transition.

When you upgrade to macOS High Sierra, the operating system may automatically install new drivers for your external drives. This is because High Sierra is designed to support a wide range of hardware, and it may require updated drivers to ensure compatibility. While this process is generally seamless, there are a few scenarios where upgrading to High Sierra could alter your drives in ways you may not expect.

One potential issue is that some external drives may not be compatible with High Sierra. This is particularly true for older or less popular models that may not have received official support from the manufacturer. If your drive is not compatible, upgrading to High Sierra could render it unusable, as the operating system may not recognize it or may cause it to malfunction.

Another concern is that the upgrade process may inadvertently format your external drive. This can happen if the drive is not properly unmounted before the upgrade or if there is an issue with the upgrade process itself. As a result, you may lose all the data stored on the drive. To prevent this, it is essential to back up your data before upgrading to High Sierra.

Here are some tips to ensure that your external drives remain unaffected by the upgrade to High Sierra:

1. Check Compatibility: Before upgrading, verify that your external drives are compatible with macOS High Sierra. You can do this by consulting the manufacturer’s website or the drive’s specifications.
2. Backup Your Data: To safeguard your data, back up your external drives to an external storage device or a cloud service. This will ensure that you can restore your files if the upgrade process causes any issues.
3. Unmount Drives: Make sure that all external drives are unmounted before upgrading to High Sierra. This will prevent the operating system from installing new drivers or formatting the drives during the upgrade process.
4. Use Time Machine: If you have a Time Machine backup, you can use it to restore your external drives to their previous state after the upgrade. This can be particularly helpful if you encounter any issues with your drives during the upgrade process.

In conclusion, while upgrading to macOS High Sierra can potentially alter your external drives, taking the necessary precautions can help ensure a smooth transition. By checking compatibility, backing up your data, unmounting drives, and using Time Machine, you can minimize the risk of losing data or encountering compatibility issues.