Dec 16, 2020 • Filed to: Solve Mac Problems • Proven solutions
- Apple said that would run happily on a late 2009 or later MacBook or iMac, or a 2010 or later MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, Mac mini or Mac Pro. If you Mac is supported read: How to update to Big Sur.
- Open System Preferences (you can click on the Apple logo in the menu to find it). Click on Software Update. Your computer will check for updates, and show that an update is available for your Mac.
- Click Upgrade Now to install any updates. Devon Delfino/Business Insider To make things easier, you can tick the box next 'Automatically keep my Mac up to date' so that you won't have to worry.
How to upgrade Mac Pro RAM. The Mac Pro used to be is Apple's most 'upgrade-friendly' product. Even the 2013 Mac Pro had a memory bay, although it is somewhat fiddly to access.
Mac users get new software updates and versions more frequently than the other operating systems. That's both the blessing and curse for the Mac users. The latest software makes your Mac device compatible with the new technological developments. Still, it also makes the existing OS obsolete. That's why most Mac users with old devices try to update their Mac to OS X El Capitan. However, you can't update your Mac to El Capitan 10.11 if your Mac runs on software later than Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard.
Is OS X El Capitan Still Available for Your Mac?
OS X El Capitan (10.11) was launched on 25 September 2015, and it is an improved version of OS X Yosemite (10.10). Improved window management, quick and responsive interface, spotlight search, and enhanced graphics were the prerequisites of El Capitan OS. However, if you are planning to update your Mac to OS X El Capitan, your device must fulfill the following requirements.
Space Requirements
You can't install OS X El Capitan unless your Mac has a free space of 8.8 GB. However, that's the space you need to install El Capitan on your Mac. You might have to free more space to run your Mac more smoothly because low space slows down system performance.
Hardware Compatibility
Most of the Mac models can install and run OS X El Capitan, but in some devices, you can't use full features of this OS due to hardware limitations. For instance, you can't use AirDrop on your Mac if you don't have a WiFi network compatible with PAN. The followings are devices that are compatible with OS X El Capitan.
- MacBook introduced in 2009 or later, plus MacBook (13-inch, Aluminum, Late 2008)
- MacBook Air introduced in late 2008 or later
- MacBook Pro introduced in mid-2007 or later
- Mac mini introduced in early 2009 or later
- iMac introduced in mid-2007 or later
- Mac Pro introduced in early 2008 or later
- Xserve models introduced in early 2009
RAM Compatibility
RAM is the temporary memory that supports the system to run apps and programs efficiently. Without enough RAM, trust me, you can't even run your native operating system smoothly. Similarly, you can't install El Capitan unless you have 2 GB RAM on your Mac.
Operating System Compatibility
Operating systems play a critical role in creating an operational environment for both the software and the hardware. If you have decided to update your Mac PC, you have to make sure that your device doesn't run the OS later than Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10. 6. 8.
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After you are done with checking the compatibility of your Mac device, it's time to follow some pre rituals to prepare your device for Mac OS X El Capitan 10.11. These steps are mandatory for the successful installation of El Capitan OS into your Mac, and Apple also suggests them.
Get Your Mac Ready for El Capitan Update
Unprepared installation of a new operating system can result in disappointment. Remember that you are going to get a relatively new OS for your older Mac. To increase the hardware compatibility of your Mac, you must go through a checklist for successful installation of OS X El Capitan.
Space in your Mac: This includes freeing space both on RAM and Disk drive. 2 GB RAM and 8.8 GB of disk space are mandatory because the installer would not proceed without the fulfillment of these hardware requirements.
Minimum battery requirement: During the OS update, a computer consumes battery quicker than the regular operations. Your Mac needs to have at least 45% battery to pass through the El Capitan installation.
Active Internet Connection: You can't proceed with any OS installation without an active internet connection. Along with the installation package, your Mac would also need some side installations throughout the update. Without the support of these plugins and drivers, you would be back to square one. So, an active connection is a must.
Update Apps Online blackjack rigged. : Outdated apps can halt the process of updating your Mac. As soon as the installation of Mac OS X El Capitan completes, you face a software crisis. Most of your apps would stop working, leaving you with a headache. That's why don't forget to update your apps before starting the update.
Backup Your Data: There's a high chance that you would lose your data during Mac OS X EI Capitan update because the new OS makes changes in every nook and corner of your PC. To prevent the possible data loss, make a double back up—one in the Time Machine and other in the external storage device. If there is any file missing after the El Capitan update, check how to recover files after OS X update.
Begin Update Process
Your device is ready to embrace Mac OS X El Capitan 10.11 after going through the steps mentioned earlier. Now it's time for some real action.
Step 1Visit the official Mac App Store and search for Mac OS X El Capitan. Your search result would Stake you to the El Capitan page. You can also download El Capitan without the App Store by the following links.
Step 2From the official El Capitan page, you can download your required version.
Step 3Once the download is done, the El Capitan installer will pop up on your screen.
Step 4 https://of-luck-streak-bonushalo-jjp.peatix.com. Press the 'Continue' button and wait for the installation to begin. You can proceed with the installation by following the instructions of the installer.
Step 5The installation process does not take a long time. Once the installation is done, you can restore your data from Time Machine or external drive.
Recover Lost Files After OS X El Capitan Update
Do you remember those pre-installation steps? Those steps were taken to minimize the chances of data loss during the Mac OS X El Capitan installation. Despite these precautions, you are still at the risk of unprecedented data loss. You can lose data due to the following reasons.
Data loss due to corrupted files: If your Mac contains corrupted files, you will lose your data. During installation, the new OS tries to fix or delete corrupted files. These overwritten or deleted files would not appear after installation.
Nature of Mac OS X El Capitan's update: You will replace your older OS with a new version that is not tailor-made for your Mac. That's a significant shift in the environment of your Mac. Such kinds of major updates come with uncertainty, and you can't predict whether you are going to lose your data or not.
Hardware specifications: 2 GB RAM and 8.8 GB disk space is a standard requirement for El Capitan's update. But it takes a lot more from a Mac device to adapt to a newly enforced environment. A slight incompatibility can make you lose your data without any notice.
Lost Your Data After Mac OS X El Capitan: What's Next?
Data loss is one of the anticipated drawbacks of the installation of Mac OS X El Capitan. If you have lost your data after while updating your Mac and don't know what's next, it's time to get expert help.
Recoverit Data Recovery can be used for getting your documents, audio clips, videos, and photos back after Mac OS update. It uses high-tech codecs that are compatible with more than a thousand formats of files. Here are all the good reasons to trust Recoverit Data Recovery. App locker mac.
- Junk free installation for the data security of their users;
- High compatibility with Mac on different versions;
- Works effectively with every storage device: hard drive, USB drive, SD card, etc.;
- Deep scanning feature;
- Straightforward interface and quick data recovery.
How To Upgrade Mac To Catalina
Mac users can retrieve their lost data after OS X El Capitan Update by following these steps.
Step 1Download Recoverit and tap on its icon to launch it on your Mac
(If you can't find the Recoverit icon on your desktop, you can use Finder to search it.)
(If you can't find the Recoverit icon on your desktop, you can use Finder to search it.)
Step 2After running Recoverit successfully on your Mac, now choose the following options.
Step 3Select the location of the drive you want to recover files.
Step 4Use the 'Start' button to scan it. Scan retrieves all the data of your selected drive.
Step 5Using the option to 'Preview and Recover,' you can choose the files that you want to recover, and you are done.
Wrap Up
New updates always come with uncertainty for the old devices. However, you can reverse your loss of data by taking the precautionary steps. Despite these steps, you might lose a few of your files. But don't worry, an ace software like Recoverit can recover your data.
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Mac Upgrades (How to Upgrade Your Mac)
As requested by readers, this single page provides direct links to upgrade related Q&As for G3 and later Macs for your convenience. It is hoped that these Q&As will help you get the most out of your notebook or desktop Mac regardless of its age.
If you are not sure which Mac you have, look it up with EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Lookup feature or the EveryMac app. Need help? Refer to Mac Identification.
If you find this page useful, please Bookmark & Share it. Thank you.
Upgrade Instructions - G3 & Later Notebook Macs:
MacBook Air M1 (A2337) Ext. Storage Ethernet Battery | MacBook Pro M1 13' (A2338) Ext. Storage Ethernet Hub/Dock Battery | |
MacBook 12' (A1534) Ext. Storage Battery | MacBook Pro Touch Bar Ext. Storage eGPU Battery | MacBook Pro 13' Retina Storage SD Card Battery |
MacBook Pro 13' 2009-2012 RAM Hard Drive Data Doubler SD Card Battery | MacBook Pro 15' 2009-2012 RAM Hard Drive Data Doubler SD Card Battery | |
MacBook Pro 17' 2009-2011 RAM Hard Drive Data Doubler Battery | MacBook Pro 17' Early 2009 RAM Hard Drive Data Doubler Battery | MacBook Pro 15' 2008 RAM Hard Drive Data Doubler |
MacBook Pro Pre-Unibody RAM Hard Drive | MacBook Air 2013-2017 Storage SD Card Battery | MacBook Air 2012 Storage SD Card Battery |
MacBook Air 2010-2011 Storage SD Card Battery | Al MacBook Unibody (2008) RAM Hard Drive Data Doubler | |
White MacBook Unibody (A1342) RAM Hard Drive Data Doubler Battery | MacBook (A1181) White/Black RAM Hard Drive | PowerBook G4 (Ti & Al) RAM Hard Drive |
iBook White/PowerPC RAM Hard Drive Optical Drive | Clamshell iBook 1999-2000 RAM Hard Drive Optical Drive | PowerBook G3 Black/PowerPC Processor RAM Hard Drive Expansion Bays |
Upgrade Instructions - G3 & Later Desktop Macs:
iMac Pro Dark Gray Processor RAM SSD Ext. Storage | iMac 21.5' & 27' Alum. 2012-Now Processor RAM Hard Drive/SSD | iMac 21.5' & 27' Alum. 2009-2011 Processor RAM Hard Drive/SSD |
iMac 20' & 24' Aluminum Processor RAM Hard Drive | iMac White Intel Processor RAM Hard Drive | iMac G5 (2004-2005) RAM Hard Drive |
iMac G4 'Flat-Panel' RAM Hard Drive Optical Drive AirPort Card | iMac G3 (Gumdrop) Processor RAM Hard Drive Optical Drive AirPort Card | eMac (2002-2005) RAM Hard Drive Optical Drive |
Mac mini M1 (A2348) Ext. Storage Keyboard | Mac mini Space Gray RAM Ext. Storage | Mac mini Alu. 2011-2014 RAM Hard Drive |
Mac mini Alu. 2010 RAM Hard Drive | Intel Mac mini Polycarbonate Processor RAM Hard Drive | Mac mini Original (G4) RAM Hard Drive Optical Drive |
Mac Pro Late 2013 Processor RAM Storage Graphics Cards | Mac Pro 2010/2012 Processors RAM Hard Drives Optical Drives Video Cards PCI Cards | Mac Pro Early 2009 Processors RAM Hard Drives Optical Drives Video Cards PCI Cards How to take a photo on mac. |
Mac Pro Early 2008 Processors RAM Hard Drives Optical Drives Video Cards PCI Cards | Mac Pro Original Processors RAM Hard Drives Optical Drives Video Cards PCI Cards | Power Mac G5 (2003-2006) RAM Hard Drives Optical Drive PCI Cards |
Power Mac G4 (1999-2004) Processor(s) RAM Hard Drive(s) Optical Drive Zip Drive | Power Mac G4 Cube Processor RAM Hard Drive Optical Drive Video Card AirPort Card | Power Mac G3 (1997-1999) Processor RAM Hard Drive Optical Drive Zip Drive |
Have a question about your Mac that isn't directly upgrade related? Refer to EveryMac.com's main Q&As section.
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