Apple’s latest version of OS X is called El Capitan (officially, it’s version 10.11). El Capitan does some fine-tuning to the Mac operating system, and it also has major updates to Safari, Mail, Notes, Maps, and Photos. It’s scheduled to be released on Wednesday, September 30.
Before you upgrade to El Capitan, it helps to perform a few tasks first. This will help ensure that your upgrade moves along smoothly. After you prep your Mac, you can update OS X as soon as Apple releases it, though it’s understandable if you rather wait until the first update to El Capitan in case you’re worried about bugs.
Not familiar with El Capitan? Our El Capitan FAQ is a good place to start to learn more.
Here’s how to get your Mac ready for El Capitan.
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Compatible hardware
These Macs are compatible with El Capitan. https://renewer481.weebly.com/blog/how-to-report-memo-in-quicken-2018-for-mac.
- iMac (Mid 2007 or newer)
- MacBook (Late 2008 Aluminum, or Early 2009 or newer)
- MacBook Pro (Mid/Late 2007 or newer)
- MacBook Air (Late 2008 or newer)
- Mac mini (Early 2009 or newer)
- Mac Pro (Early 2008 or newer)
The general minimum requirements call for 2GB of memory, 8GB of available storage, and an Internet connection for some features. You can run a Mac with 2GB of memory, but this is a good opportunity to upgrade to 4GB or 8GB. As for available storage space, 8GB is enough to run the installer, but more is always better. Here are some tips for freeing up storage space.
Keep in mind that the older your Mac, the greater the possibility that some features won’t work. For example Handoff and Continuity, which were introduced with OS X Yosemite, require hardware that supports Bluetooth LE.
Older versions of OS X eligible for upgrade
According to Apple, these older OS X operating systems can be upgraded to El Capitan.
- OS X Snow Leopard (version 10.6.8)
- OS X Lion (version 10.7)
- OS X Mountain Lion (version 10.8)
- OS X Mavericks (version 10.9)
If you’re running a version of Snow Leopard prior to version 10.6.8, you must upgrade to that version. You can do this by clicking on the Apple icon in the upper left of the menu bar and selecting Software Update (your Mac needs to be connected to the Internet).
The reason why you need at least Snow Leopard 10.6.8 to upgrade to El Capitan is that Apple distributes OS X through the App Store. The App Store requires Snow Leopard 10.6.6, but Apple made enhancements in version 10.6.8 that the App Store requires.
If you’re running OS X Leopard (version 10.5), you need to upgrade to Snow Leopard before you can upgrade to El Capitan. Unfortunately, you can’t do it through an Internet connection and it will cost you $20. You have to buy the Mac OS X Snow Leopard installation disc from Apple. After you upgrade, you can then upgrade to El Capitan by using the App Store online.
Verify your storage device
This is a good opportunity to check the health of your storage device. Launch Disk Utility (found in Applications/Utilities), and select your startup partition in the left column (located under your storage device’s name; it may have the same name if there’s only one partition on your storage device). Then click Verify Disk.
Any problems require you to boot from a different startup volume in order to make repairs. Lion, Mountain Lion, and Mavericks user can boot into OS X Recovery (a.k.a. Lion Recovery in Lion) by holding down Command-R at startup. You can then use Disk Utility to repair your storage device. Snow Leopard users can use the installation disc as a boot drive and run Disk Utility.
To perform a more thorough examination of your Mac hardware, you can run Apple Diagnostics (for Macs released on or after June 2013) or Apple Hardware Test (for Macs released before June 2013). If you find a problem using these tests, you may need to see a Genius at your local Apple Store.
Install OS and Apple app updates
Reviews of 2018 quicken for mac. It’s a good idea to update your pre-El Capitan OS to the latest version (for example, as mention earlier, from Snow Leopard 10.6.6 to 10.6.8). You can do this either in the Updates section of the App Store or through Software Update in the Apple menu.
Check for updates to your important third-party apps
Most developers work hard to make sure their software is compatible with the new version of OS X, so often updates are released prior to the upgrade’s released date.
If you buy your software through Apple’s App Store, you can check for updates there by launching the App Store app and clicking on Updates. For apps you didn’t buy in the App Store, you’ll need to check each developer’s website on your own. You can also try checking RoaringApp’s software compatibility list.
There’s a reason I used “important” in the title for this section. If you have a lot of apps that you didn’t buy in the App Store, it can take a lot of work to find updates. So first update the apps you use most often, and then you can update the other apps when you have the time.
Back up your data
Anything you’re about to make major changes to your Mac, you need to back up your data. You can use Time Machine or a third-party backup app, or you can clone your storage device using a utility like SuperDuper or Carbon Copy Cloner.
A clone is what it sounds like, an exact copy of your drive, so you can use it as a boot drive if the situation warrants it. Time Machine is nice because it keeps multiple versions of your documents, but it takes longer to restore from a Time Machine backup.
Encryption: Third-party and FileVault
Disable any third-party full-disk encryption software you are running. If a problem occurs during the El Capitan upgrade with the third-party encryption, you might not be able to access your data. after your El Capitan upgrade is complete, check with the software developer about El Capitan compatibility before your re-activate the encryption.
If you are upgrading from Snow Leopard and you’re using FileVault, you should disable FileVault before upgrading. When you’re done upgrading, you can start using FileVault 2, which is an improvement over FileVault.
Next up: El Capitan installation
Preparation is everything, and these tips will help make for a smooth upgrade to El Capitan. Fortunately, performing a standard upgrade is easy. Here are instructions on how to upgrade to El Capitan.
Getting Ready For School Checklist
Moving to a new Mac?
Learn how to move your files to your new Mac. Do this before you erase the hard drive or follow any other steps.
Create a backup
Be sure you have an up-to-date backup of your important files and data. Learn how to back up your data in macOS.
Sign out of iTunes
Open iTunes. From the menu bar at the top of your computer screen or at the top of the iTunes window, choose Account > Authorizations > Deauthorize This Computer.
When prompted, enter your Apple ID and password. Then click Deauthorize.
Learn more about deauthorizing your computer using iTunes, including how to deauthorize all the computers you've used with your iTunes account.
Sign out of iCloud
Choose Apple () menu > System Preferences, click iCloud, and then click the Sign Out button.
A dialog asks whether you want to keep a copy of your iCloud data on the Mac. Because you'll reformat the hard drive in a later step, just click Keep a Copy to proceed.
![Checklist Checklist](/uploads/1/3/3/3/133300948/929361628.png)
After you sign out of iCloud, your iCloud data remains in iCloud and on any other devices you've signed into with your Apple ID.
Sign out of iMessage
If you're using OS X Mountain Lion or later, sign out of iMessage.
In the Messages app, choose Messages > Preferences, then click Accounts. Select your iMessage account, then click Sign Out.
If you're keeping paired Bluetooth devices, unpair them (optional)
If you have Bluetooth devices — such as keyboards, mice, or trackpads — paired with your Mac, and you plan to keep these devices, you can unpair them. This optional step prevents accidental input on the Mac if the computer and the Bluetooth devices have separate owners but remain within Bluetooth range of one another.
Getting Your Mac Ready For School 2018 Apps To Get Free
If you're unpairing an iMac, Mac mini, or Mac Pro, you must have a USB or other wired keyboard and mouse to complete these steps.
To unpair your Bluetooth devices, choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Bluetooth. Hover the pointer over the device that you want to unpair, then click the remove (x) button next to the device's name. When the dialog asks if you're sure, click Remove.
If you're using an iMac, Mac Pro, or Mac mini, use a USB or other wired keyboard and mouse to complete the next step.
Erase your hard drive and reinstall macOS
The best way to restore your Mac to factory settings is to erase your hard drive and reinstall macOS.
2018 word download. After macOS installation is complete, the Mac restarts to a Welcome screen and asks you to choose a country or region. If you want to leave the Mac in an out-of-box state, don't continue with the setup of your system. Instead, press Command-Q to shut down the Mac. When the new owner turns on the Mac, setup assistant will guide them through the setup process.
Learn more
No matter the model or condition, we can turn your device into something good for you and good for the planet. Learn how to trade in or recycle your Mac with Apple GiveBack. What upgrade for mac will be available on september 24, 2018.