Installing El Capitan On Older Mac

May 12, 2021 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.

Installing El Capitan On Older Mac Computer
Os X El Capitan Install
How To Download El Capitan
Installing El Capitan On Older Mac Desktop
Installing El Capitan On Older Macs

10 thoughts on “ How to overcome OS X 10.11 El Capitan not installing ” hydrovacing October 2, 2015 at 7:30 am. Anyone know know another way to download EL Captain. I have had on of my Mac’s trying to download it since it came out. It is now at this moment at 4.81 GB.
OS X El Capitan on Unsupported Macs. Make sure you have Install OS X El Capitan.app in your Application Folder. Select 'On this computer' on the main MCPF window. Then, choose the partition you want to install El Capitan on. Click install and prompt your password. Your computer should.

So, you’ve decided to download an older version of Mac OS X. There are many reasons that could point you to this radical decision. To begin with, some of your apps may not be working properly (or simply crash) on newer operating systems. Also, you may have noticed your Mac’s performance went down right after the last update. Finally, if you want to run a parallel copy of Mac OS X on a virtual machine, you too will need a working installation file of an older Mac OS X. Further down we’ll explain where to get one and what problems you may face down the road.

A list of all Mac OS X versions

On September 29, 2015, Apple announced that OS X El Capitan, the latest major release of the world’s most advanced desktop operating system, will be available on Wednesday, September 30 as a free update for Mac users. El Capitan builds on the groundbreaking features and beautiful design of OS X Yosemite, refining the Mac experience with. Jan 24, 2018 Download Mac OS X 10.11 El Capitan.ISO – Download El Capitan.DMG installer – El Capitan Torrent download – Without using Apple Store ID. OS X 10.11 El Capitan torrent download! Very shortly, in the following words, we show 2 methods to download and get Mac OS X 10.11 El Capitan. Download Free Mac OS X El Capitan 10.11.1 DMG. If you looking on the internet a Mac OS X El Capitan 10.11.1 DMG Without app store So, you come to the right place now a day hares with you an El Capitan download dmg file OS upgrade is highly recommended is the latest release from OS X. It has been designed to improve the performance and usability of OS X Apple Inc.

We’ll be repeatedly referring to these Apple OS versions below, so it’s good to know the basic macOS timeline.

Cheetah 10.0	Puma 10.1	Jaguar 10.2
Panther 10.3	Tiger 10.4	Leopard 10.5
Snow Leopard 10.6	Lion 10.7	Mountain Lion 10.8
Mavericks 10.9	Yosemite 10.10	El Capitan 10.11
Sierra 10.12	High Sierra 10.13	Mojave 10.14
Catalina 10.15

STEP 1. Prepare your Mac for installation

Given your Mac isn’t new and is filled with data, you will probably need enough free space on your Mac. This includes not just space for the OS itself but also space for other applications and your user data. One more argument is that the free space on your disk translates into virtual memory so your apps have “fuel” to operate on. The chart below tells you how much free space is needed.

Note, that it is recommended that you install OS on a clean drive. Next, you will need enough disk space available, for example, to create Recovery Partition. Here are some ideas to free up space on your drive:

Uninstall large unused apps
Empty Trash Bin and Downloads
Locate the biggest files on your computer:

Go to Finder > All My Files > Arrange by size
Then you can move your space hoggers onto an external drive or a cloud storage.
If you aren’t comfortable with cleaning the Mac manually, there are some nice automatic “room cleaners”. Our favorite is CleanMyMac as it’s most simple to use of all. It deletes system junk, old broken apps, and the rest of hidden junk on your drive.

Download CleanMyMac for OS 10.4 - 10.8 (free version)

Download CleanMyMac for OS 10.9 (free version)

Download CleanMyMac for OS 10.10 - 10.14 (free version)

STEP 2. Get a copy of Mac OS X download

Normally, it is assumed that updating OS is a one-way road. That’s why going back to a past Apple OS version is problematic. The main challenge is to download the OS installation file itself, because your Mac may already be running a newer version. If you succeed in downloading the OS installation, your next step is to create a bootable USB or DVD and then reinstall the OS on your computer.

How to download older Mac OS X versions via the App Store

If you once had purchased an old version of Mac OS X from the App Store, open it and go to the Purchased tab. There you’ll find all the installers you can download. However, it doesn’t always work that way. The purchased section lists only those operating systems that you had downloaded in the past. But here is the path to check it:

Click the App Store icon.
Click Purchases in the top menu.
Scroll down to find the preferred OS X version.
Click Download.

This method allows you to download Mavericks and Yosemite by logging with your Apple ID — only if you previously downloaded them from the Mac App Store.

Without App Store: Download Mac OS version as Apple Developer

If you are signed with an Apple Developer account, you can get access to products that are no longer listed on the App Store. If you desperately need a lower OS X version build, consider creating a new Developer account among other options. The membership cost is $99/year and provides a bunch of perks unavailable to ordinary users.

Nevertheless, keep in mind that if you visit developer.apple.com/downloads, you can only find 10.3-10.6 OS X operating systems there. Newer versions are not available because starting Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.7, the App Store has become the only source of updating Apple OS versions.

Purchase an older version of Mac operating system

You can purchase a boxed or email version of past Mac OS X directly from Apple. Both will cost you around $20. For the reason of being rather antiquated, Snow Leopard and earlier Apple versions can only be installed from DVD.

Buy a boxed edition of Snow Leopard 10.6
Get an email copy of Lion 10.7
Get an email copy of Mountain Lion 10.8

The email edition comes with a special download code you can use for the Mac App Store. Note, that to install the Lion or Mountain Lion, your Mac needs to be running Snow Leopard so you can install the newer OS on top of it.

How to get macOS El Capitan download

If you are wondering if you can run El Capitan on an older Mac, rejoice as it’s possible too. But before your Mac can run El Capitan it has to be updated to OS X 10.6.8. So, here are main steps you should take:

1. Install Snow Leopard from install DVD.
2. Update to 10.6.8 using Software Update.
3. Download El Capitan here.

“I can’t download an old version of Mac OS X”

El Capitan Mac Os X Download

If you have a newer Mac, there is no physical option to install Mac OS versions older than your current Mac model. For instance, if your MacBook was released in 2014, don’t expect it to run any OS released prior of that time, because older Apple OS versions simply do not include hardware drivers for your Mac.

But as it often happens, workarounds are possible. There is still a chance to download the installation file if you have an access to a Mac (or virtual machine) running that operating system. For example, to get an installer for Lion, you may ask a friend who has Lion-operated Mac or, once again, set up a virtual machine running Lion. Then you will need to prepare an external drive to download the installation file using OS X Utilities.

After you’ve completed the download, the installer should launch automatically, but you can click Cancel and copy the file you need. Below is the detailed instruction how to do it.

STEP 3. Install older OS X onto an external drive

The following method allows you to download Mac OS X Lion, Mountain Lion, and Mavericks.

Start your Mac holding down Command + R.
Prepare a clean external drive (at least 10 GB of storage).
Within OS X Utilities, choose Reinstall OS X.
Select external drive as a source.
Enter your Apple ID.

Now the OS should start downloading automatically onto the external drive. After the download is complete, your Mac will prompt you to do a restart, but at this point, you should completely shut it down. Now that the installation file is “captured” onto your external drive, you can reinstall the OS, this time running the file on your Mac.

Boot your Mac from your standard drive.
Connect the external drive.
Go to external drive > OS X Install Data.

Locate InstallESD.dmg disk image file — this is the file you need to reinstall Lion OS X. The same steps are valid for Mountain Lion and Mavericks.

How to downgrade a Mac running later macOS versions

If your Mac runs macOS Sierra 10.12 or macOS High Sierra 10.13, it is possible to revert it to the previous system if you are not satisfied with the experience. You can do it either with Time Machine or by creating a bootable USB or external drive.
Instruction to downgrade from macOS Sierra

Instruction to downgrade from macOS High Sierra

Instruction to downgrade from macOS Mojave

Instruction to downgrade from macOS Catalina

Before you do it, the best advice is to back your Mac up so your most important files stay intact. In addition to that, it makes sense to clean up your Mac from old system junk files and application leftovers. The easiest way to do it is to run CleanMyMac X on your machine (download it for free here).

Visit your local Apple Store to download older OS X version

If none of the options to get older OS X worked, pay a visit to nearest local Apple Store. They should have image installations going back to OS Leopard and earlier. You can also ask their assistance to create a bootable USB drive with the installation file. So here you are. We hope this article has helped you to download an old version of Mac OS X. Below are a few more links you may find interesting.

These might also interest you:

A list of all Mac OS X versions

We’ll be repeatedly referring to these Apple OS versions below, so it’s good to know the basic macOS timeline.

Cheetah 10.0	Puma 10.1	Jaguar 10.2
Panther 10.3	Tiger 10.4	Leopard 10.5
Snow Leopard 10.6	Lion 10.7	Mountain Lion 10.8
Mavericks 10.9	Yosemite 10.10	El Capitan 10.11
Sierra 10.12	High Sierra 10.13	Mojave 10.14
Catalina 10.15

STEP 1. Prepare your Mac for installation

Uninstall large unused apps
Empty Trash Bin and Downloads
Locate the biggest files on your computer:

Download CleanMyMac for OS 10.4 - 10.8 (free version)

Download CleanMyMac for OS 10.9 (free version)

Download CleanMyMac for OS 10.10 - 10.14 (free version)

STEP 2. Get a copy of Mac OS X download

How to download older Mac OS X versions via the App Store

Click the App Store icon.
Click Purchases in the top menu.
Scroll down to find the preferred OS X version.
Click Download.

This method allows you to download Mavericks and Yosemite by logging with your Apple ID — only if you previously downloaded them from the Mac App Store.

Without App Store: Download Mac OS version as Apple Developer

Purchase an older version of Mac operating system

Buy a boxed edition of Snow Leopard 10.6
Get an email copy of Lion 10.7
Get an email copy of Mountain Lion 10.8

Download Mac Os X El Capitan Installer Windows 10

How to get macOS El Capitan download

1. Install Snow Leopard from install DVD.
2. Update to 10.6.8 using Software Update.
3. Download El Capitan here.

“I can’t download an old version of Mac OS X”

Download Mac Os X El Capitan Installer Dmg

After you’ve completed the download, the installer should launch automatically, but you can click Cancel and copy the file you need. Below is the detailed instruction how to do it.

STEP 3. Install older OS X onto an external drive

The following method allows you to download Mac OS X Lion, Mountain Lion, and Mavericks.

Start your Mac holding down Command + R.
Prepare a clean external drive (at least 10 GB of storage).
Within OS X Utilities, choose Reinstall OS X.
Select external drive as a source.
Enter your Apple ID.

Download Mac Os X El Capitan Installer Windows 7

Boot your Mac from your standard drive.
Connect the external drive.
Go to external drive > OS X Install Data.

Locate InstallESD.dmg disk image file — this is the file you need to reinstall Lion OS X. The same steps are valid for Mountain Lion and Mavericks.

How to downgrade a Mac running later macOS versions

Instruction to downgrade from macOS High Sierra

Instruction to downgrade from macOS Mojave

Instruction to downgrade from macOS Catalina

Visit your local Apple Store to download older OS X version

These might also interest you:

/Mac Uninstaller /How to fix some problems after installing El Capitan on Mac?

Installing El Capitan On Older Mac Computer

I love my MacBook Pro. I use it for virtually everything you can do with a personal laptop. I use to finish my work documents. I use it for surfing the web. And I use it for saving my most precious photos. I recently want to upgrade to OS X El Capitan. The problem is, I’m facing a lot of problems with El Caption install. How do I fix these issues?

Article GuidePart 1. IntroductionPart 2. Getting started to fix these problemsPart 3. Issues Faced With OS X El Capitan And How To Fix ItPart 4. Conclusion

People Also Read:OS X El Capitan vs macOS Sierra: Something You Need To KnowHow to speed up El Capitan?

Part 1. Introduction

Apple has introduced various versions of its Mac’s operating system to make improvements to its previous versions. Plus, it contains a whole new world of features compared to older versions of the Mac OS.
One such operating system is the OS X El Capitan. The said version of the Mac OS is not without flaws. There are some issues that people face with the OS X El Capitan. That’s why it’s a good thing you are in this article.
We will help you deal with the most common issues of OS X El Capitan. We will tell you these issues and give you a solution to each of them.
Let’s get started!

Part 2. Getting started to fix these problems

OS X El Capitan is the replacement version for Yosemite. It comes with a lot of amazing features like being able to split the screen in order to use two applications simultaneously. Plus, Mission Control was also included in order to be able to organize your own virtual desk. The Notes application was given a total overhaul as well. Applications such as Spotlight and Notes have been made more powerful than ever.
OS X El Capitan is definitely putting Mac users to a whole new level. However, it comes with issues as well. The first release of OS X El Capitan is the version of 10.11.However, since its initial release, newer versions (e.g. 10.11.4) has been released in order to keep up with the issues faced by most Mac users.

It is important to remember that you have to update your OS X El Capitan to its latest version which is usually the most stable one before you delve into the tips given in this guide.

The next step would be to download a tool called iMyMac’s Mac Cleaner in order to get rid of the unnecessary files in your OS X El Capitan and remove most of the issues it currently faces. The said tool has the following features and also advantages: 01 - It gives your Mac the ability to speed up its performance by removing unnecessary clutter within the device. In this way, it frees up more space and deletes corrupted files that might be causing issues on your device.

02 - It gives you the ability to get an update of your system status. These include updates on your CPU, Memory, and Disk states.

03 - It powerfully scans your entire device for any unnecessary files.

04 - It doesn’t leave one unnecessary file behind.

05 - You are provided with a way to access the entire tool without having to shell out money. In this way, you can experience the entire tool without paying for it first. The free trial is available for the first 500 megabytes of data.

06 - Every feature that the tool possesses can be taken advantage of with only a few clicks.

07 - It displays all the unnecessary files through a list. While you are allowed to sort through the list by size, date, time, etc.

08 - You are given various modes of support from the brand. Email support is available. Plus, one-on-one support is also available.
You can find the steps to use the said tool on its official website here.
Finally, after you have updated the El Capitan to its most stable (and recent) version and cleaned your system with iMyMac’s Mac Cleaner, you are now ready to face the issues you experience with the said Mac OS.
In this guide, we will show you the various issues faced by OS X El Capitan users and how to fix them. This will help your Mac device perform the way it should be: at its best.

Part 3. Issues Faced With OS X El Capitan And How To Fix It

Os X El Capitan Install

Problem 1: Problems With The Actual Installation Of OS X El Capitan

You cannot actually enjoy the benefits of the said operating system without even installing it in your system. First, make sure you are installing it from the latest version. This is because previous versions have problems with the installation process.
However, if you are currently installing the latest version and you still experience problems such as error messages and frozen screens, there are some things you can do to fix the actual problem.

Solution: There are times when your current operating system (before you upgrade to OS X El Capitan)is currently dealing with other issues and processes. That’s why when you start installing the OS X El Capitan, you experience a lot of problems. This is because your current resources are being used up by other applications (and system processes) in the background. To make sure that your device is currently focused on the installation at hand, make sure you do the following steps:

Step 01 - Save all the documents that are open.

Step 02 - Restart your Mac device.

Step 03 - Close the applications that launch right after the startup process.

Step 04 - After which, run the installation of OS X El Capitan.
What if you are still experiencing problems? Well, you would have to restart your Mac device into Safe Mode. Here’s how to do that?

Step 01 - Restart the Mac device. If possible, you should hold the power button down for about a few seconds to force shut it down. After which, wait for about 10 seconds after shutting it down.

Step 02 - While your Mac is being restarted, hold the Shift key down when you actually hear the sound of the boot process booting up.

Step 03 - Wait until the screen displays a grey Apple logo. After this happens, you can release your hold om the Shift key.

Problem 2: Slow OS X El Capitan

A lot of users stated that OS X El Capitan is quite slow. The slowness of the said operating system can be due to a variety of reasons. One such reason is Spotlight reindexing. This happens within the first hours of installing El Capitan. But after 24 hours of installing the said operating system and your device is still slow, then there might be some issues with it.
If this happens, there’s a pretty great chance that some of your applications do not work properly with El Capitan. This leads to the slowing of the whole system down. First, you can start to do one thing, make sure your applications, all of them, are updated.
Step 01 - The App Store icon is located in your Dock. Click on this.

Step 02 - Check out a numbered red badge. This will show you the number of updates available within your system.

How To Download El Capitan

Step 03 - Click the said red badge in order to open the App Store. And then, this will update all the applications that need them.

If all your applications are updated and you still experience the problem, it is recommended that you follow the steps below:
Step 01 - Press the Apple menu.

Step 02 - Visit the System Preferences.

Step 03 - Press Extensions.

Step 04 - Get to identify some of the problematic apps. Systematically disable the extensions and check if the performance of your system improves.
What if this problem still happens? Well, then you have to use iMyMac’s Mac Cleaner.

Problem 3: Wi-Fi Problems Experienced in OS X El Capitan

What if you’re streaming on YouTube and one thing that happens is that the video keeps buffering. Well, that’s a really frustrating experience. Yosemite users have experienced a lot of problems with their Wi-Fi connection. However, Apple has worked very well to fix these issues. Now, let’s check out the solution below:

Solution:There are some things you can do to fix your problem with the Wi-Fi connection:
-Ensure that El Capitan is updated.

-Ensure that your router firmware is also up to date.

-Unplug the router device and the modem device for a few minutes.

-Press the Wi-Fi icon within your Mac device. Turn your Wi-Fi off for a few minutes. Then, turn it back on.

-Visit System Preferences. Then, go to Network and then Advanced. Go to the Wi-Fi section. Under this, you have to delete your current network connection. Then, turn your Wi-Fi off again. Finally, turn it on again and set up a new network connection.

Problem 4: Handoff Issues With OS X El Capitan

Handoff is very handy for a lot of users who wishes to still be productive while on the go. You could actually start working on your job using your Mac device and finish it afterward using your phone. It’s useful for those with a lot of Apple devices.
But what if it doesn’t work? Well, your productivity sometimes hampers and you feel like you’re losing your grip towards work. First, try to log out of your devices and log back in again. If this doesn’t do the fix, there is a solution that you might go for.

Solution:Step 01 - Deactivate your Mac’s Bluetooth device.

Step 02 - Delete the following: /Library/Preferences/com.apple.Bluetooth.plist OR this one: ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.Bluetooth.plist

Step 03 - Activate Bluetooth again.

Problem 5: Issues With AirDrop

AirDrop is an application that allows you to share files between your Mac computer and other iOS devices.Again, you have to first try to reboot by logging out and then logging in the devices you have AirDrop on. If this doesn’t work, you have to try our solution below:
Solution:The solution for AirDrop issues you are currently experiencing is the same with that of the Handoff. Check out the steps again below:
Step 01 - Deactivate your Mac’s Bluetooth device.

Step 02 - Delete the following: /Library/Preferences/com.apple.Bluetooth.plist OR this one: ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.Bluetooth.plist

Step 03 - Activate Bluetooth again.

Installing El Capitan On Older Mac Desktop

Problem 6: Apps That Are Crashing Results To Issues With El Capitan

A new operating system feels like a new gift. However, if your applications don’t work as they usually do (with the previous operating system), you might be frustrated. If you have noticed that your applications are crashing or not behaving properly on OS X El Capitan, then you have an issue that needs to be fixed. Fortunately, we have solutions that will help your applications work properly with El Capitan.
Solution:The first step you should do is to ensure that all applications you have on your device are up to date. These updates usually contain the fixes you actually need. But if you have updated a particular app and it’s still not working, the best thing to do is to uninstall it properly with iMyMac PowerMyMac’s Mac Uninstaller and install it back again.

Here’s how to use the tool step by step:

Step 1: Download and Install iMyMac PowerMyMac on Your Mac

Download the software from the brand’s official website. Launch the said software on your Mac device.

Step 2: Scan The Softwares on Your Mac

Check out the left side of the screen. Select Uninstaller module.Check out the Scan button. Press this button.

Step 3: Choose and Clean The Unneeded Software

The software will display you the lists of the different software. Select the application or applications you want to uninstall. Press the Clean button.

After you have done this, you should also use iMyMac PowerMyMac to clean up your device of unnecessary files that might be corrupted and can cause problems on your Mac.

Problem 7: Frequent Crashing Of Safari And Freezing Of The Mac Device

Safari has been a problem in OS X El Capitan. The 10.11.4 updated didn’t solve this problem but aggravated it. That’s why a lot of users have shifted to Chrome and FireFox. Version 10.11.5 didn’t solve it either. Some users even report that it’s actually too bad that Safari leads to the crashing of the complete system. Before you try going to another browser, you can try out our solutions below.

Solution:First Option: Use iMyMac’s Browser Cleanup tool in order to clear up your browser cache including its history.
Second Option: Deactivate Safari Suggestions. To do this use the following steps below:
Step 01 - Open Safari.

Step 02 - On the Mac menu, press Safari.

Step 03 - Choose Preferences.

Step 04 - Press the tab named Search.

Step 05 - Uncheck the box that states Include Safari Suggestions

Part 4. Conclusion

OS X El Capitan has a lot of features and is definitely more powerful than older operating systems. However, it is not free of flaws. The best thing you can do for the issues you face is to follow this guide. Plus, you can use a variety of tools such as PowerMyMac’s Mac Cleaner, Mac Uninstaller, and Browser Cleanup to help you with the job.

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Installing El Capitan On Older Macs

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