I am currently running El Capitan 10.11.6 on a 21.5 Late 2015 iMac. I would like to update this to the latest OS Catalina. When I check the app store to do so it says 'no updates available'. There is no option to update OS in system preferences either. Any suggestions on what I can do to update? If you haven't updated to Catalina yet, read on to find out how to update to Catalina or Mojave from High Sierra, Sierra, El Capitan, Yosemite, or even older version of Mac OS X below.

Jul 05, 2021 • Filed to: Solve Mac Problems • Proven solutions

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: 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 4Press 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.

• 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.

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.)

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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Operating system upgrades bring increases in efficiency, new features, stronger security, and updates to included software utilities. The following page shows you how to upgrade your Apple Macintosh desktop or laptop computer to Catalina (10.15), the current version of macOS.

• Check compatibility.

Check compatibility

Before installing Catalina, verify your Mac is eligible for the upgrade.

Verify the model of your Mac

The following Mac models can be upgraded to macOS Catalina.

• Mac Pro - All models produced from mid-2013 and later.
• MacBook Pro - All models produced from mid-2012 and later.
• iMac - All models produced from late 2012 and later.
• MacBook - All models produced from late-2015 and later.
• MacBook Air - All models produced from late-2012 and later.
• Mac mini - All models from mid-2012 or later.

Tip

If your Mac is not on this list, you cannot upgrade to Catalina. However, you can still try to upgrade to El Capitan.

Back up your data

Although not required, we strongly recommend you back up your Mac before proceeding with an upgrade. If anything goes wrong, you can restore your Mac to its previous state.

Check your OS version

The following versions of OS X and macOS can be upgraded to macOS Catalina.

OS name	Version	Release date
OS X Lion*	10.7	July 20, 2011
OS X Mountain Lion*	10.8	July 25, 2012
OS X Mavericks	10.9	October 22, 2013
OS X Yosemite	10.10	October 16, 2014
OS X El Capitan	10.11	June 8, 2015
macOS Sierra	10.12	June 13, 2016
macOS High Sierra	10.13	June 5, 2017
macOS Mojave	10.14	June 4, 2018

* If your Mac is running OS X Lion or Mountain Lion, you must upgrade to El Capitan before you can upgrade to Catalina.

If your Mac is running Mavericks or newer, you can proceed to upgrade to Catalina.

Upgrade to El Capitan, if necessary

If your Mac is running OS X Lion or Mountain Lion, follow these steps to upgrade to El Capitan.

1. Download the El Capitan installer from Apple. The file size is 5.8 GB, so the download may take a while, depending on the speed of your Internet connection.
2. Double-click the downloaded archive, InstallMacOSX.dmg, to view its contents.
3. In the archive, double-click InstallMacOSX.pkg.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to perform a compatibility check, and prepare for installation.
5. When this process is complete, an installer application named Install OS X El Capitan is placed in your Applications folder. Double-click it to begin installation.
6. During installation, your Mac may restart, or display a blank screen short time. Do not close the lid or power off your Mac until installation is complete.

How To Update El Capitan To Catalina

Upgrade to Catalina

After you've gone through the preparation steps, you need to download and install the latest version of macOS. The following steps show you how.

1. In the menu bar, click the Apple icon to open the Apple menu.
2. In the Apple menu, select App Store.

3. In the App Store, on the left side of the window, select Updates.

Can I Upgrade To Catalina From El Capitan

4. In the Updates window, locate the line that says Catalina.
5. On the far right side, select Update.
6. Catalina is downloaded and installed.
7. During installation, your Mac may restart, or display a blank screen for a short time. Do not close the lid or power off your Mac until installation is complete.

Additional information

Update Mac Os From El Capitan To Catalina

• See our update definition for further information and related links.