Q: Can I still upgrade to El Capitan for free?  It says not available on the App Store!

Upgrade to OS X El Capitan - Apple Support

Scroll down to How to get El Capitan

The link in the first bullet point will take to you to the App Store download.

No. Now that macOS Sierra has been released, OS X El Capitan was removed and Sierra added to the Mac App Store.

You can, however, download OS X El Capitan from the App Store / Purchases tab if you downloaded it in the past using your AppleID. If you never downloaded it with your AppleID, you might be able to go into a local Apple Store and have them install it for you.

You're welcome.

Unless you perform your upgrade between major version releases (1 year), or download the installer in that timeframe — you cannot upgrade to the last major version, as it will no longer be available. Apple only keeps the current major version available in the App Store.

This page says (once you've clicked a disclosure icon):

'Upgrading from OS X Snow Leopard

If you’re running Snow Leopard (10.6.8) and your Mac supports macOS Sierra, you will need to upgrade to El Capitan first. Click here for instructions.'

Kurt's post above tells you how to get to the El Capitan download (which is more than the page I link to does), but it's also a question of whether your Mac can handle it:

These Mac models are compatible with macOS Sierra:

• MacBook (Late 2009 or newer)
• MacBook Pro (Mid 2010 or newer)
• MacBook Air (Late 2010 or newer)
• Mac mini (Mid 2010 or newer)
• iMac (Late 2009 or newer)
• Mac Pro (Mid 2010 or newer)

VikingOSX wrote:

 

Unless you perform your upgrade between major version releases (1 year), or download the installer in that timeframe — you cannot upgrade to the last major version, as it will no longer be available. Apple only keeps the current major version available in the App Store.

The download is available, but it's pretty well hidden. To find it you have have to go to the appropriate Help page and click a disclosure icon. The link is

https://itunes.apple.com/app/os-x-el-capitan/id1147835434?mt=12

I haven't checked that the download will work in the UK.

Roger Wilmut1 thanks for your dogged sleuthing to prove apple support are talking a load of Taurus.  Whilst I am having a mni

Excellent.