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'OSX El Capitan.app' not showing in Applications after download.

Hi all.

I've recently decided to liven up an old 2008 MacBook Unibody by buying a new SSD. The issue I have been trying to solve for hours and hours now is that after downloading El Capitan, it doesn't create the ElCapitan.app in my Applications folder.


This is all my info and my workflow:


The machine is a 2008 MacBook Unibody running El Capitan (updated from Snow Leopard)

I'm trying to install El Capitan on the SSD, which is connected via USB. I would like to run the installer as per normal and select the connected SSD when prompted on which on disk to install on. I have successfully done this method before with my MacMini when upgrading it's drive to an SSD.


I downloaded a new and official version of El Capitan from the Apple support page, but once downloaded, it doesn't create the 'OSX El Capitan.app' in my Applications folder. If I run the downloaded 'InstallMacOSX.dmg' is opens up to reveal the 'InstallMacOSX.pkg' file. When running that it takes me through to an installer, but the file size is only 7MB, so obviously not the OS.


I know that it should create an 'OSX El Capitan.app' in my Applications folder and that I should install (and select the drive I want to install to) from there, but it just doesn't create that file.


I have download the .dmg multiple times and also on 2 more different Macs. One is too new to be compatible, but the other is also running El Capitan. I am having the same issue with that one too. That download will just not generate the 'ElCapitan.app' file in my Applications to start the installation.


I have trawled everywhere looking for an answer to this but failed. I can't make a bootable USB disk either as that involves the creation of the 'OSX El Capitan.app' too.


Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. I know this is an outdated system, but what I'm trying to do here is very basic and it is failing at the first hurdle. Am I missing something here or have Apple changed the goalposts?

Thanks :)




MacBook

Posted on Mar 30, 2021 10:37 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Mar 30, 2021 12:30 PM

If you do have an operating system on your mac and it is functioning then you can download

El Capitan using this method.


How to get old versions of macOS – Apple Support

Go to Download OS and click on OS X El Capitan 10.11

this downloads InstallMacOSX.dmg to your Downloads folder.


The next section can only be done on a mac that is capable of running El Capitan.

This includes macs that have the potential to run El Capitan but have been upgraded to a newer OS.

A mac that came preinstalled with an OS later than El Capitan will refuse to do the next bit.


When downloaded open to InstallMacOSX.pkg, double-click on

that and an installation window will open, this does not install El Capitan

but converts the InstallMacOSX.pkg to the Install OS X El Capitan.app which 

you will find in your Applications folder, it should be 6.2GBs in size.


(If the installation window asks which disk you want to install to, you must pick 

the disk that you are booted to at the time. Not any internal or external disk that 

you want to eventually install El Capitan on, that is for later.)


To start the installation of El Capitan double click on the Install OS X El Capitan.app.


The copy of the install app self deletes after installing El Capitan, so make sure you keep a copy of the 

InstallMacOSX.dmg if you need it in future, or you could just make a copy of the Install OS X El Capitan.app 

prior to installing and moving it to an external drive for safe keeping. 

It is also possible to create a bootable USB installer disk using the Install OS X El Capitan.app in the Applications 

folder and the createinstallmedia command in the Terminal app. 


Read the instructions here,

How to create a bootable installer for macOS – Apple Support

Similar questions

2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Mar 30, 2021 12:30 PM in response to ant_wilson

If you do have an operating system on your mac and it is functioning then you can download

El Capitan using this method.


How to get old versions of macOS – Apple Support

Go to Download OS and click on OS X El Capitan 10.11

this downloads InstallMacOSX.dmg to your Downloads folder.


The next section can only be done on a mac that is capable of running El Capitan.

This includes macs that have the potential to run El Capitan but have been upgraded to a newer OS.

A mac that came preinstalled with an OS later than El Capitan will refuse to do the next bit.


When downloaded open to InstallMacOSX.pkg, double-click on

that and an installation window will open, this does not install El Capitan

but converts the InstallMacOSX.pkg to the Install OS X El Capitan.app which 

you will find in your Applications folder, it should be 6.2GBs in size.


(If the installation window asks which disk you want to install to, you must pick 

the disk that you are booted to at the time. Not any internal or external disk that 

you want to eventually install El Capitan on, that is for later.)


To start the installation of El Capitan double click on the Install OS X El Capitan.app.


The copy of the install app self deletes after installing El Capitan, so make sure you keep a copy of the 

InstallMacOSX.dmg if you need it in future, or you could just make a copy of the Install OS X El Capitan.app 

prior to installing and moving it to an external drive for safe keeping. 

It is also possible to create a bootable USB installer disk using the Install OS X El Capitan.app in the Applications 

folder and the createinstallmedia command in the Terminal app. 


Read the instructions here,

How to create a bootable installer for macOS – Apple Support

'OSX El Capitan.app' not showing in Applications after download.

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