HT206886: How to get macOS Sierra

Learn about How to get macOS Sierra
kirston

Q: I am attempting to update an old 2009 macbook from 10.6.8 to El Capitan.  When I go to El Capitan in the app store there is a "get" button.  When I click on it nothing happens.  Any suggestions?

I am attempting to update an old 2009 macbook from 10.6.8 to El Capitan.  When I go to El Capitan in the app store there is a "get" button.  When I click on it nothing happens.  Any suggestions? I have even gone to the purchases tab in the App Store to attempt download from there since I have downloaded it to another Macbook.  Nothing happens there either when I click download.

MacBook Pro

Posted on Sep 19, 2016 9:09 PM

Close

Q: I am attempting to update an old 2009 macbook from 10.6.8 to El Capitan.  When I go to El Capitan in the app store there is a ... more

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by leroydouglas,

    leroydouglas leroydouglas Sep 19, 2016 9:49 PM in response to kirston
    Level 7 (23,796 points)
    Notebooks
    Sep 19, 2016 9:49 PM in response to kirston
  • by kaz-k,

    kaz-k kaz-k Sep 19, 2016 9:59 PM in response to kirston
    Level 5 (5,857 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 19, 2016 9:59 PM in response to kirston

    Log off from Mac App Store then re-login could solve the problem.

    I guess Sierra coming out tomorrow,  so Mac App Store is something wrong.

  • by Eau Rouge,

    Eau Rouge Eau Rouge Sep 19, 2016 10:32 PM in response to kirston
    Level 4 (2,995 points)
    Mac App Store
    Sep 19, 2016 10:32 PM in response to kirston

    Have a look under Purchases in the App Store and see if it is downloading.

    Today 20th September is probably the last day you will be able to download El Capitan from the App Store

    as the new macOS Sierra is due to be released today, and in all likely hood El Capitan will be withdrawn.

    You may still be able to get it from an Apple Retail Store.

     

    Another thing to check is to see if there is a partial download of Install Mac OS X El Capitan in your Applications folder

    if there is and it is less than 6.21Gbs then move it to the Trash and delete, also check in Launchpad to see if there is an icon for OS X, if there is click and hold till it wiggles, then click the 'x' to delete it. Restart your Mac, relaunch the App Store, see if you can download now.

    If you are successful in getting the full installer downloaded, and before you start the installation go back to your

    Applications folder and make a copy of the Install app on an external  drive or USB stick. It is handy to keep a copy of this so you don't need to re-download it should things go wrong, and you can also use it to install on other macs without resorting to the App Store.

     

    Please make a backup of your mac before doing any of this.

     

    Next as you are upgrading from Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.8, check if there are updates for that first, there was an

    update for the App Store in 10.6.8. There are a lot of differences in El Capitan to 10.6.8 not just visually, but you will need to see if third party apps you use have updates available for El Capitan. You may find that if you use Aperture or iPhoto, they will no longer work. iPhoto has been replaced by Photos, and Aperture discontinued, although there are ways to get them back working.