How do I upgrade from 10.8 to 10.11

Question

How do I upgrade from 10.8 to 10.11

I need to upgrade to use some applications that do not work in Mountain Lion. When I go to the download at the App store it is telling me that El Capitan cannot be install on my computer. (Sierra is too new, afraid of incompatability) I have a late model 2012 iMac. It should work. Unless I have to upgrade one at a time. Like 10.8 to 10.9 to 10.10 etc. Am I under a delusion when I say that i think these are all free downloads? What could be the problem?

iMac, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5)

Posted on Nov 23, 2016 8:02 PM

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Answer 1

VikingOSX

Level 10

123,230 points

Nov 23, 2016 8:12 PM in response to glennfpendleton

Apple only offers El Capitan in the Mac App Store for those computers that cannot upgrade to macOS Sierra due to hardware restrictions. Your 2012 Mac does have that limitation, and your only upgrade is MacOS Sierra. OS X 10.9, and 10.10 are not available, unless you previously downloaded the installers when they were available.

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Answer 2

Niel

Community+ 2025

Level 10

741,287 points

Nov 23, 2016 8:08 PM in response to glennfpendleton

The Mac App Store won't allow a new download of El Capitan from a configuration which can be upgraded directly to Sierra. Go to one that isn't, log into the Mac App Store with your Apple ID, and move the installer.

(146280)

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Answer 3

babowa

Level 9

78,562 points

Nov 23, 2016 8:09 PM in response to glennfpendleton

Unless you have downloaded El Capitan previously, it is no longer available (unless your Mac does not meet Sierra requirements). If you have a late 2012 iMac, it meets the requirements for Sierra, so that is the OS you would need to download.

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Answer 4

Nov 23, 2016 8:29 PM in response to glennfpendleton

I checked RoaringApps for compatibility of the applications I use heavily and found a couple that were not checked in Sierra yet. I guess because it's so new. I'm going all the way, it looks like. ****, I hope this works.

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