How to install and get started with OS X El Capitan

Posted by Michael
Posted in Okategoriserade

Hey iMore, show me around OS X El Capitan.

Apple's latest OS X software update, El Capitan, has arrived. There's a lot packed into this update, so to help you learn the ropes and get to exploring on your own, we've put together this guide to get started. We'll help you back up your information if you haven't already; walk you through the update process; and suggest some great apps formatted to take advantage of OS X El Capitan's new features.

Back up your Mac | Install OS X El Capitan | Meet OS X El Capitan | Best OS X El Capitan apps | OS X El Capitan Help

How to back up your Mac before installing OS X El Capitan

Before you install El Capitan, you're going to want to back up your computer(s), make sure you have enough free space, and check with your most-used applications to make sure they'll be compatible. Here's our guide for getting ready for the next version of OS X:

How to prepare your Mac for OS X El Capitan

How to install OS X El Capitan

Once you've taken care of prep and backup procedures, it's time for your computer to meet OS X El Capitan. If history is any guide, the update should become available on the Mac App Store at 10 a.m. PT, 1 p.m. ET. Here's how to get it.

How to download and install OS X El Capitan

Launch the Mac App Store from your Dock (or by typing Command-Spacebar to launch Spotlight and then entering in App Store).
Click on the Featured tab.
When OS X launches, there should be a gigantic OS X El Capitan banner atop the Featured page. If you don't see this, you can also go to the OS X El Capitan link under Quick Links and above Apps Made by Apple.
Click the Download or Install button underneath the OS X El Capitan icon. The installer will then proceed to download.

Do you need a boot drive?

If you're only installing El Capitan on one computer, you can let the installer open and walk you through the process immediately. Once you install OS X, the installer deletes itself to save space (though you can always redownload it from the Mac App Store).

If you want to install El Capitan on multiple computers, however, or you'd prefer to keep your installer around in a permanent location, you may want to consider making an OS X El Capitan boot drive. Macworld has a great step-by-step guide on doing this, which I'd highly recommend reading.

Should I do a clean install?

A clean install involves wiping all data from your hard drive when you do the update, essentially returning your Mac to factory state, then restoring your personal user accounts and apps to your computer. Recent versions of OS X are great about automatically siloing potentially conflicting add-ons and outdated apps, which has made clean installs less popular over the years; in general, I'd say that unless your computer is suffering major slowdowns or acting up in some way, you shouldn't need to follow the clean install path on your way to El Capitan.

But if you really, really want to, here's how to go about it:

Back up and clone your Mac's hard drive to an external source using third-party software.
Follow the instructions above for downloading OS X El Capitan and creating a bootable installer drive.
Boot from the installer drive, and go to Utilities > Disk Utility.
Erase your Mac's hard drive using Disk Utility and reformat using Mac OS X Extended (Journaled). Once complete, quit Disk Utility.
Install OS X from the boot drive.
After the initial installation is complete, your Mac will go through the set up process. During this series of screens, you'll see a Transfer Information to this Mac screen. From there, you'll want to connect your external drive and restore your user account and apps from your backup.

After doing so, you should be ready to rock out with OS X El Capitan.

Meet El Capitan

Once you've updated, it's time to learn about OS X El Capitan and what's new for you to play with. We've got a ton of information about the new OS X update for you to peruse, including our review, list of what's new in the update, FAQ, and more.

What's changed in OS X El Capitan: Coming soon!
OS X El Capitan: The Review
OS X El Capitan FAQ
12 features I'm thrilled to see in OS X El Capitan

The best apps for OS X El Capitan

The Mac App Store on OS X El Capitan is packed with great apps that take advantage of Split View, Photos extensions, OS X's Metal framework, and more. Here are some of the best apps we've found for OS X El Capitan.

Best Mac Apps
Best Mac games
Best OS X content blockers - Coming soon!
Best OS X photo extensions - Coming soon!
Best OS X games optimized for Metal - Coming soon!

How to get more help with OS X El Capitan

If you've got specific questions or need extra help getting started with OS X El Capitan, we'll be writing how-tos and updating articles throughout the day. But you should also check out our amazing forums: They're filled with bright, energetic people and great conversations about the Mac, iOS, and more.