Either one can be installed on its own partition to allow compatibility with older apps while synchronizing iTunes with iOS 12. Synchronizing with it needs El Capitan or newer on a Mac.Įl Capitan is only available to those who downloaded it before, or have 10.6.8 installed. September 17, 2018, Apple released iOS 12. If you are using Mac OS X server, please check: Server forums These tips all refer to the client version. 10.12’s availability just became known to the author of this tip on October 1, 2018. If a Mac has 10.7.5 or later on it, it can be updated to 10.12 Sierra if it meets 10.12’s system requirements. If a Mac has 10.8 on it, it can be upgraded to 10.13 High Sierra if it doesn’t meet 10.14’s requirements but does 10.13’s. The reasoning is starting with High Sierra HFS Plus is automatically formatted on SSD and thumb drives. If a Mac is already running 10.12, and it is older than 10.12, you must format a separate GUID HFS Plus partition to install 10.11 or earlier on it. This thread discusses how to force the date: Some downloads may error out because of date. Please note: Night Shift, and two factor authentication needed to unlock AppleID accounts did not come about until 10.12.4 on Mac OS. offers instructions to get the download link for El Capitan installs on top of older operating systems.

Additionally the certificates may make a download appear not available.

Note, some downloads from Apple do not work in Safari for earlier Mac OSes, see this tip if you find you can’t download them anymore, to find a browser that will work. Download based on manual time may fail, especially on older systems where the system time is not set right. Go to Apple menu -> System Preferences -> Date and Time and select the closest time server to set your time, and do so. If it is not running 10.12 yet, but was prebundled with 10.11, it can be upgraded to 10.12 first, then upgraded to Catalina. If a Mac shipped new with 10.11 it can be updated to 10.14 Mojave direct from the Mac App Store. macOS Catalina is compatible with these computersĮl Capitan System (10.11) requirements for upgrade.El Capitan System (10.11) requirements for upgrade.

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