On this page:
- Reinstall El Capitan on a computer alreadyrunning it
Install El Capitan On External Drive
Upgrade from previous versions to OS X 10.11 (El Capitan)
Install Mac OS X El Capitan on VirtualBox. Before going to install Mac OS X El Capitan, you need to download VirtualBox. After that, you downloaded successfully VirtualBox install the software on your PC. Remember one thing that VirtualBox and VMware Workstation this too is. Mar 04, 2021 Select OS X El Capitan installer on the USB flash drive and then press Return to start up the Mac from the installer. Before you can clean install OS X El Capitan, you must first erase the current startup drive that holds the older version of OS X. Select Disk Utility and Continue. Question: Q: Failed attempt to install El Capitan, now cannot restart in previous version. I tried to upgrade to El Capitan from OS X 10.6.8, which I realise is not possible. On restart, Mac keeps trying to install it and now I can't get back into my Mac at all.
- From the Apple menu, select App Store....
- When the App Store opens, search for and download El Capitan. If you don't already have an Apple ID, you'll need to create one. You can monitor the download process in the 'Purchased' section of the App Store.
- Once the download is complete, the installer should automatically open.
If it doesn't, or you don't want to complete the installation at this time, you can come back later and double-click Install OS X El Capitan in your
Applications
folder.Within the installer, click Continue, agree to the license agreement, and then choose the disk where you want to install El Capitan.
After you begin the installation, your computer may need to restart more than once before finishing, and then you may be asked to enter basic information.
- From the Apple menu, select App Store..., and then install any available updates.
Reinstall El Capitan on a computer already running it
Reinstall while keeping files, applications, and settings
- Restart your computer, and immediately hold down
command-r
until the gray Apple logo appears. - If prompted, select your main language and then click the arrow.
- Click Reinstall OS X, and then Continue. Follow the instructions on the screen, and then choose your hard disk. Click Install, and enter your Apple ID information if prompted.
- When the installation is complete, select App Store... from the Apple menu, and install any available updates.
Install El Capitan App
Reinstall while erasing everything on your computer

El Capitan Download
Restart your computer, and immediately hold down
command-r
until the gray Apple logo appears.- If you see a screen asking you to select your main language, choose it, and then click the arrow.
- Click Disk Utility, and then Continue.
- In Disk Utility:
- Click your hard disk in the left column, and then click the Erase tab.
- Next to 'Format:', make sure OS X Extended (Journaled) is selected. In the 'Name:' field, give your disk a name. Click Erase.
- Once it's completed, quit Disk Utility.
- Click Reinstall OS X, and then Continue:
- Follow the instructions on the screen, and then choose your hard disk.
- Click Install. If prompted, enter your Apple ID information.
- Once the installation is complete, you'll be asked to enter basic information, and have the option to transfer data from another computer or backup.
- From the Apple menu, select App Store, and then install any available updates.