Skip to main content

Updating to OS X El Capitan

Compatibility and Transition Guide

From finding out OS X El Capitan compatibility with your hardware and software, to learning about new features Apple has added to its latest OS, OWC is the best single source for all of your information needs.
El Capitan on Apple MacBook Pro Retina
OS X El Capitan can run on the following Mac models:
  • iMac (Mid 2007 or newer)
  • MacBook (Late 2008 Aluminum, Early 2009, or newer)
  • MacBook Pro (Mid/Late 2007 or newer)
  • MacBook Air (Late 2008 or newer)
  • Mac mini (Early 2009 or newer)
  • Mac Pro (Early 2008 or newer)
  • Xserve (Early 2009)
Here's a list of all Intel Macs and the maximum version of OS X they can run.

All testing was completed using: 10.11 Developer Preview 7 & 8 builds and Gold Master RC.
Macs Get the most out of El Capitan El Capitan requires 2GB of memory, but runs better on 4GB. Max out your Mac with popular OWC Memory Upgrade Kits. 4GB kits from $11.99
8GB kits from $21.99
Options for up to 128GB
OWC Memory
External Storage Solutions External Drives Add up to 32.0TB of high-performance storage. from $74.99 Hard Drives Internal Hard Drives Upgrade to a larger / faster 2.5" or 3.5" drive. from $39.00 OWC SSD OWC SSDs Upgrade to the ultimate in drive performance. from $39.00

Hardware Compatibility with OS X El Capitan


Accessories

Networking
Compatible
Incompatible

Storage
Compatible
AdaptaDrive 2.5" to 3.5" Drive Converter Bracket
eSATA to USB 3.0 Adapter (NWTADESATA6USB3)
eSATA to USB 3.0 Adapter (NWTADESATAUSB3)
Guardian MAXimus RAID-1 [MIRROR] eSATA, FireWire 800+400, USB 3.0
Guardian MAXimus mini Portable FW800&400+USB2+eSATA
MAXPower eSATA 6G PCIe 2.0
MAXPower USB/eSATA 2x2 AHCI
MAXPower PCIe 4-Port eSATA 6G RAID Controller with port multiplier support
MAXPower RAID mini-SAS 6G 1e1i
MAXPower RAID mini-SAS 6G 2e
miniStack Classic FireWire 800 & USB 2.0 SATA Solution with integrated rear USB 2.0 powered hub
miniStack MAX Storage & Optical Drive Enclosure w/ USB hub, & SD card reader. FW800 / FW400 / USB 3.0 / eSATA.
miniStack Storage Enclosure with FW800 / FW400 / USB 3.0 / eSATA
Voyager Q- Quad Interface FireWire 800/400/USB 3.0/eSATA Docking Solution
Universal Drive Adapter - connects any 2.5", 3.5" or 5.25" drive via USB 3.0
Voyager S3 'SuperSpeed' USB 3.0 Interface SATA 6Gb/s Drive Docking Solution
7 Port Hi-Speed USB 2.0 Hub
Voyager Q- Quad Interface FireWire 800/400/USB 3.0/eSATA Docking Solution
OWC
Data Doubler Optical Bay Hard Drive/SSD Mounting Solution for all Apple MacBook & MacBook Pro 'Unibody' Models; all MacBook Models 'Late 2008' and Later.
Data Doubler Optical Bay Hard Drive/SSD Mounting Solution for Mac Mini 2009. Compatible with 2009 Mac Mini & 2009-2011 iMac models.
Data Doubler Optical Bay Hard Drive/SSD Mounting Solution for Mac Mini 2009. Compatible with 2009 Mac Mini & 2009-2011 iMac models.
'Data Doubler' 2.5" Hard Drive/SSD Mounting Kit for Mac mini 2011, 2012 & Later Models.
Elite Pro mini USB 3.0/eSATA 6G
Envoy Pro mini
Envoy Pro EX
Envoy Pro PCIe
Envoy Pro USB 3.0 Portable SSD Solution, Upgrade kit, Enclosure
Envoy USB 2.0/3.0 Enclosure for data transfer/continued external use of Apple MacBook Air 2010/11 SSD
Envoy USB 2.0/3.0 Enclosure for data transfer/continued external use of Apple MacBook Air 2012 SSD
Express 2.5" Portable USB 2.0 Enclosure
Express 2.5" Portable USB 3.0 Enclosure
Mercury Helios Thunderbolt PCIe Expansion Chassis
Mercury Helios Thunderbolt PCIe Expansion Chasiss
Mercury Helios 2 Thunderbolt PCIe Expansion Chassis
Mercury Elite Pro Quad eSATA/FW800/FW400/USB 2.0
Mercury Elite Pro Qx2 eSATA,FireWire 800+USB 3.0 4-Bay SATA Desktop RAID Storage Enclosure
Mercury Elite Pro Performance FW800 & USB3 Dual Drive RAID
Mercury Pro FireWire 800 & USB 3.0
Mercury Elite Pro Dual USB 3.0 & Thunderbolt RAID Storage Solution
Mercury On-The-Go Thunderbolt
Mercury On-The-Go Pro FW800/USB3.0
Mercury On-The-Go Pro USB 3.0
✓ yes | | More Information
Mercury Pro Firewire 400/USB 2.0
✓ yes | | More Information
Mercury Elite Pro eSATA, FireWire 400/800 & USB 3.0
Mercury Elite PRO Multi-Interface Dual Drive eSATA/FireWire 800/400+USB2.0
Mercury Elite Pro mini 2.5" Portable FW800&400+ USB3.0
Mercury Elite Pro mini 2.5" Portable USB3.0
Mercury Elite Pro Dual mini bus-powered FireWire 800 & USB 3.0 RAID Storage Enclosure
Mercury AccelsiorM mSATA PCIe Controller
Mercury Elite Pro USB 3.0 Enclosure Kit - For all 3.5" SATA Hard Drives
Mercury Elite Pro mini 2.5" Portable FW800&400+ USB2+eSATA
Mercury Elite Pro Dual mini bus-powered Multi-Interface RAID Storage Enclosure
Mercury Elite Pro Qx2 eSATA,FireWire 800+USB 2.0 4-Bay SATA Desktop RAID Storage Enclosure
Mercury Elite Pro eSATA Dual Drive External Pro 'RAID READY'
Mercury Pro USB 2.0, FireWire 800, & FireWire 400 Enclosure kit for 5.25" SATA Optical Drives
SSD/Flash PCIe Carrier
Accelsior S
Mercury Accelsior_E2 PCI Express SSD with two eSATA Expansion ports
Mercury Accelsior
Mercury Rack Pro 4 Bay 1U Rackmount Hardware RAID Solution eSATA w/ Port-Multiplier capability, FW800, FW400 & USB 3.0
Mercury Rack Pro 4 Bay 1U Rackmount RAID Ready Solution with SAS Interface.
Mercury Pro USB 3.0, FireWire 800, & FireWire 400 Enclosure kit for 5.25" SATA Optical Drives
Mercury On-The-Go FW800/USB 3.0 External Enclosure for 2012 Apple Retina MacBook Pro Flash Storage
Mercury On-The-Go USB 3.0 External Enclosure for 2012 Apple Retina MacBook Pro Flash Storage
Slim Portable USB 2.0 External optical drive
ThunderBay 4 four-bay drive enclosure with dual Thunderbolt 2 ports, RAID Ready
ThunderBay 4 four-bay drive enclosure with dual Thunderbolt 2 ports, RAID 5
ThunderBay 4 RAID mini
ThunderBay 4 mini
ThunderBay IV four-bay drive enclosure with dual Thunderbolt ports, RAID Ready
ThunderBay IV four-bay drive enclosure with dual Thunderbolt ports, RAID 5
Thunderbolt 2 Dock
Dual USB Flash Drive
Value Line USB2.0/1.1 Enclosure kit for 5.25" SATA Optical Drive
SuperSlim SuperDrive USB 2.0 External Enclosure
Value Line Slim USB 2.0 5.25" Enclosure Kit for 12.7mm SATA Laptop Optical Drive
Compatible With Some Issues
OWC
Mercury Elite Pro RAID 0+1 (Stripe w/ Mirror) eSATA/FireWire 800/400/USB 2.0
Incompatible

Video

Software Compatibility with OS X El Capitan


CD, DVD, Blu-Ray

Productivity Software

Utility

Virtualization

Important Applications and Support Information


Flash from Adobe:
While not a part of the install, Flash is still fully supported and can be downloaded from Adobe.

Java's Runtime Environment:
Java is a universal programming language that allows software and utilities to be compatible across a wide variety of devices. OS X El Capitan will present a prompt to download Java if an application needs Java to function correctly.

Rosetta:
Rosetta is a program that allowed PowerPC apps to run on an Intel based Mac, and was last supported in OS X Snow Leopard v10.6. Apps that require Rosetta to run will not work in OS X El Capitan. If you run older software or believe a software program you use relies on Rosetta you can check with the software developer before upgrading to see if you'll experience an issue, or if an upgrade is available.

General Application Support:
RoaringApps has the broadest coverage of application compatibility with various Mac OS X versions: http://new.roaringapps.com



OS X El Capitan
New Features

Data Doubler, Envoy Pro, Jupiter, NewerTech, MAXPower, Mercury Accelsior, Mercury Helios, and Mercury On-The-Go are trademarks of New Concepts Development Corporation, registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Mercury Elite is a trademark of New Concepts Development Corporation. miniStack is a trademark of Newer Technology, Inc., registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and Canada. AdaptaDrive and Guardian MAXimus are trademarks of Newer Technology, Inc., registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. VOYAGER trademark used under a license from the owner of U.S. Registration No. 3,089,301. Apple, FireWire, iCloud, iMac, Mac, MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, Mac Pro, OS X, and Xserve are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Thunderbolt is a trademark of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries. Other marks may be the trademark or registered trademark of their owners.