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Cant download El Capitan Installer anymore

T

thewolfro

macrumors member
Original poster
Aug 27, 2009
53
20
Hi Guys,

I have two macbook pros. One is 13-inch, Late 2011 and the other is RMBP 15-inch Early 2013.
I tried to download El Capitan from app store and first thing i noticed was that in every store i checked (diffrent countries) El Capitan could not be found. Finally i did a search on apple website and i came across this link : https://itunes.apple.com/app/os-x-el-capitan/id1147835434?mt=12 and i could see an "Get" option but when i click it, it says: "This version of OS X 10.11 cannot be installed on this computer."

This is very strange because both laptops should be supported for El Capitan.

Is there any other way to download the El Capitan installer? I want to mention that i never had El Capitan running before so the file is not in my purchased list. I want the installer because i want to make a clean install on my mac pro 5.1 that i just bought and i just don't want to go and install Sierra (i am not an early adopter of software).

Thanks!
 
Fishrrman

Fishrrman

macrumors Penryn
Feb 20, 2009
29,238
13,307
If Apple will not provide you with a legal way to download El Capitan… well… you'll just have to seek it out from "other sources"…. (polite cough)
 
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lapinbrim

macrumors newbie
Oct 5, 2016
1
0
thewolfro said:
That's the link i tried already :( i really don't onderstaand why apple is doing such BS to people that want to use 1 year old software.
Click to expand...

I agree. I have a slew of apps that have not been vetted against Siera, I cannot afford to waste time by potentially running into bugs.
 
Fishrrman

Fishrrman

macrumors Penryn
Feb 20, 2009
29,238
13,307
The solution (I realize it doesn't help the OP right now) is to maintain a long-term "archive" of ALL Apple installer software that you can "reach back into" at a moment of need. I maintain a separate drive partition for just this purpose.

Otherwise, the only way to get ahold of a copy of the El Cap installer may involve accessing it via "unauthorized channels".

I have no qualms about doing so when I can't get something "the authorized way". If Apple won't be reasonable about obtaining earlier versions of its OS and other software, I'll find them as I can.

Whether YOU wish to do so… is up to you.
 
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hallux

hallux

macrumors 68040
Apr 25, 2012
3,442
1,005
I agree with @Fishrrman In fact, I currently have USB drives for installation of Yosemite, El Capitan and Sierra, plus the files to build the drive for all 3 of those plus Mavericks and I can get the file for Mountain Lion if I don't still have it cached on one of my systems.

Not that I've had a NEED for them, but I guess I'm just a digital packrat like that...
 
B

Brammy

macrumors 68000
Sep 17, 2008
1,718
690
I just downloaded El Cap to remake my USB installer on Monday. I'm *pretty* sure the error message is something along the lines of "You can't install that version of OS X because you are running a newer version" with a dialog box to "download anyway."
 
D

Decimotox

macrumors 6502a
Jul 8, 2013
598
339
I think the trick for most folks is to at least download the newest releases every year from the App Store just to have - don't need to update then and there, just download them and have them attached to your Apple ID. This even plays into Fisherman's point of keeping a backlog of all OS releases. If you download from the App Store, you'll always have the OS in your "purchases" tab.

I'm on a 2010 MBP and am on the last El Cap release. Don't want to update to Sierra yet.
 
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Oubaid

macrumors newbie
Feb 28, 2018
2
0
hallux said:
I agree with @Fishrrman In fact, I currently have USB drives for installation of Yosemite, El Capitan and Sierra, plus the files to build the drive for all 3 of those plus Mavericks and I can get the file for Mountain Lion if I don't still have it cached on one of my systems.

Not that I've had a NEED for them, but I guess I'm just a digital packrat like that...
Click to expand...

Can you maybe share the El Capitan installer with us/me?
 
O

Oubaid

macrumors newbie
Feb 28, 2018
2
0
Yes i've tried but I get the message that I have the latest macOS.. It really would be awesome if you could share yours with me.. I can't get it anywhere
 
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