do i need to backup my mac before upgrading

If your machine is supports Yosemite, it is recommended that you have a backup of your data before updating. Handoff and Instant Hotspot will work with the 2012 or newer iMac, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, Mac Mini and the Late 2013 Mac Pro with an iOS device that has a Lightning connector and is running iOS 8. If you are not sure what year you purchased your machine, you can find out from the “About this Mac” page by clicking on the “More Info…” button.Įven if your machine is compatible with Yosemite, realize that not all features will work.

MacBook (Late 2008 Aluminum, or early 2009 or newer).

Here is a list of machines that are compatible with OS X Yosemite: You also need to have a minimum of 2 GB of memory. It is recommended to make sure your software is up to date before installing an operating system.

Clicking on the “Software Update” button will check to see if there any updates available for your machine.

If you do not have 10.6 (also known as Snow Leopard) you can purchase it online. This screen will allow you to see which operating system you are running, check to see if your software is up to date, tell you how much memory your machine has, and let you know what model you have.īecause Mavericks is downloaded through the Mac App Store, you’ll need to make sure the version number listed on the “About This Mac” screen is 10.6.8 or higher.

To access it, click on the Apple icon on the upper left hand corner of your screen, then click on “About This Mac.” Most of the information we need to determine this is found on the “About This Mac” screen. You’ll also need to make sure your Mac is capable of running Yosemite (we’ll show you how below), and you’ll want to make sure you have an iTunes account to purchase the update.īefore installing the update, you need to make sure that your machine is compatible with Yosemite. To backup your data, you’ll need an external hard drive or a Time Capsule with at least the same amount of storage as your hard drive.

In this post, we’ll take you through the steps required to protect your data by backing it up, upgrading the OS, and getting started with the latest version of OS X.īefore you get started, you’ll want to make sure you have everything you need. Apple’s latest desktop operating system, OS X Yosemite, is available today.

Do i need to backup my mac before upgrading