Oct 31, 2018 To capture screenshots on your Mac, you can do any of the following: To capture the entire screen, press command + shift + 3 To capture a portion of the screen, press command + shift + 4, and then, once a crosshair appears, tap and drag that crosshair over the area you want to capture. Once you’ve covered the area you want captured, release.
Siri: Choose Disable and Delete to stop using the Apple voice assistant on Mac. How to set up your Apple ID media and purchase settings on Mac. To change your Apple ID media and purchase settings on Mac: Under Apple ID, click Media & Purchases on the sidebar. Check the Use Touch ID for Purchase, if applicable. Otherwise, you can decide when to. Zip a Single File or Folder. Compress and decompress files and folders using the Archive.
Selecting the right Mac laptop isn’t easy, with three core models and four versions of the MacBook Pro - Apple’s most powerful and versatile laptop - to choose from. How you select the best Mac to buy depends on several factors, including what you need it for and of course, budget. Mac laptops go from $1299 to $2399.
Apple essentially now has six laptops to choose from: MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro (13 and 15 inch screen), and the same 13 and 15 inch MacBook Pro, equipped with a Touch Bar and Touch ID.
If you’re considering buying a new Mac because yours is starting to slow down, there is a cheaper option. CleanMyMac X is a powerful and effective Mac declutter and cleaning tool - clearing away 62GB - on average, of junk that slows Macs down. You can download it here for free.
Options to consider when buying a Mac laptop
In this Mac buying guide, we cover the merits and downsides of each model, and outline the advantages of each option, depending on how you intend to use your Mac laptop. Here is a rundown of the options:
1. MacBook
First introduced in 2015 and refreshed in 2017, this is the sturdy and reliable MacBook, Apple’s core Mac laptop. Not the cheapest (starting at $1299), but oddly enough, the lightest in the range - even lighter than the MacBook Air.
It comes with four color options: Gold, Silver, Space Grey or Rose Gold. And you can pick from three base models:
- 1.2GHz dual-core Intel Core m3;
- 1.3GHz dual-core Intel Core i5;
- 1.4GHz dual-core Intel Core i7.
You can either select an 8GB or 16GB memory, with the option of a 256GB or 512GB SSD hard drive, giving you a decent amount of memory and processing power for work, studying and leisure.
One downside with the MacBook is it only comes with one USB-C port for the power charging and data transfer (a new version of a USB that isn’t widespread yet; which will probably mean buying an expensive adapter). It is fast and efficient, with around 10 hours battery life. Not the most powerful Mac laptop in the range, but a sturdy workhorse for the price.
2. MacBook Air
Slim and lightweight, the MacBook Air is ideal for commuters, students and those who need a laptop occasionally, but won’t need to use it all of the time. For those on a budget, this is definitely the best Mac to buy, starting at $999, making it cheaper than the MacBook.
It comes with a 13-inch screen, is only available in silver, and you can pick from two core models (1.8GHz, 128GB, or a 1.8GHz, 256GB); although both only come with 8GB of RAM. However, you can upgrade - at extra cost - to a 2.2GHz processor with 512GB worth of storage.
A few downsides include the fact that it still uses a 2015 model processor, and it isn’t powerful enough for gamers, video editors, vloggers and professional developers. It’s also lacking a future-proof feature, as it doesn't come with a USB-C port. An 11-inch version is now only available second hand, with the newer 13-inch version coming equipped with more connectivity ports than a MacBook and the original smaller Air, including a MagSafe 2, two USB 3.0 ports, Thunderbolt 2, and an SDXC card slot.
Ideal for those who don't want to carry a heavy laptop, although with it squeezing a similar amount of computing power in a smaller frame, it does weigh somewhat heavier than the more expensive MacBook. Something for students and those on a budget to keep in mind.
3. MacBook Pro: 13 and 15 inch
For working professionals, video producers, designers, developers, and anyone who prefers to use a Mac laptop, the MacBook Pro is the workhorse many know, trust, and would recommend. Equally, gamers also benefit from the speed and processing power contained within the MacBook Pro.
With the MacBook Pro, you get a range of base specs to choose from:
- MacBook Pro - 13.3-inch - 2.3GHz dual-core Intel Core i5, or;
- MacBook Pro - 13.3-inch - 2.5GHz dual-core Intel Core i7 processor;
- MacBook Pro - 15.4-inch - 2.2GHz, 2.5GHz, or 2.8GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor.
Memory size options go from a 128GB to 1TB SSD hard drive in the smaller model, with 256GB to 1TB worth of memory in the 15-inch version. Both are available in space grey and silver.
Newer versions of both come with a Touch Bar and Touch ID; although Apple have made significant upgrades in other ways too, which has made some journalists question “whether the 13inch MacBook Pros deserve the 'Pro' name at all.” It is also worth noting that the older, 15-inch version runs on the same processor model as the MacBook and MacBook Air, which means the same physical connectivity options are included: a MagSafe 2, two USB 3.0 ports, Thunderbolt 2, and an SDXC card slot.
4. MacBook Pro: 13 and 15 inch (with Touch Bar and Touch ID)
As we mentioned above, these new models are worth their own section in this Mac Buyers guide.
In many ways, they're more powerful than the older models that lack the Touch Bar and Touch ID. Apple is taking biometric security seriously, with the Touch ID fingerprint sensor replacing the power button. Both of these features are powered by the Apple T1 chip, combining Apple's Secure Enclave architecture to authenticate biometric data (you’ll also find these on modern iOS devices) and the super-efficient processor from the Series 2 Apple Watch.
With this level of security, the Secure Enclave makes it impossible for third-party apps or malware to gain access to your fingerprint data, and everything your fingerprint protects. Apart from the security benefits, these MacBook Pros come with the following range of spec options:
- MacBook Pro - 13.3-inch - 3.1GHz or 3.3GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor;
- MacBook Pro - 13.3-inch - 3.5GHz dual-core Intel Core i7 processor;
- MacBook Pro - 15.4-inch - 2.8GHz, 2.9GHz, or 3.1GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor.
Memory size options go from a 256GB to a 1TB SSD hard drive, with an impressive 2TB an option in the 15-inch version. Touch Bar models come with four USB-C ports, with one needed for the power cord, and both come with a headphone jack, although they don't have any other physical connectivity options.
Which Mac should I buy?
Even knowing all of the specs, memory options, information on processors, systems and connectivity ports, making a comparison is still not easy. So below, we've considered which is the best Apple laptop from a range of viewpoints, considering how they might be used and who is using them.
Best option for a portable laptop
When it comes to carrying a laptop around, something that will fit into a backpack, shoulder bag, or even mid-to-large handbag, the MacBook is the lightest and most portable. Most would assume - as the name suggests - the MacBook Air, but the 2015 redesign made it heavier and comes with a lower resolution screen.
Unfortunately, you do make some sacrifices for portability, with only one USB-C and, as the cheapest in the range, it is less powerful than other Mac laptops. But for those who want something easy to carry around, light, portable, and cheap, the MacBook beats the others.
Best Mac laptop for students
Students need laptops in classes, lectures and libraries - even when researching online, libraries - many equipped for modern laptops and tablets - are ideal places to work. Students need something portable and cheap - although many can stretch a budget a little further with the Apple education discount - making the MacBook an ideal option.
Although for a little more computing power and something that takes up slightly less space in a bag, the Air is always worth looking at for students. Unless you are taking a computing, games or video course; in which case, neither the Air nor MacBook is an ideal option.
Ideal on a low budget
When price is the deciding factor, you can’t beat the MacBook Air. For those that need a fairly powerful, fairly light device, the 128GB 13-inch Air starts at $999 - compared to $1299 for the next cheapest option, the 256GB 12-inch MacBook. Upgrades to the memory or processor cost more, so if you’re on a budget, think carefully before wanting to customise.
Best for battery life
Although there isn’t a huge amount of difference when it comes to battery life, most Mac laptops come equipped with a minimum of 10 hours of Wi-Fi web browsing and/or iTunes video streaming.
Beating the others is the “all day battery” that is included in the 13-inch MacBook Air, with 12 hours available before you need to use a charger. However, as any Mac users knows, the older a laptop gets, the weaker it charges and quicker a charge disappears, so it is always useful to have a power cord handy when you are planning to use a Mac laptop for a prolonged period of time.
Need a lot of storage?
Storage is a moveable feast, and something Apple is consistently generous with. Not only can you upgrade all the way to 2TB - with the 15-inch MacBook Pro (with Touch Bar/ID) - but you can use cloud-storage and external hard drives. But when it comes to physical storage you can access directly within a laptop, the 2TB Touch Bar/ID 15-inch Pro beats the others.
Although the good news with Mac laptops is every one of them now comes with SSD memory, which is far more efficient than the memory in older models. It is also less likely to break, since these do not include moving mechanical parts.
Fastest Mac processor
Again, the 15-inch MacBook Pro (with Touch Bar/ID) is the fastest and most powerful. The most expensive customised model will come equipped with a 3.1GHz i7 quad-core processor, which when coupled with 16GB of RAM means it will power through almost any task you can throw at it.
Since the processor is a quad-core, it is significantly more powerful than the others, many of which use dual or m3 processors. Not that the others aren't powerful; they just aren't as powerful as the top-of-the range Pro.
Which is best for work?
This largely depends on the type of work you do. For intensive tasks, then you should opt for the most powerful version you can afford. Combined with generous screen real estate, and that could mean the 15-inch MacBook Pro (with Touch Bar/ID).
But not everyone needs that much screen, or that much processing power and RAM. Others simply connect a laptop to a larger screen, giving them useful portability. If that is the case and you don't need a Mac laptop that could open a hole in the space time continuum, then you could opt for something less powerful and more versatile, such as the MacBook Air. More cost effective too.
We’ve left this option out of the table below, since it largely comes down to personal preference, the type of work involved, whether a device needs to be portable - or not - and budget.
What about for games?
For more intense and involved games, that need the most amount of computing power possible, the 15-inch MacBook Pro (with Touch Bar/ID) is the best option. Although more expensive, it comes equipped with an AMD Radeon Pro 560 graphics card with 4GB VRAM, making it more powerful than some Mac desktops and so-called “dedicated” gaming computers.
If you don't play games that are too intense, or have a lower budget, then the Intel HD Graphics 640 card in the 13-inch MacBook Air is the next best option.
Best Mac to buy? Quick Comparison Table
To make things easier to remember, we’ve also put together the following comparison table (specs from Apple - overlaid side-by-side for an easy comparison):
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7 46 likes 221,593 views Last modified Jun 3, 2020 1:11 PM
This tip replaces version 2126 originally released on the Discussions Feedback forum.
Find the serial number on:
Plug your serial number in at this link:
Apple Macbook How To Use
Do not use third party links as they may not be secure.
Do not post the serial number on this board, as that is your key to any support you may have left.
Use this tip also to help figure out which portion of the Support Community to post in, as this tip explains:
When you have no serial number, use one of these third party sites to find your model, production year, time in year
(early, middle, late, summer, fall, winter, spring):
Note:
PowerMac, PowerPC, eMac, iMac PPC, iBook (Apple recycled the name iBook for its eBook application on new Macs and iOS devices), Powerbook, Classic all refer to Macs that are older than the present series
of Macs. Free picture editing software. Posting in those forums about a current Mac, shows you have not researched your Mac sufficiently to get a succinct answer to your query. Apple menu -> About This Mac will tell you the Mac OS version or System version you are running. The X in the version is important, and so is the preceding 10 in the version if it exists.
Questions saying X.1 could refer to Mac OS X 10.13.1, 10.1. Don't truncate the version you see.
There are no iOS forums specific to the operating system found on iPads, iPod Touch, AppleTV, Apple Watch, and iPhones. Figure out the type of portable device you are running to ask a question about that device specifically.
Apple has these identifying articles as well:
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3255 - MacBook Air
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1635 - MacBook
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4132 - MacBook Pro
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3476 - Mac Mini
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT6069 - Mac Pro
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1758 - iMac
http://support.apple.com/kb/sp96 and http://support.apple.com/kb/sp37 - PowerMac G5
http://support.apple.com/kb/sp96 and http://support.apple.com/kb/sp37 - PowerMac G5
http://support.apple.com/kb/TA25585 and http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3082 - PowerMac G4
http://support.apple.com/kb/TA22033 - PowerMac G3
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3065 - Powerbook G4
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht2395 - eMac
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht2287 - Powerbook G3
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1772 - iBook
Macs generally will not run an older Mac OS X operating system than shipped with them.
The one exception is virtualizing 10.6 Server on 10.7 or later, which is described later.
Also important to note is that the Apple App Store only has 10.7, 10.8, and 10.12, except for those who purchased in between systems, and have a Mac that shipped with in between systems. For all others if you need an in between system, and your Mac is older, contact the App Store tech support.
A quick upgrade guide has been posted on
These dates are important for recognizing what Mac OS X will run on Macs. Macs released on or after (including their model #s or name
where known):
September 30, 2018 will only run 10.14 or later
• MacBook Air 8,x
• Mac Mini 8,x
September 25, 2017 will only run 10.13 or later.
- iMac Pro 1,1
- MacBook Pro 15,x (2018 model)
Apple Macbook Pro 16 Inch
June 5, 2017 Mac models (all 2017 Models except iMac Pro) will only run 10.12.5 or later
• MacBook Pro 14,x
• MacBook Air 7,2
• MacBook 10,1 • iMac 18,x
September 20, 2016 will only run 10.12 or later.
- MacBook Pro with touchbar (instead of physical F keys)
- MacBook Pro 13,x
- iMac 18,x
- MacBook Air 7,2 see this article on which ones could only run 10.12 or later.
September 30, 2015 will only run 10.11 or later. These Macs are the first Macs that can be upgraded directly to
Mac OS 10.14 without installing any other software.
- iMac 16,x and 17,x
- Macbook 9,x (these Macbooks came with the USB-C, instead of the USB 2 or USB 3 connector. USB 3 and 2 look identical on the outside, use System Profiler to determine which you have)
October 16, 2014 will only run 10.10 or later (10.10 is only available for Macs that shipped with it).
- MacBook Air 7,1 and 7,2 (some models could only run 10.12 or later).
- Mac Mini 7,x
- iMac MF885LL/A came with 10.10.2. All other 15,x came with 10.10.0
- MacBook 8,x - the oldest that can run Mac OS 10.14 with this model name after installing 10.11 or later.
- MacBook Pro 11,4 and 11,5
October 22, 2013 will only run 10.9 or later (10.9 is only available for Macs that shipped with it).
- Macbook Pro 11,1 through 11,3
- Mac Pro 6,x
- MacBook Air Early 2014
- Mac Mini 6,x
- iMac 14,4
June 25, 2012 will only run 10.8 or later. 10.8 through 10.11 are supported by these Macs [indicate machine ID found in profiler], and newer models may run some variety of 10.9, 10.10, or 10.11):
- MacBook Pro with Retina EMC 2557 from 2012 and 2013 and later models.
- MacBook Air (2013 or newer) [6,1]
- MacBook Air (Mid 2013 or newer) [6,1]
- Mac mini (Late 2012 or newer) [6,1] - the oldest that can run 10.14 after installing 10.11 or later.
- iMac (Late 2012 or newer) [13,1]
- Mac Pro (Late 2013) [6,1]
These models above are the first models that can be upgraded directly to High Sierra 10.13 without other prior upgrades.
The oldest MacBook Air and iMac that can run Mac OS 10.14 after installing 10.11.
• MacBook Air 5,1
• iMac 12,1
These Macs which are older can also be upgraded to 10.12 by upgrading to 10.7.5 first, and 10.13 by upgrading to 10.8 first:
- MacBook (Late 2009 or newer) 6,1
- MacBook Pro (Mid 2010 or newer) 6,1
- MacBook Air (Late 2010 or newer) 3,1.
- Mac mini (Mid 2010 or newer) 4,1
- iMac (Late 2009 or newer) 10,1
- Mac Pro (Mid 2010 or newer) 5,1
The Macs are compatible with 10.8 and later from prior 10.8's release
- Mac Pro (Early 2008 with AirPort Extreme card, or Mid 2012) [3,1]-[5,1] (Earlier Mac Pros are discussed on the 10.8 upgrade tip).
- MacBook Late 2008 [5,1] to mid 2010 [7,1] with no Pro or Air in the name.
- iMac (Early 2009 to mid-2011) [9,1] to [12,1]
- Mac mini (Mid 2010 to mid 2011) [4,1] to [5.1]
- MacBook Air (Late 2010 to mid-2012 [3,1]-[5,2]
- MacBook Pro Late 2008 [5,1] to Retina 2012 that are not EMC 2557.
July 20, 2011 will only run 10.7 or later. The model IDs (x,x) and EMC that fit this description until June 25, 2012 release of 10.8 (excluding the ones which will run only 10.8 or later earlier mentioned) :
iMac of an EMC of 2496; 13,x and later.
Mac Mini 5,x and later.
Macbook Air 4,x and later.
MacBook 8,x and later (no Pro no Air in the name)
Mac Pro 5,1 with EMC 2629 - the oldest that can be have Mac OS 10.14 installed after installing 10.11 or later, those without that EMC number came with 10.6 and can also be updated to 10.14 the same manner; 6,x and later.
MacBook Pro with EMC 2555, 2563; 9,x and later.
Note all the Macs that can only run 10.7 and later, may be able to run 10.6 Server with Parallels, if you need compatibility with an older operating system:
Beyond this point Macs released during certain date ranges also have a maximum operating system, and/or
minimum retail operating system and system specific operating system requirement (when I say up to 10.9 that includes all incremental updates):
Note: images shown below for retail operating system are those that have no 'Update, Dropin, or OEM' wording on them.
March 15, 2010-July 19, 2011 will only run prebundled 10.6 installer disc, and not retail, but also able to be upgraded to 10.9. Note this tip
if upgrading to 10.7 or later: https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-6271
August 28, 2009-March 14, 2010 will only 10.6 or later up to 10.9. And will at minimum be able to use
10.6.3 retailto install 10.6. Note this tip if upgrading to 10.7 or later: https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-6271
During 2000 to 2009, the serial number also made it easier to identify the Macs, as the 3rd, 4th, and 5th character of the serial number referred to the week
and year of the shipment date. Thus for serial numbers where x can be any letter or number, xxABCxxxxx serial numbers would refer to an A which is the last digit of the year, and BC=week of the year. xx905xxxx is the fifth week of 2009. You can then use Wikipedia to figure out what date the release was, and if it was after a specific retail release of an operating system to determine which pre bundled disc it came with, and which later retail discs the Mac could work with.
December 15, 2008-August 28, 2009 will only run prebundled 10.5 installer disc, and 10.6 retail https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/43236040snow.jpg, and if on https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3761
will also run up to Mac OS X 10.11 if you follow this tip: https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-6271
October 28, 2007 -December 14, 2008 will at minimum be able to use the 10.5.6 retail, and install up to 10.9 if included on https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3761 if you follow this tip https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-6271
January 10, 2006-October 27, 2007 will at minimum be able to 10.5 retail, and if
on Which 10.5 systems can upgrade to 10.8 or 10.9?or Are there 10.4 systems that can upgrade to 10.8 or 10.9? are
able to run 10.9. Core2Duo and Xeon can upgrade to a minimum of 10.7.5. Otherwise if they only have a CoreDuo, CoreSolo Intel
processor only be able to upgrade to Mac OS X 10.6.8. G5, G4, and G3 processors are not Intel.
Earlier dates are covered on this tip:Can I download my Mac OS upgrade?
Using the dates from the above documents, and the dates according to Wikipedia when specific retail
operating system systems were released, you can find which retail releases were newer than the Macs and the ones immediately older.
i.e.:
An October 24, 2011 Macbook Pro will only run 10.8 retail, and 10.9 retail downloads, but needs an
Apple Macbook How To Connect To Wifi
AppleCare requested 10.7 installer to install 10.7. An exception exists in 10.6 Server, as indicated here:
A pre-October 26, 2007 MacBook Pro will only run the system specific Mac OS X 10.4 installer
that shipped with it, which can be ordered from AppleCare, or newer retail installer versions
of 10.5, 10.6 compatible with its hardware, and 10.7 if it is at least a Core2Duo.
CoreDuo, nor is CoreSolo is not compatible with 10.7.
For PowerPC Macs, Mac OS X 10.4.11 and earlier offer Classic compatibility, and on certain 2003 and earlier Macs dual booting on Mac OS X 10.5 & Mac OS 9:
No Mac may run an older version of Mac OS 9 than was prebundled with it.
A more precise timeline of Mac OS X follows (in U.S. date notation. Links to relevant articles up to 10.7 are included, as 10.7 drops PowerPC applications on Intel):
4/8/2015 10.10.3 (with supplemental on 4/16/2015)
1/27/2015 10.10.2
11/17/2014 10.10.1
10/16/2014 10.10 Yosemite
9/17/2014 10.9.5
6/30/2014 10.9.4
5/15/2014 10.9.3
2/25/2014 10.9.2
10/22/2013 10.9 (10.9 & 10.9.1 should be skipped due to security issues) Mavericks
10/3/2013 10.8.5 supplemental update
9/25/2013 10.8.4 iMac Late 2013
6/10/2013 10.8.4 MacBook Air mid 2013
6/4/2013 10.8.4
3/14/2013 10.8.3
11/29/2012 10.8.2 Mac MIni Late 2012
10/4/2012 10.8.2 supplemental update
10/4/2012 10.7.5 supplemental update
8/23/2012 10.8.1
7/25/2012 10.8 Mountain Lion
5/9/2012 10.7.4
2/1/2012 10.7.3
10/12/2011 10.7.2
8/16/2011 10.7.1
7/25/2011 10.6.8 v1.1
5/4/2011 10.6.7 Early 2011 MacBook Pro
3/21/2011 10.6.7
1/6/2011 10.6.6
11/10/2010 10.6.5
6/15/2010 10.6.4
4/13/2010 10.6.3 v1.1
4/1/2010 10.6.3 retail installer presently sold at the online Apple Store.
8/28/2009 10.6 retail installer (Snow Leopard)
12/15/2008 10.5.6 retail installer (Last PowerPC installer)
6/30/2008 10.5.4 retail installer
11/15/2007 10.5.1 retail installer
10/26/2007 10.5 retail installer (Leopard)
8/7/2006 Mac Pro (Intel, first Snow Leopard compatible professional desktop) replaces PowerMac G5 (the last PowerPC Mac and Mac capable of running Classic)
5/16/2006 The MacBook replaces the iBook (the last consumer notebook capable of running Classic)
4/3/2006 10.4.6 retail PowerPC only.
2/28/2006 First Intel Mac Mini (not capable of running Classic, first Mac)
1/10/2006 First Intel iMacs, MacBook Pro replaces Powerbook (first Macs not capable of running Classic, first Mac capable of running Snow Leopard)
10/31/2005 10.4.3 retail PowerPC only.
8/9/2004 10.3.5 retail
12/17/2003 10.3.2 retail
12/19/2002 10.2.3
Some hints about operating systems:
- Mac OS X 10.8 or later are required to sync with iOS 9.2 or 9.2.1.
- No PowerPC Mac can run Mac OS X 10.5.8 or higher, or sync with iOS 6 or higher.
- No PowerPC Mac can run Boot Camp
- No Mac can run Classic (side by side Mac OS 9 with Mac OS X without reboot) on the same partition as Mac OS X 10.5 or higher.
- No Intel Mac can run Classic.
- All Intel Macs can run at least Mac OS X 10.6.8 as long as they are older than Mac OS X 10.7's release.
- PowerPC applications need Mac OS X 10.6.8 or earlier to run on Intel Macs.
- Boot Camp needs Mac OS X 10.5 or later on Intel Macs. Note other virtualization tools are available for Mac OS X 10.4.11 or earlier on Intel Macs.
- Mac OS X 10.7.3 is needed for the latest Java and minimum iCloud.
- The same minimum system requirements exist for Mac OS X 10.8, 10.9, 10.10, and 10.11.
- 10.6.6 is the minimum for the Mac App Store, and upgrading to 10.7 without erasing the drive you install 10.7 on if the hardware supports it.
- 10.6.8 is the minimum for 10.8 or later upgrades if the hardware supports it.
- Apple has a 10.6.8 to 10.11 updateon the App Store.
- Some Macs that shipped with 10.6 can install up to 10.12 if they are upgraded to 10.7.5 first.