As I’ve done the past few years, I’ve compiled this guide to getting and installing Apple’s latest OS.īefore proceeding, be sure to read my article on getting your Mac ready for Mavericks, which covers system requirements and recommendations, as well as a number of tasks you should perform before upgrading in order to help the process go smoothly.įair warning: If you install Mavericks right when it’s released, keep in mind that you’re installing version 1.0 of a major new OS. This makes it easier and more convenient to upgrade your OS than having to buy and use a DVD or thumb drive, but it also raises a number of questions, and it presents upgrade obstacles for some users. More specifically, the latest version of OS X is available only as a download from Apple’s Mac App Store-and this time around, it’s free. But Lion changed all that by making OS X available for direct download, and Mountain Lion (OS X 10.8) and Mavericks (OS X 10.9) have inherited this distribution method.
Before Lion (OS X 10.7) debuted in 2011, installing the latest major version of Mac OS X meant buying a disc and slipping it into your Mac’s optical drive.
