OS X Mavericks is a favorite of many Mac enthusiasts. So, if you're looking to update your OS to Mavericks, it's a great choice. Now, there are a lot of questions on Mac users' minds with a big OS X update. And the main one seems to be, "How much space do I need in order to upgrade to OS X Mavericks?"

The answer? 8 GB of disk space.

So, if you're a bit unsure as to how much disk space you have, or are a bit anxious about not having enough, don't worry — there are ways to help you with getting space back on your hard drive. For example, check out this helpful guide on freeing up space.

Now, you should also know the answer to the following questions when upgrading to OS X Mavericks:

  1. Which Mac models can upgrade?
  2. Which OS X versions can upgrade?
  3. How much memory do I need?

So, why don't we go over how to check these three things.

Which Mac models can run OS X Mavericks?

Here's a list:

  • 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)

If you have a Mac listed above, great! Let's continue.

If not, you should consider upgrading your Mac.

TIME TO BUY A MAC? Let's find out do you need a new Mac or a clean Mac.

Version & memory

Version:

  • Click the Apple icon at the top left of your screen.
  • Click "About This Mac."
  • Underneath "OS X" is a version number.
  • If this number is 10.6.7 or higher, you're good to go.
    If you're running an older version of OS X, you'll need to look into upgrading your OS X or maybe even consider upgrading your Mac.

Memory:

  • Below the version number, you'll see "Processor" and "Memory" — if you have 2GB+ memory, great!
    If not, you'll have to look into upgrading your RAM.
READY TO GET A NEW OS? See if your Mac is ready for macOS Sierra.

But it all begins with hard drive space

So, to check how much space you have, again:

  • Click the Apple icon at the top left of your screen.
  • Click "About This Mac."
  • Click on "More info…"
  • In the new window, select "Storage."
  • Above the multi-colored bar, you will find the phrase "XX.XX GB free out of XX.XX GB." Do you have more than 8 GB of free space? Great, you're good to go.

But again, if you need more space, don't worry, just take your time to clean up some space. You'll have gigabytes of free space in no time!

DO YOU STILL NEED MORE SPACE? Free up disk space on your old Mac.

Your OS X Mavericks Preparation List

  • Space? Check.
  • Model? Check.
  • Version? Check.
  • Memory? Check.

Are you all set? Good! Grab your surfboard and get ready for the OS X Mavericks wave.