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OS X Mavericks Q&A - Updated October 17, 2014
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Which Macs are compatible with OS X 10.9 "Mavericks"? What are the system requirements?
Please note that OS X Yosemite (OS X 10.10) is the current version of OS X. However, this Q&A has been updated with current compatibility info and is quite useful for anyone interested in running OS X Mavericks (OS X 10.9) on their Mac.
On June 10, 2013, Apple introduced OS X "Mavericks" -- named after a popular California surfing locale -- and boasted of "more than 200 new features."
Specifically, Apple notes that OS X Mavericks:
Brings Maps and iBooks to the Mac, introduces Finder Tags and Tabs, enhances multi-display support for power users, delivers new core technologies for breakthrough power efficiency and performance, and includes an all new version of Safari.
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (Retina Display MacBook Pro running OS X Mavericks)
Official System Requirements
On June 10, 2013, Apple didn't yet publicly note which Macs are compatible or the minimum system requirements for the operating system, but AppleInsider first broke unofficial compatibility information for the Preview Release citing an unnamed loose-lipped developer.
On October 22, 2013, Apple shipped OS X Mavericks and the final release offers the same compatibility as the Preview Release.
Specifically, these Mac categories are supported:
- iMac (Mid-2007 to Mid-2014)
- MacBook (13" Late 2008 Aluminum, Early 2009 to Mid-2010)
- MacBook Pro (13" Mid-2009 to Mid-2014)
- MacBook Pro (15" Mid/Late 2007 to Mid-2014)
- MacBook Pro (17" Late 2007 to Late 2011)
- MacBook Air (Late 2008 to Early 2014)
- Mac mini (Early 2009 to Late 2012)
- Mac Pro (Early 2008 to Late 2013)
- Xserve (Early 2009)
Identification Help
If you're not sure if your Mac will run OS X Mavericks, all of the supported systems can be identified by the above "subfamily" designations as well as by the Model Identifier in software. More details about specific identifiers are provided in EveryMac.com's extensive Mac Identification section.
To locate the model identifier, select "About This Mac" under the Apple Menu on your computer and click the "More Info..." button. If the Mac is running OS X "Lion" (10.7) or later, click the "System Report" button after clicking "More Info..." as well.
EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Lookup feature also can identify these models by their Serial Numbers.
OS X Mavericks Supported Systems
Specifically, the following Macs are compatible with OS X Mavericks:
Supported Mac |
Subfamily |
Model ID |
Mid-2007 |
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Mid-2007 |
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Mid-2007 - 24" |
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Mid-2007 - 24" |
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Early 2008 |
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Early 2008 |
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Early 2008 |
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Early 2008 |
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Early 2009 |
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Early 2009 |
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Early 2009 |
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Early 2009 |
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Mid-2009 (Edu) |
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Mid-2009 (Edu) |
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Late 2009 |
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Late 2009 |
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Late 2009 |
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Late 2009 |
||
Late 2009 |
||
Late 2009 |
||
Mid-2010 |
||
Mid-2010 |
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Mid-2010 |
||
Mid-2010 |
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Mid-2010 |
||
Mid-2010 |
||
Mid-2010 |
||
Mid-2011 |
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Mid-2011 |
||
Mid-2011 |
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Mid-2011 |
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Mid-2011 |
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Mid-2011 |
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Late 2011 (Edu) |
||
Late 2012 |
||
Late 2012 |
||
Late 2012 |
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Late 2012 |
||
Late 2012 |
||
Late 2012 |
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Early 2013 (Edu) |
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Late 2013 |
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Late 2013 |
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Late 2013 |
||
Late 2013 |
||
Late 2013 |
||
Late 2013 |
||
Mid-2014 |
||
Late 2008 Aluminum |
||
Late 2008 Aluminum |
||
Early 2009 |
||
Mid-2009 |
||
Late 2009 |
||
Mid-2010 |
||
Late 2008 |
||
Late 2008 |
||
Mid-2009 |
||
Mid-2009 |
||
Late 2010 |
||
Late 2010 |
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Late 2010 |
||
Late 2010 |
||
Mid-2011 |
||
Mid-2011 |
||
Mid-2011 |
||
Mid-2011 |
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Mid-2011 (Edu) |
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Mid-2012 |
||
Mid-2012 |
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Mid-2012 |
||
Mid-2012 |
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Mid-2013 |
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Mid-2013 |
||
Mid-2013 |
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Mid-2013 |
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Early 2014 |
||
Early 2014 |
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Early 2014 |
||
Early 2014 |
||
Mid/Late 2007 |
||
Mid/Late 2007 |
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Mid/Late 2007 |
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Mid/Late 2007 |
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Mid/Late 2007 |
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Early 2008 |
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Early 2008 |
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Early 2008 |
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Early 2008 |
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Early 2008 |
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Late 2008 |
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Late 2008 |
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Late 2008 |
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Early 2009 |
||
Early 2009 |
||
Late 2008 |
||
Late 2008 |
||
Mid-2009 13" |
||
Mid-2009 13" |
||
Mid-2009 15" |
||
Mid-2009 15" |
||
Mid-2009 15" |
||
Mid-2009 15" |
||
Mid-2009 17" |
||
Mid-2009 17" |
||
Mid-2010 13" |
||
Mid-2010 13" |
||
Mid-2010 15" |
||
Mid-2010 15" |
||
Mid-2010 15" |
||
Mid-2010 15" |
||
Mid-2010 17" |
||
Mid-2010 17" |
||
Mid-2010 17" |
||
Early 2011 13" |
||
Early 2011 13" |
||
Early 2011 15" |
||
Early 2011 15" |
||
Early 2011 15" |
||
Early 2011 17" |
||
Early 2011 17" |
||
Late 2011 13" |
||
Late 2011 13" |
||
Late 2011 15" |
||
Late 2011 15" |
||
Late 2011 15" |
||
Late 2011 17" |
||
Late 2011 17" |
||
Mid-2012 13" |
||
Mid-2012 13" |
||
Mid-2012 15" |
||
Mid-2012 15" |
||
Mid-2012 15" |
||
Retina Mid-2012 |
||
Retina Mid-2012 |
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Retina Mid-2012 |
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Retina Late 2012 |
||
Retina Late 2012 |
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Retina Early 2013 |
||
Retina Early 2013 |
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Retina Early 2013 |
||
Retina Early 2013 |
||
Retina Early 2013 |
||
Retina Late 2013 13" |
||
Retina Late 2013 13" |
||
Retina Late 2013 13" |
||
Retina Late 2013 15" |
||
Retina Late 2013 15" |
||
Retina Late 2013 15" |
||
Retina Late 2013 15" |
||
Retina Late 2013 15" |
||
Retina Mid-2014 13" |
||
Retina Mid-2014 13" |
||
Retina Mid-2014 13" |
||
Retina Mid-2014 15" |
||
Retina Mid-2014 15" |
||
Retina Mid-2014 15" |
||
Retina Mid-2014 15" |
||
Retina Mid-2014 15" |
||
Early 2009 |
||
Early 2009 |
||
Late 2009 |
||
Late 2009 |
||
Late 2009 |
||
Late 2009 |
||
Mid-2010 |
||
Mid-2010 |
||
Mid-2010 |
||
Mid-2011 |
||
Mid-2011 |
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Mid-2011 |
||
Mid-2011 |
||
Late 2012 |
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Late 2012 |
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Late 2012 |
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Late 2012 |
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Late 2012 |
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Early 2008 |
||
Early 2008 |
||
Early 2008 |
||
Early 2008 |
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Early 2009 |
||
Early 2009 |
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Early 2009 |
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Early 2009 |
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Early 2009 |
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Early 2009 |
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Mid-2010 |
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Mid-2010 |
||
Mid-2010 |
||
Mid-2010 |
||
Mid-2010 |
||
Mid-2010 |
||
Server Mid-2010 |
||
Server Mid-2010 |
||
Server Mid-2010 |
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Server Mid-2010 |
||
Server Mid-2010 |
||
Server Mid-2010 |
||
Mid-2012 |
||
Mid-2012 |
||
Mid-2012 |
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Mid-2012 |
||
Mid-2012 |
||
Server Mid-2012 |
||
Server Mid-2012 |
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Server Mid-2012 |
||
Server Mid-2012 |
||
Server Mid-2012 |
||
Late 2013 |
||
Late 2013 |
||
Late 2013 |
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Late 2013 |
||
Early 2009 |
||
Early 2009 |
||
Early 2009 |
||
Early 2009 |
If your Mac isn't listed above -- whether older or newer -- it is not compatible with OS X Mavericks.
Compatibility Summary
Ultimately, OS X Mavericks is both free and compatible with all Macs that can run OS X Mountain Lion.
However, just because your Mac will run OS X Mavericks does not mean that all features are supported. Be sure to refer to the details under the "Maximum Mac OS" field on the specs page for your particular Mac to determine compatibility, or the lack thereof, with specific features like AirDrop, AirPlay Mirroring, and Power Nap.
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