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OS X 10.10 Yosemite Frequently Asked Questions FAQ

Article ID = 120
Article Title = OS X 10.10 Yosemite Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
Article Author(s) = Graham Needham (BH)
Article Created On = 2nd June 2014
Article Last Updated = 4th May 2022
Article URL = https://www.macstrategy.com/article.php?120

Article Brief Description:
Frequently Asked Questions about OS X 10.10 Yosemite

OS X 10.10 Yosemite Frequently Asked Questions

Q. When was Yosemite released?
A. Yosemite was released on the 16th October 2014. It is still available to download from Apple - do not download installers from anywhere else!
Q. How much does Yosemite cost?
A. It is a FREE download via Apple's website.
Q. In our family/household/business the different Macs have different iTunes / App Store accounts on them. Do I have to buy Yosemite multiple times?
A. No. You can have more than one iTunes / App Store authorisation on a single machine. Use one of the iTunes / App Store accounts to authorise each computer in the family/household/business in turn to download and install Yosemite (in the App Store application click on the "Purchases" tab).
NOTE: Mac App Store authorisations (for consumers) are different to iTunes authorisations. Mac App Store authorisations are unlimited whereas the iTunes authorisation limit is 10.
Q. How do I install Yosemite on multiple computers?
A. Option 1: Download Yosemite individually on each computer at ~5GB in size each time.
A. Option 2: Download the Yosemite installer on one computer (at ~5GB in size), quit the installer and copy the installer to each computer's Applications folder that you want to install Yosemite on.
A. Option 3: Download the Yosemite installer on one computer (at ~5GB in size) and obtain the OS X Install Disc Image to use on each computer that you want to install Yosemite on.
Q. I don't have the Yosemite installer. Where do I get it?
A. You must have purchased/downloaded it using your Apple ID previously or your computer must have originally come with it to obtain it otherwise you are most likely out of luck, sorry.
  • If you previously purchased/downloaded it using your Apple ID go to Apple menu > App Store > Purchased and download it - if it does not appear in the list make sure it is not hidden by unhiding it.
  • If your make originally came with it you can reinstall it by using Internet Recovery mode.
  • If you never purchased/downloaded it using your Apple ID previously or your computer did not originally come with it you might, in exceptional circumstances, be able to obtain a redemption code for it from the Apple Online store.
Q. Which Macs can I install Yosemite on?
A. The following Macs are compatible with Yosemite (it's actually the same computers that were compatible with Mountain Lion - Intel Core 2 Duo, i3, i5, i7 or Xeon processor, a minimum of 2GB of RAM, 8GB of available disk space and modern graphics capability):
  • iMac (Mid 2007 or newer)
  • MacBook (Late 2008 Aluminum, or Early 2009 or newer)
  • MacBook Pro 13" (Mid 2009 or newer)
  • MacBook Pro 15" (Mid/Late 2007 or newer)
  • MacBook Pro 17" (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)
Q. How can I check what specifications my computer has or what model it is/graphics capability it has?
A. You can check "Processor", "Memory" and Mac OS X "Version" by going to Apple menu > About This Mac.
A. To check what "model" you have the model number is usually printed on the outside of the computer somewhere.
A. To be more specific and exact you can check what "Identifier" your Mac has by:
  • If you are running Mac OS X 10.4.x/10.5.x/10.6.x go to Apple menu > About This Mac > click the "More Info…" button > (the System Profiler application will open) select "Hardware" on the left and check what it says for 'Model Identifier' on the right. Then under Hardware on the left select "Graphics/Displays" and check what it says for 'Video Card' on the right (you may have two cards listed, one for integrated graphics and one for discrete graphics).
  • If you are running OS X 10.7.x/10.8.x/10.9.x go to Apple menu > About This Mac > click the "More Info…" button > (the System Information application will open) click "Overview" in the top left (this will now show the 'Graphics' capability) then click the "System Report" button > select "Hardware" on the left and check what it says for 'Model Identifier' on the right.
Q. My Mac has the correct type of processor but I don't have enough RAM. What can I do?
A. All the supported Macs can run at least 2GB of RAM so all you need to do is upgrade your RAM to at least 2GB. In the UK we recommend Kingston Technology lifetime warranty memory for your Mac. Most Macs usually only have two memory slots so it is best to upgrade to as much RAM as you can afford the first time. If your Mac supports 8GB or more (like some MacBook Pros / minis do) then upgrade to the maximum.
Q. I'm still using a compatible Mac with Mac OS X 10.4.x/10.5.x on it. Can I still buy and install Yosemite?
A. Yes but you will need to buy/upgrade to/install Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard first (£14) and then install OS X 10.10 Yosemite from Apple's website.
Q. I have a compatible Mac and I am running Mac OS X 10.6.8/10.7.x/10.8.x/10.9.x so how do I obtain Yosemite from Apple's website?
A. See this article.
Q. I have Mac OS X 10.6.8/10.7.x/10.8.x/10.9.x but my internet connection is slow. Will this be a problem?
A. No, but be warned, the Yosemite installer is ~5GB in size so it may take some time to download.
Q. I have Mac OS X 10.6.8/10.7.x/10.8.x/10.9.x but I don't have a permanent connection to the internet. Will this be a problem?
A. Yes. To download Yosemite from Apple's website will require an internet connection. See the options listed in answer to the next question.
Q. I have Mac OS X 10.6.8/10.7.x/10.8.x/10.9.x but I have an internet access data cap in place / I cannot download something that is ~5GB in size. What can I do?
A. Yosemite will not be available on optical disc or a USB thumb drive so your options are:
  1. Use a different internet connection to yours that does not have an internet access data cap in place.
  2. Go to an Apple Retail Store where you can install Yosemite from their local server.
Q. If there is no physical Yosemite disc/USB thumb drive and I install Yosemite but run into trouble what can I do?
A. If you downloaded Yosemite from the Mac App Store/Apple's website: A. If your Mac came with OS X 10.10 Yosemite:
Q. What new features does Yosemite have?
A. See Apple's OS X Yosemite web pages. MacStrategy's recommended features to note are:
  • New Software/Applications
  • Improved Safari (web browser)
    • Streamlined toolbar
    • Improved Nitro JavaScript engine
    • Support for the latest web standards including WebGL
    • More intelligent search - includes Wikipedia, Bing, Maps, news, and iTunes
    • New search engine option - DuckDuckGo (for privacy)
    • Sidebar button/icon
    • Simplified URL field
  • Improved Mail (email client)
    • New Markup feature - quickly annotate attachments
    • Mail Drop - for sending large attachments (up to 5GB per message)
  • Improved Messages
    • Send text messages from your Mac via your nearby iPhone
    • iMessage, SMS and MMS message all combined (on your Mac) - requires an iPhone with iOS 8.1 or later
    • Name conversations
    • Easily add/remove people including yourself from group conversations
  • iCloud Drive
    • Files/iCloud Drive now available directly in the Finder/on your computer - requires OS X 10.10 or later or Windows 7/8
    • Works with iOS devices too - requires iOS 8.0 or later
    • Available in a web browser via iCloud.com
    • Photos can now be stored in the cloud
    • 5GB of space FREE - cheap costs for additional space if required
    See our article all about iCloud.
  • Continuity (proximity awareness)
    • Macs know when your iPhones/iPads are nearby
    • iPhones/iPads know when your Macs are nearby
    • Make/receive calls from your Mac via your nearby iPhone - requires iOS 8.0 or later
    • Handoff - start work e.g. composing an email on your Mac/iOS device and instantly handoff from one to the other to continue writing (requires iOS 8.0 or later)
    • Instant Hotspot - initiate Personal Hotspot on your iPhone/iPad from your Mac without even touching your iPhone/iPad (requires iOS 8.1 or later)
  • Improved Spotlight - more powerful including conversions and a search field is available in the centre of the screen when Spotlight is invoked
  • AirDrop - now works with iOS devices allowing you to easily drag and drop files between your Mac and iOS device (requires iOS 7 or later)
  • Dark Mode - reduce bright/white areas on screen to black/darker colours
  • Extensions - your Mac can be enhanced with (third party) extensions which can be managed from the new "Extensions" pane in Apple menu > System Preferences
  • Notification Center widgets - widgets including third party ones are now available in the Notification Center (the old "Dashboard" is still available but deprecated)
  • Default web browser can now be set in System Preferences > General
  • 20+ new dictation languages
  • New system wide font (Neue Helvetica)
  • New location GPS icon shows when an app is using location services
  • New batch renaming of files facility available in the Finder via a contextual menu option
  • iTunes 12 included as standard
Q. Yosemite appears to rely on iCloud a lot. Do I have to have an iCloud account (Apple ID) to install/use Yosemite?
A. No, an Apple ID/iCloud account is not required but it is recommended and many features/services will require an account e.g.,
  • Photos†
  • Mail
  • Contacts†
  • Calendars†
  • Reminders
  • iCloud Drive - requires iOS 8.0 or later, OS X 10.10 or later or Windows 7/8
  • Keychain (in the cloud)
  • Notes
  • Safari (bookmarks)†
  • Back To My Mac
  • Find My Mac
† - Synchronisation of this type of data with iOS devices does not require iCloud and can be synched via a USB cable and iTunes.
See our article all about iCloud.
Q. Which Macs support the "Continuity" features e.g. "Handoff" and "Instant Hotspot"?
A. Not all Macs support these features as it appears to be dependent on the hardware e.g. Bluetooth chip in your computer, so basically older computers won't support some of these features. Macs that officially support "Handoff" and "Instant Hotspot" include:
  • MacBook Air (2012 or newer)
  • MacBook Pro (Mid 2012 or newer)
  • MacBook Pro with Retina Display (all models)
  • Mac mini (server) (2012 or newer)
  • iMac (Late 2012 or newer)
  • Mac Pro (Black 2013 or newer)
Q. My Mac doesn't have Bluetooth 4.0/LE support so can I add a third party Bluetooth 4.0/LE compatible adapter to gain the "Continuity" features e.g. "Handoff" and "Instant Hotspot"?
A. Unfortunately, no. A third party Bluetooth 4.0/LE compatible adapter will not give you access to the "Continuity" features.
Q. The new "Handoff" feature sounds interesting but I don't want to use it - is there a way to switch it off?
A. Yes. Go to Apple menu > System Preferences > General and untick "Allow Handoff between this Mac and your iCloud devices".
Q. Which Macs and iOS devices support the "AirDrop" feature?
A. Not all Macs support this feature as it appears to be dependent on the hardware e.g. Bluetooth chip in your computer, so basically older computers won't support this feature. Macs that officially support "Airdrop" to iOS devices include:
  • MacBook Air (2012 or newer)
  • MacBook Pro (Mid 2012 or newer)
  • MacBook Pro with Retina Display (all models)
  • Mac mini (server) (2012 or newer)
  • iMac (Late 2012 or newer)
  • Mac Pro (Black 2013 or newer)
The iOS devices needs to be an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with a Lightning connector and iOS 7 or later.
Q. Which Macs support the "AirDrop" feature between Macs?
A. Not all Macs support this feature as it appears to be dependent on the hardware e.g. Wi-Fi chip in your computer, so basically older computers won't support this feature. Macs that officially support "Airdrop" between Macs include:
  • MacBook (Late 2008 or newer)†
  • MacBook Air (Late 2010 or newer)
  • MacBook Pro (Late 2008 or newer)†
  • MacBook Pro with Retina Display (all models)
  • Mac mini (server) (Mid 2010 or newer)
  • iMac (Early 2009 or newer)
  • Mac Pro (Early 2009 with AirPort Extreme card, or Mid 2010 or newer)
† - The MacBook Pro (17-inch Late 2008) and the white MacBook (Late 2008) do not support AirDrop.
Q. Which Mac do I have?
A. You can check "Processor", "Memory" and macOS/OS X/Mac OS X "Version" by going to Apple menu > About This Mac > Overview tab if necessary (hint - clicking on the version number will give you the "build" number).
A. To check your Mac's "Model Name" go to Apple menu > About This Mac > Overview tab if necessary > check for the computer name in the top line e.g. "MacBook Pro" (this can only be checked with OS X 10.7 or later)
A. To check your Mac's model date version go to Apple menu > About This Mac > Overview tab if necessary > check the details after the Model Name e.g. "Early 2015" (this can only be checked with OS X 10.7 or later) - to be more specific and exact you can check what "Model Identifier" your Mac has by:
  • If you are running Mac OS X 10.6 or earlier go to Apple menu > About This Mac > click the "More Info…" button > (the System Profiler application will open) select "Hardware" in the top left > check what it says for 'Model Identifier' on the right.
  • If you are running OS X 10.7 or OS X 10.8 go to Apple menu > About This Mac > click the "More Info…" button > (the System Information application will open) select "Hardware" in the top left > check what it says for 'Model Identifier' on the right under 'Hardware Overview'.
  • If you are running OS X 10.9 or later go to Apple menu > About This Mac > click the "Overview" tab in the top left > click the "System Report…" button > (the System Information application will open) select "Hardware" in the top left > check what it says for 'Model Identifier' on the right under 'Hardware Overview'.
A. To check what graphics capability your Mac has:
  • If you are running Mac OS X 10.6 or earlier go to Apple menu > About This Mac > click the "More Info…" button > (the System Profiler application will open) select "Graphics/Displays" under 'Hardware' in the top left (click the triangle down if necessary) > click on the 'Video Card' on the right to see the technical information below.
  • If you are running OS X 10.7 or OS X 10.8 go to Apple menu > About This Mac > click the "More Info…" button > (the System Information application will open) select "Graphics/Displays" under 'Hardware' in the top left (click the triangle down if necessary) > click on the 'Video Card' on the right to see the technical information below.
  • If you are running OS X 10.9 or later go to Apple menu > About This Mac > click the "Overview" tab in the top left > click the "System Report…" button > (the System Information application will open) select "Graphics/Displays" under 'Hardware' in the top left (click the triangle down if necessary) > click on the 'Video Card' on the right to see the technical information below. With OS X 10.11 or later here you will also find whether your GPU supports "Metal".
A. To check your Mac's "Model Number" it is usually printed/engraved on the outside of the computer somewhere (it usually begins with the letter A or M).
Q. I've heard Yosemite allows for batch renaming of files/folders in the Finder. How does that work?
A. Select the files/folders you want to rename in the Finder, right (control) click on any one of the selected items and click "Rename X items…" from the contextual menu. You can then "Replace Text", "Add Text" (before/after) or completely change the "Format" of the name.
Q. I've heard Yosemite has a new System font (Helvetica Neue). Can I delete/change the font?
A. No. Well, not officially. There are third party "hacks" out there to accomplish the job - do so at your own risk - An internet search engine is your friend.
Q. I've heard Yosemite includes something called Gatekeeper. Will this stop me installing and using older software?
A. No. You can configure Gatekeeper in one of three different ways:
  1. Mac App Store = only software downloaded and installed from the Mac App Store will run (highest security)
  2. Mac App Store and identified developers = only software downloaded and installed from the Mac App Store or that have been digitally signed by an authorised developer will run (medium security - default)
  3. Anywhere = no security and will let you install any software
Q. Does Yosemite have Rosetta? Does it run PowerPC applications/software?
A. Just like OS X 10.7 Lion and later, Yosemite does not include Rosetta.
Q. Does Yosemite include X11?
A. No. X11 on Yosemite now uses install on demand. When you first launch an app that requires X11 libraries, you are directed to a download location for the most up-to-date version of X11 for Mac e.g. XQuartz.
Q. Does Yosemite include Personal Web Sharing?
A. Sort of. Apple have removed the easy configuration of this feature (from System Preferences > Sharing) but the underlying software needed (Apache) is still included in macOS. You can either purchase Apple's own OS X Server (£14.99), install/purchase third party products e.g. MAMP, or get jiggy with Terminal commands for free.
Q. Does Yosemite include Xgrid Sharing?
A. No. Just like OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion and later it has been removed.
Q. Does Yosemite include Java?
A. No. Java is available to download from Oracle - see our Java article for more information and download links to obtain the latest free Java software.
Q. If I install OS X 10.10 Yosemite and don't like it can I easily downgrade back to 10.9/10.8/10.7/10.6?
A. Unfortunately, depending on your Mac model it may not be very easy. We're working on an article about that - check back soon.
Q. This (third party) extensibility of OS X sounds dangerous. What control do I have over Extensions?
A. Go to Apple menu > System Preferences > Extensions - you can configure exactly what Extensions are installed and what each Extension is allowed to do.
Q. What should I do to prepare for Yosemite?
A. See this article.

Article Keywords: OS X OSX 1010 Yosemite Frequently Asked Questions FAQ

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