How to Upgrade to OS X Mavericks

The OS X Mavericks release is here and best of all it’s a free upgrade that users can download today from the Mac App Store for a fast and easy installation. In this guide we will show you how to install OS X Mavericks even if you aren’t familiar with upgrading your own computer.

If you’ve installed an IOS update, the process is almost as easy, but it will take a little bit longer than installing the new iOS 7.0.3 update.

OS X Mavericks is available for users running older versions of OS X, all the way back to OS X Snow Leopard, and it runs on older Macs dating back to 2007.

This OS X Mavericks upgrade guide will show you how to upgrade to OS X 10.9 right over your existing files and installation. While it is a good idea to have a backup on Time Machine or through another service this should leave your files right where they were when you start. If you want to perform a clean install of OS X Mavericks check out our other guide.

How to Upgrade to OS X Mavericks

OS X Mavericks is a free upgrade, so users just need to find it in the Mac App Store. Clicking this link will open a preview of OS X Mavericks and users can then click View in Mac App Store to open the store and start downloading the update.

Download the OS X Mavericks update.

The OS X Mavericks download is 5GB in size and may take at least an hour to download to your computer. Make sure you download this update on a home connection, not while tethered to a personal hotspot.

Budget about an hour for the download an another 30 to 60 minutes to complete the OS X Mavericks upgrade.

When the OS X Mavericks download is complete, click on LaunchPad and then click on Install OS X Mavericks.

Get started installing OS X Mavericks.

This will launch the OS X Mavericks upgrade program which will walk users through the rest of the steps. Click Continue to start the OS X Maverick installation.

Agree with the terms to upgrade to OS X Mavericks.

When prompted click Agree, if you agree with Apple’s terms. On the next screen most users will see one hard drive and can click Continue. If you see two, make sure you choose the main Macintosh HD.

Select your hard drive and enter a password to get started.

Enter your password to get started. This is the administrator password on the computer, not the one you use to buy apps in the Mac App Store. The computer will restart and begin the installation process. Make sure the computer has enough power or is plugged in. You will not be able to use it while the OS X Mavericks upgrade is in progress.

Wait for two passes of the OS X Mavericks installation progress bar.

The OS X Mavericks installation will go through two parts, showing an installation progress bar and a separate installation completing bar. Eventually the computer will restart and boot into OS X Mavericks. Users will need to enter their Apple ID and can now set up iCloud Keychain if they wish.

Finish the OS X Mavericks upgrade process and sign up for iCloud Keychain.

Users can also continue on and set up iCloud Keychain at a later time using the iCloud menu in System Preferences. This completes the OS X Mavericks upgrade process.