For details about your Mac model, click the Apple icon at the top left of your screen, choose About This Mac, then choose More Info. These Mac models are compatible with OS X El Capitan:
Handoff and Instant Hotspot
Supported by the following Mac models:
Handoff requires an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with a Lightning connector and iOS 8 or later.
Instant Hotspot requires an iPhone or iPad with cellular connectivity with a Lightning connector and iOS 8.1 or later. Requires Personal Hotspot service through your carrier.
Phone Calling
Phone calling requires an iPhone with iOS 8 or later and an activated carrier plan.
SMS
SMS requires an iPhone with iOS 8.1 or later and an activated carrier plan.
AirDrop
AirDrop between Mac computers and iOS devices is supported by the following Mac models:
AirDrop to iOS devices requires an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with a Lightning connector and iOS 7 or later.
AirDrop between two Mac computers is supported by the following Mac models:
Time Machine
Requires an additional hard drive or AirPort Time Capsule (sold separately).
Metal
Supported by the following Mac models:
Photo Booth
Requires a FaceTime or iSight camera (built in or external), USB video class (UVC) camera, or FireWire DV camcorder.
FaceTime
Video calls require a built-in FaceTime camera, an iSight camera (built in or external), a USB video class (UVC) camera, or a FireWire DV camcorder; and broadband Internet connection.
Learn more
Boot Camp
Supports existing Boot Camp installations with Windows XP Service Pack 2, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows 10. New Boot Camp installations require Windows 8 or Windows 10 (sold separately).
Exchange Support
Requires Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1 Update Rollup 4, Exchange Server 2010, or Exchange 2013. Auto-setup requires enabling the Autodiscovery feature of Microsoft Exchange Server.
Spotlight Suggestions
Requires a broadband Internet connection.
AirPlay
AirPlay Mirroring requires an Apple TV (2nd generation or later). Supported by the following Mac models:
AirPlay for web video requires an Apple TV (2nd generation or later).
Peer-to-Peer AirPlay requires a Mac (2012 or later) with OS X Yosemite or later and an Apple TV (3rd generation rev A, model A1469 or later) with Apple TV software 7.0 or later.
Power Nap
Supported by the following Mac models:
Gestures
Requires a Multi-Touch trackpad, Force Touch trackpad, Magic Trackpad, or Magic Mouse.
Force Touch gestures require a Force Touch trackpad.
VoiceOver gestures require a Multi-Touch trackpad, Force Touch trackpad, or Magic Trackpad.
Dictation
Dictation requires a microphone (built in or external).
Mac App Store
Available only to persons age 13 or older in the U.S. and many other countries.
Applications
Learn more about built-in apps
Utilities
Languages
*The MacBook Pro (17-inch Late 2008) and the white MacBook (Late 2008) do not support AirDrop.
Some features may not be available for all countries or all areas. Click here to see complete list.
iCloud requires iOS 5 or later on iPhone 3GS or later, iPod touch (3rd generation or later), iPad, or iPad mini; a Mac computer with OS X Lion v10.7.5 or later; or a PC with Windows 7 or Windows 8 (Outlook 2007 or later or an up-to-date browser is required for accessing email, contacts, and calendars). Some features require iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite or later. Some features require a Wi-Fi connection. Some features are not available in all countries. Access to some services is limited to 10 devices.