Reinstall Default Apps on OS X El Capitan - Guide
Reinstalling Default Apps in OS X El Capitan
OS X El Capitan includes a selection of pre-installed applications, offering both utility and, in some cases, redundancy. While removing these applications is straightforward – simply dragging them to the Trash – the process of restoring them isn't always as simple.
Deleting and Reinstalling: A Two-Tiered System
Consider the scenario where you choose to remove applications like Game Center. This decision is perfectly valid, or perhaps you determine that Pages, iMovie, or Keynote are unnecessary for your workflow. Deleting these apps frees up disk space, though the benefit may be minimal.
However, what happens when you change your mind and wish to reinstate these applications?
Fortunately, reinstalling certain applications, such as Pages, Keynote, and GarageBand, is remarkably easy. Simply launch the App Store, locate the desired application through a search, and proceed with the installation.
Apps Not Available Through the App Store
A subset of the pre-installed applications are not available for download through the App Store, introducing a degree of complexity to the reinstallation process. Previous OS X versions allowed for reinstallation via the installation disc.
However, with OS X 10.11 El Capitan, the most current version at the time, restoring these apps necessitates a complete system reinstall.
This means that if you've removed an app not found in the App Store, you'll need to reinstall the entire operating system to regain access to it.
Important Note: Before deleting any pre-installed application, consider whether you might need it in the future, as reinstalling those not available on the App Store requires a full OS X El Capitan system restore.
Restoring Default Applications
It’s important to emphasize that even if you believe third-party applications offer superior functionality, refraining from deleting the original, default apps is advisable. These pre-installed applications consume a negligible amount of disk space and can be valuable in certain situations.
However, if you’ve already removed them, accessing the El Capitan installer via the App Store is the next step, should it not already reside within your Applications folder.
Downloading and installing El Capitan through the App Store will not result in the erasure of your existing applications, documents, or personal files. Upon completion of the OS X reinstallation, your computer’s configuration will remain largely unchanged, except for the restoration of any missing default apps.
Immediate reinstallation of OS X isn’t necessary after downloading the installer from the App Store. The installer application is conveniently located within the Applications folder, allowing for reinstallation at any preferred time without requiring a repeat download.
Once the installer is launched, simply proceed by following the on-screen instructions.
It’s worth noting that utilizing the newest iterations of default applications, like Mail or iCal as found in El Capitan, is not possible on older OS X versions. An OS upgrade is a prerequisite to experience the latest features and improvements.
Should the process complete successfully, your missing default applications will be restored. To avoid repeating this procedure, it is recommended to avoid deleting these applications in the future.