And then, you lot've decided to download an older version of Mac OS Ten. In that location are many reasons that could indicate y'all to this radical decision. To begin with, some of your apps may not be working properly (or simply crash) on newer operating systems. Also, y'all may have noticed your Mac's functioning went downwards correct after the last update. Finally, if you want to run a parallel re-create of Mac Bone X on a virtual automobile, y'all too volition need a working installation file of an older Mac OS X. Further down nosotros'll explain where to go one and what problems you may face up downwardly the road.

A listing of all Mac OS X versions

We'll be repeatedly referring to these Apple tree OS versions below, so it's good to know the bones macOS timeline.

Cheetah 10.0 Puma x.1 Jaguar 10.2
Panther x.3 Tiger ten.iv Leopard 10.5
Snow Leopard ten.half-dozen Lion 10.7 Mountain Lion 10.eight
Mavericks 10.ix Yosemite 10.10 El Capitan x.11
Sierra ten.12 High Sierra 10.13 Mojave 10.14
Catalina ten.15

STEP ane. Prepare your Mac for installation

Given your Mac isn't new and is filled with data, you will probably need enough gratis space on your Mac. This includes not just space for the Bone itself but too space for other applications and your user data. 1 more argument is that the gratuitous space on your disk translates into virtual memory so your apps accept "fuel" to operate on. The nautical chart below tells you how much free space is needed.

Note, that it is recommended that yous install OS on a clean drive. Next, y'all will need plenty disk infinite available, for example, to create Recovery Partition. Hither are some ideas to gratuitous upwardly space on your bulldoze:

  • Uninstall large unused apps
  • Empty Trash Bin and Downloads
  • Locate the biggest files on your estimator:

Go to Finder > All My Files > Accommodate by size

Then you can move your space hoggers onto an external drive or a cloud storage.

If you aren't comfortable with cleaning the Mac manually, at that place are some squeamish automatic "room cleaners". Our favorite isCleanMyMac as it's most simple to use of all. Information technology deletes organisation junk, onetime broken apps, and the rest of subconscious junk on your bulldoze.

CleanMyMac X - Smart Scan complete

Download CleanMyMacfor OS 10.4 - 10.viii (free version)

Download CleanMyMac for OS ten.nine (free version)

Download CleanMyMacfor Os ten.10 - 10.14 (free version)

STEP 2. Become a copy of Mac OS X download

Normally, it is assumed that updating Bone is a one-manner route. That's why going dorsum to a past Apple Bone version is problematic. The main claiming is to download the Os installation file itself, because your Mac may already be running a newer version. If you succeed in downloading the OS installation, your next stride is to create a bootable USB or DVD and then reinstall the Os on your computer.

How to download older Mac OS X versions via the App Store

Mac operating system download


If y'all once had purchased an old version of Mac OS X from the App Shop, open it and go to the Purchased tab. At that place you'll discover all the installers you can download. However, it doesn't always work that way. The purchased section lists just those operating systems that you lot had downloaded in the past. Merely here is the path to check it:

  1. Click the App Store icon.
  2. Click Purchases in the acme bill of fare.
  3. Scroll down to find the preferred OS X version.
  4. Click Download.

This method allows you lot to download Mavericks and Yosemite by logging with your Apple ID — but if you previously downloaded them from the Mac App Store.

Without App Store: Download Mac OS version as Apple Developer

If you lot are signed with an Apple Developer account, you can become access to products that are no longer listed on the App Shop. If y'all desperately demand a lower OS 10 version build, consider creating a new Developer account among other options. The membership toll is $99/year and provides a bunch of perks unavailable to ordinary users.

Still, go along in mind that if you visit developer.apple tree.com/downloads, y'all can only find 10.3-ten.six Bone Ten operating systems at that place. Newer versions are not bachelor because starting Mac Bone X Snow Leopard ten.seven, the App Store has become the just source of updating Apple OS versions.

Purchase an older version of Mac operating arrangement

Apple OS Versions

You tin purchase a boxed or email version of past Mac Os Ten directly from Apple. Both volition cost you around $20. For the reason of being rather antiquated, Snow Leopard and earlier Apple versions tin only be installed from DVD.

Buy a boxed edition of Snowfall Leopard 10.half dozen
Go an email copy of King of beasts 10.7
Get an email copy of Mount King of beasts 10.viii

The email edition comes with a special download code you can use for the Mac App Store. Note, that to install the Lion or Mountain Lion, your Mac needs to be running Snow Leopard then yous tin can install the newer Bone on acme of it.

How to get macOS El Capitan download

If you are wondering if you can run El Capitan on an older Mac, rejoice every bit information technology'south possible too. Simply before your Mac can run El Capitan it has to be updated to OS 10 x.vi.8. And so, here are chief steps yous should take:

1. Install Snow Leopard from install DVD.
two. Update to 10.vi.8 using Software Update.
3. Download El Capitan hither.

"I can't download an old version of Mac OS X"

If yous have a newer Mac, there is no concrete choice to install Mac Bone versions older than your current Mac model. For instance, if your MacBook was released in 2014, don't expect information technology to run any OS released prior of that time, considering older Apple tree Os versions simply practise non include hardware drivers for your Mac.

Mac os x download

Just as it often happens, workarounds are possible. At that place is even so a chance to download the installation file if yous accept an admission to a Mac (or virtual machine) running that operating system. For instance, to go an installer for Panthera leo, you may inquire a friend who has Lion-operated Mac or, one time again, gear up a virtual automobile running Lion. So you will need to prepare an external drive to download the installation file using Bone X Utilities.

After y'all've completed the download, the installer should launch automatically, but y'all tin click Cancel and copy the file yous need. Below is the detailed instruction how to practise it.

STEP 3. Install older OS X onto an external drive

The following method allows you to download Mac Bone X King of beasts, Mountain Lion, and Mavericks.

  1. Kickoff your Mac property down Control + R.
  2. Prepare a clean external drive (at to the lowest degree x GB of storage).
  3. Inside OS X Utilities, choose Reinstall Os X.
  4. Select external drive every bit a source.
  5. Enter your Apple tree ID.
How to download old Mac OS X versions

Now the Os should start downloading automatically onto the external drive. After the download is complete, your Mac will prompt you to do a restart, only at this signal, you should completely close it downwardly. Now that the installation file is "captured" onto your external drive, yous tin can reinstall the Os, this time running the file on your Mac.

  1. Boot your Mac from your standard drive.
  2. Connect the external bulldoze.
  3. Go to external drive > OS 10 Install Data.

Locate InstallESD.dmg disk epitome file — this is the file you need to reinstall Lion OS X. The same steps are valid for Mount Lion and Mavericks.

How to downgrade a Mac running later on macOS versions

If your Mac runs macOS Sierra 10.12 or macOS High Sierra ten.13, it is possible to revert it to the previous arrangement if you are not satisfied with the feel. You tin can do it either with Time Car or past creating a bootable USB or external drive.

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Sierra

Educational activity todowngrade from macOS High Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Mojave

Instruction to downgrade from macOS Catalina

Before you exercise it, the best advice is to back your Mac upwardly so your most important files stay intact. In addition to that, it makes sense to make clean up your Mac from one-time arrangement junk files and application leftovers. The easiest fashion to do information technology is to run CleanMyMac 10 on your machine (download it for free here).

Visit your local Apple Store to download older OS X version

If none of the options to get older Os Ten worked, pay a visit to nearest local Apple Store. They should have image installations going back to OS Leopard and earlier. You lot can likewise ask their assistance to create a bootable USB bulldoze with the installation file. So hither y'all are. Nosotros hope this article has helped you to download an old version of Mac Bone X. Below are a few more than links you may find interesting.