So, you've decided to download an older version of Mac OS X. At that place are many reasons that could point you to this radical determination. To begin with, some of your apps may not be working properly (or simply crash) on newer operating systems. Also, you may have noticed your Mac's performance went downwards right later on the last update. Finally, if you want to run a parallel copy of Mac Bone X on a virtual motorcar, you too volition need a working installation file of an older Mac OS X. Further down nosotros'll explain where to become one and what problems y'all may face down the road.

A list of all Mac Os X versions

We'll exist repeatedly referring to these Apple tree OS versions below, and so information technology'south good to know the basic macOS timeline.

Cheetah 10.0 Puma 10.1 Jaguar 10.two
Panther 10.3 Tiger ten.four Leopard x.5
Snow Leopard 10.6 Lion 10.7 Mountain Lion 10.8
Mavericks 10.nine Yosemite x.10 El Capitan x.11
Sierra 10.12 High Sierra 10.13 Mojave 10.14
Catalina ten.15

Stride 1. Prepare your Mac for installation

Given your Mac isn't new and is filled with data, you will probably need plenty free infinite on your Mac. This includes not just space for the OS itself only also space for other applications and your user data. I more statement is that the complimentary space on your deejay translates into virtual retentiveness so your apps have "fuel" to operate on. The chart below tells you how much free space is needed.

Note, that information technology is recommended that you lot install Os on a clean bulldoze. Side by side, you lot volition need enough disk space available, for example, to create Recovery Partition. Here are some ideas to free up infinite on your drive:

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

Get to Finder > All My Files > Arrange by size

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

If you aren't comfortable with cleaning the Mac manually, there are some prissy automatic "room cleaners". Our favorite isCleanMyMac as information technology's virtually simple to apply of all. Information technology deletes system junk, old broken apps, and the rest of hidden junk on your drive.

CleanMyMac X - Smart Scan complete

Download CleanMyMacfor Bone 10.4 - x.viii (free version)

Download CleanMyMac for Bone 10.9 (free version)

Download CleanMyMacfor Bone ten.ten - 10.xiv (costless version)

STEP 2. Get a re-create of Mac Os X download

Normally, it is assumed that updating OS is a one-way route. That'due south why going back to a past Apple Os version is problematic. The master 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 Bone installation, your next stride is to create a bootable USB or DVD and then reinstall the Bone on your estimator.

How to download older Mac Bone X versions via the App Shop

Mac operating system download


If y'all once had purchased an old version of Mac Bone Ten from the App Store, open it and go to the Purchased tab. There you'll notice all the installers you can download. However, it doesn't always piece of work that manner. The purchased department lists but those operating systems that you had downloaded in the past. But here is the path to cheque it:

  1. Click the App Shop icon.
  2. Click Purchases in the top menu.
  3. Coil down to detect the preferred OS X version.
  4. Click Download.

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

Without App Store: Download Mac OS version every bit Apple Developer

If yous are signed with an Apple Developer business relationship, y'all tin can get access to products that are no longer listed on the App Store. If you badly need a lower Bone X version build, consider creating a new Developer business relationship amid other options. The membership cost is $99/year and provides a agglomeration of perks unavailable to ordinary users.

Even so, continue in mind that if you visit programmer.apple.com/downloads, you can only find 10.3-10.6 OS Ten operating systems there. Newer versions are not bachelor because starting Mac Bone Ten Snow Leopard x.7, the App Store has become the only source of updating Apple Bone versions.

Purchase an older version of Mac operating system

Apple OS Versions

You can purchase a boxed or e-mail version of past Mac Bone Ten directly from Apple. Both volition price you around $xx. For the reason of existence rather antiquated, Snow Leopard and earlier Apple tree versions can only be installed from DVD.

Buy a boxed edition of Snow Leopard x.half-dozen
Go an email re-create of Lion 10.7
Get an e-mail copy of Mountain Lion 10.eight

The e-mail edition comes with a special download code you can use for the Mac App Shop. Note, that to install the Lion or Mountain King of beasts, your Mac needs to be running Snow Leopard so you can install the newer Os on top of information technology.

How to get macOS El Capitan download

If you are wondering if you tin can run El Capitan on an older Mac, rejoice as information technology's possible also. Simply before your Mac can run El Capitan it has to be updated to OS X 10.6.8. And then, hither are main steps y'all should accept:

1. Install Snow Leopard from install DVD.
2. Update to 10.half dozen.8 using Software Update.
three. Download El Capitan hither.

"I can't download an sometime version of Mac OS Ten"

If you accept a newer Mac, there is no concrete pick to install Mac Os versions older than your electric current Mac model. For example, if your MacBook was released in 2014, don't look it to run any OS released prior of that time, because older Apple tree OS versions simply do not include hardware drivers for your Mac.

Mac os x download

But as information technology oftentimes happens, workarounds are possible. There is still a run a risk to download the installation file if you have an access to a Mac (or virtual machine) running that operating arrangement. For case, to get an installer for Panthera leo, y'all may ask a friend who has Lion-operated Mac or, once once more, set up a virtual machine running King of beasts. Then y'all will need to set an external drive to download the installation file using Os Ten Utilities.

After you've completed the download, the installer should launch automatically, but you tin click Cancel and copy the file you need. Beneath is the detailed instruction how to do information technology.

STEP three. Install older OS Ten onto an external drive

The following method allows you to download Mac OS X Panthera leo, Mount Lion, and Mavericks.

  1. First your Mac holding down Control + R.
  2. Prepare a clean external drive (at to the lowest degree 10 GB of storage).
  3. Within Bone 10 Utilities, choose Reinstall OS X.
  4. Select external drive as a source.
  5. Enter your Apple ID.
How to download old Mac OS X versions

Now the OS should showtime downloading automatically onto the external drive. Later the download is consummate, your Mac will prompt you to do a restart, but at this indicate, you should completely shut it down. At present that the installation file is "captured" onto your external drive, you can reinstall the Os, this time running the file on your Mac.

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

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

How to downgrade a Mac running later macOS versions

If your Mac runs macOS Sierra 10.12 or macOS Loftier Sierra 10.thirteen, it is possible to revert it to the previous system if yous are not satisfied with the feel. You tin can exercise it either with Time Machine or by creating a bootable USB or external drive.

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS High Sierra

Pedagogy todowngrade from macOS Mojave

Instruction to downgrade from macOS Catalina

Before you do information technology, the best advice is to dorsum your Mac up so your almost of import files stay intact. In addition to that, it makes sense to clean upward your Mac from one-time system junk files and application leftovers. The easiest fashion to practice it is to run CleanMyMac X on your car (download it for free hither).

Visit your local Apple tree Shop to download older Bone X version

If none of the options to get older Bone X worked, pay a visit to nearest local Apple Store. They should have image installations going back to Bone Leopard and before. You can too ask their assistance to create a bootable USB drive with the installation file. So here yous are. We promise this commodity has helped you to download an old version of Mac Os 10. Below are a few more links yous may notice interesting.