So, yous've decided to download an older version of Mac Os 10. There are many reasons that could point y'all to this radical decision. To brainstorm with, some of your apps may not exist working properly (or simply crash) on newer operating systems. Besides, y'all may take noticed your Mac's performance went down right afterwards the concluding update. Finally, if you want to run a parallel copy of Mac OS X on a virtual machine, y'all as well will need a working installation file of an older Mac Bone X. Further down we'll explicate where to get ane and what bug you lot may face up down the route.

A list of all Mac Os X versions

We'll be repeatedly referring to these Apple OS versions beneath, so information technology's good to know the basic macOS timeline.

Cheetah 10.0 Puma 10.1 Jaguar 10.2
Panther 10.3 Tiger x.four Leopard ten.v
Snow Leopard 10.6 Lion 10.seven Mountain Lion 10.viii
Mavericks ten.ix Yosemite 10.10 El Capitan 10.eleven
Sierra 10.12 High Sierra x.13 Mojave 10.14
Catalina 10.15

Stride 1. Prepare your Mac for installation

Given your Mac isn't new and is filled with information, you will probably demand enough free space on your Mac. This includes not just infinite for the OS itself but also space for other applications and your user data. One more than argument is that the gratis space on your disk translates into virtual retentiveness so your apps have "fuel" to operate on. The nautical chart below tells you how much free infinite is needed.

Annotation, that information technology is recommended that you install Bone on a clean bulldoze. Adjacent, yous volition need enough disk space available, for case, to create Recovery Segmentation. Hither are some ideas to free upward space on your bulldoze:

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

Get to Finder > All My Files > Arrange by size

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

If you lot aren't comfortable with cleaning the Mac manually, there are some nice automatic "room cleaners". Our favorite isCleanMyMac as it's nigh unproblematic to use of all. It deletes organisation junk, old broken apps, and the rest of hidden junk on your drive.

CleanMyMac X - Smart Scan complete

Download CleanMyMacfor Os 10.4 - 10.8 (costless version)

Download CleanMyMac for Bone 10.9 (free version)

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

STEP 2. Become a copy of Mac OS X download

Unremarkably, it is assumed that updating OS is a ane-way route. That's why going back to a past Apple OS version is problematic. The main challenge is to download the OS installation file itself, because your Mac may already be running a newer version. If you lot succeed in downloading the OS installation, your next stride is to create a bootable USB or DVD and then reinstall the Bone on your calculator.

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

Mac operating system download


If you once had purchased an old version of Mac Os X from the App Store, open up it and go to the Purchased tab. There yous'll find all the installers you lot can download. Nevertheless, it doesn't always work that manner. The purchased section lists merely those operating systems that you had downloaded in the by. Just here is the path to check information technology:

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

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

Without App Shop: Download Mac OS version every bit Apple Programmer

If you are signed with an Apple Programmer business relationship, you can go admission to products that are no longer listed on the App Store. If you desperately need a lower OS X version build, consider creating a new Developer business relationship amid other options. The membership cost is $99/year and provides a bunch of perks unavailable to ordinary users.

Yet, go along in mind that if you visit developer.apple.com/downloads, you tin merely notice x.3-10.6 OS X operating systems at that place. Newer versions are not available considering starting Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.7, the App Store has become the simply source of updating Apple OS versions.

Purchase an older version of Mac operating system

Apple OS Versions

You tin purchase a boxed or email version of past Mac Os X direct from Apple. Both volition price you lot effectually $20. For the reason of being rather antiquated, Snowfall Leopard and before Apple versions tin merely be installed from DVD.

Buy a boxed edition of Snow Leopard 10.half dozen
Get an email copy of King of beasts ten.vii
Get an electronic mail copy of Mountain Panthera leo 10.8

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

How to go macOS El Capitan download

If you are wondering if y'all tin can run El Capitan on an older Mac, rejoice as information technology's possible as well. Simply before your Mac can run El Capitan it has to exist updated to OS X 10.6.8. Then, here are primary steps y'all should have:

1. Install Snowfall Leopard from install DVD.
2. Update to 10.6.8 using Software Update.
3. Download El Capitan here.

"I tin't download an sometime version of Mac OS X"

If you have a newer Mac, there is no physical choice to install Mac Bone versions older than your electric current Mac model. For instance, if your MacBook was released in 2014, don't expect it to run whatsoever OS released prior of that time, because older Apple Os versions simply do not include hardware drivers for your Mac.

Mac os x download

But as it ofttimes happens, workarounds are possible. In that location is however a run a risk to download the installation file if you accept an admission to a Mac (or virtual machine) running that operating system. For example, to become an installer for Panthera leo, y'all may ask a friend who has Lion-operated Mac or, in one case over again, set upwardly a virtual car running King of beasts. Then you will need to set an external drive to download the installation file using Bone X Utilities.

After you lot've completed the download, the installer should launch automatically, but you can click Cancel and copy the file you demand. Below is the detailed didactics how to do information technology.

Step three. Install older Bone 10 onto an external bulldoze

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

  1. Outset your Mac holding downwards Command + R.
  2. Set up a clean external drive (at to the lowest degree 10 GB of storage).
  3. Within OS Ten Utilities, cull Reinstall OS X.
  4. Select external drive equally a source.
  5. Enter your Apple tree ID.
How to download old Mac OS X versions

Now the Os should beginning downloading automatically onto the external bulldoze. After the download is complete, your Mac will prompt you to do a restart, merely at this betoken, you should completely shut information technology down. Now that the installation file is "captured" onto your external bulldoze, you tin can reinstall the Bone, this time running the file on your Mac.

  1. Kicking your Mac from your standard drive.
  2. Connect the external drive.
  3. Go to external drive > Bone 10 Install Data.

Locate InstallESD.dmg disk epitome file — this is the file you need to reinstall Panthera leo OS X. The aforementioned steps are valid for Mountain King of beasts and Mavericks.

How to downgrade a Mac running after macOS versions

If your Mac runs macOS Sierra x.12 or macOS High Sierra 10.13, it is possible to revert information technology to the previous system if you are not satisfied with the experience. You tin exercise information technology either with Time Machine or past creating a bootable USB or external drive.

Didactics todowngrade from macOS Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS High Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Mojave

Instruction to downgrade from macOS Catalina

Earlier you do information technology, the best advice is to back your Mac up then your near of import files stay intact. In addition to that, information technology makes sense to clean up your Mac from former organization junk files and application leftovers. The easiest manner to do information technology is to run CleanMyMac X on your machine (download it for gratuitous hither).

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

If none of the options to get older OS X worked, pay a visit to nearest local Apple Shop. They should take image installations going back to OS Leopard and earlier. Yous can also enquire their help to create a bootable USB drive with the installation file. So here you lot are. We hope this article has helped you to download an former version of Mac OS X. Below are a few more than links you may detect interesting.