And so, you've decided to download an older version of Mac OS X. There are many reasons that could point you 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 take noticed your Mac's performance went down correct after the last update. Finally, if yous want to run a parallel copy of Mac OS 10 on a virtual machine, you too volition need a working installation file of an older Mac Bone 10. Farther downward we'll explicate where to get one and what problems you may face down the route.

A list of all Mac Os X versions

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

Chetah 10.0 Puma 10.i Jaguar 10.2
Panther 10.iii Tiger 10.4 Leopard 10.5
Snow Leopard 10.6 Lion 10.7 Mount Panthera leo ten.8
Mavericks 10.9 Yosemite 10.10 El Capitan 10.xi
Sierra 10.12 Loftier Sierra 10.thirteen Mojave x.xiv
Catalina 10.15

STEP 1. Ready your Mac for installation

Given your Mac isn't new and is filled with data, you lot will probably need plenty costless infinite on your Mac. This includes not but space for the OS itself but also space for other applications and your user data. One more argument is that the free space on your disk translates into virtual memory so your apps accept "fuel" to operate on. The nautical chart beneath tells you how much gratis space is needed.

Note, that it is recommended that you install OS on a clean bulldoze. Next, yous will need enough disk space available, for example, to create Recovery Division. Here are some ideas to free upwards infinite on your drive:

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

Become to Finder > All My Files > Arrange by size

And then you tin move your space hoggers onto an external drive or a deject storage.

If you lot aren't comfortable with cleaning the Mac manually, in that location are some overnice automatic "room cleaners". Our favorite isCleanMyMac as it'southward most simple to use of all. It deletes organization junk, old cleaved apps, and the rest of hidden junk on your drive.

CleanMyMac X - Smart Scan complete

Download CleanMyMacfor Os x.4 - 10.8 (gratuitous version)

Download CleanMyMac for OS 10.9 (free version)

Download CleanMyMacfor OS ten.ten - 10.14 (free version)

Step 2. Get a copy of Mac Bone Ten download

Usually, information technology is assumed that updating OS is a one-way road. That's why going back to a past Apple OS version is problematic. The primary challenge is to download the OS installation file itself, considering your Mac may already be running a newer version. If yous succeed in downloading the Bone installation, your next step is to create a bootable USB or DVD and then reinstall the OS on your calculator.

How to download older Mac OS 10 versions via the App Store

Mac operating system download


If you in one case had purchased an old version of Mac Bone X from the App Store, open up it and go to the Purchased tab. In that location you'll find all the installers you can download. Nonetheless, it doesn't always work that style. The purchased section lists only those operating systems that you lot had downloaded in the past. But here is the path to bank check it:

  1. Click the App Store icon.
  2. Click Purchases in the top menu.
  3. Ringlet downward to discover the preferred OS X version.
  4. Click Download.

This method allows you to download Mavericks and Yosemite past logging with your Apple ID — simply 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 tree Developer business relationship, you can get access to products that are no longer listed on the App Store. If y'all desperately need a lower OS X version build, consider creating a new Programmer account among other options. The membership toll is $99/year and provides a bunch of perks unavailable to ordinary users.

Yet, keep in mind that if you visit developer.apple.com/downloads, y'all can only find 10.three-10.6 Bone X operating systems there. Newer versions are non bachelor because starting Mac Bone X Snow Leopard 10.7, the App Store has go the only source of updating Apple Bone versions.

Buy an older version of Mac operating system

Apple OS Versions

You can purchase a boxed or email version of past Mac OS X direct from Apple tree. Both volition cost you around $20. For the reason of existence rather blowsy, Snowfall Leopard and earlier Apple versions can only be installed from DVD.

Buy a boxed edition of Snow Leopard 10.half-dozen
Get an email copy of Panthera leo ten.7
Go an email copy of Mountain Panthera leo x.8

The email edition comes with a special download code you tin utilize for the Mac App Store. Annotation, that to install the Panthera leo or Mountain Lion, your Mac needs to be running Snow Leopard so you tin install the newer Bone on top of it.

How to get macOS El Capitan download

If you lot are wondering if y'all can run El Capitan on an older Mac, rejoice as information technology's possible also. But earlier your Mac tin run El Capitan information technology has to be updated to OS X 10.half-dozen.8. So, hither are master steps you should have:

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

"I can't download an quondam version of Mac Bone X"

If you take a newer Mac, there is no physical option to install Mac Bone versions older than your electric current Mac model. For instance, if your MacBook was released in 2014, don't expect information technology to run whatsoever Os released prior of that time, considering older Apple tree Bone versions simply practice non include hardware drivers for your Mac.

Mac os x download

But as information technology frequently happens, workarounds are possible. In that location is yet a hazard to download the installation file if you have an access to a Mac (or virtual machine) running that operating system. For example, to get an installer for Panthera leo, y'all may inquire a friend who has Lion-operated Mac or, one time again, set up a virtual machine running Panthera leo. Then yous will need to gear up an external bulldoze to download the installation file using OS X Utilities.

Subsequently y'all've completed the download, the installer should launch automatically, just you can click Abolish and re-create the file you need. Below is the detailed instruction how to do it.

STEP 3. Install older Os X onto an external drive

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

  1. Start your Mac holding down Command + R.
  2. Ready a clean external drive (at least x GB of storage).
  3. Inside OS X Utilities, cull Reinstall Bone X.
  4. Select external drive as a source.
  5. Enter your Apple ID.
How to download old Mac OS X versions

At present the OS should outset downloading automatically onto the external drive. After the download is complete, your Mac will prompt y'all to do a restart, but at this bespeak, you should completely shut information technology down. Now that the installation file is "captured" onto your external bulldoze, you can reinstall the OS, this time running the file on your Mac.

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

Locate InstallESD.dmg disk image file — this is the file you lot need to reinstall King of beasts Bone X. The same steps are valid for Mountain King of beasts and Mavericks.

How to downgrade a Mac running later macOS versions

If your Mac runs macOS Sierra 10.12 or macOS Loftier Sierra x.13, information technology is possible to revert information technology to the previous organization if yous are not satisfied with the experience. You tin can exercise information technology either with Time Machine or past creating a bootable USB or external drive.

Educational activity todowngrade from macOS Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Loftier Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Mojave

Education to downgrade from macOS Catalina

Earlier you practise it, the best communication is to back your Mac upwardly so your most important files stay intact. In add-on to that, it makes sense to make clean up your Mac from old organisation junk files and application leftovers. The easiest fashion to do it is to run CleanMyMac X on your car (download it for gratuitous here).

Visit your local Apple Shop to download older Bone X version

If none of the options to get older OS X worked, pay a visit to nearest local Apple Store. They should have paradigm installations going dorsum to OS Leopard and earlier. You tin can also inquire their aid to create a bootable USB drive with the installation file. And so here you are. We hope this article has helped you lot to download an quondam version of Mac Os X. Below are a few more than links you lot may observe interesting.