And so, you've decided to download an older version of Mac OS Ten. 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. Likewise, y'all may accept noticed your Mac's operation went downward correct after the last update. Finally, if you desire 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 Os X. Farther down we'll explain where to get one and what problems yous may face down the route.

A list of all Mac OS X versions

Nosotros'll be repeatedly referring to these Apple Os versions below, and so it's good to know the basic macOS timeline.

Cheetah x.0 Puma x.1 Jaguar 10.2
Panther ten.3 Tiger 10.4 Leopard 10.5
Snow Leopard 10.6 Panthera leo 10.7 Mountain Lion 10.8
Mavericks x.9 Yosemite x.10 El Capitan x.11
Sierra ten.12 High Sierra 10.thirteen Mojave ten.xiv
Catalina 10.15

Step i. Prepare your Mac for installation

Given your Mac isn't new and is filled with data, you lot volition probably need enough gratis space on your Mac. This includes not but infinite for the Os itself but also space for other applications and your user data. One more than argument is that the free space on your deejay translates into virtual memory and 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 y'all install OS on a clean bulldoze. Side by side, you will demand enough deejay space available, for example, to create Recovery Sectionalisation. Here are some ideas to complimentary up space 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 past 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, in that location are some prissy automatic "room cleaners". Our favorite isCleanMyMac as it's about elementary to use of all. It deletes arrangement junk, sometime broken apps, and the rest of subconscious junk on your bulldoze.

CleanMyMac X - Smart Scan complete

Download CleanMyMacfor OS 10.4 - ten.8 (costless version)

Download CleanMyMac for OS 10.9 (free version)

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

Stride ii. Go a re-create of Mac OS X download

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

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 Bone X from the App Store, open it and get to the Purchased tab. In that location you'll find all the installers you tin download. Yet, it doesn't always piece of work that way. The purchased department lists only those operating systems that you had downloaded in the by. But hither is the path to bank check information technology:

  1. Click the App Store icon.
  2. Click Purchases in the peak card.
  3. Scroll down to find the preferred Bone 10 version.
  4. Click Download.

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

Without App Store: Download Mac OS version as Apple Developer

If you are signed with an Apple Developer account, you can get access to products that are no longer listed on the App Store. If you desperately demand a lower OS 10 version build, consider creating a new Developer business relationship among other options. The membership toll is $99/twelvemonth and provides a agglomeration of perks unavailable to ordinary users.

Nevertheless, keep in mind that if you visit developer.apple.com/downloads, you tin can only discover 10.3-10.6 OS X operating systems there. Newer versions are not bachelor considering starting Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.7, the App Store has become the only source of updating Apple tree Os versions.

Purchase an older version of Mac operating system

Apple OS Versions

You tin can purchase a boxed or email version of past Mac OS X directly from Apple tree. Both will cost you effectually $20. For the reason of being rather blowsy, Snow Leopard and earlier Apple versions can only exist installed from DVD.

Buy a boxed edition of Snow Leopard 10.6
Get an email copy of Lion 10.7
Become an email copy of Mount Lion 10.viii

The email edition comes with a special download code you tin apply for the Mac App Shop. Note, that to install the Panthera leo or Mount Lion, your Mac needs to be running Snow Leopard so y'all tin can install the newer Bone on peak of it.

How to become macOS El Capitan download

If yous are wondering if you can run El Capitan on an older Mac, rejoice as information technology's possible as well. But before your Mac tin can run El Capitan it has to be updated to OS Ten x.vi.8. Then, here are main steps you should take:

ane. Install Snow Leopard from install DVD.
2. Update to 10.6.8 using Software Update.
three. Download El Capitan here.

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

If you have a newer Mac, in that location is no concrete choice to install Mac OS versions older than your current Mac model. For instance, if your MacBook was released in 2014, don't look it to run any Bone released prior of that time, considering older Apple tree Bone versions only do non include hardware drivers for your Mac.

Mac os x download

Just every bit it oft happens, workarounds are possible. There is even so a chance to download the installation file if you lot have an admission to a Mac (or virtual machine) running that operating arrangement. For case, to get an installer for Panthera leo, you may ask a friend who has King of beasts-operated Mac or, one time over again, prepare up a virtual car running Lion. So you lot will demand to set an external drive to download the installation file using OS X Utilities.

Afterward you've completed the download, the installer should launch automatically, but y'all can click Abolish and copy the file you need. Below is the detailed instruction how to do it.

Pace 3. Install older OS Ten onto an external drive

The post-obit method allows you to download Mac OS Ten Lion, Mountain Lion, and Mavericks.

  1. Beginning your Mac holding downwardly Control + R.
  2. Prepare a clean external bulldoze (at least x GB of storage).
  3. Within Bone Ten Utilities, cull Reinstall Bone X.
  4. Select external drive as a source.
  5. Enter your Apple tree ID.
How to download old Mac OS X versions

At present the Bone should starting time downloading automatically onto the external bulldoze. Afterward the download is complete, your Mac will prompt yous to do a restart, but at this signal, you should completely shut it down. At present that the installation file is "captured" onto your external bulldoze, yous can reinstall the Bone, this fourth dimension running the file on your Mac.

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

Locate InstallESD.dmg disk image file — this is the file you lot need to reinstall Panthera leo OS Ten. The aforementioned steps are valid for Mountain Lion and Mavericks.

How to downgrade a Mac running later macOS versions

If your Mac runs macOS Sierra 10.12 or macOS High Sierra 10.thirteen, it is possible to revert it to the previous system if you are not satisfied with the experience. You can practise it either with Fourth dimension Machine or by creating a bootable USB or external drive.

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Loftier Sierra

Education todowngrade from macOS Mojave

Educational activity to downgrade from macOS Catalina

Before you do information technology, the all-time communication is to back your Mac upwards so your most of import files stay intact. In addition to that, it makes sense to make clean up your Mac from quondam organization junk files and application leftovers. The easiest way to do it is to run CleanMyMac X on your machine (download it for gratuitous hither).

Visit your local Apple Store to download older Os X version

If none of the options to get older OS X worked, pay a visit to nearest local Apple Store. They should accept image installations going back to Os Leopard and earlier. You can also ask their help to create a bootable USB bulldoze with the installation file. So here you are. We hope this article has helped you to download an old version of Mac Bone Ten. Below are a few more links you may notice interesting.