And so, yous've decided to download an older version of Mac OS X. At that place are many reasons that could point you to this radical decision. To begin with, some of your apps may not exist working properly (or simply crash) on newer operating systems. Also, y'all may accept noticed your Mac's performance went down right later on the terminal update. Finally, if yous want to run a parallel copy of Mac OS X on a virtual machine, you lot also will need a working installation file of an older Mac Bone Ten. Further downwards we'll explain where to get one and what problems you may face downwards the route.

A list of all Mac Os X versions

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

Cheetah x.0 Puma 10.1 Jaguar 10.two
Panther x.3 Tiger 10.4 Leopard 10.5
Snowfall Leopard 10.6 Panthera leo ten.7 Mountain Lion x.8
Mavericks 10.nine Yosemite 10.10 El Capitan ten.eleven
Sierra 10.12 High Sierra ten.13 Mojave 10.14
Catalina 10.15

Step ane. Set your Mac for installation

Given your Mac isn't new and is filled with data, you volition probably need enough free space on your Mac. This includes not just space for the Os itself just too space for other applications and your user data. One more argument is that the free space on your disk translates into virtual memory and then your apps take "fuel" to operate on. The chart below tells y'all how much free space is needed.

Note, that it is recommended that y'all install Os on a clean drive. Next, y'all will need enough disk infinite bachelor, for instance, to create Recovery Sectionalization. Here are some ideas to free up space on your drive:

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

Go to Finder > All My Files > Suit by size

Then you tin can motion your space hoggers onto an external drive or a deject storage.

If you aren't comfortable with cleaning the Mac manually, there are some nice automated "room cleaners". Our favorite isCleanMyMac as it'southward most uncomplicated to use of all. It deletes organisation junk, old broken apps, and the balance of hidden junk on your bulldoze.

CleanMyMac X - Smart Scan complete

Download CleanMyMacfor OS 10.iv - ten.8 (gratis version)

Download CleanMyMac for Bone x.9 (free version)

Download CleanMyMacfor OS 10.10 - ten.14 (free version)

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

Normally, it is assumed that updating Bone is a one-way road. That'southward 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 be running a newer version. If you succeed in downloading the Os installation, your adjacent step is to create a bootable USB or DVD and and so reinstall the OS on your computer.

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

Mac operating system download


If you once had purchased an sometime version of Mac Bone Ten from the App Store, open it and go to the Purchased tab. There y'all'll find all the installers you lot can download. Nonetheless, it doesn't always work that manner. The purchased section lists just those operating systems that you had downloaded in the by. But here is the path to bank check it:

  1. Click the App Store icon.
  2. Click Purchases in the top bill of fare.
  3. Curlicue downward 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 — just if you previously downloaded them from the Mac App Store.

Without App Store: Download Mac Os version as Apple Programmer

If you are signed with an Apple Developer account, yous tin get access to products that are no longer listed on the App Store. If you badly need a lower OS X 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.

Notwithstanding, go along in mind that if you visit developer.apple.com/downloads, you lot tin can only find 10.three-10.half-dozen Os X operating systems there. Newer versions are not available because starting Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.7, the App Store has become the but source of updating Apple OS versions.

Purchase an older version of Mac operating organisation

Apple OS Versions

Y'all tin buy a boxed or email version of past Mac Bone X directly from Apple tree. Both will cost you lot around $20. For the reason of beingness rather antiquated, Snowfall Leopard and earlier Apple versions tin can only be installed from DVD.

Buy a boxed edition of Snow Leopard 10.6
Go an e-mail copy of Lion 10.7
Get an email re-create of Mountain Lion 10.8

The electronic mail edition comes with a special download code you lot can utilise for the Mac App Shop. Note, that to install the King of beasts or Mount Lion, your Mac needs to exist running Snow Leopard so you can install the newer OS on peak of it.

How to get macOS El Capitan download

If you are wondering if you tin run El Capitan on an older Mac, rejoice as it'south possible besides. Simply before your Mac can run El Capitan it has to be updated to Bone 10 10.6.8. So, here are main steps you should take:

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

"I can't download an old version of Mac Bone 10"

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

Mac os x download

Only as it often happens, workarounds are possible. There is withal a chance to download the installation file if you lot have an access to a Mac (or virtual machine) running that operating organisation. For example, to get an installer for Lion, you may ask a friend who has Lion-operated Mac or, once again, ready a virtual machine running Lion. And so you will need to gear up an external drive to download the installation file using OS X Utilities.

After yous've completed the download, the installer should launch automatically, but you lot tin can click Abolish and copy the file you need. Below is the detailed pedagogy how to do it.

STEP 3. Install older OS X onto an external drive

The following method allows you lot to download Mac Os 10 Lion, Mount Lion, and Mavericks.

  1. Commencement your Mac holding down Command + R.
  2. Prepare a clean external drive (at least x GB of storage).
  3. Within Bone X 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 start downloading automatically onto the external drive. After the download is complete, your Mac will prompt you to practise a restart, but at this indicate, 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. Boot your Mac from your standard drive.
  2. Connect the external drive.
  3. Go to external bulldoze > OS X Install Information.

Locate InstallESD.dmg disk paradigm file — this is the file yous need to reinstall Lion Bone 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 ten.12 or macOS High Sierra 10.13, it is possible to revert it to the previous system if you are non satisfied with the experience. You tin can do information technology either with Time Machine or by creating a bootable USB or external drive.

Pedagogy todowngrade from macOS Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Loftier Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Mojave

Instruction to downgrade from macOS Catalina

Before you do it, the best communication is to back your Mac up and then your most important files stay intact. In addition to that, it makes sense to clean up your Mac from erstwhile system junk files and application leftovers. The easiest way to practice information technology is to run CleanMyMac Ten on your machine (download information technology for free hither).

Visit your local Apple Store to download older OS Ten version

If none of the options to get older OS X worked, pay a visit to nearest local Apple tree Store. They should have image installations going dorsum to OS Leopard and earlier. You can also enquire their assistance to create a bootable USB bulldoze with the installation file. And so here you are. Nosotros hope this article has helped you to download an old version of Mac Os 10. Below are a few more links you may discover interesting.