So, you've decided to download an older version of Mac Bone 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 merely crash) on newer operating systems. As well, you may take noticed your Mac's functioning went downwards right after the terminal update. Finally, if you lot want to run a parallel copy of Mac Os X on a virtual machine, you as well will need a working installation file of an older Mac Bone X. Farther downwardly we'll explain where to get one and what problems you may face downward the road.

A list of all Mac Bone X versions

We'll be repeatedly referring to these Apple tree Os versions below, so it's adept to know the basic macOS timeline.

Cheetah 10.0 Puma 10.one Jaguar ten.2
Panther 10.3 Tiger 10.4 Leopard 10.5
Snow Leopard ten.6 Lion 10.7 Mountain King of beasts x.viii
Mavericks 10.9 Yosemite 10.10 El Capitan 10.11
Sierra x.12 High Sierra 10.13 Mojave 10.14
Catalina x.xv

STEP 1. Set up your Mac for installation

Given your Mac isn't new and is filled with information, you will probably need plenty free space on your Mac. This includes not just space for the Os itself but as well infinite for other applications and your user information. 1 more argument is that the complimentary space on your disk translates into virtual memory so your apps have "fuel" to operate on. The chart below tells yous how much free space is needed.

Note, that information technology is recommended that you install Os on a clean drive. Next, y'all volition demand enough disk space bachelor, for instance, to create Recovery Sectionalization. Hither are some ideas to gratis up space on your drive:

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

Go to Finder > All My Files > Accommodate by size

And so you tin movement your space hoggers onto an external drive or a cloud storage.

If y'all aren't comfortable with cleaning the Mac manually, there are some dainty automatic "room cleaners". Our favorite isCleanMyMac as it's most uncomplicated to utilise of all. It deletes system junk, old cleaved apps, and the rest of subconscious junk on your bulldoze.

CleanMyMac X - Smart Scan complete

Download CleanMyMacfor Bone 10.4 - 10.8 (free version)

Download CleanMyMac for Os ten.ix (free version)

Download CleanMyMacfor Os 10.ten - 10.fourteen (free version)

STEP 2. Become a copy of Mac OS X download

Normally, it is causeless that updating Bone is a one-way route. That's why going dorsum to a past Apple tree OS version is problematic. The primary 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 next footstep is to create a bootable USB or DVD and so reinstall the OS on your computer.

How to download older Mac Bone 10 versions via the App Shop

Mac operating system download


If you once had purchased an quondam version of Mac Os X from the App Store, open information technology and go to the Purchased tab. In that location you'll observe all the installers you lot can download. However, it doesn't ever work that way. The purchased section lists simply those operating systems that you had downloaded in the past. But here is the path to check it:

  1. Click the App Store icon.
  2. Click Purchases in the top carte.
  3. Scroll down to find the preferred Os 10 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 Programmer account, you can get access to products that are no longer listed on the App Shop. If you desperately need a lower Os Ten version build, consider creating a new Developer business relationship among other options. The membership cost is $99/yr and provides a bunch of perks unavailable to ordinary users.

Nevertheless, proceed in mind that if you visit developer.apple.com/downloads, you tin only find 10.3-ten.6 OS X operating systems there. Newer versions are not available because starting Mac OS X Snow Leopard ten.7, the App Store has get the only source of updating Apple tree OS versions.

Purchase an older version of Mac operating system

Apple OS Versions

You can purchase a boxed or electronic mail version of past Mac OS X directly from Apple. Both will price you around $20. For the reason of being rather blowsy, Snow Leopard and before Apple versions tin just be installed from DVD.

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

The electronic mail edition comes with a special download code you can apply for the Mac App Store. Note, that to install the Lion or Mount Lion, your Mac needs to be running Snow Leopard then you can install the newer Bone on summit of it.

How to get macOS El Capitan download

If you are wondering if you lot can run El Capitan on an older Mac, rejoice as it'due south possible too. Merely before your Mac can run El Capitan information technology has to be updated to Os X 10.6.8. And then, here are primary steps you should take:

1. Install Snow Leopard from install DVD.
2. Update to 10.vi.8 using Software Update.
iii. Download El Capitan hither.

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

If you take a newer Mac, in that location is no physical option to install Mac Bone versions older than your current Mac model. For instance, if your MacBook was released in 2014, don't expect information technology to run whatever Bone released prior of that fourth dimension, because older Apple Os versions merely do non include hardware drivers for your Mac.

Mac os x download

But every bit information technology oftentimes happens, workarounds are possible. At that place is still a chance to download the installation file if you lot accept an access to a Mac (or virtual automobile) running that operating system. For case, to go an installer for Lion, you may ask a friend who has Lion-operated Mac or, in one case once more, set upwardly a virtual auto running Lion. And so yous will need to prepare an external drive to download the installation file using OS Ten Utilities.

After you've completed the download, the installer should launch automatically, only you can click Cancel and copy the file y'all demand. Beneath is the detailed instruction how to practice it.

Pace three. Install older OS Ten onto an external drive

The following method allows y'all to download Mac OS Ten Lion, Mountain Lion, and Mavericks.

  1. Start your Mac belongings down Control + R.
  2. Prepare a make clean external bulldoze (at least 10 GB of storage).
  3. Within OS X Utilities, choose Reinstall Bone 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 commencement downloading automatically onto the external bulldoze. Subsequently the download is complete, your Mac volition prompt y'all to do a restart, merely at this signal, you should completely close it down. At present that the installation file is "captured" onto your external drive, you tin reinstall the Os, this time running the file on your Mac.

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

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

How to downgrade a Mac running afterwards macOS versions

If your Mac runs macOS Sierra ten.12 or macOS High Sierra 10.13, information technology is possible to revert information technology to the previous system if you are not satisfied with the experience. You tin do it either with Fourth dimension Motorcar or by creating a bootable USB or external drive.

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS High Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Mojave

Education to downgrade from macOS Catalina

Before you exercise information technology, the best advice is to back your Mac up and so your about of import files stay intact. In add-on to that, information technology makes sense to clean up your Mac from old system junk files and application leftovers. The easiest fashion to practise it is to run CleanMyMac 10 on your machine (download it for free here).

Visit your local Apple Store to download older OS X version

If none of the options to go older OS Ten worked, pay a visit to nearest local Apple Store. They should have image installations going dorsum to Os Leopard and before. You can too enquire their assistance to create a bootable USB drive with the installation file. Then here you are. Nosotros promise this commodity has helped y'all to download an quondam version of Mac Bone X. Below are a few more links you may notice interesting.