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. As well, you may have noticed your Mac's functioning went down right after the last update. Finally, if you lot want to run a parallel re-create of Mac Bone Ten on a virtual machine, y'all too will need a working installation file of an older Mac Os X. Farther down nosotros'll explain where to get ane and what problems you may face up down the road.

A list of all Mac OS X versions

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

Cheetah 10.0 Puma 10.1 Jaguar 10.two
Panther ten.3 Tiger 10.4 Leopard 10.5
Snow Leopard x.half-dozen Lion x.7 Mountain Lion 10.8
Mavericks 10.nine Yosemite ten.10 El Capitan x.xi
Sierra 10.12 High Sierra 10.13 Mojave ten.14
Catalina 10.xv

Stride i. Prepare your Mac for installation

Given your Mac isn't new and is filled with data, you volition probably demand enough free infinite on your Mac. This includes not merely space for the OS itself simply as well space for other applications and your user data. Ane more statement is that the costless infinite on your disk translates into virtual memory then your apps take "fuel" to operate on. The chart beneath tells you how much complimentary space is needed.

Annotation, that it is recommended that y'all install Os on a clean drive. Next, you volition need plenty disk infinite available, for example, to create Recovery Partition. Hither are some ideas to free up infinite on your bulldoze:

  • Uninstall big 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 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 nice automatic "room cleaners". Our favorite isCleanMyMac as information technology'due south most simple to use of all. Information technology deletes system junk, old broken apps, and the balance of hidden junk on your drive.

CleanMyMac X - Smart Scan complete

Download CleanMyMacfor OS 10.iv - x.viii (free version)

Download CleanMyMac for Os x.ix (gratis version)

Download CleanMyMacfor Os 10.10 - 10.14 (free version)

Stride 2. Get a copy of Mac OS X download

Normally, it is assumed that updating OS is a one-fashion road. That's why going back to a past Apple OS version is problematic. The master challenge is to download the Bone installation file itself, because your Mac may already be running a newer version. If you lot succeed in downloading the OS installation, your adjacent step is to create a bootable USB or DVD and then 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 one-time version of Mac OS X from the App Store, open it and go to the Purchased tab. There you lot'll notice all the installers you tin can download. However, it doesn't always work that way. The purchased section lists only those operating systems that you had downloaded in the past. But here is the path to check information technology:

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

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

Without App Store: Download Mac OS version equally Apple tree Developer

If you are signed with an Apple Programmer account, you can go access to products that are no longer listed on the App Shop. If you badly need a lower Os Ten version build, consider creating a new Developer account amongst other options. The membership cost is $99/year and provides a bunch of perks unavailable to ordinary users.

Nevertheless, keep in heed that if y'all visit developer.apple.com/downloads, you can only find x.3-10.vi OS X operating systems in that location. Newer versions are not available because starting Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.7, the App Shop has become the only source of updating Apple OS versions.

Buy an older version of Mac operating organization

Apple OS Versions

You can purchase a boxed or e-mail version of past Mac OS X direct from Apple. Both volition cost you lot around $20. For the reason of beingness rather antiquated, Snow Leopard and earlier Apple versions can merely exist installed from DVD.

Buy a boxed edition of Snowfall Leopard 10.6
Get an email re-create of King of beasts 10.7
Get an email copy of Mountain Lion ten.8

The e-mail edition comes with a special download code you can use for the Mac App Store. Annotation, that to install the Lion or Mountain King of beasts, your Mac needs to be running Snowfall Leopard and then yous can install the newer Os on pinnacle of it.

How to become macOS El Capitan download

If you are wondering if y'all can run El Capitan on an older Mac, rejoice as it'south possible too. Simply earlier your Mac can run El Capitan it has to be updated to Bone 10 x.vi.eight. So, here are main steps yous should have:

1. Install Snow Leopard from install DVD.
ii. Update to ten.6.8 using Software Update.
3. Download El Capitan here.

"I can't download an sometime version of Mac Os X"

If you have a newer Mac, there is no physical option 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 whatever OS released prior of that time, because older Apple tree OS versions only do not include hardware drivers for your Mac.

Mac os x download

But as information technology oftentimes happens, workarounds are possible. In that location is all the same a adventure to download the installation file if you lot have an admission to a Mac (or virtual machine) running that operating organization. For instance, to get an installer for Panthera leo, you may ask a friend who has Lion-operated Mac or, once again, set up a virtual automobile running Lion. Then you volition need to prepare an external drive to download the installation file using OS Ten Utilities.

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

STEP 3. Install older OS X onto an external drive

The post-obit method allows you to download Mac OS 10 Panthera leo, Mountain King of beasts, and Mavericks.

  1. Get-go your Mac holding down Command + R.
  2. Fix a make clean external drive (at least ten GB of storage).
  3. Within Bone 10 Utilities, choose Reinstall OS X.
  4. Select external bulldoze as a source.
  5. Enter your Apple ID.
How to download old Mac OS X versions

Now the Os should get-go downloading automatically onto the external drive. After the download is consummate, your Mac will prompt you to do a restart, but at this point, you should completely shut information technology down. Now 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 drive.
  2. Connect the external bulldoze.
  3. Go to external drive > Os X Install Data.

Locate InstallESD.dmg disk image file — this is the file you lot need to reinstall Lion OS Ten. 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 x.12 or macOS Loftier Sierra ten.13, it is possible to revert it to the previous system if y'all are non satisfied with the feel. You can do it either with Time Auto or by creating a bootable USB or external drive.

Didactics todowngrade from macOS Sierra

Pedagogy todowngrade from macOS Loftier Sierra

Educational activity todowngrade from macOS Mojave

Instruction to downgrade from macOS Catalina

Earlier you exercise information technology, the all-time advice is to back your Mac up so your nearly of import files stay intact. In addition to that, it makes sense to clean upward your Mac from old arrangement junk files and application leftovers. The easiest mode to practice it is to run CleanMyMac X on your car (download it for free here).

Visit your local Apple Store to download older Os X version

If none of the options to get older OS Ten worked, pay a visit to nearest local Apple Store. They should have epitome installations going back to OS Leopard and earlier. You can besides ask their assist to create a bootable USB bulldoze with the installation file. Then hither yous are. We promise this article has helped you to download an old version of Mac OS Ten. Below are a few more links you lot may observe interesting.