So, y'all've decided to download an older version of Mac Os X. There are many reasons that could bespeak you to this radical determination. To begin with, some of your apps may not be working properly (or simply crash) on newer operating systems. Likewise, you may take noticed your Mac's performance went downwards correct after the last update. Finally, if you lot want to run a parallel copy of Mac OS Ten on a virtual machine, you as well will demand a working installation file of an older Mac OS X. Farther down we'll explain where to get one and what issues y'all may face up down the road.

A list of all Mac OS X versions

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

Chetah 10.0 Puma 10.1 Jaguar 10.2
Panther 10.3 Tiger 10.four Leopard 10.5
Snow Leopard 10.vi Panthera leo 10.vii Mount Lion 10.8
Mavericks 10.9 Yosemite 10.x El Capitan x.11
Sierra x.12 High Sierra 10.13 Mojave 10.14
Catalina 10.15

Footstep i. Set your Mac for installation

Given your Mac isn't new and is filled with information, you will probably need enough free infinite on your Mac. This includes not simply space for the Os itself but too space for other applications and your user data. Ane more than argument is that the costless space on your disk translates into virtual retentivity so your apps have "fuel" to operate on. The nautical chart below tells yous how much free space is needed.

Note, that information technology is recommended that you install Os on a make clean bulldoze. Next, you will need plenty disk space bachelor, for example, 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 reckoner:

Go to Finder > All My Files > Adapt past size

And so you tin can move your space hoggers onto an external bulldoze or a cloud storage.

If yous aren't comfortable with cleaning the Mac manually, in that location are some prissy automated "room cleaners". Our favorite isCleanMyMac as it's most simple to utilize of all. It deletes system junk, old broken apps, and the rest of subconscious junk on your drive.

CleanMyMac X - Smart Scan complete

Download CleanMyMacfor Bone ten.four - 10.8 (free version)

Download CleanMyMac for OS ten.9 (gratis version)

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

Footstep 2. Get a copy of Mac OS X download

Normally, information technology is assumed that updating OS is a one-way road. That'south why going back to a by Apple OS version is problematic. The main challenge is to download the Bone installation file itself, because your Mac may already exist running a newer version. If you succeed in downloading the OS installation, your adjacent step is to create a bootable USB or DVD and so reinstall the Bone on your reckoner.

How to download older Mac Bone X versions via the App Store

Mac operating system download


If you one time had purchased an old version of Mac Os 10 from the App Shop, open up it and get to the Purchased tab. At that place you'll find all the installers you tin download. Notwithstanding, information technology doesn't always work that way. The purchased section lists only those operating systems that you had downloaded in the by. But hither is the path to check it:

  1. Click the App Shop icon.
  2. Click Purchases in the tiptop carte du jour.
  3. Scroll down to find the preferred OS X version.
  4. Click Download.

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

Without App Shop: Download Mac Bone version as Apple tree Developer

If yous are signed with an Apple Programmer business relationship, you lot tin go admission to products that are no longer listed on the App Store. If you desperately need a lower Os 10 version build, consider creating a new Developer business relationship among other options. The membership price is $99/twelvemonth and provides a bunch of perks unavailable to ordinary users.

Even so, keep in mind that if you visit developer.apple.com/downloads, you can only discover ten.3-10.6 Bone X operating systems at that place. Newer versions are non available considering 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 organization

Apple OS Versions

You can purchase a boxed or e-mail version of past Mac Os Ten directly from Apple. Both will cost you lot around $20. For the reason of being rather antiquated, Snow Leopard and earlier Apple tree versions tin can merely be installed from DVD.

Buy a boxed edition of Snow Leopard 10.half dozen
Get an email copy of Lion 10.vii
Get an e-mail re-create of Mountain Lion 10.8

The email edition comes with a special download code you can use for the Mac App Store. Annotation, that to install the Lion or Mountain Lion, your Mac needs to be running Snow Leopard so you can install the newer Bone on elevation of information technology.

How to become macOS El Capitan download

If yous are wondering if you can run El Capitan on an older Mac, rejoice every bit 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. So, here are primary steps you should take:

1. Install Snow Leopard from install DVD.
2. Update to ten.6.viii using Software Update.
3. Download El Capitan here.

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

If you lot have a newer Mac, there is no physical pick to install Mac OS versions older than your current Mac model. For instance, if your MacBook was released in 2014, don't expect information technology to run any OS released prior of that time, because older Apple tree Bone versions simply do not include hardware drivers for your Mac.

Mac os x download

But as it often happens, workarounds are possible. At that place is yet a take a chance to download the installation file if you accept an access to a Mac (or virtual machine) running that operating system. For example, to get an installer for Lion, y'all may ask a friend who has Lion-operated Mac or, once again, gear up a virtual machine running Panthera leo. Then you volition demand to prepare an external drive to download the installation file using Os X Utilities.

After y'all've completed the download, the installer should launch automatically, but you tin click Cancel and copy the file you need. Beneath is the detailed education how to exercise it.

STEP three. Install older OS X onto an external drive

The following method allows y'all to download Mac OS X King of beasts, Mountain Lion, and Mavericks.

  1. Get-go your Mac belongings downwardly Command + R.
  2. Prepare a clean external bulldoze (at least 10 GB of storage).
  3. Inside OS X Utilities, choose Reinstall Bone 10.
  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 exercise a restart, just at this point, y'all should completely close it downwards. 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. Kicking your Mac from your standard drive.
  2. Connect the external drive.
  3. Go to external drive > Bone X Install Data.

Locate InstallESD.dmg deejay prototype file — this is the file you demand to reinstall Lion Bone X. 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 10.12 or macOS High Sierra 10.13, it is possible to revert it to the previous organisation if you lot are not satisfied with the experience. You tin practise information technology either with Fourth dimension Machine or by creating a bootable USB or external bulldoze.

Didactics todowngrade from macOS Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS High Sierra

Education todowngrade from macOS Mojave

Didactics to downgrade from macOS Catalina

Earlier you do it, the best advice is to back your Mac up so your most of import files stay intact. In addition to that, it makes sense to clean up your Mac from old system junk files and application leftovers. The easiest way to practice it is to run CleanMyMac X on your automobile (download information technology for free hither).

Visit your local Apple tree Shop to download older OS X version

If none of the options to become older OS X worked, pay a visit to nearest local Apple Shop. They should have image installations going back to Bone Leopard and earlier. You can likewise ask their aid to create a bootable USB drive with the installation file. So hither you are. We hope this article has helped you to download an old version of Mac OS X. Below are a few more links you may find interesting.