And then, y'all've decided to download an older version of Mac OS X. There are many reasons that could point y'all to this radical decision. To begin with, some of your apps may not be working properly (or simply crash) on newer operating systems. Also, yous may take noticed your Mac'southward operation went downward right subsequently the terminal update. Finally, if y'all want to run a parallel copy of Mac Bone X on a virtual auto, you too will need a working installation file of an older Mac Bone X. Further down nosotros'll explain where to get 1 and what issues you may face up downward the road.

A list of all Mac OS X versions

We'll exist repeatedly referring to these Apple tree Bone versions below, so it's good to know the basic macOS timeline.

Cheetah x.0 Puma 10.1 Jaguar 10.two
Panther 10.three Tiger x.iv Leopard 10.v
Snow Leopard 10.6 Panthera leo 10.vii Mount Lion 10.8
Mavericks 10.ix Yosemite 10.10 El Capitan x.xi
Sierra ten.12 High Sierra 10.13 Mojave 10.14
Catalina ten.xv

Footstep ane. Set your Mac for installation

Given your Mac isn't new and is filled with data, you volition probably need plenty free space on your Mac. This includes non just space for the Os itself merely also space for other applications and your user data. One more argument is that the costless space on your disk translates into virtual retentivity and so your apps accept "fuel" to operate on. The chart below tells y'all how much free space is needed.

Note, that it is recommended that you install OS on a clean drive. Next, you will need enough disk infinite available, for instance, to create Recovery Segmentation. Hither are some ideas to free upwardly infinite 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 > Adjust past size

And then yous tin can move your space hoggers onto an external drive or a deject storage.

If you aren't comfortable with cleaning the Mac manually, there are some dainty automatic "room cleaners". Our favorite isCleanMyMac every bit it's about unproblematic to use of all. Information technology deletes arrangement junk, former broken apps, and the rest of hidden junk on your drive.

CleanMyMac X - Smart Scan complete

Download CleanMyMacfor Os 10.iv - 10.viii (gratis version)

Download CleanMyMac for Os 10.nine (costless version)

Download CleanMyMacfor Os 10.x - 10.14 (free version)

Step 2. Get a copy of Mac OS Ten download

Commonly, it is assumed that updating Bone is a one-mode road. That's why going back to a by Apple Os version is problematic. The main challenge is to download the OS installation file itself, considering your Mac may already be running a newer version. If you succeed in downloading the OS installation, your next step is to create a bootable USB or DVD and then reinstall the Bone on your computer.

How to download older Mac Os 10 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 y'all tin download. However, it doesn't always work that way. The purchased section lists only those operating systems that you had downloaded in the by. Just hither is the path to check it:

  1. Click the App Store icon.
  2. Click Purchases in the peak carte.
  3. Scroll down to detect the preferred Bone X version.
  4. Click Download.

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

Without App Store: Download Mac OS version every bit Apple Developer

If you are signed with an Apple tree Developer account, y'all can get admission to products that are no longer listed on the App Store. If you desperately demand a lower Os X version build, consider creating a new Developer account among other options. The membership toll is $99/year and provides a agglomeration of perks unavailable to ordinary users.

Withal, go along in heed that if you visit developer.apple.com/downloads, you can only detect x.3-10.6 Bone X operating systems there. Newer versions are non available because starting Mac OS X Snowfall Leopard 10.seven, the App Shop has become the simply source of updating Apple Bone versions.

Buy an older version of Mac operating system

Apple OS Versions

You can buy a boxed or email version of past Mac OS 10 directly from Apple. Both volition cost you around $xx. For the reason of existence rather antiquated, Snowfall Leopard and earlier Apple tree versions tin can only exist installed from DVD.

Buy a boxed edition of Snow Leopard x.6
Become an email copy of Lion 10.7
Get an email copy of Mountain Lion 10.eight

The email edition comes with a special download code y'all tin can utilise for the Mac App Store. Notation, that to install the Lion or Mountain Lion, your Mac needs to be running Snow Leopard so you can install the newer Os on top of information technology.

How to get macOS El Capitan download

If you are wondering if you tin run El Capitan on an older Mac, rejoice every bit it's possible too. Merely before your Mac tin run El Capitan it has to be updated to Os X 10.6.viii. So, here are main steps yous should take:

one. Install Snowfall Leopard from install DVD.
2. Update to ten.6.viii using Software Update.
iii. Download El Capitan here.

"I can't download an erstwhile version of Mac OS X"

If you have a newer Mac, at that place is no physical choice 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 any OS released prior of that time, because older Apple Bone versions simply practise not include hardware drivers for your Mac.

Mac os x download

Simply equally information technology often happens, workarounds are possible. There is still a chance to download the installation file if y'all accept an access to a Mac (or virtual motorcar) running that operating system. For example, to get an installer for Lion, you lot may ask a friend who has Lion-operated Mac or, once again, gear up a virtual machine running Lion. And then y'all will need to prepare an external drive to download the installation file using OS Ten Utilities.

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

STEP 3. Install older Os X onto an external drive

The following method allows you to download Mac Bone X Lion, Mount Lion, and Mavericks.

  1. Start your Mac holding down Command + R.
  2. Prepare a clean external drive (at to the lowest degree x GB of storage).
  3. Within OS 10 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 Bone should start downloading automatically onto the external drive. After the download is complete, your Mac volition prompt you lot to do a restart, but at this point, you should completely shut it downwardly. 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 bulldoze.
  3. Go to external bulldoze > Bone Ten Install Data.

Locate InstallESD.dmg disk image file — this is the file you need to reinstall King of beasts OS X. The same steps are valid for Mountain Panthera leo and Mavericks.

How to downgrade a Mac running later macOS versions

If your Mac runs macOS Sierra 10.12 or macOS Loftier Sierra x.thirteen, information technology is possible to revert it to the previous organisation if y'all are not satisfied with the feel. You tin do it either with Time Machine or past creating a bootable USB or external bulldoze.

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Sierra

Pedagogy todowngrade from macOS Loftier Sierra

Pedagogy todowngrade from macOS Mojave

Instruction to downgrade from macOS Catalina

Before you do it, the best advice is to dorsum your Mac up so your most important files stay intact. In addition to that, information technology makes sense to clean up your Mac from former system junk files and application leftovers. The easiest way to exercise information technology is to run CleanMyMac X on your machine (download it for free hither).

Visit your local Apple Store to download older OS X version

If none of the options to get older OS 10 worked, pay a visit to nearest local Apple tree Store. They should have image installations going dorsum to OS Leopard and earlier. You tin likewise ask their assistance to create a bootable USB drive with the installation file. So here you are. Nosotros promise this article has helped you to download an old version of Mac OS X. Below are a few more links you may find interesting.