So, you've decided to download an older version of Mac Bone X. There are many reasons that could point yous to this radical decision. To begin with, some of your apps may not be working properly (or just crash) on newer operating systems. Also, you may have noticed your Mac'due south performance went down correct after the last update. Finally, if you want to run a parallel copy of Mac OS X on a virtual motorcar, yous likewise will need a working installation file of an older Mac OS Ten. Farther down we'll explain where to go one and what bug you lot may face up downward the road.

A list of all Mac Os X versions

Nosotros'll be repeatedly referring to these Apple OS versions below, then information technology'southward practiced to know the basic macOS timeline.

Cheetah 10.0 Puma 10.1 Jaguar 10.ii
Panther ten.3 Tiger 10.iv Leopard 10.5
Snow Leopard 10.vi Lion 10.7 Mountain Lion 10.8
Mavericks 10.9 Yosemite x.10 El Capitan 10.eleven
Sierra x.12 High Sierra 10.thirteen Mojave 10.14
Catalina 10.15

STEP ane. Prepare your Mac for installation

Given your Mac isn't new and is filled with data, y'all will probably need enough free space on your Mac. This includes non merely space for the OS itself but also space for other applications and your user data. One more statement is that the complimentary infinite on your deejay translates into virtual memory so your apps have "fuel" to operate on. The chart below tells you how much complimentary space is needed.

Notation, that it is recommended that you install Os on a make clean drive. Next, y'all volition need plenty disk space available, for example, to create Recovery Partition. 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 estimator:

Go to Finder > All My Files > Accommodate by size

Then you can motility your space hoggers onto an external drive or a cloud storage.

If you lot aren't comfortable with cleaning the Mac manually, there are some squeamish automated "room cleaners". Our favorite isCleanMyMac as it'southward nearly simple to use of all. Information technology deletes arrangement junk, one-time broken apps, and the residual of hidden junk on your drive.

CleanMyMac X - Smart Scan complete

Download CleanMyMacfor Bone 10.four - 10.viii (free version)

Download CleanMyMac for Os 10.9 (costless version)

Download CleanMyMacfor OS 10.x - 10.xiv (free version)


STEP ii. Get a copy of Mac Bone 10 download

Usually, it is assumed that updating OS is a one-way route. That's why going dorsum to a past Apple tree Bone version is problematic. The main challenge is to download the Bone installation file itself, considering your Mac may already be running a newer version. If you succeed in downloading the Bone installation, your next stride is to create a bootable USB or DVD and then reinstall the Os on your figurer.

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

Mac operating system download


If you once had purchased an old version of Mac Bone X from the App Shop, open up information technology and become to the Purchased tab. In that location you'll find all the installers you tin download. All the same, it doesn't e'er piece of work that way. The purchased department lists only those operating systems that you had downloaded in the past. Simply here is the path to check it:

  1. Click the App Store icon.
  2. Click Purchases in the top carte du jour.
  3. Scroll downwardly 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 Shop.


Without App Store: Download Mac OS version as Apple Developer

If you are signed with an Apple Developer account, you can get access 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 Programmer business relationship amidst other options. The membership cost is $99/year and provides a bunch of perks unavailable to ordinary users.

Nevertheless, continue in mind that if you visit developer.apple tree.com/downloads, you tin but find 10.3-10.6 Bone 10 operating systems in that location. 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 tree Os versions.

Buy an older version of Mac operating system

Apple OS Versions

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

Purchase a boxed edition of Snow Leopard 10.6
Get an email copy of Lion 10.7
Get an email copy of Mountain Panthera leo x.viii

The email edition comes with a special download code yous can use for the Mac App Store. Note, that to install the Lion or Mountain Panthera leo, your Mac needs to be running Snowfall Leopard so you can install the newer OS on top of information technology.

How to become macOS El Capitan download

If you are wondering if you can run El Capitan on an older Mac, rejoice as information technology's possible too. Merely before your Mac tin can run El Capitan it has to be updated to Bone X 10.six.8. So, here are principal steps yous should accept:

i. Install Snow Leopard from install DVD.
ii. Update to 10.6.viii using Software Update.
3. Download El Capitan hither.


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

If you take a newer Mac, there is no physical selection to install Mac Bone versions older than your current Mac model. For instance, if your MacBook was released in 2014, don't look it to run whatsoever OS released prior of that time, because older Apple tree OS versions simply exercise not include hardware drivers for your Mac.

Mac os x download

Merely as information technology often happens, workarounds are possible. There is still a chance to download the installation file if you accept an admission to a Mac (or virtual machine) running that operating organisation. For instance, to get an installer for Panthera leo, you may inquire a friend who has Lion-operated Mac or, once once more, prepare upward a virtual machine running King of beasts. Then you volition need to fix an external drive to download the installation file using OS X Utilities.

Afterward you've completed the download, the installer should launch automatically, but yous tin click Cancel and copy the file yous need. Below is the detailed instruction how to do it.


STEP 3. Install older OS 10 onto an external drive

The post-obit method allows you to download Mac Bone X Lion, Mountain Lion, and Mavericks.

  1. Start your Mac property downwardly Command + R.
  2. Prepare a clean external bulldoze (at to the lowest degree 10 GB of storage).
  3. Within OS 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

At present the Os should start downloading automatically onto the external drive. Later on the download is complete, your Mac volition prompt you lot to do a restart, but at this point, you should completely close it downwardly. At present that the installation file is "captured" onto your external drive, 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 bulldoze.
  3. Go to external drive > Os X Install Data.

Locate InstallESD.dmg deejay image file — this is the file you need to reinstall Lion OS X. The same steps are valid for Mount Panthera leo and Mavericks.


How to downgrade a Mac running later 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 system if you are not satisfied with the experience. You lot tin practice it either with Fourth dimension Automobile or by creating a bootable USB or external drive.

Pedagogy todowngrade from macOS Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS High Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Mojave

Instruction to downgrade from macOS Catalina

Before y'all do it, the best communication is to back your Mac up so your most important files stay intact. In addition to that, it makes sense to clean upwardly your Mac from quondam system junk files and awarding leftovers. The easiest way to do information technology is to run CleanMyMac X on your machine (download information technology for free here).

Visit your local Apple Store to download older OS X version

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