So, you've decided to download an older version of Mac OS X. There are many reasons that could betoken you to this radical decision. To begin with, some of your apps may not exist working properly (or simply crash) on newer operating systems. Also, you may take noticed your Mac's performance went down right subsequently the last update. Finally, if you desire to run a parallel copy of Mac Os X on a virtual machine, yous besides will need a working installation file of an older Mac Bone X. Farther down we'll explicate where to become one and what problems you may face downward the road.

A list of all Mac OS X versions

We'll be repeatedly referring to these Apple OS versions below, and then it's good to know the basic macOS timeline.

Chetah x.0 Puma x.i Jaguar ten.2
Panther x.3 Tiger x.4 Leopard ten.five
Snow Leopard ten.6 Lion 10.vii Mountain King of beasts 10.eight
Mavericks 10.9 Yosemite 10.10 El Capitan 10.11
Sierra ten.12 High Sierra ten.13 Mojave 10.14
Catalina ten.15

Footstep ane. Prepare your Mac for installation

Given your Mac isn't new and is filled with data, you lot volition probably need enough free infinite on your Mac. This includes not just space for the OS itself but also infinite for other applications and your user data. One more argument is that the gratis space on your disk translates into virtual memory so your apps accept "fuel" to operate on. The chart beneath tells you how much complimentary space is needed.

Note, that it is recommended that you install Bone on a clean drive. Adjacent, you lot volition demand enough disk space available, for case, to create Recovery Partitioning. Here are some ideas to free up infinite on your drive:

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

Get to Finder > All My Files > Adapt by size

And so you can move your infinite hoggers onto an external drive or a cloud storage.

If you aren't comfortable with cleaning the Mac manually, there are some nice automatic "room cleaners". Our favorite isCleanMyMac as information technology'south about unproblematic to apply of all. It deletes system junk, old broken apps, and the rest of hidden junk on your drive.

CleanMyMac X - Smart Scan complete

Download CleanMyMacfor Bone 10.4 - 10.8 (costless version)

Download CleanMyMac for OS 10.ix (free version)

Download CleanMyMacfor OS 10.ten - 10.fourteen (gratuitous version)

STEP 2. Become a copy of Mac Os X download

Commonly, it is assumed that updating OS is a one-way road. That'south why going dorsum to a past Apple Os version is problematic. The main challenge is to download the Os installation file itself, because your Mac may already exist running a newer version. If you succeed in downloading the Os installation, your next footstep is to create a bootable USB or DVD so reinstall the Bone on your computer.

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 Os X from the App Store, open up it and become to the Purchased tab. There you'll detect all the installers y'all can download. However, information technology doesn't ever piece of work that mode. The purchased section lists only those operating systems that you had downloaded in the past. Just here is the path to check information technology:

  1. Click the App Shop icon.
  2. Click Purchases in the top menu.
  3. Curl down to find the preferred OS 10 version.
  4. Click Download.

This method allows y'all to download Mavericks and Yosemite by logging with your Apple ID — but if you previously downloaded them from the Mac App Shop.

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

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

Withal, keep in mind that if you visit developer.apple tree.com/downloads, you tin simply observe ten.three-10.6 Bone X operating systems there. Newer versions are non available considering starting Mac Os X Snow Leopard 10.7, the App Store has become the simply source of updating Apple OS versions.

Purchase an older version of Mac operating organisation

Apple OS Versions

You lot tin can purchase a boxed or email version of past Mac Os X straight from Apple. Both volition price you effectually $twenty. For the reason of existence rather antiquated, Snow Leopard and earlier Apple tree versions can but exist installed from DVD.

Purchase a boxed edition of Snow Leopard 10.6
Get an email re-create of Lion x.7
Go an email copy of Mount Lion 10.8

The email edition comes with a special download code you tin use for the Mac App Store. Note, that to install the Panthera leo or Mountain King of beasts, your Mac needs to be running Snow Leopard so you can install the newer Bone on tiptop of it.

How to get macOS El Capitan download

If you are wondering if you can run El Capitan on an older Mac, rejoice every bit it's possible too. But before your Mac can run El Capitan it has to exist updated to Bone X x.6.8. And then, here are main steps yous should accept:

i. Install Snow Leopard from install DVD.
2. Update to 10.6.8 using Software Update.
3. Download El Capitan here.

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

If you have a newer Mac, at that place is no concrete pick to install Mac OS versions older than your electric current Mac model. For instance, if your MacBook was released in 2014, don't wait information technology to run any OS released prior of that time, because older Apple tree Os versions merely practice non include hardware drivers for your Mac.

Mac os x download

But as it often happens, workarounds are possible. There is even so a adventure to download the installation file if you have an access to a Mac (or virtual auto) running that operating system. For case, to get an installer for Lion, you lot may ask a friend who has Lion-operated Mac or, once again, set a virtual machine running Panthera leo. Then you lot volition demand to prepare an external drive to download the installation file using Os Ten Utilities.

Subsequently you've completed the download, the installer should launch automatically, but you can click Cancel and copy the file you demand. Below is the detailed instruction how to do it.

STEP 3. Install older Bone X onto an external drive

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

  1. Start your Mac holding downwardly Command + R.
  2. Set a clean external drive (at least 10 GB of storage).
  3. Inside 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

Now the OS should outset downloading automatically onto the external drive. Afterwards the download is complete, your Mac will prompt you to do a restart, but at this point, you should completely shut it down. At present that the installation file is "captured" onto your external drive, you tin reinstall the Os, this fourth dimension running the file on your Mac.

  1. Boot your Mac from your standard drive.
  2. Connect the external drive.
  3. Go to external bulldoze > OS Ten Install Data.

Locate InstallESD.dmg disk prototype file — this is the file y'all demand to reinstall Lion Os X. The same steps are valid for Mountain Lion and Mavericks.

How to downgrade a Mac running afterward macOS versions

If your Mac runs macOS Sierra 10.12 or macOS High Sierra ten.thirteen, it is possible to revert it to the previous system if you are not satisfied with the experience. You can practice it either with Time Machine or past creating a bootable USB or external bulldoze.

Pedagogy todowngrade from macOS Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Loftier Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Mojave

Instruction to downgrade from macOS Catalina

Earlier you lot practice it, the best advice is to back your Mac up so your most of import files stay intact. In improver to that, it makes sense to clean upwards your Mac from quondam organization junk files and application leftovers. The easiest way to do it is to run CleanMyMac Ten on your machine (download it for free here).

Visit your local Apple tree 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 can as well enquire their help to create a bootable USB drive with the installation file. So here you lot 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 detect interesting.