So, y'all've decided to download an older version of Mac OS X. There are many reasons that could signal you to this radical determination. To begin with, some of your apps may not be working properly (or but crash) on newer operating systems. Also, yous may have noticed your Mac's performance went downwardly right afterwards the last update. Finally, if you want to run a parallel copy of Mac OS Ten on a virtual machine, you lot too volition need a working installation file of an older Mac OS X. Further downwardly we'll explain where to go 1 and what issues you may face up downwards the road.

A listing of all Mac Os 10 versions

We'll be repeatedly referring to these Apple Os versions beneath, so it's good to know the bones macOS timeline.

Cheetah 10.0 Puma x.1 Jaguar 10.2
Panther 10.3 Tiger ten.four Leopard x.5
Snowfall Leopard 10.6 Lion x.7 Mountain Panthera leo 10.viii
Mavericks x.9 Yosemite 10.ten El Capitan 10.xi
Sierra 10.12 Loftier Sierra 10.thirteen Mojave 10.14
Catalina x.15

STEP ane. Ready your Mac for installation

Given your Mac isn't new and is filled with data, y'all will probably need plenty free space on your Mac. This includes not just space for the OS itself but also infinite for other applications and your user data. Ane more argument is that the free infinite on your disk translates into virtual memory so your apps have "fuel" to operate on. The chart below tells you lot how much free space is needed.

Annotation, that it is recommended that you install OS on a clean drive. Next, you will need enough disk space bachelor, for instance, to create Recovery Partition. Hither are some ideas to costless up infinite on your drive:

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

Get to Finder > All My Files > Suit by size

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

If you aren't comfortable with cleaning the Mac manually, there are some squeamish automatic "room cleaners". Our favorite isCleanMyMac equally it's most simple to use of all. It deletes organisation junk, old broken apps, and the rest of subconscious junk on your bulldoze.

CleanMyMac X - Smart Scan complete

Download CleanMyMacfor Bone 10.4 - ten.8 (free version)

Download CleanMyMac for OS 10.9 (free version)

Download CleanMyMacfor Bone 10.10 - x.14 (gratuitous version)

STEP 2. Become a copy of Mac Os Ten download

Unremarkably, it is assumed that updating OS is a i-way road. That's why going back to a past Apple tree OS version is problematic. The main challenge is to download the OS installation file itself, because your Mac may already be running a newer version. If y'all succeed in downloading the Bone installation, your next step is to create a bootable USB or DVD and so reinstall the OS on your computer.

How to download older Mac Os X versions via the App Shop

Mac operating system download


If you one time had purchased an old version of Mac Bone X from the App Shop, open information technology and go to the Purchased tab. There yous'll discover all the installers you can download. However, it doesn't always work that manner. The purchased section lists only those operating systems that you had downloaded in the past. But here is the path to bank check it:

  1. Click the App Store icon.
  2. Click Purchases in the summit menu.
  3. Scroll downwards to notice the preferred OS 10 version.
  4. Click Download.

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

Without App Shop: 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 lot badly need a lower OS X version build, consider creating a new Developer business relationship among other options. The membership cost is $99/year and provides a bunch of perks unavailable to ordinary users.

However, go on in heed that if you visit programmer.apple tree.com/downloads, you can only find x.3-10.half dozen Os Ten operating systems there. Newer versions are non available considering starting Mac OS X Snow Leopard x.7, the App Store has become the merely source of updating Apple Bone versions.

Purchase an older version of Mac operating system

Apple OS Versions

You tin purchase a boxed or email version of by Mac OS X directly from Apple tree. Both will price you around $20. For the reason of being rather blowsy, Snowfall Leopard and before Apple versions can only exist installed from DVD.

Purchase a boxed edition of Snowfall Leopard ten.6
Become an email copy of Lion ten.seven
Get an email copy of Mountain Lion 10.8

The email edition comes with a special download code you lot can apply for the Mac App Shop. Note, that to install the Lion or Mountain Lion, your Mac needs to be running Snowfall Leopard then you can install the newer Bone on acme of it.

How to get macOS El Capitan download

If you are wondering if y'all can run El Capitan on an older Mac, rejoice equally it's possible also. Simply earlier your Mac can run El Capitan it has to exist updated to OS 10 10.6.viii. Then, here are main steps y'all should have:

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

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

If yous 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 expect it to run any Bone released prior of that fourth dimension, because older Apple OS versions simply do not include hardware drivers for your Mac.

Mac os x download

But every bit it ofttimes happens, workarounds are possible. At that place is still a chance to download the installation file if you have an access to a Mac (or virtual motorcar) running that operating system. For instance, to get an installer for Lion, yous may inquire a friend who has Lion-operated Mac or, over again, set up a virtual machine running Lion. So you volition need to prepare an external bulldoze to download the installation file using OS 10 Utilities.

Later on you've completed the download, the installer should launch automatically, just you lot can click Cancel and copy the file you lot need. Below is the detailed instruction how to do it.

STEP iii. Install older Bone X onto an external drive

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

  1. Showtime your Mac belongings down Command + R.
  2. Gear up a make clean external drive (at least ten GB of storage).
  3. Within Bone X Utilities, cull Reinstall Bone X.
  4. Select external bulldoze equally 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 consummate, your Mac will prompt you to practice a restart, but at this point, yous should completely shut it down. Now that the installation file is "captured" onto your external drive, you can reinstall the Bone, this time running the file on your Mac.

  1. Kick your Mac from your standard bulldoze.
  2. Connect the external bulldoze.
  3. Go to external bulldoze > OS X Install Data.

Locate InstallESD.dmg disk image file — this is the file you lot need to reinstall Lion Bone X. The aforementioned steps are valid for Mountain Lion and Mavericks.

How to downgrade a Mac running later on macOS versions

If your Mac runs macOS Sierra 10.12 or macOS High Sierra 10.xiii, it is possible to revert information technology to the previous system if you are not satisfied with the feel. You tin can do information technology either with Time Auto or by creating a bootable USB or external drive.

Education todowngrade from macOS Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS High Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Mojave

Didactics to downgrade from macOS Catalina

Before you lot do it, the best advice is to back your Mac up and then your near of import files stay intact. In add-on to that, it makes sense to clean up your Mac from former organisation junk files and awarding leftovers. The easiest style to do it is to run CleanMyMac X on your machine (download information technology for free here).

Visit your local Apple tree Store to download older Os X version

If none of the options to become older OS Ten worked, pay a visit to nearest local Apple Store. They should have paradigm installations going back to Os Leopard and before. You can as well ask their aid to create a bootable USB bulldoze with the installation file. Then hither yous are. We hope this article has helped you to download an old version of Mac OS X. Beneath are a few more than links you may find interesting.