So, y'all've decided to download an older version of Mac OS X. There are many reasons that could indicate you to this radical decision. To brainstorm with, some of your apps may not be working properly (or simply crash) on newer operating systems. Likewise, you may have noticed your Mac's performance went down correct after the last update. Finally, if y'all want to run a parallel copy of Mac OS X on a virtual machine, you too will need a working installation file of an older Mac OS 10. Further downwardly we'll explain where to get 1 and what issues you may face downwards the road.

A list of all Mac Os X versions

We'll exist repeatedly referring to these Apple OS versions below, so information technology'due south adept to know the basic macOS timeline.

Cheetah 10.0 Puma 10.one Jaguar 10.2
Panther ten.3 Tiger ten.4 Leopard 10.5
Snow Leopard 10.6 King of beasts 10.vii Mountain Panthera leo 10.8
Mavericks 10.9 Yosemite 10.10 El Capitan x.11
Sierra 10.12 High Sierra 10.13 Mojave x.14
Catalina ten.15

STEP 1. Ready your Mac for installation

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

Note, that it is recommended that you install Os on a clean drive. Next, you volition need enough disk space bachelor, for example, to create Recovery Sectionalisation. Here are some ideas to complimentary up space on your bulldoze:

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

Become to Finder > All My Files > Arrange by size

Then y'all 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 nice automatic "room cleaners". Our favorite isCleanMyMac equally it'due south almost simple to use of all. It deletes organisation junk, old broken apps, and the residue of hidden junk on your bulldoze.

CleanMyMac X - Smart Scan complete

Download CleanMyMacfor OS 10.4 - 10.8 (free version)

Download CleanMyMac for OS 10.9 (gratis version)

Download CleanMyMacfor Os x.10 - 10.xiv (complimentary version)

STEP ii. Go a copy of Mac Bone X download

Ordinarily, it is assumed that updating OS is a i-way 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, because 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 then reinstall the Os 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 Ten from the App Store, open information technology and go to the Purchased tab. There you'll find all the installers you tin download. However, it doesn't always work that way. The purchased section lists simply those operating systems that you had downloaded in the past. But hither is the path to check it:

  1. Click the App Shop icon.
  2. Click Purchases in the acme menu.
  3. Scroll down to observe 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 you previously downloaded them from the Mac App Store.

Without App Store: Download Mac OS version equally Apple Programmer

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 Developer account amongst other options. The membership toll is $99/yr and provides a bunch of perks unavailable to ordinary users.

Notwithstanding, continue in mind that if you visit developer.apple.com/downloads, you lot can only observe 10.iii-ten.6 Bone Ten operating systems there. Newer versions are not available because starting Mac OS 10 Snowfall Leopard 10.7, the App Store has get the only source of updating Apple Bone versions.

Purchase an older version of Mac operating system

Apple OS Versions

You can buy a boxed or email version of past Mac OS X straight from Apple. Both will cost you effectually $twenty. For the reason of being rather antiquated, Snow Leopard and earlier Apple versions can simply be installed from DVD.

Buy a boxed edition of Snowfall Leopard 10.6
Go an electronic mail copy of King of beasts 10.vii
Get an email copy of Mountain Lion 10.8

The email edition comes with a special download code you can apply for the Mac App Shop. Notation, that to install the Lion or Mount Lion, your Mac needs to be running Snow Leopard so you can install the newer Bone on top of it.

How to go macOS El Capitan download

If yous are wondering if you can run El Capitan on an older Mac, rejoice as information technology's possible likewise. Simply before your Mac can run El Capitan information technology has to be updated to Os X ten.6.8. And then, hither are main steps y'all should take:

1. Install Snowfall Leopard from install DVD.
2. Update to 10.6.viii using Software Update.
3. Download El Capitan here.

"I tin't download an old version of Mac Bone X"

If you have a newer Mac, at that place is no concrete option to install Mac Os versions older than your current Mac model. For example, if your MacBook was released in 2014, don't expect it to run any Os released prior of that time, because older Apple tree Os versions only practise non include hardware drivers for your Mac.

Mac os x download

But as it often happens, workarounds are possible. There is still a chance to download the installation file if you have an admission to a Mac (or virtual car) running that operating system. For example, to go an installer for Lion, you may ask a friend who has King of beasts-operated Mac or, again, set up upwardly a virtual car running Lion. Then y'all volition need to prepare an external drive to download the installation file using Os X Utilities.

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

Step iii. Install older OS X onto an external drive

The following method allows you to download Mac OS X Lion, Mount Panthera leo, and Mavericks.

  1. Start your Mac holding down Command + R.
  2. Set up a clean external drive (at least 10 GB of storage).
  3. Within Bone Ten Utilities, choose Reinstall OS X.
  4. Select external bulldoze 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 bulldoze. After the download is consummate, your Mac volition prompt you lot to exercise a restart, but at this indicate, y'all should completely close it downward. Now 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 bulldoze.
  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 King of beasts OS X. The same steps are valid for Mountain Panthera leo and Mavericks.

How to downgrade a Mac running subsequently macOS versions

If your Mac runs macOS Sierra x.12 or macOS High Sierra 10.13, information technology is possible to revert it to the previous organization if you are not satisfied with the experience. You tin can do it either with Time Machine or by creating a bootable USB or external drive.

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Sierra

Educational activity todowngrade from macOS High Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Mojave

Instruction to downgrade from macOS Catalina

Before yous exercise 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 upwards your Mac from old organisation junk files and awarding leftovers. The easiest way to do it is to run CleanMyMac Ten on your auto (download it for free hither).

Visit your local Apple Store to download older Bone X version

If none of the options to get older Os X worked, pay a visit to nearest local Apple Store. They should have paradigm installations going dorsum to OS Leopard and earlier. You tin too ask their assist to create a bootable USB drive with the installation file. Then here you are. We hope this article has helped you lot to download an onetime version of Mac OS Ten. Beneath are a few more than links you may find interesting.