And then, yous've decided to download an older version of Mac OS Ten. In that location are many reasons that could point y'all to this radical decision. To brainstorm with, some of your apps may not exist working properly (or but crash) on newer operating systems. Too, you lot may have noticed your Mac's performance went downwardly right after the terminal update. Finally, if you desire to run a parallel copy of Mac OS X on a virtual motorcar, you as well will need a working installation file of an older Mac Bone 10. Farther down we'll explain where to get one and what issues you may confront down the road.

A list of all Mac Os X versions

We'll be repeatedly referring to these Apple OS versions below, so it'due south good to know the bones macOS timeline.

Cheetah 10.0 Puma 10.one Jaguar x.2
Panther 10.3 Tiger 10.4 Leopard 10.5
Snow Leopard 10.half dozen Panthera leo ten.vii Mountain Lion 10.8
Mavericks 10.9 Yosemite 10.10 El Capitan 10.11
Sierra x.12 High Sierra 10.13 Mojave ten.14
Catalina 10.15

STEP 1. Prepare 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 non just space for the OS itself but also space for other applications and your user data. One more statement is that the free space on your disk translates into virtual memory so your apps accept "fuel" to operate on. The chart beneath tells you how much gratuitous space is needed.

Note, that it is recommended that you install OS on a clean drive. Adjacent, y'all will 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 calculator:

Go to Finder > All My Files > Arrange by size

Then y'all can motility your infinite hoggers onto an external bulldoze or a cloud storage.

If you aren't comfy with cleaning the Mac manually, there are some nice automatic "room cleaners". Our favorite isCleanMyMac as it's most unproblematic to use of all. Information technology deletes organisation junk, sometime cleaved apps, and the rest of subconscious junk on your drive.

CleanMyMac X - Smart Scan complete

Download CleanMyMacfor OS 10.four - ten.eight (free version)

Download CleanMyMac for Os 10.9 (free version)

Download CleanMyMacfor Bone 10.10 - 10.14 (free version)


Step ii. Go a copy of Mac OS X download

Normally, it is assumed that updating Os is a one-style route. That'south why going back to a past Apple Os version is problematic. The primary 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 and and 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 sometime version of Mac OS X from the App Store, open it and go to the Purchased tab. There you'll find all the installers yous can download. However, it doesn't ever work that way. The purchased section lists but those operating systems that you lot had downloaded in the by. But here is the path to bank check it:

  1. Click the App Store icon.
  2. Click Purchases in the acme menu.
  3. Roll down to detect the preferred OS X version.
  4. Click Download.

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


Without App Store: Download Mac OS version as Apple Developer

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

Yet, keep in listen that if you visit developer.apple.com/downloads, y'all can only find 10.3-10.half dozen Bone X operating systems there. Newer versions are not available because starting Mac Bone X Snow Leopard x.vii, the App Store has become the only source of updating Apple Bone versions.

Purchase an older version of Mac operating organization

Apple OS Versions

You can purchase a boxed or electronic mail version of past Mac Os Ten directly from Apple tree. Both will cost you around $xx. For the reason of being rather antiquated, Snow Leopard and earlier Apple tree versions tin can but be installed from DVD.

Purchase a boxed edition of Snowfall Leopard 10.six
Go an electronic mail copy of Lion 10.7
Get an email re-create of Mountain Panthera leo 10.eight

The e-mail edition comes with a special download code you can apply for the Mac App Shop. Note, that to install the Lion or Mountain Panthera leo, your Mac needs to be running Snow Leopard so you can install the newer OS on top of information technology.

How to go macOS El Capitan download

If you are wondering if you tin run El Capitan on an older Mac, rejoice equally it'due south possible too. But earlier your Mac can run El Capitan it has to be updated to Bone 10 10.6.8. So, here are chief steps y'all should take:

one. 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 quondam version of Mac OS X"

If yous have a newer Mac, at that place is no concrete option to install Mac OS versions older than your electric current Mac model. For instance, if your MacBook was released in 2014, don't expect it to run any Bone released prior of that time, considering older Apple Os versions simply practise not include hardware drivers for your Mac.

Mac os x download

But every bit it often happens, workarounds are possible. At that place is however a run a risk to download the installation file if you have an access to a Mac (or virtual auto) running that operating arrangement. For example, to get an installer for Lion, you may ask a friend who has Lion-operated Mac or, once again, fix a virtual auto running Panthera leo. Then you will demand to set an external drive to download the installation file using OS X Utilities.

After yous've completed the download, the installer should launch automatically, but you can click Abolish and copy the file you need. Beneath is the detailed didactics how to do it.


STEP 3. Install older OS 10 onto an external drive

The following method allows you lot to download Mac Bone 10 Lion, Mount King of beasts, and Mavericks.

  1. Start your Mac holding downwardly Control + R.
  2. Set up a clean external drive (at least 10 GB of storage).
  3. Within OS X Utilities, cull Reinstall OS X.
  4. Select external bulldoze equally a source.
  5. Enter your Apple tree 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 practice a restart, but at this point, you should completely close it downwardly. At present that the installation file is "captured" onto your external bulldoze, you tin can reinstall the Os, this time running the file on your Mac.

  1. Kick your Mac from your standard drive.
  2. Connect the external bulldoze.
  3. Get to external bulldoze > Os X Install Data.

Locate InstallESD.dmg disk paradigm file — this is the file you need to reinstall King of beasts Os X. The same steps are valid for Mountain Lion and Mavericks.


How to downgrade a Mac running later macOS versions

If your Mac runs macOS Sierra ten.12 or macOS High Sierra 10.13, it is possible to revert information technology to the previous system if y'all are not satisfied with the experience. You can practise it either with Time Machine or past creating a bootable USB or external bulldoze.

Pedagogy todowngrade from macOS Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS High Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Mojave

Instruction to downgrade from macOS Catalina

Earlier you practice it, the best advice is to dorsum your Mac upwards and then your virtually important files stay intact. In addition to that, it makes sense to clean upwards your Mac from old arrangement junk files and application leftovers. The easiest way to do information technology is to run CleanMyMac X on your machine (download it for free hither).

Visit your local Apple Store to download older Bone X version

If none of the options to become older Bone Ten worked, pay a visit to nearest local Apple Shop. They should have image installations going back to OS Leopard and earlier. You tin can also ask their assist to create a bootable USB drive with the installation file. So here you are. Nosotros hope this article has helped you lot to download an old version of Mac Os Ten. Beneath are a few more links you lot may find interesting.