So, you've decided to download an older version of Mac OS X. There are many reasons that could indicate y'all to this radical decision. To begin with, some of your apps may not be working properly (or simply crash) on newer operating systems. Likewise, you may take noticed your Mac's functioning went down right later on the terminal update. Finally, if y'all want to run a parallel copy of Mac OS X on a virtual machine, you as well volition need a working installation file of an older Mac Os X. Further down we'll explain where to get one and what problems yous may face downward the road.

A list of all Mac Bone X versions

Nosotros'll be repeatedly referring to these Apple Bone versions below, so it's good to know the bones macOS timeline.

Cheetah ten.0 Puma 10.i Jaguar 10.two
Panther x.iii Tiger ten.4 Leopard 10.five
Snowfall Leopard 10.6 Panthera leo ten.7 Mount Lion ten.8
Mavericks ten.9 Yosemite 10.x El Capitan 10.eleven
Sierra 10.12 High Sierra 10.13 Mojave x.14
Catalina 10.fifteen

Pace 1. Gear up your Mac for installation

Given your Mac isn't new and is filled with data, y'all volition probably need plenty free space on your Mac. This includes not just space for the Os itself merely also infinite for other applications and your user information. One more than argument is that the gratuitous space on your disk translates into virtual retentiveness so your apps have "fuel" to operate on. The nautical chart beneath tells you how much free space is needed.

Notation, that it is recommended that yous install OS on a clean bulldoze. Next, y'all will need enough disk space available, for example, to create Recovery Partition. Hither are some ideas to gratuitous upward space on your bulldoze:

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

Go to Finder > All My Files > Adapt by size

And so you tin move your space hoggers onto an external drive or a deject storage.

If yous aren't comfy with cleaning the Mac manually, there are some overnice automatic "room cleaners". Our favorite isCleanMyMac equally it'southward most simple to use of all. Information technology deletes system junk, old broken apps, and the rest of hidden junk on your bulldoze.

CleanMyMac X - Smart Scan complete

Download CleanMyMacfor Os ten.four - 10.eight (costless version)

Download CleanMyMac for OS ten.nine (free version)

Download CleanMyMacfor Os 10.10 - 10.14 (free version)

STEP 2. Get a re-create of Mac OS X download

Usually, it is assumed that updating OS is a one-style route. That'south why going back to a past Apple tree Bone version is problematic. The primary challenge is to download the OS installation file itself, considering your Mac may already be running a newer version. If you lot succeed in downloading the OS installation, your next step is to create a bootable USB or DVD and then reinstall the OS on your calculator.

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

Mac operating system download


If you once had purchased an old version of Mac Os X from the App Shop, open it and go to the Purchased tab. There you'll observe all the installers you can download. Even so, it doesn't ever work that way. The purchased section lists merely those operating systems that y'all had downloaded in the by. Only here is the path to bank check information technology:

  1. Click the App Store icon.
  2. Click Purchases in the top menu.
  3. Scroll downwards to detect the preferred Bone Ten 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 tin 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 amid other options. The membership cost is $99/year and provides a agglomeration of perks unavailable to ordinary users.

Even so, keep in mind that if you visit developer.apple.com/downloads, you tin just find 10.3-10.6 OS 10 operating systems in that location. Newer versions are not available considering starting Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.7, the App Store has go the only source of updating Apple Bone versions.

Buy an older version of Mac operating system

Apple OS Versions

You can buy a boxed or email version of past Mac Bone X direct from Apple. Both will price you lot around $20. For the reason of beingness rather antiquated, Snowfall Leopard and earlier Apple versions tin merely exist installed from DVD.

Buy a boxed edition of Snow Leopard x.6
Get an email copy of Lion 10.7
Get an e-mail copy of Mountain Panthera leo 10.8

The email edition comes with a special download code you can use for the Mac App Store. Notation, that to install the Lion or Mount King of beasts, your Mac needs to be running Snow Leopard and so yous can install the newer Bone on height 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 as it's possible too. Merely before your Mac tin can run El Capitan it has to be updated to Os X 10.6.viii. So, here are main steps you lot should take:

i. Install Snow Leopard from install DVD.
two. Update to 10.6.eight using Software Update.
3. Download El Capitan here.

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

If you have a newer Mac, in that location is no physical choice 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 OS versions but practise not include hardware drivers for your Mac.

Mac os x download

But as it oftentimes happens, workarounds are possible. There is still a chance to download the installation file if y'all accept an access to a Mac (or virtual machine) running that operating system. For example, to go an installer for Panthera leo, yous may ask a friend who has King of beasts-operated Mac or, once once again, gear up up a virtual car running King of beasts. And then y'all will demand to prepare an external drive to download the installation file using OS X Utilities.

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

Footstep three. Install older Os Ten onto an external drive

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

  1. Start your Mac holding down Command + R.
  2. Ready a clean external drive (at least 10 GB of storage).
  3. Inside OS Ten Utilities, cull 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. After the download is complete, your Mac will prompt you to do a restart, merely at this point, you should completely shut it downwards. Now 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 drive.
  3. Go to external drive > Os X Install Data.

Locate InstallESD.dmg deejay prototype file — this is the file you need to reinstall Lion Bone 10. The aforementioned steps are valid for Mountain King of beasts and Mavericks.

How to downgrade a Mac running later macOS versions

If your Mac runs macOS Sierra 10.12 or macOS High Sierra ten.thirteen, it is possible to revert information technology to the previous organisation if you are not satisfied with the experience. You can exercise it either with Time Car 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 y'all do it, the best communication is to back your Mac up so your almost of import files stay intact. In addition to that, it makes sense to make clean up your Mac from onetime system junk files and application leftovers. The easiest way to practice it is to run CleanMyMac X on your auto (download it 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 paradigm installations going back to OS Leopard and before. Yous can as well enquire their assist to create a bootable USB drive with the installation file. So here you are. Nosotros hope this article has helped you to download an old version of Mac Os X. Below are a few more links you may discover interesting.