So, you've decided to download an older version of Mac OS X. There are many reasons that could bespeak you to this radical decision. To begin with, some of your apps may non be working properly (or merely crash) on newer operating systems. Also, you lot may take noticed your Mac's operation went down right after the last update. Finally, if you want to run a parallel copy of Mac Bone 10 on a virtual machine, you too will need a working installation file of an older Mac OS X. Further down we'll explain where to get one and what issues you lot may face downward the road.

A list of all Mac Os X versions

We'll exist repeatedly referring to these Apple tree OS versions beneath, so it's skillful to know the bones macOS timeline.

Cheetah 10.0 Puma ten.1 Jaguar ten.two
Panther 10.3 Tiger 10.4 Leopard 10.5
Snow Leopard 10.6 King of beasts ten.seven Mountain Lion 10.8
Mavericks ten.ix Yosemite x.10 El Capitan 10.eleven
Sierra x.12 High Sierra 10.thirteen Mojave 10.14
Catalina 10.15

Step 1. Set up your Mac for installation

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

Annotation, that information technology is recommended that you install Os on a make clean drive. Next, you volition need enough disk infinite bachelor, for example, to create Recovery Division. Here are some ideas to free upwardly infinite 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 past size

Then you can move your space hoggers onto an external drive or a cloud storage.

If you aren't comfy with cleaning the Mac manually, there are some dainty automated "room cleaners". Our favorite isCleanMyMac every bit it's most simple to use 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 Os 10.4 - 10.8 (costless version)

Download CleanMyMac for Bone 10.9 (free version)

Download CleanMyMacfor Bone 10.10 - 10.fourteen (free version)

Pace 2. Get a copy of Mac Bone X download

Normally, it is assumed that updating Bone is a one-style road. That's why going back to a by Apple Os version is problematic. The master challenge is to download the OS installation file itself, considering your Mac may already be running a newer version. If yous succeed in downloading the Os installation, your next pace is to create a bootable USB or DVD and and then reinstall the Bone on your estimator.

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

Mac operating system download


If y'all once had purchased an one-time version of Mac OS 10 from the App Store, open it and go to the Purchased tab. There you'll find all the installers you lot can download. Yet, it doesn't ever work that way. The purchased section lists but those operating systems that you had downloaded in the past. But hither is the path to check it:

  1. Click the App Store icon.
  2. Click Purchases in the top menu.
  3. Scroll down to find the preferred OS Ten version.
  4. Click Download.

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

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

If y'all are signed with an Apple Developer account, you can become access to products that are no longer listed on the App Shop. If you desperately need a lower OS X version build, consider creating a new Developer business relationship among other options. The membership price is $99/twelvemonth and provides a bunch of perks unavailable to ordinary users.

Nevertheless, continue in mind that if you visit developer.apple.com/downloads, you tin only observe 10.iii-10.vi Bone X operating systems at that place. Newer versions are not available because starting Mac Os Ten Snow Leopard 10.7, the App Store has get the only source of updating Apple OS versions.

Purchase an older version of Mac operating system

Apple OS Versions

You can purchase a boxed or e-mail version of past Mac OS X straight from Apple. Both will price y'all around $20. For the reason of being rather antiquated, Snow Leopard and before Apple versions can only be installed from DVD.

Purchase a boxed edition of Snowfall Leopard 10.6
Get an email copy of Lion ten.7
Get an e-mail copy of Mount Lion 10.viii

The email edition comes with a special download lawmaking you can use for the Mac App Store. Note, that to install the Lion or Mount Lion, your Mac needs to exist running Snow Leopard so you can install the newer OS on top of information technology.

How to go macOS El Capitan download

If you lot are wondering if yous can run El Capitan on an older Mac, rejoice as it'due south possible also. But before your Mac can run El Capitan it has to be updated to OS X 10.6.8. And so, here are main steps you lot should take:

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

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

If you lot accept a newer Mac, there is no physical option to install Mac Bone versions older than your current Mac model. For instance, if your MacBook was released in 2014, don't await it to run whatsoever OS released prior of that fourth dimension, because older Apple OS versions simply do non include hardware drivers for your Mac.

Mac os x download

Just as it oftentimes happens, workarounds are possible. In that location is still a chance to download the installation file if you lot take an access to a Mac (or virtual machine) running that operating system. For example, to get an installer for Lion, you may ask a friend who has Lion-operated Mac or, in one case again, set up a virtual motorcar running Lion. And so yous will need 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 can click Cancel and re-create the file y'all need. Below is the detailed teaching how to practice it.

Step 3. Install older OS X onto an external drive

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

  1. Get-go your Mac holding down Command + R.
  2. Ready a clean external drive (at to the lowest degree 10 GB of storage).
  3. Inside OS X 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

Now the OS should start downloading automatically onto the external bulldoze. After the download is consummate, your Mac will prompt you to do a restart, merely at this point, you should completely shut it down. Now that the installation file is "captured" onto your external drive, you tin reinstall the OS, this time running the file on your Mac.

  1. Kicking your Mac from your standard drive.
  2. Connect the external bulldoze.
  3. Become to external bulldoze > OS X Install Information.

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

How to downgrade a Mac running afterwards macOS versions

If your Mac runs macOS Sierra ten.12 or macOS High Sierra 10.13, it is possible to revert it to the previous system if you are non satisfied with the experience. You can do information technology either with Fourth dimension Machine or by creating a bootable USB or external bulldoze.

Education todowngrade from macOS Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS High Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Mojave

Educational activity to downgrade from macOS Catalina

Earlier you do it, the all-time advice is to back your Mac upwardly and then your most of import files stay intact. In improver to that, information technology makes sense to clean up your Mac from old system junk files and awarding leftovers. The easiest way to do it is to run CleanMyMac Ten on your automobile (download it for free here).

Visit your local Apple tree Store to download older Bone 10 version

If none of the options to go older OS X worked, pay a visit to nearest local Apple Store. They should take paradigm installations going dorsum to Os Leopard and earlier. You can too enquire their assist to create a bootable USB drive with the installation file. So here yous are. We hope this article has helped you to download an erstwhile version of Mac OS X. Below are a few more than links you may find interesting.