So, you've decided to download an older version of Mac OS X. In that location are many reasons that could betoken you lot to this radical decision. To brainstorm with, some of your apps may not be working properly (or simply crash) on newer operating systems. Also, you may have noticed your Mac'south operation went down right afterwards the last update. Finally, if you desire to run a parallel copy of Mac OS X on a virtual auto, you likewise will need a working installation file of an older Mac Bone X. Farther down we'll explain where to go one and what issues yous may face down the road.

A listing of all Mac Os X versions

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

Cheetah x.0 Puma 10.ane Jaguar x.2
Panther 10.3 Tiger 10.4 Leopard x.5
Snow Leopard x.6 Lion 10.vii Mountain King of beasts 10.8
Mavericks 10.9 Yosemite x.10 El Capitan 10.11
Sierra 10.12 High Sierra 10.xiii Mojave 10.14
Catalina 10.xv

Step 1. Prepare your Mac for installation

Given your Mac isn't new and is filled with data, you volition probably need enough free space on your Mac. This includes non just space for the OS itself but also space for other applications and your user information. One more than argument is that the complimentary space on your deejay translates into virtual memory so your apps accept "fuel" to operate on. The chart below tells you lot how much free infinite is needed.

Note, that it is recommended that you install OS on a clean bulldoze. Adjacent, you lot will need enough disk space available, for example, to create Recovery Partition. Here are some ideas to free upward 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 > Arrange by size

And then you tin can move your infinite hoggers onto an external drive or a deject storage.

If you aren't comfy 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 system junk, onetime broken apps, and the remainder of hidden junk on your bulldoze.

CleanMyMac X - Smart Scan complete

Download CleanMyMacfor OS x.4 - 10.viii (free version)

Download CleanMyMac for Bone x.9 (complimentary version)

Download CleanMyMacfor Os 10.10 - ten.fourteen (gratis version)

Step 2. Get a re-create of Mac Os X download

Normally, it is assumed that updating Os is a i-way route. That'south why going back to a past Apple tree Bone 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 OS installation, your next step is to create a bootable USB or DVD and then reinstall the Os on your figurer.

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

Mac operating system download


If yous once had purchased an sometime version of Mac Os Ten from the App Store, open it and become to the Purchased tab. There you lot'll find all the installers you tin download. However, it doesn't always work that way. The purchased department lists only those operating systems that you had downloaded in the by. But hither is the path to cheque it:

  1. Click the App Store icon.
  2. Click Purchases in the top bill of fare.
  3. Curl down to detect the preferred OS X version.
  4. Click Download.

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

Without App Store: Download Mac OS version as Apple Developer

If yous are signed with an Apple Programmer account, y'all tin can get access to products that are no longer listed on the App Store. If you desperately need a lower OS 10 version build, consider creating a new Programmer business relationship amidst other options. The membership price is $99/year and provides a bunch of perks unavailable to ordinary users.

Withal, continue in listen that if you visit programmer.apple tree.com/downloads, you tin just find ten.iii-10.six Os X operating systems in that location. Newer versions are non available because starting Mac OS Ten Snow Leopard 10.7, the App Store has become the only source of updating Apple OS versions.

Purchase an older version of Mac operating organisation

Apple OS Versions

You can purchase a boxed or email version of past Mac Os X directly from Apple. Both will price yous around $xx. For the reason of existence rather antiquated, Snow Leopard and earlier Apple versions can merely be installed from DVD.

Purchase a boxed edition of Snow Leopard 10.6
Get an email copy of Lion 10.seven
Get an e-mail copy of Mountain Lion 10.8

The email edition comes with a special download code you tin use for the Mac App Store. Note, that to install the King of beasts or Mountain Lion, your Mac needs to exist running Snow Leopard so yous can install the newer OS on meridian of information technology.

How to become macOS El Capitan download

If y'all are wondering if you can run El Capitan on an older Mac, rejoice as information technology'south possible too. But before your Mac tin can run El Capitan information technology has to be updated to OS X 10.6.8. So, hither are main steps you should take:

1. Install Snowfall Leopard from install DVD.
2. Update to ten.6.viii using Software Update.
three. Download El Capitan here.

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

If you have a newer Mac, at that place 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 information technology to run any 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

But as it ofttimes happens, workarounds are possible. There is still a chance to download the installation file if you have an access to a Mac (or virtual machine) running that operating organisation. For example, to get an installer for Lion, you lot may ask a friend who has Lion-operated Mac or, once once again, set up a virtual auto running Lion. Then you will need to prepare an external drive to download the installation file using OS 10 Utilities.

Subsequently you've completed the download, the installer should launch automatically, but you lot tin click Abolish and copy the file yous need. Below is the detailed instruction how to do it.

Step 3. Install older Bone X onto an external bulldoze

The post-obit method allows you to download Mac OS X Lion, Mountain Lion, and Mavericks.

  1. Commencement your Mac belongings down Command + R.
  2. Prepare a make clean external drive (at least 10 GB of storage).
  3. Within Bone X Utilities, choose Reinstall Os X.
  4. Select external drive every bit a source.
  5. Enter your Apple tree ID.
How to download old Mac OS X versions

Now the OS should commencement downloading automatically onto the external drive. Later on the download is complete, your Mac volition prompt you to do a restart, only at this point, yous should completely close information technology downwardly. Now that the installation file is "captured" onto your external drive, yous can reinstall the Bone, this fourth dimension running the file on your Mac.

  1. Boot your Mac from your standard drive.
  2. Connect the external drive.
  3. Become to external bulldoze > Bone 10 Install Data.

Locate InstallESD.dmg deejay image file — this is the file you need to reinstall Panthera leo Bone Ten. The aforementioned steps are valid for Mountain Lion and Mavericks.

How to downgrade a Mac running subsequently macOS versions

If your Mac runs macOS Sierra 10.12 or macOS High Sierra 10.thirteen, information technology is possible to revert it to the previous system if you are not satisfied with the experience. You can practice it either with Time Machine or past creating a bootable USB or external drive.

Didactics todowngrade from macOS Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS High Sierra

Education todowngrade from macOS Mojave

Education to downgrade from macOS Catalina

Before you do it, the all-time communication is to dorsum your Mac upwards so your nigh important files stay intact. In addition to that, it makes sense to make clean upwardly your Mac from erstwhile system junk files and application leftovers. The easiest fashion to practice it is to run CleanMyMac X on your machine (download it for costless here).

Visit your local Apple Store to download older Bone Ten version

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