Then, y'all've decided to download an older version of Mac Os 10. At that place are many reasons that could indicate y'all to this radical decision. To brainstorm with, some of your apps may non be working properly (or simply crash) on newer operating systems. Also, you lot may have noticed your Mac's performance went downward correct later on the last update. Finally, if yous desire to run a parallel re-create of Mac OS X on a virtual automobile, you as well will need a working installation file of an older Mac Os Ten. Further down nosotros'll explicate where to get one and what issues you may face down the road.

A list of all Mac Os X versions

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

Chetah 10.0 Puma 10.i Jaguar ten.2
Panther 10.3 Tiger 10.iv Leopard ten.5
Snow Leopard 10.6 Lion ten.vii Mountain Lion 10.eight
Mavericks 10.9 Yosemite 10.x El Capitan 10.xi
Sierra 10.12 High Sierra 10.13 Mojave 10.14
Catalina 10.fifteen

STEP 1. Set up 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 not just space for the Os itself but likewise infinite for other applications and your user information. One more than statement is that the free space on your disk translates into virtual memory so your apps have "fuel" to operate on. The chart below tells you how much free infinite is needed.

Annotation, that it is recommended that you install Bone on a clean drive. Side by side, you will demand enough disk infinite available, for example, to create Recovery Division. Hither are some ideas to free upwards space on your drive:

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

Go to Finder > All My Files > Arrange by size

Then yous tin move your space hoggers onto an external drive or a cloud storage.

If you lot aren't comfortable with cleaning the Mac manually, there are some nice automatic "room cleaners". Our favorite isCleanMyMac as it's most elementary to utilize of all. It deletes system junk, onetime broken apps, and the rest of hidden junk on your drive.

CleanMyMac X - Smart Scan complete

Download CleanMyMacfor OS 10.iv - ten.8 (free version)

Download CleanMyMac for Bone ten.9 (free version)

Download CleanMyMacfor Bone 10.ten - 10.14 (free version)

Stride 2. Go a re-create of Mac OS X download

Commonly, it is assumed that updating Bone is a i-fashion route. That'south why going back to a by Apple OS version is problematic. The master challenge is to download the Os installation file itself, because your Mac may already exist running a newer version. If you succeed in downloading the Os installation, your next step is to create a bootable USB or DVD and then reinstall the Bone on your computer.

How to download older Mac Os 10 versions via the App Shop

Mac operating system download


If yous once had purchased an old version of Mac OS Ten from the App Store, open it and go to the Purchased tab. At that place you lot'll observe all the installers you tin download. However, it doesn't always work that way. The purchased section lists only those operating systems that you had downloaded in the by. But here is the path to cheque it:

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

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

Without App Store: Download Mac OS version as Apple Programmer

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

All the same, continue in mind that if y'all visit developer.apple.com/downloads, you can only observe 10.3-ten.6 OS 10 operating systems there. Newer versions are non bachelor because starting Mac OS X Snow Leopard x.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 tin can purchase a boxed or email version of past Mac OS X straight from Apple. Both will toll you around $xx. For the reason of being rather antiquated, Snow Leopard and before Apple tree versions can only exist installed from DVD.

Buy a boxed edition of Snow Leopard 10.6
Become an email copy of Lion 10.vii
Become an electronic mail re-create of Mountain King of beasts x.8

The email edition comes with a special download code you can utilize for the Mac App Shop. Note, that to install the Lion or Mountain Lion, your Mac needs to be running Snow Leopard then you can install the newer Bone on tiptop of it.

How to get macOS El Capitan download

If you are wondering if you lot tin run El Capitan on an older Mac, rejoice as it'due south possible as well. But before your Mac tin can run El Capitan information technology has to be updated to OS X 10.6.viii. So, here are main steps yous should take:

1. Install Snowfall Leopard from install DVD.
2. Update to 10.six.8 using Software Update.
3. Download El Capitan here.

"I tin't download an onetime version of Mac Os X"

If yous have a newer Mac, there 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 it to run any Os released prior of that time, considering older Apple Bone versions but exercise non include hardware drivers for your Mac.

Mac os x download

Simply as it often happens, workarounds are possible. There is even so a chance to download the installation file if you have an access to a Mac (or virtual machine) running that operating system. For example, to get an installer for Lion, you lot may ask a friend who has Lion-operated Mac or, in one case again, fix a virtual machine running Lion. And then you volition demand to prepare an external drive to download the installation file using OS X Utilities.

After you've completed the download, the installer should launch automatically, merely you can click Cancel and copy the file y'all demand. Beneath is the detailed education how to exercise information technology.

Pace 3. Install older OS X onto an external bulldoze

The following method allows you to download Mac OS 10 Lion, Mountain Lion, and Mavericks.

  1. Kickoff your Mac property down Command + R.
  2. Set up a clean external drive (at least x GB of storage).
  3. Within Bone X 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

Now the Bone should start downloading automatically onto the external bulldoze. After the download is consummate, your Mac will prompt you to practise a restart, just at this point, you should completely shut it downwardly. At present that the installation file is "captured" onto your external drive, you tin 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 > Bone X Install Data.

Locate InstallESD.dmg disk image file — this is the file y'all need to reinstall Panthera leo OS X. The same steps are valid for Mountain King of beasts and Mavericks.

How to downgrade a Mac running afterward macOS versions

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

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Loftier Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Mojave

Instruction to downgrade from macOS Catalina

Before you practise it, the best advice is to back your Mac up and so your most important files stay intact. In add-on to that, it makes sense to clean upward your Mac from old arrangement junk files and application leftovers. The easiest way to do it is to run CleanMyMac X on your auto (download it for free hither).

Visit your local Apple Store to download older OS X version

If none of the options to get older Bone 10 worked, pay a visit to nearest local Apple Shop. They should have image installations going dorsum to Os Leopard and earlier. You tin can also ask their assistance to create a bootable USB drive with the installation file. So here you are. We promise this article has helped you to download an old version of Mac OS Ten. Below are a few more than links you may find interesting.