So, you lot've decided to download an older version of Mac Os X. There are many reasons that could indicate you lot to this radical decision. To begin with, some of your apps may not exist working properly (or only crash) on newer operating systems. Also, you may take noticed your Mac'southward performance went down right subsequently the last update. Finally, if you lot want to run a parallel re-create of Mac OS X on a virtual machine, yous as well will 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 confront down the road.

A list of all Mac OS Ten versions

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

Cheetah ten.0 Puma 10.ane Jaguar 10.ii
Panther x.3 Tiger 10.4 Leopard 10.5
Snowfall Leopard 10.6 Lion x.vii Mountain Lion ten.8
Mavericks 10.9 Yosemite x.10 El Capitan 10.xi
Sierra ten.12 Loftier Sierra 10.xiii Mojave 10.14
Catalina 10.xv

Pace 1. Prepare your Mac for installation

Given your Mac isn't new and is filled with information, you will probably need enough free space on your Mac. This includes not merely space for the Os itself only also space for other applications and your user data. Ane more than argument is that the complimentary space on your disk translates into virtual memory so your apps have "fuel" to operate on. The chart below tells you how much free space is needed.

Note, that it is recommended that you lot install Bone on a clean drive. Next, you volition need enough deejay infinite available, for example, to create Recovery Partition. Hither 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 reckoner:

Go to Finder > All My Files > Conform by size

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

If you aren't comfortable with cleaning the Mac manually, in that location are some squeamish automatic "room cleaners". Our favorite isCleanMyMac every bit it's most simple to utilise 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.four - x.eight (free version)

Download CleanMyMac for Bone 10.ix (free version)

Download CleanMyMacfor OS 10.10 - 10.14 (costless version)

STEP 2. Become a copy of Mac Os 10 download

Commonly, it is assumed that updating OS is a one-way road. That's why going back to a past Apple tree Os version is problematic. The main claiming is to download the Bone installation file itself, considering your Mac may already be running a newer version. If y'all succeed in downloading the Bone installation, your next stride is to create a bootable USB or DVD so reinstall the OS on your estimator.

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

Mac operating system download


If you lot once had purchased an old version of Mac Bone X from the App Store, open it and go to the Purchased tab. There yous'll detect all the installers you tin download. However, it doesn't always work that mode. The purchased section lists only those operating systems that you lot had downloaded in the past. Just here is the path to check it:

  1. Click the App Shop icon.
  2. Click Purchases in the top menu.
  3. Curlicue downwards to discover the preferred Bone X version.
  4. Click Download.

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

Without App Shop: Download Mac OS version as Apple Developer

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

Nevertheless, keep in mind that if you lot visit developer.apple.com/downloads, you tin only detect x.iii-ten.6 OS 10 operating systems at that place. Newer versions are not available because starting Mac OS X Snow Leopard x.7, the App Shop has get the only source of updating Apple OS versions.

Purchase an older version of Mac operating organization

Apple OS Versions

You tin purchase a boxed or email version of past Mac Os X straight from Apple. Both will cost you effectually $20. For the reason of being rather blowsy, Snow Leopard and earlier Apple versions can simply be installed from DVD.

Buy a boxed edition of Snowfall Leopard ten.6
Get an e-mail copy of Lion ten.7
Get an email copy of Mountain Lion 10.8

The email edition comes with a special download lawmaking you lot can use for the Mac App Store. Note, that to install the Lion or Mountain Lion, your Mac needs to be running Snow Leopard so you lot can install the newer Os on top of it.

How to become macOS El Capitan download

If you are wondering if yous can run El Capitan on an older Mac, rejoice every bit it's possible too. But earlier your Mac tin can run El Capitan information technology has to be updated to OS 10 x.six.8. And so, here are main steps you should take:

1. Install Snow Leopard from install DVD.
ii. Update to 10.6.viii using Software Update.
iii. Download El Capitan here.

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

If y'all have a newer Mac, at that place is no concrete selection to install Mac Os versions older than your current Mac model. For instance, if your MacBook was released in 2014, don't await it to run any Bone released prior of that time, because older Apple tree OS versions only practice non include hardware drivers for your Mac.

Mac os x download

But as information technology often happens, workarounds are possible. There is even so a run a risk to download the installation file if yous have an admission to a Mac (or virtual auto) running that operating system. For example, to get an installer for Lion, you may ask a friend who has King of beasts-operated Mac or, once again, ready a virtual machine running Lion. Then you lot will demand to gear up an external drive to download the installation file using Bone X Utilities.

Afterwards you've completed the download, the installer should launch automatically, but you tin click Cancel and copy the file you demand. Below is the detailed didactics how to practice it.

Step 3. Install older OS X onto an external bulldoze

The post-obit method allows you to download Mac Os 10 Lion, Mountain Panthera leo, and Mavericks.

  1. Start your Mac holding down Command + R.
  2. Set a make clean external drive (at least 10 GB of storage).
  3. Within Bone 10 Utilities, choose 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 drive. Subsequently the download is complete, your Mac volition prompt yous to do a restart, merely at this point, you should completely shut information technology down. Now that the installation file is "captured" onto your external bulldoze, yous can reinstall the Os, this time running the file on your Mac.

  1. Boot your Mac from your standard drive.
  2. Connect the external drive.
  3. Go to external drive > OS X Install Information.

Locate InstallESD.dmg disk epitome file — this is the file you need to reinstall Panthera leo 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 10.12 or macOS High Sierra ten.thirteen, it is possible to revert information technology to the previous system if you are not satisfied with the experience. You can exercise information technology either with Time Machine or past creating a bootable USB or external bulldoze.

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS High Sierra

Pedagogy todowngrade from macOS Mojave

Teaching to downgrade from macOS Catalina

Before you lot practice it, the best communication is to dorsum your Mac upward then your most important files stay intact. In addition to that, it makes sense to make clean up your Mac from old system junk files and awarding leftovers. The easiest way to do information technology is to run CleanMyMac X on your car (download it for free here).

Visit your local Apple Shop to download older Bone X version

If none of the options to become older OS X worked, pay a visit to nearest local Apple Store. They should have image installations going back to OS Leopard and before. You lot can also inquire their aid to create a bootable USB bulldoze with the installation file. So here you lot are. We hope this article has helped you to download an old version of Mac OS Ten. Beneath are a few more than links you may detect interesting.