Then, you've decided to download an older version of Mac OS X. In that location are many reasons that could signal you 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 lot may have noticed your Mac'southward performance went down right later on the last update. Finally, if you want to run a parallel copy of Mac OS 10 on a virtual machine, you as well volition need a working installation file of an older Mac Bone X. Further down we'll explicate where to go 1 and what problems you lot may face downward the route.

A list of all Mac Os X versions

We'll exist repeatedly referring to these Apple Os versions below, so information technology'south adept to know the basic macOS timeline.

Cheetah ten.0 Puma ten.i Jaguar 10.2
Panther 10.iii Tiger 10.iv Leopard ten.5
Snow Leopard ten.6 Lion x.7 Mount Lion x.8
Mavericks 10.9 Yosemite 10.10 El Capitan ten.xi
Sierra 10.12 High Sierra 10.13 Mojave 10.14
Catalina 10.15

STEP ane. Prepare your Mac for installation

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

Note, that it is recommended that you install OS on a clean drive. Next, you lot volition need plenty disk space available, for instance, to create Recovery Partition. Here 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 calculator:

Go to Finder > All My Files > Arrange by size

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

If yous aren't comfortable with cleaning the Mac manually, there are some nice automated "room cleaners". Our favorite isCleanMyMac as it's well-nigh elementary to use of all. It deletes system junk, old cleaved apps, and the balance of hidden junk on your drive.

CleanMyMac X - Smart Scan complete

Download CleanMyMacfor Os 10.4 - 10.viii (complimentary version)

Download CleanMyMac for OS 10.9 (free version)

Download CleanMyMacfor OS 10.10 - 10.14 (gratis version)

STEP 2. Get a copy of Mac Bone X download

Normally, it is causeless that updating Bone is a one-way road. That's why going dorsum to a past Apple tree Os version is problematic. The primary challenge is to download the Os installation file itself, because your Mac may already be running a newer version. If you succeed in downloading the Bone installation, your adjacent step is to create a bootable USB or DVD and so reinstall the Os on your figurer.

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

Mac operating system download


If yous one time had purchased an old version of Mac Bone X from the App Store, open information technology and go to the Purchased tab. There you'll discover all the installers you can download. However, it doesn't ever piece of work that manner. The purchased department lists only those operating systems that you had downloaded in the past. But here is the path to check it:

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

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

Without App Store: Download Mac OS version as Apple Developer

If you are signed with an Apple Developer account, yous tin 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 among other options. The membership cost is $99/year and provides a bunch of perks unavailable to ordinary users.

Even so, proceed in mind that if you visit developer.apple.com/downloads, y'all tin can only find ten.3-x.vi Os 10 operating systems in that location. Newer versions are non available considering starting Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.7, the App Store has go the only source of updating Apple tree OS versions.

Purchase an older version of Mac operating arrangement

Apple OS Versions

You can purchase a boxed or electronic mail version of past Mac Os Ten directly from Apple. Both will price y'all around $twenty. For the reason of existence rather blowsy, Snow Leopard and earlier Apple tree versions can only be installed from DVD.

Buy a boxed edition of Snowfall Leopard 10.6
Get an email copy of Lion 10.7
Go an email copy of Mountain Panthera leo 10.8

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

How to get macOS El Capitan download

If you are wondering if you can run El Capitan on an older Mac, rejoice equally it's possible likewise. But earlier your Mac can run El Capitan information technology has to exist updated to OS X ten.6.viii. So, here are main steps you should accept:

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

"I tin't download an old version of Mac Bone 10"

If you lot take a newer Mac, there is no physical option to install Mac Os versions older than your current Mac model. For case, if your MacBook was released in 2014, don't expect it to run any OS released prior of that fourth dimension, considering older Apple OS versions simply practise non include hardware drivers for your Mac.

Mac os x download

Simply every bit it oftentimes happens, workarounds are possible. There is withal a adventure to download the installation file if yous have an access to a Mac (or virtual machine) running that operating system. For example, to get an installer for Lion, y'all may enquire a friend who has Lion-operated Mac or, over again, gear up a virtual motorcar running Lion. And then yous will need to prepare an external drive to download the installation file using OS X Utilities.

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

Stride three. Install older OS X onto an external drive

The post-obit method allows y'all to download Mac OS 10 Lion, Mountain Lion, and Mavericks.

  1. Start your Mac belongings down Command + R.
  2. Set up a clean external drive (at least x GB of storage).
  3. Inside Bone X Utilities, choose Reinstall OS X.
  4. Select external drive as a source.
  5. Enter your Apple tree 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, but at this betoken, yous should completely close it downwards. Now that the installation file is "captured" onto your external drive, you can reinstall the OS, this fourth dimension running the file on your Mac.

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

Locate InstallESD.dmg disk prototype file — this is the file you lot need to reinstall Lion Bone Ten. The same steps are valid for Mount Lion and Mavericks.

How to downgrade a Mac running later macOS versions

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

Teaching todowngrade from macOS Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS High Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Mojave

Instruction to downgrade from macOS Catalina

Before y'all do information technology, the best communication is to back your Mac upward so your nearly important files stay intact. In add-on to that, it makes sense to clean up your Mac from old system junk files and awarding leftovers. The easiest way to practice it is to run CleanMyMac 10 on your motorcar (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 have image installations going back to Os Leopard and earlier. You lot can likewise ask their aid to create a bootable USB drive with the installation file. And so here you are. Nosotros promise this article has helped you to download an sometime version of Mac OS Ten. Below are a few more links you may find interesting.