And then, you've decided to download an older version of Mac OS X. In that location are many reasons that could point yous to this radical decision. To begin with, some of your apps may non exist working properly (or just crash) on newer operating systems. Also, y'all may take noticed your Mac'southward performance went down correct afterwards the final update. Finally, if you want to run a parallel copy of Mac OS X on a virtual automobile, y'all likewise will demand a working installation file of an older Mac OS X. Farther downwardly we'll explain where to become one and what bug you may face downwards the road.

A list of all Mac Os Ten versions

We'll be repeatedly referring to these Apple Os versions below, and then information technology'south expert to know the bones macOS timeline.

Chetah 10.0 Puma ten.1 Jaguar 10.2
Panther ten.3 Tiger ten.4 Leopard 10.5
Snow Leopard 10.6 Lion ten.7 Mountain King of beasts 10.viii
Mavericks ten.9 Yosemite 10.10 El Capitan 10.11
Sierra ten.12 High Sierra ten.13 Mojave x.xiv
Catalina x.15

Step ane. Set your Mac for installation

Given your Mac isn't new and is filled with data, you volition probably need plenty gratis space on your Mac. This includes not just space for the Os itself just also space for other applications and your user information. I more statement is that the costless infinite on your disk translates into virtual memory so your apps have "fuel" to operate on. The chart below tells you how much gratuitous space is needed.

Annotation, that information technology is recommended that you install OS on a clean drive. Adjacent, you lot will demand plenty disk space available, for example, to create Recovery Partitioning. Here are some ideas to free upward space on your drive:

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

Go to Finder > All My Files > Arrange by size

Then you can motility your space hoggers onto an external bulldoze or a cloud storage.

If you aren't comfy with cleaning the Mac manually, in that location are some dainty automatic "room cleaners". Our favorite isCleanMyMac equally it'southward most uncomplicated to use of all. It deletes organisation junk, old broken apps, and the rest of subconscious junk on your drive.

CleanMyMac X - Smart Scan complete

Download CleanMyMacfor Os x.four - 10.8 (gratuitous version)

Download CleanMyMac for Os x.9 (free version)

Download CleanMyMacfor OS 10.10 - x.14 (free version)

STEP two. Get a copy of Mac OS 10 download

Normally, it is assumed that updating Os is a i-way road. That's why going dorsum to a past Apple tree OS 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 you succeed in downloading the OS installation, your next step is to create a bootable USB or DVD and and then reinstall the OS on your computer.

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

Mac operating system download


If you once had purchased an quondam version of Mac OS X from the App Store, open it and go to the Purchased tab. At that place you'll observe all the installers y'all tin download. Withal, it doesn't ever work that fashion. The purchased section lists only those operating systems that you had downloaded in the past. Only here is the path to check information technology:

  1. Click the App Store icon.
  2. Click Purchases in the top carte du jour.
  3. Whorl down to find the preferred OS 10 version.
  4. Click Download.

This method allows y'all to download Mavericks and Yosemite by logging with your Apple tree ID — just if y'all previously downloaded them from the Mac App Store.

Without App Shop: Download Mac Bone version as Apple Developer

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

Withal, go along in mind that if you visit developer.apple.com/downloads, you can only find 10.three-10.6 Bone Ten operating systems at that place. Newer versions are not bachelor because starting Mac Os X Snow Leopard 10.vii, the App Store has become the only source of updating Apple tree Os versions.

Buy an older version of Mac operating organization

Apple OS Versions

You can purchase a boxed or email version of past Mac Os Ten straight from Apple. Both volition toll you around $20. For the reason of being rather blowsy, Snow Leopard and before Apple versions can but exist installed from DVD.

Buy a boxed edition of Snow Leopard ten.6
Get an email re-create of Lion ten.seven
Go an electronic mail copy of Mount Lion 10.8

The email edition comes with a special download code y'all can use for the Mac App Store. Notation, that to install the Lion or Mountain King of beasts, your Mac needs to be running Snow Leopard and so you can install the newer Bone on tiptop of it.

How to get macOS El Capitan download

If you are wondering if you can run El Capitan on an older Mac, rejoice as information technology'south possible too. But before your Mac can run El Capitan it has to exist updated to OS X x.half-dozen.eight. So, hither are main steps you lot should take:

1. Install Snow Leopard from install DVD.
2. Update to ten.six.eight using Software Update.
3. Download El Capitan here.

"I can't download an one-time version of Mac OS X"

If you take a newer Mac, there is no physical option to install Mac OS versions older than your electric current Mac model. For instance, if your MacBook was released in 2014, don't expect information technology to run whatever OS released prior of that fourth dimension, because older Apple tree Os versions simply do non include hardware drivers for your Mac.

Mac os x download

But as information technology often happens, workarounds are possible. There is still a chance to download the installation file if you have an admission to a Mac (or virtual motorcar) running that operating system. For example, to get an installer for Lion, you may ask a friend who has Lion-operated Mac or, once over again, set up a virtual machine running Lion. Then you will need to fix an external drive to download the installation file using OS X Utilities.

After yous've completed the download, the installer should launch automatically, just you can click Cancel and copy the file y'all need. Below is the detailed instruction how to do it.

Pace 3. Install older OS X onto an external drive

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

  1. Outset your Mac holding down Control + R.
  2. Prepare a make clean external drive (at least 10 GB of storage).
  3. Within Os X Utilities, choose Reinstall OS 10.
  4. Select external drive equally a source.
  5. Enter your Apple ID.
How to download old Mac OS X versions

Now the OS should beginning downloading automatically onto the external drive. Later the download is consummate, your Mac will prompt you lot to do a restart, but at this point, you should completely shut it downwardly. Now that the installation file is "captured" onto your external drive, y'all tin can reinstall the OS, this time running the file on your Mac.

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

Locate InstallESD.dmg disk image file — this is the file you demand to reinstall Lion OS X. The same steps are valid for Mountain Lion and Mavericks.

How to downgrade a Mac running afterwards macOS versions

If your Mac runs macOS Sierra 10.12 or macOS Loftier Sierra x.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 Time Motorcar or by creating a bootable USB or external drive.

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Sierra

Didactics todowngrade from macOS High Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Mojave

Instruction to downgrade from macOS Catalina

Earlier you lot do information technology, the all-time advice is to back your Mac up and then your nigh important files stay intact. In addition to that, it 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 X on your machine (download it for costless here).

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

If none of the options to go older Bone 10 worked, pay a visit to nearest local Apple Store. They should take image installations going back to OS Leopard and before. Y'all can as well enquire their aid to create a bootable USB drive with the installation file. So hither you 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 find interesting.