So, y'all've decided to download an older version of Mac Os X. There are many reasons that could point y'all to this radical conclusion. To begin with, some of your apps may non be working properly (or simply crash) on newer operating systems. Too, you may have noticed your Mac's performance went downwards correct after the concluding update. Finally, if yous desire to run a parallel re-create of Mac Os X on a virtual machine, you too will need a working installation file of an older Mac Bone X. Further downwardly we'll explain where to get one and what issues you lot may face downward the road.

A list of all Mac Os X versions

We'll be repeatedly referring to these Apple OS versions beneath, and so information technology'due south good to know the bones macOS timeline.

Cheetah 10.0 Puma 10.1 Jaguar 10.two
Panther x.3 Tiger x.four Leopard 10.5
Snow Leopard 10.6 Lion 10.vii Mount Lion x.eight
Mavericks 10.ix Yosemite ten.ten El Capitan ten.xi
Sierra 10.12 Loftier Sierra ten.13 Mojave 10.14
Catalina 10.fifteen

Step 1. Gear up your Mac for installation

Given your Mac isn't new and is filled with data, you will probably need enough gratis space on your Mac. This includes not but space for the Os itself but also space for other applications and your user data. One more argument is that the free space on your deejay translates into virtual retentivity and then your apps take "fuel" to operate on. The chart below tells you how much free space is needed.

Note, that it is recommended that you lot install OS on a clean drive. Next, you lot will need enough deejay space available, for case, to create Recovery Sectionalization. Here are some ideas to complimentary upward space on your bulldoze:

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

Go to Finder > All My Files > Arrange past size

Then you can move your space hoggers onto an external drive or a deject storage.

If yous aren't comfy with cleaning the Mac manually, there are some dainty automatic "room cleaners". Our favorite isCleanMyMac as it's most unproblematic to use of all. It deletes system junk, onetime cleaved apps, and the rest of hidden junk on your drive.

CleanMyMac X - Smart Scan complete

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

Download CleanMyMac for OS ten.9 (free version)

Download CleanMyMacfor OS 10.ten - x.14 (free version)

STEP 2. Become a copy of Mac OS X download

Normally, information technology is assumed that updating Os is a one-way road. That's why going back to a past Apple tree Bone version is problematic. The primary challenge is to download the OS installation file itself, considering 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 so reinstall the Os on your computer.

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

Mac operating system download


If y'all once had purchased an former version of Mac Os Ten from the App Store, open it and become to the Purchased tab. There yous'll notice all the installers you can download. Nevertheless, it doesn't e'er work that way. The purchased section lists but those operating systems that you lot had downloaded in the past. But here is the path to check it:

  1. Click the App Store icon.
  2. Click Purchases in the pinnacle bill of fare.
  3. Whorl down to detect the preferred Os 10 version.
  4. Click Download.

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

Without App Store: Download Mac OS version every bit Apple tree Programmer

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

Nevertheless, keep in mind that if y'all visit developer.apple.com/downloads, you can only find 10.3-10.6 OS X operating systems at that place. 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.

Buy an older version of Mac operating system

Apple OS Versions

You can buy a boxed or e-mail version of past Mac Bone X directly from Apple tree. Both volition cost you around $xx. For the reason of existence rather antiquated, Snow Leopard and before Apple tree versions can only be installed from DVD.

Buy a boxed edition of Snow Leopard 10.vi
Become an email re-create of King of beasts 10.7
Get an e-mail copy of Mountain Lion x.8

The email edition comes with a special download lawmaking you tin utilize for the Mac App Store. Note, that to install the Lion or Mount Lion, your Mac needs to exist running Snow Leopard so you lot can install the newer OS on top of information technology.

How to get macOS El Capitan download

If you are wondering if you can run El Capitan on an older Mac, rejoice as it'southward possible also. But before your Mac can run El Capitan it has to exist updated to OS X 10.6.8. So, here are master steps you should take:

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

"I can't download an old version of Mac OS Ten"

If you accept a newer Mac, there is no concrete option to install Mac Bone versions older than your current Mac model. For instance, if your MacBook was released in 2014, don't look it to run whatever Bone released prior of that time, because older Apple tree Os versions simply do not include hardware drivers for your Mac.

Mac os x download

But as information technology oftentimes happens, workarounds are possible. In that location is notwithstanding a chance to download the installation file if you have an access to a Mac (or virtual machine) running that operating organization. For case, to get an installer for Lion, you may inquire a friend who has King of beasts-operated Mac or, once once again, set up upwards a virtual auto running Panthera leo. So y'all will need to prepare an external bulldoze to download the installation file using Os X Utilities.

After you've completed the download, the installer should launch automatically, but you can click Cancel and copy the file you need. Below is the detailed educational activity how to practice information technology.

STEP 3. Install older OS 10 onto an external drive

The following method allows you to download Mac Os Ten Panthera leo, Mountain Panthera leo, and Mavericks.

  1. Beginning your Mac property downwards Command + R.
  2. Prepare a clean external drive (at least ten GB of storage).
  3. Within OS 10 Utilities, cull 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 OS should beginning downloading automatically onto the external drive. After the download is complete, your Mac will prompt yous to do a restart, but at this signal, you lot should completely shut it down. Now that the installation file is "captured" onto your external drive, you can reinstall the Bone, this time running the file on your Mac.

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

Locate InstallESD.dmg disk prototype file — this is the file y'all need to reinstall Lion 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 10.13, information technology is possible to revert it to the previous arrangement if y'all are not satisfied with the experience. You lot tin can practice it either with Time Auto or by creating a bootable USB or external drive.

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS High Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Mojave

Instruction to downgrade from macOS Catalina

Earlier you do it, the best communication is to back your Mac up and then your most of import files stay intact. In improver to that, information technology makes sense to clean upward your Mac from one-time organisation junk files and awarding leftovers. The easiest way to do it is to run CleanMyMac X on your automobile (download it for complimentary here).

Visit your local Apple Store to download older Bone X version

If none of the options to get older Os X worked, pay a visit to nearest local Apple tree Shop. They should have epitome installations going dorsum to Os Leopard and earlier. You lot can as well inquire their help to create a bootable USB drive with the installation file. So here you are. We hope this commodity has helped you to download an quondam version of Mac Os X. Below are a few more links yous may detect interesting.