So, you lot've decided to download an older version of Mac Bone X. There are many reasons that could signal you to this radical decision. To begin with, some of your apps may not be working properly (or but crash) on newer operating systems. Also, y'all may take noticed your Mac'southward performance went down right after the concluding update. Finally, if you want to run a parallel copy of Mac OS X on a virtual machine, you too will need a working installation file of an older Mac Bone Ten. Further down we'll explain where to get 1 and what problems you may face downwards the road.

A list of all Mac OS X versions

We'll be repeatedly referring to these Apple OS versions below, then it'southward good to know the basic macOS timeline.

Cheetah 10.0 Puma 10.1 Jaguar 10.2
Panther ten.iii Tiger x.4 Leopard 10.v
Snowfall Leopard 10.vi Panthera leo x.7 Mount Lion 10.8
Mavericks x.nine Yosemite 10.10 El Capitan 10.xi
Sierra 10.12 High Sierra x.13 Mojave 10.14
Catalina 10.15

Step 1. Prepare your Mac for installation

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

Note, that information technology is recommended that you install OS on a clean drive. Next, you will need enough deejay space available, for case, to create Recovery Partition. Hither are some ideas to free upwardly space on your drive:

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

Go to Finder > All My Files > Accommodate by size

So you tin move your space hoggers onto an external drive or a cloud storage.

If yous aren't comfortable with cleaning the Mac manually, there are some prissy automatic "room cleaners". Our favorite isCleanMyMac as it's well-nigh simple to use of all. Information technology deletes system junk, old cleaved apps, and the rest of hidden junk on your drive.

CleanMyMac X - Smart Scan complete

Download CleanMyMacfor Os ten.4 - 10.8 (free version)

Download CleanMyMac for OS 10.9 (complimentary version)

Download CleanMyMacfor OS 10.10 - 10.14 (complimentary version)

Stride 2. Get a copy of Mac OS X download

Usually, it is assumed that updating Os is a 1-way road. That'due south why going back to a past Apple Os version is problematic. The chief claiming is to download the OS installation file itself, because your Mac may already be running a newer version. If yous succeed in downloading the OS 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 Store

Mac operating system download


If you once had purchased an erstwhile version of Mac Os X from the App Shop, open it and go to the Purchased tab. In that location you'll find all the installers you can download. Still, it doesn't always work that way. The purchased section lists only those operating systems that you had downloaded in the past. But hither is the path to check it:

  1. Click the App Store icon.
  2. Click Purchases in the top menu.
  3. Scroll down to find the preferred OS X version.
  4. Click Download.

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

Without App Store: Download Mac Bone version equally Apple tree Programmer

If you are signed with an Apple Developer business relationship, you tin can get access to products that are no longer listed on the App Shop. If yous desperately need a lower OS 10 version build, consider creating a new Developer business relationship amid other options. The membership cost is $99/year and provides a agglomeration of perks unavailable to ordinary users.

Nevertheless, keep in mind that if you visit programmer.apple tree.com/downloads, yous tin can only find 10.3-ten.vi Bone X operating systems there. Newer versions are not available because starting Mac Os Ten Snow Leopard 10.vii, the App Store has become the only source of updating Apple Bone versions.

Purchase an older version of Mac operating system

Apple OS Versions

You tin purchase a boxed or email version of by Mac Os X direct from Apple. Both will cost you effectually $20. For the reason of being rather blowsy, Snowfall Leopard and earlier Apple versions tin can but exist installed from DVD.

Buy a boxed edition of Snow Leopard x.6
Go an e-mail copy of King of beasts 10.7
Get an email copy of Mountain Lion x.8

The electronic mail edition comes with a special download code yous can use for the Mac App Store. Annotation, that to install the Lion or Mountain King of beasts, your Mac needs to be running Snow Leopard so yous can install the newer Bone 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 as it'due south possible too. But before your Mac can run El Capitan it has to be updated to Os Ten 10.vi.eight. And then, hither are primary steps you should take:

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

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

If yous have a newer Mac, at that place is no concrete pick to install Mac Bone versions older than your current Mac model. For case, if your MacBook was released in 2014, don't look information technology to run any OS released prior of that fourth dimension, considering older Apple Bone versions simply exercise not include hardware drivers for your Mac.

Mac os x download

Merely as it often happens, workarounds are possible. There is withal a risk to download the installation file if you take an admission to a Mac (or virtual motorcar) running that operating system. For example, to become an installer for King of beasts, you may inquire a friend who has Lion-operated Mac or, once more, set up a virtual auto running Lion. Then you will need to prepare an external bulldoze to download the installation file using Os Ten Utilities.

After 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 instruction how to practice it.

Pace three. Install older OS X onto an external drive

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

  1. Get-go your Mac holding down Command + R.
  2. Prepare a clean external drive (at least 10 GB of storage).
  3. Within Bone Ten Utilities, choose Reinstall OS Ten.
  4. Select external bulldoze as a source.
  5. Enter your Apple ID.
How to download old Mac OS X versions

At present the OS should start downloading automatically onto the external drive. Afterwards the download is consummate, your Mac volition prompt y'all to do a restart, but at this betoken, you should completely close it downwards. Now that the installation file is "captured" onto your external drive, you can reinstall the OS, this time running the file on your Mac.

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

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

How to downgrade a Mac running after macOS versions

If your Mac runs macOS Sierra x.12 or macOS High Sierra ten.thirteen, it is possible to revert it to the previous system if you are not satisfied with the experience. Yous tin do it either with Time Auto or past creating a bootable USB or external drive.

Didactics todowngrade from macOS Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS High Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Mojave

Pedagogy to downgrade from macOS Catalina

Before yous do it, the all-time communication is to dorsum your Mac up and so your near important files stay intact. In addition to that, it makes sense to clean up your Mac from erstwhile organization junk files and awarding leftovers. The easiest way to practise it is to run CleanMyMac X on your machine (download information technology for gratis here).

Visit your local Apple Shop to download older OS 10 version

If none of the options to get older OS 10 worked, pay a visit to nearest local Apple Store. They should have image installations going back to OS Leopard and earlier. You can as well ask their aid to create a bootable USB drive with the installation file. And so here you lot are. We hope this commodity has helped y'all to download an old version of Mac OS Ten. Below are a few more links y'all may find interesting.