So, you've decided to download an older version of Mac OS Ten. There are many reasons that could betoken you to this radical decision. To begin with, some of your apps may not be working properly (or only crash) on newer operating systems. Besides, yous may have noticed your Mac's performance went down right afterward the last update. Finally, if you desire 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 OS Ten. Further down we'll explicate where to become one and what problems you may confront down the road.

A list of all Mac OS 10 versions

We'll be repeatedly referring to these Apple OS versions below, and then information technology'due south good to know the basic macOS timeline.

Cheetah 10.0 Puma 10.i Jaguar 10.two
Panther 10.3 Tiger ten.4 Leopard ten.5
Snowfall Leopard 10.6 Lion 10.7 Mount Lion 10.8
Mavericks 10.ix Yosemite x.10 El Capitan 10.11
Sierra 10.12 High Sierra 10.13 Mojave 10.14
Catalina 10.xv

STEP 1. Ready your Mac for installation

Given your Mac isn't new and is filled with data, you will probably need plenty free infinite on your Mac. This includes not simply space for the Os itself but also infinite for other applications and your user data. 1 more than argument is that the free space on your disk translates into virtual memory then your apps accept "fuel" to operate on. The chart below tells you how much free infinite is needed.

Note, that it is recommended that you install OS on a clean drive. Next, you lot volition demand enough disk infinite available, for case, to create Recovery Partition. Here are some ideas to complimentary up space on your drive:

  • Uninstall big 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 lot can movement your space hoggers onto an external drive or a deject storage.

If yous aren't comfortable with cleaning the Mac manually, at that place are some nice automatic "room cleaners". Our favorite isCleanMyMac as information technology's most uncomplicated to utilize of all. It deletes system junk, old broken apps, and the rest of hidden junk on your bulldoze.

CleanMyMac X - Smart Scan complete

Download CleanMyMacfor OS ten.four - 10.8 (free version)

Download CleanMyMac for OS 10.nine (gratis version)

Download CleanMyMacfor Os 10.10 - 10.14 (free version)

STEP two. Go a re-create of Mac OS X download

Normally, it is assumed that updating Bone is a one-mode road. That's why going back to a by Apple tree OS version is problematic. The master challenge is to download the Bone 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 OS X versions via the App Store

Mac operating system download


If you once had purchased an old version of Mac OS Ten from the App Store, open it and go to the Purchased tab. There you lot'll find all the installers you can download. However, information technology doesn't e'er work that style. The purchased section lists only those operating systems that you had downloaded in the past. But here is the path to check it:

  1. Click the App Shop icon.
  2. Click Purchases in the tiptop carte du jour.
  3. Whorl downwardly to notice the preferred Bone 10 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 Shop: Download Mac Os version as Apple Programmer

If you lot are signed with an Apple Developer account, you tin go admission to products that are no longer listed on the App Store. If you lot desperately need a lower Os Ten version build, consider creating a new Developer account among other options. The membership price is $99/yr and provides a bunch of perks unavailable to ordinary users.

Even so, keep in mind that if you visit developer.apple.com/downloads, you can only observe 10.3-10.6 Bone X operating systems at that place. Newer versions are not available because starting Mac Bone 10 Snow Leopard ten.7, the App Store has become the only source of updating Apple Bone versions.

Purchase an older version of Mac operating system

Apple OS Versions

Yous can buy a boxed or email version of by Mac OS X straight from Apple. Both will cost you lot around $20. For the reason of existence rather antiquated, Snow Leopard and earlier Apple versions tin just be installed from DVD.

Buy a boxed edition of Snow Leopard 10.half-dozen
Go an email copy of King of beasts 10.7
Become an e-mail re-create of Mountain Lion x.viii

The email edition comes with a special download code you can use for the Mac App Store. Notation, that to install the Lion or Mountain Lion, your Mac needs to exist running Snow Leopard so you tin can install the newer Os on top of information technology.

How to get macOS El Capitan download

If you are wondering if you lot 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 be updated to OS X ten.6.viii. Then, hither are main steps you should accept:

ane. Install Snowfall Leopard from install DVD.
2. Update to x.6.eight using Software Update.
iii. Download El Capitan here.

"I can't download an old version of Mac Os 10"

If you have a newer Mac, there is no concrete pick 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 whatsoever OS released prior of that time, because older Apple OS versions only do not include hardware drivers for your Mac.

Mac os x download

Merely as it oftentimes happens, workarounds are possible. At that place is still a gamble to download the installation file if you accept an access to a Mac (or virtual machine) running that operating system. For example, to get an installer for King of beasts, y'all may inquire a friend who has Lion-operated Mac or, one time once again, ready upwardly a virtual car running Lion. Then y'all volition need to fix an external drive to download the installation file using OS Ten Utilities.

After you've completed the download, the installer should launch automatically, merely yous tin can click Abolish and copy the file you need. Beneath is the detailed instruction how to practice information technology.

Step 3. Install older Bone X onto an external bulldoze

The following method allows y'all to download Mac OS X Lion, Mountain Panthera leo, and Mavericks.

  1. Kickoff your Mac holding down Command + R.
  2. Prepare a clean external drive (at to the lowest degree x GB of storage).
  3. Within OS X Utilities, cull Reinstall Bone Ten.
  4. Select external drive every bit a source.
  5. Enter your Apple ID.
How to download old Mac OS X versions

Now the Bone should start downloading automatically onto the external bulldoze. After the download is complete, your Mac will prompt you to do a restart, but at this indicate, yous should completely close it down. At present that the installation file is "captured" onto your external bulldoze, you tin can reinstall the Os, this time 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 image file — this is the file you need to reinstall Lion Bone 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 x.12 or macOS High Sierra 10.xiii, it is possible to revert it to the previous organisation if yous are not satisfied with the experience. You can do it either with Time Automobile or past creating a bootable USB or external drive.

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS High Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Mojave

Didactics to downgrade from macOS Catalina

Before you practise it, the best advice is to back your Mac up so your virtually of import files stay intact. In addition to that, it makes sense to clean upward your Mac from erstwhile organisation junk files and application leftovers. The easiest manner to do information technology is to run CleanMyMac X on your machine (download it for free here).

Visit your local Apple tree Store to download older OS 10 version

If none of the options to go older Bone 10 worked, pay a visit to nearest local Apple Shop. They should have image installations going back to Bone Leopard and earlier. You tin can also ask their assistance to create a bootable USB drive with the installation file. And then here you are. We hope this article has helped yous to download an old version of Mac OS X. Below are a few more links you may detect interesting.