So, you've decided to download an older version of Mac OS 10. There are many reasons that could point you to this radical determination. To begin with, some of your apps may not exist working properly (or only crash) on newer operating systems. As well, you may have noticed your Mac's performance went downwards right after the last update. Finally, if yous desire to run a parallel copy of Mac OS X on a virtual automobile, you too volition need a working installation file of an older Mac Bone X. Further down we'll explicate where to get one and what problems you may face downwardly the road.

A list of all Mac OS 10 versions

Nosotros'll be repeatedly referring to these Apple OS versions beneath, so information technology's adept to know the basic macOS timeline.

Cheetah 10.0 Puma 10.1 Jaguar 10.2
Panther 10.3 Tiger ten.4 Leopard x.five
Snowfall Leopard x.half-dozen Lion 10.7 Mountain Lion x.viii
Mavericks 10.ix Yosemite 10.ten El Capitan 10.11
Sierra 10.12 High Sierra 10.13 Mojave ten.14
Catalina ten.15

Step i. Prepare your Mac for installation

Given your Mac isn't new and is filled with data, yous will probably demand enough complimentary space on your Mac. This includes not just space for the Bone itself merely too infinite for other applications and your user data. 1 more argument is that the free infinite on your disk translates into virtual retentivity so your apps have "fuel" to operate on. The chart below tells yous how much costless space is needed.

Note, that it is recommended that you lot install OS on a clean drive. Next, you will need enough disk space available, for example, to create Recovery Sectionalisation. Here are some ideas to costless up infinite on your drive:

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

Become to Finder > All My Files > Arrange by size

Then y'all can move your space hoggers onto an external bulldoze or a cloud storage.

If you aren't comfortable with cleaning the Mac manually, in that location are some dainty automatic "room cleaners". Our favorite isCleanMyMac as it's near uncomplicated to utilize of all. It deletes system junk, old broken apps, and the rest of subconscious junk on your bulldoze.

CleanMyMac X - Smart Scan complete

Download CleanMyMacfor OS 10.iv - 10.eight (free version)

Download CleanMyMac for OS x.9 (gratis version)

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

STEP two. Get a re-create of Mac Bone Ten download

Ordinarily, it is assumed that updating Bone is a i-way road. That'south why going back to a past Apple OS version is problematic. The main challenge is to download the Bone installation file itself, because your Mac may already be running a newer version. If yous 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 Shop

Mac operating system download


If yous once had purchased an old version of Mac OS X from the App Store, open it and go to the Purchased tab. In that location you'll find all the installers you can download. Yet, it doesn't always work that way. The purchased section lists merely those operating systems that you had downloaded in the by. But here is the path to cheque information technology:

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

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

Without App Shop: Download Mac Os version as Apple Programmer

If you are signed with an Apple tree Developer account, you tin get access to products that are no longer listed on the App Shop. If you desperately need a lower OS X version build, consider creating a new Developer account among other options. The membership cost is $99/yr and provides a bunch of perks unavailable to ordinary users.

Notwithstanding, keep in mind that if yous visit programmer.apple.com/downloads, you tin only detect 10.three-ten.6 OS X operating systems there. Newer versions are not available because starting Mac Bone X Snow Leopard x.7, the App Shop has go the merely source of updating Apple Os versions.

Purchase an older version of Mac operating system

Apple OS Versions

You can purchase a boxed or email version of past Mac Bone Ten direct from Apple tree. Both volition cost yous around $20. For the reason of being rather antiquated, Snow Leopard and earlier Apple versions can merely be installed from DVD.

Buy a boxed edition of Snow Leopard 10.6
Get an email copy of Panthera leo 10.7
Get an email re-create of Mountain Lion 10.8

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

How to get macOS El Capitan download

If you lot are wondering if y'all tin can run El Capitan on an older Mac, rejoice equally information technology's possible too. Only before your Mac tin can run El Capitan it has to be updated to Bone Ten 10.half-dozen.viii. So, here are chief steps you should take:

i. Install Snowfall Leopard from install DVD.
2. Update to x.6.8 using Software Update.
3. Download El Capitan hither.

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

If you have a newer Mac, at that place is no physical choice to install Mac Os versions older than your electric current Mac model. For instance, if your MacBook was released in 2014, don't await it to run whatever OS released prior of that time, because older Apple OS versions simply practise not include hardware drivers for your Mac.

Mac os x download

But as it ofttimes happens, workarounds are possible. There is notwithstanding a take chances to download the installation file if y'all have an access to a Mac (or virtual machine) running that operating organization. For instance, to become an installer for Lion, y'all may enquire a friend who has Lion-operated Mac or, in one case again, set up a virtual machine running Lion. So you will need to prepare an external drive to download the installation file using Bone X Utilities.

After you've completed the download, the installer should launch automatically, but you can click Cancel and copy the file you demand. Below is the detailed educational activity how to do it.

Stride 3. Install older Bone X onto an external drive

The following method allows yous to download Mac OS X Lion, Mountain Lion, and Mavericks.

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

At present the OS should commencement downloading automatically onto the external bulldoze. After the download is complete, your Mac will prompt you lot to exercise a restart, merely at this betoken, you should completely shut 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. Kick your Mac from your standard drive.
  2. Connect the external bulldoze.
  3. Go to external drive > Bone X Install Data.

Locate InstallESD.dmg deejay image file — this is the file you need to reinstall Lion Bone X. The aforementioned steps are valid for Mountain Panthera leo and Mavericks.

How to downgrade a Mac running after 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 not satisfied with the experience. You tin do it either with Time Machine or by creating a bootable USB or external drive.

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Sierra

Educational activity todowngrade from macOS High Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Mojave

Educational activity to downgrade from macOS Catalina

Earlier you do it, the best advice is to back your Mac up so your most important files stay intact. In improver to that, information technology makes sense to clean upwards your Mac from old system junk files and application leftovers. The easiest way to do it is to run CleanMyMac X on your motorcar (download information technology for gratuitous here).

Visit your local Apple Store to download older OS X version

If none of the options to go older OS Ten worked, pay a visit to nearest local Apple Store. They should have image installations going back to Os Leopard and before. You can also ask their aid to create a bootable USB drive with the installation file. So here you are. We hope this article has helped you to download an old version of Mac Os X. Below are a few more than links yous may find interesting.