So, you've decided to download an older version of Mac OS X. In that location are many reasons that could bespeak you to this radical conclusion. To begin with, some of your apps may non be working properly (or merely crash) on newer operating systems. Also, you may have noticed your Mac'south operation went down right after the last update. Finally, if you want to run a parallel re-create of Mac Os Ten on a virtual machine, you lot too will need a working installation file of an older Mac Os Ten. Further down we'll explicate where to get one and what problems y'all may face down the road.

A listing of all Mac OS X versions

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

Cheetah 10.0 Puma 10.i Jaguar 10.2
Panther 10.iii Tiger x.iv Leopard 10.5
Snow Leopard ten.six Panthera leo 10.vii Mountain Lion ten.eight
Mavericks 10.nine Yosemite x.10 El Capitan 10.xi
Sierra x.12 High Sierra ten.thirteen Mojave 10.14
Catalina 10.15

STEP 1. Prepare your Mac for installation

Given your Mac isn't new and is filled with data, y'all will probably need enough free space on your Mac. This includes non but space for the Os itself just also space for other applications and your user information. Ane more statement is that the gratis infinite on your deejay translates into virtual retentiveness so your apps have "fuel" to operate on. The chart below tells you lot how much free infinite is needed.

Notation, that it is recommended that yous install OS on a make clean bulldoze. Next, you will need plenty disk infinite available, for case, to create Recovery Partition. Hither are some ideas to costless up 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

So you can motility your space hoggers onto an external drive or a cloud storage.

If you aren't comfortable with cleaning the Mac manually, there are some squeamish automatic "room cleaners". Our favorite isCleanMyMac equally it's most simple to apply of all. It deletes system junk, quondam broken apps, and the rest of hidden junk on your drive.

CleanMyMac X - Smart Scan complete

Download CleanMyMacfor OS ten.4 - 10.8 (gratuitous version)

Download CleanMyMac for Os 10.9 (free version)

Download CleanMyMacfor Os x.10 - 10.14 (free version)

STEP two. Get a copy of Mac Os Ten download

Ordinarily, information technology is assumed that updating Bone is a one-manner road. That's why going back to a past Apple Os version is problematic. The master 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 side by side footstep is to create a bootable USB or DVD so reinstall the OS on your computer.

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

Mac operating system download


If you in one case had purchased an old version of Mac Bone X from the App Store, open it and go to the Purchased tab. There you lot'll find all the installers you tin download. However, it doesn't always work that manner. 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 elevation menu.
  3. Scroll down to find the preferred OS X version.
  4. Click Download.

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

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

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

Nevertheless, keep in mind that if you visit developer.apple.com/downloads, you tin only notice 10.3-ten.six Bone X operating systems in that location. Newer versions are not available because starting Mac OS Ten Snow Leopard 10.seven, the App Shop has become the only source of updating Apple OS versions.

Purchase an older version of Mac operating system

Apple OS Versions

You tin can purchase a boxed or electronic mail version of past Mac OS X directly from Apple tree. Both will toll you around $20. For the reason of being rather antiquated, Snowfall Leopard and earlier Apple versions tin can only be installed from DVD.

Buy a boxed edition of Snowfall Leopard 10.vi
Go an electronic mail re-create of Panthera leo 10.7
Get an email copy of Mountain Lion ten.viii

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

How to become macOS El Capitan download

If you are wondering if you tin can run El Capitan on an older Mac, rejoice as it's possible also. But before your Mac can run El Capitan information technology has to exist updated to Bone X 10.6.8. So, here are main steps you lot should take:

one. Install Snow Leopard from install DVD.
two. Update to 10.6.eight using Software Update.
3. Download El Capitan here.

"I tin't download an sometime version of Mac Os X"

If you have a newer Mac, there is no physical pick to install Mac OS versions older than your current Mac model. For instance, if your MacBook was released in 2014, don't expect it to run any Bone released prior of that time, considering older Apple OS versions but do not include hardware drivers for your Mac.

Mac os x download

Just every bit it oft happens, workarounds are possible. There is all the same a risk to download the installation file if you take an access to a Mac (or virtual machine) running that operating system. For example, to get an installer for Lion, you may ask a friend who has Lion-operated Mac or, once more, set up a virtual auto running Lion. And then you will need to set an external drive to download the installation file using OS 10 Utilities.

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

Footstep three. Install older Bone X onto an external drive

The post-obit method allows you to download Mac OS 10 Lion, Mount King of beasts, and Mavericks.

  1. Showtime your Mac holding down Command + R.
  2. Prepare a clean external bulldoze (at to the lowest degree 10 GB of storage).
  3. Within Bone X Utilities, choose Reinstall Bone Ten.
  4. Select external bulldoze every bit a source.
  5. Enter your Apple ID.
How to download old Mac OS X versions

Now the OS should get-go downloading automatically onto the external bulldoze. Subsequently the download is complete, your Mac volition prompt y'all to do a restart, merely at this point, you lot should completely close information technology down. Now that the installation file is "captured" onto your external drive, you lot tin reinstall the OS, this fourth dimension running the file on your Mac.

  1. Boot your Mac from your standard drive.
  2. Connect the external drive.
  3. Go to external drive > Os Ten Install Data.

Locate InstallESD.dmg disk prototype file — this is the file you need to reinstall King of beasts 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 Loftier Sierra 10.13, information technology is possible to revert it to the previous organization if yous are not satisfied with the experience. You tin can do it either with Time Machine or by creating a bootable USB or external drive.

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Sierra

Teaching todowngrade from macOS High Sierra

Educational activity todowngrade from macOS Mojave

Education to downgrade from macOS Catalina

Before yous exercise it, the best advice is to back your Mac upward so your most of import files stay intact. In addition to that, it makes sense to make clean up your Mac from one-time system junk files and application leftovers. The easiest manner to practise information technology is to run CleanMyMac X on your machine (download it for free here).

Visit your local Apple Store to download older OS X version

If none of the options to get older OS 10 worked, pay a visit to nearest local Apple Store. They should have prototype installations going back to OS Leopard and earlier. You lot tin can also ask their assistance to create a bootable USB bulldoze with the installation file. Then here you are. We hope this commodity has helped you lot to download an old version of Mac OS X. Beneath are a few more links you may discover interesting.