So, yous've decided to download an older version of Mac OS X. There are many reasons that could point y'all to this radical decision. To begin with, some of your apps may not be working properly (or simply crash) on newer operating systems. Also, you may take noticed your Mac's performance went down right subsequently the last update. Finally, if you desire to run a parallel copy of Mac Os X on a virtual machine, you too will demand a working installation file of an older Mac Os X. Further down we'll explain where to get one and what bug you may face up down the road.

A list of all Mac OS 10 versions

We'll be repeatedly referring to these Apple OS versions below, so information technology'southward skilful to know the basic macOS timeline.

Cheetah 10.0 Puma 10.1 Jaguar 10.2
Panther ten.3 Tiger ten.4 Leopard 10.5
Snow Leopard 10.6 Lion ten.vii Mountain King of beasts 10.8
Mavericks 10.9 Yosemite 10.10 El Capitan 10.11
Sierra 10.12 High Sierra 10.13 Mojave x.xiv
Catalina 10.15

Footstep 1. Prepare your Mac for installation

Given your Mac isn't new and is filled with data, y'all will probably need plenty free space on your Mac. This includes not just infinite for the Os itself only also space for other applications and your user data. Ane more argument is that the free space on your disk translates into virtual memory and so your apps have "fuel" to operate on. The nautical chart below tells you lot how much free space is needed.

Note, that it is recommended that you install OS on a clean drive. Side by side, y'all will demand enough deejay space available, for example, to create Recovery Partitioning. Here are some ideas to free up infinite 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

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

If you aren't comfortable with cleaning the Mac manually, at that place are some nice automatic "room cleaners". Our favorite isCleanMyMac as it'due south most simple to use of all. It deletes organisation junk, old broken apps, and the balance of subconscious junk on your drive.

CleanMyMac X - Smart Scan complete

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

Download CleanMyMac for OS 10.ix (free version)

Download CleanMyMacfor Os 10.10 - 10.14 (free version)

STEP 2. Get a copy of Mac OS X download

Normally, information technology is assumed that updating Os is a one-way road. That'southward why going back to a past Apple OS version is problematic. The main claiming is to download the OS installation file itself, because your Mac may already be running a newer version. If you lot succeed in downloading the Os installation, your next step is to create a bootable USB or DVD so reinstall the Os on your computer.

How to download older Mac OS 10 versions via the App Store

Mac operating system download


If you once had purchased an sometime version of Mac OS Ten from the App Shop, open it and go to the Purchased tab. There you'll find all the installers yous tin download. However, information technology doesn't always work that style. The purchased department lists but those operating systems that you had downloaded in the past. But here is the path to cheque it:

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

This method allows yous 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 every bit Apple Developer

If y'all are signed with an Apple Programmer account, you can get access to products that are no longer listed on the App Store. If y'all badly need a lower Bone Ten version build, consider creating a new Developer account amidst 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, y'all can only find 10.three-x.half-dozen Os X operating systems there. Newer versions are not available considering starting Mac Os X Snow Leopard ten.7, the App Store has become the simply source of updating Apple tree OS versions.

Buy an older version of Mac operating system

Apple OS Versions

Yous can purchase a boxed or email version of past Mac OS Ten directly from Apple. Both will cost you lot around $20. For the reason of being rather blowsy, Snow Leopard and earlier Apple versions can only be installed from DVD.

Purchase a boxed edition of Snow Leopard x.half dozen
Get an email copy of Lion ten.7
Get an electronic mail copy of Mountain Lion 10.eight

The email edition comes with a special download lawmaking you can use for the Mac App Shop. Note, that to install the Panthera leo or Mountain Panthera leo, your Mac needs to be running Snow Leopard and so you can install the newer OS on summit of it.

How to get macOS El Capitan download

If y'all are wondering if you tin can run El Capitan on an older Mac, rejoice equally it's possible likewise. But earlier your Mac can run El Capitan it has to be updated to OS Ten 10.6.viii. Then, here are main steps you lot should take:

1. Install Snowfall Leopard from install DVD.
two. Update to 10.half-dozen.8 using Software Update.
3. Download El Capitan here.

"I can't download an old version of Mac Bone X"

If yous 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 look it to run any OS released prior of that time, because older Apple tree Os versions merely do not include hardware drivers for your Mac.

Mac os x download

Merely as it oft happens, workarounds are possible. There is nonetheless a risk to download the installation file if you lot accept an access to a Mac (or virtual machine) running that operating system. For example, to get an installer for Panthera leo, y'all may enquire a friend who has Lion-operated Mac or, once once more, set up a virtual auto running Lion. So you will demand 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, only you lot can click Abolish and copy the file you demand. Below is the detailed instruction how to do it.

STEP iii. Install older OS X onto an external bulldoze

The following method allows y'all to download Mac Bone 10 Lion, Mount Lion, and Mavericks.

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

Now the Os should start downloading automatically onto the external bulldoze. After the download is complete, your Mac will prompt you to do a restart, just at this signal, you should completely close 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. Become to external bulldoze > Bone Ten Install Data.

Locate InstallESD.dmg disk epitome file — this is the file you demand 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 ten.12 or macOS High Sierra x.13, it is possible to revert it to the previous organization if you lot are not satisfied with the experience. You can do information technology either with Fourth dimension Machine or by creating a bootable USB or external drive.

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS High Sierra

Education todowngrade from macOS Mojave

Instruction to downgrade from macOS Catalina

Before you exercise it, the best communication is to back your Mac up and so your most important files stay intact. In addition to that, it makes sense to make clean up your Mac from old organization junk files and application leftovers. The easiest way to do it is to run CleanMyMac X on your machine (download it for costless here).

Visit your local Apple Store to download older OS Ten version

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