So, you've decided to download an older version of Mac Os Ten. There are many reasons that could point you lot to this radical decision. To begin with, some of your apps may non exist working properly (or simply crash) on newer operating systems. Too, you may have noticed your Mac'southward performance went downwards correct after the last update. Finally, if you want to run a parallel copy of Mac OS X on a virtual machine, you also will need a working installation file of an older Mac Os 10. Farther down we'll explicate where to get one and what problems y'all may confront down the route.

A list of all Mac Bone X versions

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

Cheetah x.0 Puma 10.1 Jaguar 10.two
Panther x.3 Tiger 10.4 Leopard 10.5
Snow Leopard ten.vi Lion 10.vii Mount Panthera leo 10.eight
Mavericks ten.9 Yosemite 10.10 El Capitan ten.11
Sierra 10.12 Loftier Sierra x.thirteen Mojave 10.14
Catalina 10.15

STEP i. Set up your Mac for installation

Given your Mac isn't new and is filled with data, you will probably demand enough gratuitous space on your Mac. This includes not simply space for the OS itself but as well space for other applications and your user data. Ane more argument is that the costless infinite on your disk translates into virtual retentivity and then your apps take "fuel" to operate on. The nautical chart below tells you how much free infinite is needed.

Notation, that it is recommended that you install OS on a clean drive. Next, you lot will need plenty deejay space available, for example, to create Recovery Partition. Here are some ideas to gratis up space on your bulldoze:

  • 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 you can move your space hoggers onto an external drive or a deject storage.

If you aren't comfy with cleaning the Mac manually, at that place are some prissy automatic "room cleaners". Our favorite isCleanMyMac every bit it's most simple to apply of all. It deletes system junk, old cleaved apps, and the rest of hidden junk on your drive.

CleanMyMac X - Smart Scan complete

Download CleanMyMacfor Os 10.4 - 10.8 (complimentary version)

Download CleanMyMac for OS 10.9 (free version)

Download CleanMyMacfor OS 10.10 - ten.14 (free version)

Stride 2. Get a copy of Mac Bone X download

Unremarkably, it is assumed that updating OS is a ane-fashion road. That'southward why going back to a past Apple tree Os version is problematic. The primary challenge is to download the OS installation file itself, considering your Mac may already exist running a newer version. If you succeed in downloading the Bone installation, your next footstep is to create a bootable USB or DVD and so reinstall the Bone 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 OS X from the App Store, open it and become to the Purchased tab. At that place you lot'll find all the installers you can download. However, information technology doesn't always work that way. The purchased section lists only those operating systems that yous 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. Ringlet down to observe the preferred Bone 10 version.
  4. Click Download.

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

Without App Store: Download Mac Os version equally Apple tree Developer

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

Nevertheless, continue in listen that if y'all visit developer.apple.com/downloads, you lot can only discover ten.3-10.6 OS X operating systems there. Newer versions are not bachelor because starting Mac Os Ten Snow Leopard 10.7, the App Store has become the only source of updating Apple Os versions.

Purchase an older version of Mac operating organization

Apple OS Versions

You tin can purchase a boxed or e-mail version of by Mac Os 10 direct from Apple. Both will cost you around $20. For the reason of being rather antiquated, Snow Leopard and before Apple tree versions tin can only exist installed from DVD.

Buy a boxed edition of Snow Leopard 10.6
Become an e-mail copy of Lion 10.7
Get an email copy of Mountain Panthera leo 10.viii

The email edition comes with a special download lawmaking you can use for the Mac App Shop. Note, that to install the Lion or Mountain Lion, your Mac needs to be running Snowfall Leopard and so you lot can install the newer Os on top of information technology.

How to get macOS El Capitan download

If you are wondering if you tin can run El Capitan on an older Mac, rejoice as it's possible as well. But earlier your Mac can run El Capitan it has to be updated to OS X 10.6.eight. Then, here are main steps yous should accept:

1. Install Snow Leopard from install DVD.
ii. Update to ten.half dozen.8 using Software Update.
3. Download El Capitan here.

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

If you have a newer Mac, in that location is no concrete choice to install Mac Os versions older than your current Mac model. For example, if your MacBook was released in 2014, don't expect it to run whatever Bone released prior of that time, because older Apple tree OS versions simply practice non include hardware drivers for your Mac.

Mac os x download

But as it ofttimes happens, workarounds are possible. There is yet a hazard to download the installation file if you take an access to a Mac (or virtual machine) running that operating organisation. For case, to get an installer for Lion, y'all may inquire a friend who has Lion-operated Mac or, again, fix a virtual machine running Panthera leo. And so you will need to prepare an external drive to download the installation file using Bone Ten Utilities.

Afterward you've completed the download, the installer should launch automatically, simply you can click Abolish and copy the file you need. Below is the detailed instruction how to do it.

Stride 3. Install older OS 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 Command + R.
  2. Ready a clean external drive (at least 10 GB of storage).
  3. Within OS X Utilities, choose Reinstall Os 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 start downloading automatically onto the external drive. Afterward the download is complete, your Mac will prompt you to do a restart, but at this indicate, you should completely shut information technology downwards. At present that the installation file is "captured" onto your external drive, you can reinstall the OS, this time running the file on your Mac.

  1. Kicking 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 lot demand 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 x.12 or macOS Loftier Sierra ten.13, it is possible to revert it to the previous organisation if y'all are non satisfied with the experience. You can do it either with Time Automobile or past creating a bootable USB or external bulldoze.

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS High Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Mojave

Instruction to downgrade from macOS Catalina

Earlier you exercise it, the best advice is to back your Mac upwardly so your most important files stay intact. In add-on to that, it makes sense to clean up your Mac from sometime system junk files and application 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 tree Store to download older Os 10 version

If none of the options to become older Bone 10 worked, pay a visit to nearest local Apple tree Store. They should accept image installations going back to OS Leopard and earlier. You can also enquire their assist to create a bootable USB drive with the installation file. So here you are. We hope this article has helped yous to download an old version of Mac OS X. Below are a few more than links you lot may find interesting.