So, you've decided to download an older version of Mac OS Ten. In that location are many reasons that could point you to this radical decision. To begin with, some of your apps may not be working properly (or merely crash) on newer operating systems. Too, you may take noticed your Mac'southward operation went downwards correct after the final update. Finally, if you want to run a parallel copy of Mac Bone X on a virtual car, yous likewise volition need a working installation file of an older Mac Bone X. Farther downward we'll explain where to get 1 and what problems you lot may confront down the route.

A list of all Mac OS X versions

We'll exist repeatedly referring to these Apple tree Bone versions below, so information technology's expert to know the basic macOS timeline.

Cheetah x.0 Puma 10.1 Jaguar 10.two
Panther 10.3 Tiger x.4 Leopard 10.five
Snow Leopard 10.six Lion 10.vii Mount Lion 10.8
Mavericks 10.ix Yosemite 10.10 El Capitan ten.xi
Sierra 10.12 High Sierra 10.13 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 demand enough free infinite on your Mac. This includes non just infinite for the OS itself but also space for other applications and your user information. One more argument is that the free space on your disk translates into virtual memory so your apps have "fuel" to operate on. The nautical chart below tells you how much free space is needed.

Note, that it is recommended that you install OS on a clean bulldoze. Adjacent, you will need plenty deejay space available, for instance, to create Recovery Partition. Here are some ideas to free upwards infinite on your drive:

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

Become to Finder > All My Files > Arrange by size

Then yous can move your infinite hoggers onto an external drive or a deject storage.

If you aren't comfy with cleaning the Mac manually, there are some nice automated "room cleaners". Our favorite isCleanMyMac as it's well-nigh simple to utilize of all. It deletes system junk, old broken apps, and the rest of hidden junk on your drive.

CleanMyMac X - Smart Scan complete

Download CleanMyMacfor Bone 10.4 - 10.8 (free version)

Download CleanMyMac for OS 10.9 (complimentary version)

Download CleanMyMacfor Bone 10.x - 10.fourteen (free version)

STEP 2. Get a copy of Mac OS X download

Normally, it is assumed that updating OS is a 1-way road. That's 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 exist running a newer version. If yous succeed in downloading the OS installation, your adjacent step is to create a bootable USB or DVD 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 you once had purchased an erstwhile version of Mac OS X from the App Store, open it and go to the Purchased tab. In that location yous'll observe all the installers y'all can download. Yet, it doesn't always piece of work that way. The purchased section lists merely those operating systems that you had downloaded in the past. Simply here is the path to cheque it:

  1. Click the App Shop icon.
  2. Click Purchases in the top card.
  3. Scroll down to detect the preferred OS 10 version.
  4. Click Download.

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

Without App Store: Download Mac Bone version equally Apple Developer

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

Nevertheless, keep in mind that if you visit developer.apple.com/downloads, you lot can just find 10.3-10.half dozen OS 10 operating systems at that place. Newer versions are not bachelor considering starting Mac OS X Snow Leopard ten.7, the App Store has become the only source of updating Apple OS versions.

Purchase an older version of Mac operating arrangement

Apple OS Versions

You can purchase a boxed or e-mail version of past Mac OS X directly from Apple. Both volition toll y'all around $twenty. For the reason of being rather blowsy, Snowfall Leopard and earlier Apple versions can simply exist installed from DVD.

Buy a boxed edition of Snow Leopard 10.6
Get an email copy of Lion ten.7
Get an email re-create of Mountain King of beasts 10.viii

The email edition comes with a special download code y'all can use for the Mac App Shop. Note, that to install the Panthera leo 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 can run El Capitan on an older Mac, rejoice equally information technology'south possible too. Only before your Mac can run El Capitan information technology has to exist updated to OS X 10.half dozen.8. So, hither are chief steps yous should take:

1. Install Snowfall Leopard from install DVD.
two. Update to x.six.eight using Software Update.
3. Download El Capitan here.

"I can't download an former version of Mac Os X"

If you accept a newer Mac, there is no physical selection 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 fourth dimension, considering older Apple OS versions only do not include hardware drivers for your Mac.

Mac os x download

But equally it ofttimes happens, workarounds are possible. In that location is still a take a chance to download the installation file if yous 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 ask a friend who has Lion-operated Mac or, once over again, set up upwards a virtual machine running Lion. Then y'all will need to set an external drive to download the installation file using OS 10 Utilities.

After you've completed the download, the installer should launch automatically, just y'all tin can click Cancel and re-create the file you need. Below is the detailed didactics how to practise it.

STEP 3. Install older Bone X onto an external drive

The following method allows yous to download Mac Os X Lion, Mountain King of beasts, and Mavericks.

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

At present the Bone should get-go downloading automatically onto the external drive. After the download is complete, your Mac will prompt you to do a restart, merely at this betoken, you should completely shut information technology downwardly. 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. Boot your Mac from your standard bulldoze.
  2. Connect the external drive.
  3. Become to external drive > Os X Install Data.

Locate InstallESD.dmg disk paradigm file — this is the file you need to reinstall Lion Bone 10. The same steps are valid for Mountain Panthera leo and Mavericks.

How to downgrade a Mac running subsequently macOS versions

If your Mac runs macOS Sierra 10.12 or macOS High Sierra 10.13, it is possible to revert it to the previous system if you are not satisfied with the experience. Y'all can do information technology either with Fourth dimension 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

Educational activity to downgrade from macOS Catalina

Before you do it, the best advice is to back your Mac upwards so your about of import files stay intact. In add-on to that, it makes sense to clean up your Mac from old organization junk files and application leftovers. The easiest way to practice information technology is to run CleanMyMac X on your machine (download information technology for free here).

Visit your local Apple Store to download older Bone Ten version

If none of the options to get older OS X worked, pay a visit to nearest local Apple Store. They should have epitome installations going dorsum to Bone Leopard and earlier. You can also ask their assistance to create a bootable USB drive with the installation file. And then hither you are. Nosotros promise this article has helped yous to download an old version of Mac OS X. Below are a few more than links yous may observe interesting.