And then, yous've decided to download an older version of Mac Bone X. There are many reasons that could indicate you 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 have noticed your Mac's performance went down right after the final 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 X. Further down we'll explain where to get i and what issues you may face downward the road.

A list of all Mac Bone 10 versions

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

Chetah 10.0 Puma 10.1 Jaguar 10.2
Panther 10.3 Tiger 10.4 Leopard 10.5
Snow Leopard x.6 King of beasts ten.7 Mountain Lion 10.viii
Mavericks ten.9 Yosemite x.10 El Capitan 10.eleven
Sierra 10.12 High Sierra ten.13 Mojave ten.fourteen
Catalina 10.xv

STEP i. Prepare your Mac for installation

Given your Mac isn't new and is filled with data, you will probably need enough free space on your Mac. This includes not just space for the OS itself but also space for other applications and your user data. One more argument is that the free space on your disk translates into virtual retentiveness so your apps accept "fuel" to operate on. The chart below tells yous how much free space is needed.

Annotation, that it is recommended that y'all install OS on a clean drive. Next, yous will need enough disk space available, for instance, to create Recovery Partition. Here are some ideas to free upwards 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 > Suit by size

So yous tin move your space hoggers onto an external drive or a cloud storage.

If you lot aren't comfy with cleaning the Mac manually, in that location are some nice automatic "room cleaners". Our favorite isCleanMyMac every bit it's nigh 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.iv - 10.8 (free version)

Download CleanMyMac for OS 10.ix (gratuitous version)

Download CleanMyMacfor Bone 10.ten - 10.xiv (complimentary version)

Footstep 2. Get a re-create of Mac OS 10 download

Normally, it is assumed that updating Bone is a one-way road. That's why going back to a by Apple OS version is problematic. The master claiming is to download the OS installation file itself, considering your Mac may already exist running a newer version. If y'all succeed in downloading the Os installation, your next footstep is to create a bootable USB or DVD and so reinstall the OS on your computer.

How to download older Mac Os Ten versions via the App Store

Mac operating system download


If you once had purchased an sometime version of Mac OS Ten from the App Store, open information technology and go to the Purchased tab. There you'll find all the installers you can download. Yet, it doesn't always work that manner. The purchased section lists only those operating systems that you had downloaded in the by. But here is the path to check it:

  1. Click the App Shop icon.
  2. Click Purchases in the acme menu.
  3. Coil down to detect the preferred OS X 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 Bone version every bit Apple Programmer

If you are signed with an Apple Programmer business relationship, you tin go access to products that are no longer listed on the App Store. If yous desperately need a lower OS X 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, go along in mind that if you visit developer.apple tree.com/downloads, you can only notice x.three-10.half-dozen Os X operating systems in that location. Newer versions are non available considering starting Mac OS 10 Snowfall Leopard 10.seven, the App Store has become the only source of updating Apple tree Os versions.

Purchase an older version of Mac operating system

Apple OS Versions

You can buy a boxed or electronic mail version of past Mac OS X direct from Apple. Both volition cost you around $20. For the reason of being rather antiquated, Snowfall Leopard and before Apple versions tin can only be installed from DVD.

Buy a boxed edition of Snow Leopard 10.6
Become an email copy of King of beasts 10.7
Get an email re-create of Mountain Lion ten.eight

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

How to get macOS El Capitan download

If you lot are wondering if you can run El Capitan on an older Mac, rejoice equally it'due south possible as well. Just before your Mac tin run El Capitan it has to exist updated to Bone X 10.6.eight. And so, here are main steps you should accept:

i. Install Snowfall Leopard from install DVD.
2. Update to ten.6.8 using Software Update.
three. Download El Capitan here.

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

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

Mac os x download

But equally information technology often happens, workarounds are possible. There is however a chance to download the installation file if you accept an access to a Mac (or virtual machine) running that operating organization. For example, to get an installer for Lion, you may inquire a friend who has Lion-operated Mac or, over again, set up a virtual automobile running Lion. Then you volition need to prepare an external drive to download the installation file using Os Ten Utilities.

Later you've completed the download, the installer should launch automatically, but you lot can click Cancel and copy the file yous need. Beneath is the detailed instruction how to practise it.

STEP 3. Install older Bone X onto an external bulldoze

The following method allows you to download Mac OS Ten Lion, Mountain King of beasts, and Mavericks.

  1. Start your Mac holding down Command + R.
  2. Set up 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 ID.
How to download old Mac OS X versions

Now the Bone should kickoff downloading automatically onto the external drive. After the download is complete, your Mac volition prompt you to exercise a restart, just at this betoken, you lot should completely shut information technology down. Now that the installation file is "captured" onto your external drive, y'all can reinstall the OS, this time running the file on your Mac.

  1. Boot your Mac from your standard drive.
  2. Connect the external drive.
  3. Get to external bulldoze > Bone X Install Data.

Locate InstallESD.dmg disk epitome file — this is the file y'all demand to reinstall Lion OS X. The same steps are valid for Mountain Lion and Mavericks.

How to downgrade a Mac running afterward macOS versions

If your Mac runs macOS Sierra 10.12 or macOS High Sierra ten.thirteen, it is possible to revert information technology to the previous organisation if you are non satisfied with the experience. You can exercise it either with Time Machine 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

Before y'all do it, the best advice is to back your Mac up so your most of import files stay intact. In improver to that, it makes sense to make clean up your Mac from former system junk files and application leftovers. The easiest way to do it is to run CleanMyMac 10 on your machine (download it for gratis hither).

Visit your local Apple tree 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 Bone Leopard and earlier. Yous tin can also ask their assist to create a bootable USB bulldoze with the installation file. So hither you lot are. Nosotros promise this article has helped y'all to download an old version of Mac OS X. Below are a few more links y'all may notice interesting.