Then, you've decided to download an older version of Mac OS X. There are many reasons that could point you to this radical decision. To begin with, some of your apps may not exist working properly (or simply crash) on newer operating systems. Also, you may have noticed your Mac's performance went downwardly right afterward the last update. Finally, if y'all desire to run a parallel copy of Mac OS Ten on a virtual auto, you too will demand a working installation file of an older Mac OS 10. Further down we'll explain where to get 1 and what problems you may confront downwards the road.

A list of all Mac OS Ten versions

We'll exist repeatedly referring to these Apple OS versions below, and then it'south practiced to know the basic macOS timeline.

Cheetah 10.0 Puma 10.ane Jaguar 10.2
Panther x.three Tiger 10.4 Leopard 10.five
Snow Leopard 10.6 Lion 10.seven Mountain King of beasts ten.8
Mavericks 10.9 Yosemite 10.10 El Capitan 10.11
Sierra 10.12 High Sierra 10.13 Mojave 10.fourteen
Catalina x.15

STEP 1. Prepare your Mac for installation

Given your Mac isn't new and is filled with data, you volition probably demand enough gratuitous space on your Mac. This includes not just space for the OS itself merely as well space for other applications and your user data. One more statement is that the complimentary infinite on your disk translates into virtual memory then your apps have "fuel" to operate on. The chart below tells yous how much free space is needed.

Note, that it is recommended that y'all install OS on a clean drive. Next, you volition need enough disk space bachelor, for case, to create Recovery Sectionalisation. Here are some ideas to free 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

And so you can motility your infinite hoggers onto an external bulldoze or a cloud storage.

If you aren't comfortable with cleaning the Mac manually, there are some nice automatic "room cleaners". Our favorite isCleanMyMac every bit it's nigh uncomplicated to utilise of all. It deletes system junk, quondam cleaved apps, and the rest of hidden junk on your drive.

CleanMyMac X - Smart Scan complete

Download CleanMyMacfor OS 10.4 - 10.8 (free version)

Download CleanMyMac for OS 10.9 (complimentary version)

Download CleanMyMacfor OS 10.10 - 10.14 (complimentary version)

Step 2. Become a copy of Mac OS X download

Normally, it is assumed that updating OS is a i-style road. That's why going back to a by Apple tree OS version is problematic. The main challenge is to download the OS installation file itself, because your Mac may already be running a newer version. If you succeed in downloading the OS installation, your next step is to create a bootable USB or DVD and and 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 once had purchased an former version of Mac OS X from the App Store, open up information technology and become to the Purchased tab. In that location yous'll notice all the installers you can download. Even so, information technology doesn't always work that way. The purchased section lists but those operating systems that y'all had downloaded in the past. Simply hither is the path to check it:

  1. Click the App Store icon.
  2. Click Purchases in the top menu.
  3. Scroll down to detect the preferred Bone 10 version.
  4. Click Download.

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

Without App Store: Download Mac Os version as Apple Programmer

If you lot are signed with an Apple Developer account, you can get access to products that are no longer listed on the App Shop. If you desperately need a lower Bone 10 version build, consider creating a new Developer account among other options. The membership price is $99/year and provides a bunch of perks unavailable to ordinary users.

Nonetheless, keep in mind that if you visit programmer.apple.com/downloads, y'all tin can only find ten.3-10.6 OS Ten operating systems there. Newer versions are not available because starting Mac Os X Snow Leopard 10.7, 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 purchase a boxed or email version of past Mac Bone Ten directly from Apple. Both volition toll you around $20. For the reason of beingness rather antiquated, Snow Leopard and earlier Apple tree versions can only exist installed from DVD.

Buy a boxed edition of Snowfall Leopard 10.6
Get an email copy of Lion 10.seven
Get an e-mail copy of Mountain Lion ten.8

The email edition comes with a special download code yous can apply for the Mac App Store. Note, that to install the Panthera leo or Mountain Lion, your Mac needs to exist running Snow Leopard then you can install the newer OS on top of information technology.

How to become macOS El Capitan download

If y'all are wondering if you can run El Capitan on an older Mac, rejoice as it's possible as well. Just before your Mac tin run El Capitan it has to be updated to Bone Ten 10.vi.8. So, here are main steps y'all should take:

1. Install Snowfall Leopard from install DVD.
2. Update to ten.6.eight using Software Update.
three. Download El Capitan here.

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

If you lot accept a newer Mac, there is no physical selection to install Mac OS versions older than your current Mac model. For instance, if your MacBook was released in 2014, don't wait it to run any Bone released prior of that fourth dimension, because older Apple Bone versions simply practise non include hardware drivers for your Mac.

Mac os x download

But equally it oft happens, workarounds are possible. There is however a chance to download the installation file if yous have an access to a Mac (or virtual motorcar) running that operating system. For example, to go an installer for Lion, you may ask a friend who has Lion-operated Mac or, once again, set up a virtual machine running King of beasts. And so yous volition need to prepare an external drive to download the installation file using OS X Utilities.

After y'all've completed the download, the installer should launch automatically, but you lot can click Cancel and copy the file you need. Beneath is the detailed teaching how to exercise it.

STEP 3. Install older OS Ten onto an external drive

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

  1. Start your Mac belongings down Command + R.
  2. Prepare a clean external drive (at least 10 GB of storage).
  3. Within OS X Utilities, choose Reinstall OS Ten.
  4. Select external bulldoze equally 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. After the download is complete, your Mac will prompt yous to do a restart, simply at this point, y'all should completely shut information technology downward. Now that the installation file is "captured" onto your external drive, yous tin can reinstall the OS, this time running the file on your Mac.

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

Locate InstallESD.dmg disk prototype file — this is the file you need to reinstall King of beasts Os 10. The aforementioned steps are valid for Mount Panthera leo and Mavericks.

How to downgrade a Mac running later macOS versions

If your Mac runs macOS Sierra 10.12 or macOS High Sierra x.13, information technology is possible to revert it to the previous system if yous are not satisfied with the experience. Y'all tin can do it either with Fourth dimension Motorcar or by creating a bootable USB or external drive.

Educational activity todowngrade from macOS Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Loftier Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Mojave

Instruction to downgrade from macOS Catalina

Before you do it, the best advice is to back your Mac up and so your nearly important files stay intact. In improver to that, information technology makes sense to clean up your Mac from old system junk files and application leftovers. The easiest style to do it is to run CleanMyMac 10 on your machine (download information technology for free here).

Visit your local Apple Shop to download older Bone X version

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