So, you've decided to download an older version of Mac OS Ten. At that place are many reasons that could point 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 last update. Finally, if y'all want to run a parallel re-create of Mac Os 10 on a virtual car, you too volition need a working installation file of an older Mac OS 10. Further down we'll explain where to get one and what problems you lot may face up downward the road.

A list of all Mac OS Ten versions

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

Cheetah 10.0 Puma 10.1 Jaguar 10.2
Panther 10.3 Tiger 10.4 Leopard 10.5
Snowfall Leopard 10.6 Lion x.7 Mount Lion x.8
Mavericks 10.9 Yosemite 10.10 El Capitan 10.xi
Sierra 10.12 High Sierra 10.13 Mojave 10.14
Catalina ten.15

Stride 1. Prepare your Mac for installation

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

Notation, that information technology is recommended that you lot install OS on a clean drive. Adjacent, you lot will need enough disk infinite available, for instance, to create Recovery Partition. Here are some ideas to complimentary 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

And then you can move your space hoggers onto an external bulldoze or a cloud storage.

If you aren't comfy with cleaning the Mac manually, there are some nice automatic "room cleaners". Our favorite isCleanMyMac as it's most uncomplicated to use of all. It deletes system junk, onetime broken apps, and the rest of hidden junk on your drive.

CleanMyMac X - Smart Scan complete

Download CleanMyMacfor OS ten.4 - x.8 (free version)

Download CleanMyMac for OS 10.ix (complimentary version)

Download CleanMyMacfor OS 10.ten - x.14 (costless version)

Footstep 2. Get a copy of Mac Os Ten download

Normally, information technology is causeless that updating Os is a one-style road. That'south why going back to a past Apple Os version is problematic. The master 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 Bone 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 Ten versions via the App Store

Mac operating system download


If you one time had purchased an old version of Mac Os X from the App Store, open information technology and go to the Purchased tab. There you lot'll find all the installers you lot tin download. Nonetheless, it doesn't always piece of work that way. The purchased section lists just those operating systems that you had downloaded in the past. But hither is the path to cheque it:

  1. Click the App Store icon.
  2. Click Purchases in the elevation menu.
  3. Scroll downwardly to notice 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 yous previously downloaded them from the Mac App Store.

Without App Store: Download Mac OS version every bit Apple Developer

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

Nevertheless, go on in mind that if you lot visit programmer.apple.com/downloads, y'all can only detect x.three-10.6 OS X operating systems in that location. Newer versions are not available 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 system

Apple OS Versions

You lot can purchase a boxed or email version of past Mac Os 10 straight from Apple tree. Both volition cost you around $20. For the reason of being rather antiquated, Snowfall Leopard and earlier Apple versions can but be installed from DVD.

Buy a boxed edition of Snow Leopard x.6
Become an email copy of Lion x.seven
Get an email copy of Mount Lion ten.viii

The electronic mail edition comes with a special download code you tin can apply for the Mac App Store. Note, that to install the Lion or Mountain Lion, your Mac needs to exist running Snow Leopard so y'all tin install the newer OS on top of it.

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'south possible too. But before your Mac can run El Capitan it has to exist updated to OS 10 10.6.8. So, here are main steps you lot should take:

i. Install Snow Leopard from install DVD.
2. Update to 10.6.8 using Software Update.
3. Download El Capitan hither.

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

If you take a newer Mac, in that location is no physical option 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 whatever OS released prior of that time, considering older Apple Os versions simply do not include hardware drivers for your Mac.

Mac os x download

But every bit it frequently happens, workarounds are possible. At that place is nonetheless a take a chance to download the installation file if you take an access to a Mac (or virtual motorcar) running that operating system. For example, to get an installer for Lion, you lot may enquire a friend who has King of beasts-operated Mac or, once again, ready a virtual machine running Lion. Then yous will need 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 can click Abolish and copy the file you need. Below is the detailed instruction how to do it.

STEP 3. Install older OS 10 onto an external drive

The following method allows y'all to download Mac OS X Lion, Mountain Lion, and Mavericks.

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

At present the Bone should start downloading automatically onto the external bulldoze. After the download is complete, your Mac will prompt you to do a restart, but at this signal, you should completely shut it down. 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 drive.
  2. Connect the external drive.
  3. Go to external drive > Os Ten Install Data.

Locate InstallESD.dmg disk image file — this is the file you need to reinstall Lion Os Ten. The aforementioned steps are valid for Mountain Panthera leo and Mavericks.

How to downgrade a Mac running afterward 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 y'all are not satisfied with the experience. Yous can practice it either with Time Machine or past creating a bootable USB or external bulldoze.

Didactics todowngrade from macOS Sierra

Pedagogy todowngrade from macOS High Sierra

Teaching todowngrade from macOS Mojave

Instruction to downgrade from macOS Catalina

Earlier you do it, the best advice is to dorsum your Mac up and so your most of import files stay intact. In addition to that, it makes sense to clean up your Mac from former system junk files and application leftovers. The easiest way to practise information technology is to run CleanMyMac X on your machine (download information technology for free hither).

Visit your local Apple Shop to download older Os X version

If none of the options to get older Bone X worked, pay a visit to nearest local Apple Store. They should have image installations going back to Bone Leopard and earlier. You tin can as well ask their help to create a bootable USB bulldoze with the installation file. Then here you are. We hope this article has helped you to download an old version of Mac Bone X. Below are a few more than links you may discover interesting.