So, you've decided to download an older version of Mac OS X. There are many reasons that could point y'all to this radical decision. To begin with, some of your apps may not be working properly (or only crash) on newer operating systems. Also, you may have noticed your Mac's functioning went down right after the terminal update. Finally, if you want to run a parallel copy of Mac Bone X on a virtual machine, you too volition need a working installation file of an older Mac OS X. Farther downward we'll explain where to get one and what problems yous may face down the road.

A list of all Mac OS X versions

We'll be repeatedly referring to these Apple Os versions below, so it'south good to know the bones macOS timeline.

Chetah 10.0 Puma x.i Jaguar x.2
Panther 10.3 Tiger 10.4 Leopard 10.5
Snow Leopard 10.six Lion 10.7 Mountain Lion 10.8
Mavericks 10.nine Yosemite 10.10 El Capitan ten.11
Sierra 10.12 High Sierra 10.13 Mojave 10.14
Catalina 10.fifteen

STEP 1. Set up 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 Bone itself only likewise space for other applications and your user data. I more statement is that the free space on your disk translates into virtual memory so your apps take "fuel" to operate on. The chart below tells you how much free space is needed.

Note, that information technology is recommended that you install OS on a make clean drive. Next, you will need plenty disk space available, for case, to create Recovery Segmentation. Hither are some ideas to gratis upwardly space on your drive:

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

Go to Finder > All My Files > Arrange by size

Then y'all can motion your space hoggers onto an external drive or a cloud storage.

If you lot aren't comfortable with cleaning the Mac manually, in that location are some nice automatic "room cleaners". Our favorite isCleanMyMac equally information technology's most simple to utilize of all. Information technology deletes system junk, old broken apps, and the residue of hidden junk on your drive.

CleanMyMac X - Smart Scan complete

Download CleanMyMacfor Os 10.four - 10.8 (gratis version)

Download CleanMyMac for Bone x.9 (complimentary version)

Download CleanMyMacfor OS 10.10 - 10.14 (free version)

STEP 2. Get a copy of Mac OS X download

Normally, information technology is assumed that updating OS is a one-way road. That's why going back to a past Apple 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 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 lot in one case had purchased an old version of Mac Os Ten from the App Store, open it and go to the Purchased tab. In that location y'all'll observe all the installers yous tin download. However, information technology doesn't ever work that way. The purchased section lists only those operating systems that you had downloaded in the past. Only hither is the path to cheque information technology:

  1. Click the App Store icon.
  2. Click Purchases in the acme card.
  3. Scroll down to discover the preferred Os X version.
  4. Click Download.

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

Without App Store: Download Mac OS version as Apple Developer

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

All the same, keep in listen that if you lot visit programmer.apple.com/downloads, you can only find 10.three-ten.6 OS X operating systems there. Newer versions are not bachelor because starting Mac OS X Snow Leopard ten.vii, the App Shop has become the just source of updating Apple OS versions.

Purchase an older version of Mac operating system

Apple OS Versions

Yous can purchase a boxed or e-mail version of past Mac OS X directly from Apple. Both will cost you effectually $20. For the reason of existence rather antiquated, Snow Leopard and earlier Apple versions can only exist installed from DVD.

Buy a boxed edition of Snow Leopard 10.6
Go an e-mail copy of King of beasts 10.7
Become an email copy of Mountain Lion x.8

The e-mail edition comes with a special download code yous can use for the Mac App Store. Annotation, that to install the Panthera leo or Mountain Panthera leo, your Mac needs to be running Snow Leopard so you can install the newer OS on top of information technology.

How to go macOS El Capitan download

If you are wondering if yous can run El Capitan on an older Mac, rejoice equally information technology'south possible besides. Merely before your Mac tin can run El Capitan it has to exist updated to Os X 10.6.8. So, here are main steps you should accept:

1. Install Snow Leopard from install DVD.
ii. Update to 10.vi.eight using Software Update.
3. Download El Capitan hither.

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

If you take a newer Mac, there is no physical option to install Mac Bone 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 simply do not include hardware drivers for your Mac.

Mac os x download

But as it often happens, workarounds are possible. In that location is still a adventure to download the installation file if you have an access to a Mac (or virtual automobile) running that operating arrangement. For example, to get an installer for King of beasts, y'all may enquire a friend who has Lion-operated Mac or, once again, set up a virtual machine running Panthera leo. And so you volition need to gear up an external bulldoze to download the installation file using Os 10 Utilities.

After you've completed the download, the installer should launch automatically, simply you can click Cancel and copy the file y'all need. Below is the detailed educational activity how to do it.

Footstep three. Install older OS X onto an external bulldoze

The following method allows you to download Mac Bone X Lion, Mountain Panthera leo, and Mavericks.

  1. Start your Mac holding down Command + R.
  2. Prepare a make clean external drive (at to the lowest degree x GB of storage).
  3. Within Bone 10 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 outset downloading automatically onto the external bulldoze. After the download is complete, your Mac will prompt yous to exercise a restart, but at this bespeak, you should completely shut it down. Now that the installation file is "captured" onto your external drive, you tin 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 deejay image file — this is the file you demand to reinstall King of beasts OS X. The same steps are valid for Mount Lion 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 it either with Time Machine or by creating a bootable USB or external drive.

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS High Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Mojave

Teaching to downgrade from macOS Catalina

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

Visit your local Apple Store 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 take image installations going back to OS Leopard and before. Y'all can as well ask their assistance to create a bootable USB drive with the installation file. So here you are. We promise this article has helped you to download an old version of Mac Os X. Beneath are a few more links you lot may observe interesting.