Then, you've decided to download an older version of Mac Bone X. There 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 afterwards the last update. Finally, if you desire to run a parallel copy of Mac Bone 10 on a virtual machine, you as well will need a working installation file of an older Mac Bone X. Further down we'll explain where to get one and what problems you lot may face downwardly the road.

A listing of all Mac Bone 10 versions

We'll be repeatedly referring to these Apple tree Os versions below, and then it's adept to know the bones macOS timeline.

Cheetah ten.0 Puma ten.i Jaguar x.2
Panther 10.3 Tiger 10.iv Leopard x.5
Snow Leopard 10.six Lion x.seven Mountain Lion 10.8
Mavericks x.9 Yosemite 10.ten El Capitan 10.11
Sierra 10.12 High Sierra 10.thirteen Mojave ten.14
Catalina ten.15

Pace 1. Gear up your Mac for installation

Given your Mac isn't new and is filled with data, you will probably need enough costless space on your Mac. This includes not just space for the Os itself only too space for other applications and your user data. I more argument is that the gratuitous infinite on your disk translates into virtual memory then your apps have "fuel" to operate on. The nautical chart below tells you how much gratuitous infinite is needed.

Note, that it is recommended that you install OS on a make clean bulldoze. Next, you lot volition need enough disk space available, for instance, to create Recovery Partition. Hither 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 estimator:

Become to Finder > All My Files > Arrange by size

And so you can move your space hoggers onto an external drive or a cloud storage.

If you aren't comfy with cleaning the Mac manually, in that location are some nice automatic "room cleaners". Our favorite isCleanMyMac equally it'south most simple to use of all. It deletes system junk, old broken apps, and the rest of hidden junk on your bulldoze.

CleanMyMac X - Smart Scan complete

Download CleanMyMacfor Bone 10.4 - 10.eight (complimentary version)

Download CleanMyMac for OS 10.9 (free version)

Download CleanMyMacfor OS 10.10 - ten.14 (complimentary version)

Pace 2. Get a copy of Mac Os 10 download

Unremarkably, information technology is assumed that updating Bone is a one-way road. That'southward why going back to a past Apple Os version is problematic. The principal claiming is to download the Os installation file itself, because your Mac may already be running a newer version. If you lot succeed in downloading the Bone installation, your adjacent footstep 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 former version of Mac OS X from the App Store, open it and get to the Purchased tab. In that location yous'll find all the installers you tin download. Yet, information technology doesn't always work that way. The purchased section lists only those operating systems that you lot had downloaded in the past. But here is the path to bank check it:

  1. Click the App Store icon.
  2. Click Purchases in the elevation menu.
  3. Coil downwards to find the preferred OS Ten version.
  4. Click Download.

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

Without App Shop: Download Mac Os version as Apple Developer

If you are signed with an Apple Developer business relationship, you can get access to products that are no longer listed on the App Store. If you desperately demand a lower Bone 10 version build, consider creating a new Developer account amongst other options. The membership cost is $99/yr and provides a agglomeration of perks unavailable to ordinary users.

Nevertheless, keep in mind that if y'all visit developer.apple.com/downloads, yous can merely find 10.3-x.six Os X operating systems there. Newer versions are not available because starting Mac Bone 10 Snowfall Leopard ten.7, the App Store has become the just source of updating Apple Os versions.

Buy an older version of Mac operating system

Apple OS Versions

You can buy a boxed or email version of past Mac Bone X directly from Apple. Both will cost you around $20. For the reason of being rather antiquated, Snow Leopard and before Apple tree versions can merely be installed from DVD.

Buy a boxed edition of Snow Leopard 10.6
Get an electronic mail copy of Panthera leo 10.vii
Get an email re-create of Mountain King of beasts 10.8

The email edition comes with a special download lawmaking you tin can use for the Mac App Store. Note, that to install the King of beasts or Mount King of beasts, your Mac needs to be running Snow Leopard and so y'all can install the newer Os on top of it.

How to get macOS El Capitan download

If yous are wondering if you can run El Capitan on an older Mac, rejoice as it'south possible too. Only before your Mac can run El Capitan it has to be updated to Os X 10.6.eight. So, here are master steps you should take:

i. Install Snow Leopard from install DVD.
2. Update to x.half dozen.viii using Software Update.
iii. Download El Capitan here.

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

If yous have a newer Mac, in that location is no physical selection to install Mac Bone versions older than your current Mac model. For instance, if your MacBook was released in 2014, don't look it to run any OS released prior of that fourth dimension, because older Apple tree Bone versions only do not include hardware drivers for your Mac.

Mac os x download

But as it often happens, workarounds are possible. There is even so a hazard to download the installation file if you have an access to a Mac (or virtual machine) running that operating organisation. For example, to get an installer for Lion, you may inquire a friend who has Panthera leo-operated Mac or, in one case again, set up a virtual automobile running Lion. And so y'all will need to set up an external drive to download the installation file using OS X Utilities.

After you've completed the download, the installer should launch automatically, just you can click Cancel and copy the file you need. Below is the detailed instruction how to do it.

STEP 3. Install older OS X onto an external drive

The post-obit method allows yous to download Mac OS X Lion, Mountain Lion, and Mavericks.

  1. Start your Mac holding downwards Command + R.
  2. Prepare a clean external bulldoze (at least 10 GB of storage).
  3. Inside OS 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 OS should start downloading automatically onto the external bulldoze. Afterward the download is consummate, your Mac will prompt you to practise a restart, but at this point, you should completely shut information technology down. At present 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 drive > Bone X Install Data.

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

How to downgrade a Mac running later on macOS versions

If your Mac runs macOS Sierra x.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 feel. You can exercise information technology either with Time Machine or by creating a bootable USB or external drive.

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS High Sierra

Education todowngrade from macOS Mojave

Instruction to downgrade from macOS Catalina

Before you do it, the all-time advice is to back your Mac up so your most important files stay intact. In addition to that, it makes sense to clean up your Mac from one-time system junk files and application leftovers. The easiest way to do it is to run CleanMyMac X on your machine (download information technology for free here).

Visit your local Apple Shop to download older OS Ten version

If none of the options to get older OS X worked, pay a visit to nearest local Apple tree Store. They should have image installations going dorsum to Os Leopard and earlier. You tin likewise ask their assist to create a bootable USB drive with the installation file. And so here you are. Nosotros hope this article has helped y'all to download an quondam version of Mac Os Ten. Below are a few more than links you may find interesting.