Then, you've decided to download an older version of Mac OS Ten. 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 just crash) on newer operating systems. Also, you lot may accept noticed your Mac's performance went downwardly right later on the last update. Finally, if you lot want to run a parallel re-create of Mac Os X on a virtual machine, yous besides will need a working installation file of an older Mac Os X. Further down we'll explicate where to get 1 and what problems yous may face down the road.

A listing of all Mac Os 10 versions

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

Cheetah ten.0 Puma x.one Jaguar 10.ii
Panther 10.3 Tiger 10.4 Leopard x.five
Snowfall Leopard ten.6 King of beasts ten.vii Mountain Lion ten.viii
Mavericks x.ix Yosemite ten.10 El Capitan x.xi
Sierra 10.12 High Sierra 10.xiii Mojave x.14
Catalina 10.xv

Pace 1. Gear up your Mac for installation

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

Note, that it is recommended that you install OS on a clean bulldoze. Next, you will demand plenty disk space available, for instance, to create Recovery Partition. 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 estimator:

Go to Finder > All My Files > Conform by size

Then you can move your infinite hoggers onto an external bulldoze or a cloud storage.

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

CleanMyMac X - Smart Scan complete

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

Download CleanMyMac for OS 10.ix (complimentary version)

Download CleanMyMacfor Bone x.10 - 10.14 (free version)

Step 2. Get a re-create of Mac Bone 10 download

Normally, information technology is causeless that updating OS is a one-style road. That's why going back to a past Apple OS version is problematic. The chief challenge is to download the Bone installation file itself, because your Mac may already be running a newer version. If y'all succeed in downloading the OS installation, your next footstep is to create a bootable USB or DVD then reinstall the Bone on your reckoner.

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

Mac operating system download


If y'all in one case had purchased an old 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. However, it doesn't e'er piece of work that way. The purchased section lists but those operating systems that you had downloaded in the by. Just hither is the path to check it:

  1. Click the App Store icon.
  2. Click Purchases in the top menu.
  3. Curlicue downward to find the preferred OS Ten 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 Store.

Without App Shop: Download Mac Os version as Apple tree Developer

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

Nevertheless, continue in mind that if y'all visit developer.apple.com/downloads, yous can just find 10.3-10.6 Os Ten operating systems at that place. Newer versions are non bachelor considering starting Mac Os X Snow Leopard 10.seven, the App Shop has become the simply source of updating Apple Os versions.

Purchase an older version of Mac operating arrangement

Apple OS Versions

You can purchase a boxed or email version of past Mac Os X directly from Apple. Both will toll you lot around $20. For the reason of being rather blowsy, Snow Leopard and earlier Apple tree versions can only be installed from DVD.

Buy a boxed edition of Snow Leopard x.vi
Go an email copy of Lion 10.7
Get an email re-create of Mountain Lion ten.8

The electronic mail edition comes with a special download code you can use for the Mac App Store. Note, that to install the Panthera leo or Mountain King of beasts, your Mac needs to be running Snow Leopard so you can install the newer Bone 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's possible too. Just earlier your Mac can run El Capitan it has to be updated to OS X x.six.8. So, hither are main steps you should take:

i. Install Snow Leopard from install DVD.
two. Update to 10.vi.8 using Software Update.
3. Download El Capitan hither.

"I tin't download an sometime version of Mac Bone 10"

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

Mac os x download

Merely as it often happens, workarounds are possible. There is yet a chance to download the installation file if you accept an access to a Mac (or virtual machine) running that operating system. For example, to go an installer for King of beasts, you may ask a friend who has Lion-operated Mac or, one time over again, ready a virtual machine running Panthera leo. So you volition demand to prepare an external drive to download the installation file using OS 10 Utilities.

Afterward you lot've completed the download, the installer should launch automatically, but y'all can click Abolish and copy the file you need. Below is the detailed pedagogy how to do information technology.

STEP 3. Install older OS X onto an external bulldoze

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

  1. Start your Mac holding downwardly Control + R.
  2. Fix a clean external bulldoze (at least ten 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 OS should start downloading automatically onto the external drive. Afterward the download is complete, your Mac will prompt yous to do a restart, just at this betoken, you should completely shut information technology down. Now that the installation file is "captured" onto your external bulldoze, you lot 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 bulldoze > Bone X Install Data.

Locate InstallESD.dmg disk image file — this is the file you need to reinstall Lion OS X. The same steps are valid for Mountain Lion and Mavericks.

How to downgrade a Mac running afterwards macOS versions

If your Mac runs macOS Sierra x.12 or macOS High Sierra x.13, it is possible to revert it to the previous arrangement if y'all are not satisfied with the experience. You lot can practise it either with Time Machine or past creating a bootable USB or external drive.

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Loftier Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Mojave

Pedagogy to downgrade from macOS Catalina

Before you do it, the best advice is to back your Mac up and then your almost important files stay intact. In addition to that, it makes sense to clean up your Mac from quondam system junk files and application leftovers. The easiest way to do it is to run CleanMyMac X on your motorcar (download information technology for costless here).

Visit your local Apple Store to download older Os X version

If none of the options to get older OS X worked, pay a visit to nearest local Apple Store. They should have image installations going back to Os Leopard and earlier. Yous tin besides ask their assistance to create a bootable USB drive with the installation file. So here you are. We hope this article has helped yous to download an old version of Mac OS X. Below are a few more links you lot may find interesting.