Then, you've decided to download an older version of Mac OS Ten. There are many reasons that could point you lot to this radical conclusion. To begin with, some of your apps may not be working properly (or simply crash) on newer operating systems. Too, yous may have noticed your Mac'due south operation went down right afterwards the last update. Finally, if you want to run a parallel copy of Mac OS X on a virtual car, yous too will demand a working installation file of an older Mac Bone X. Further downwardly nosotros'll explain where to become one and what bug you lot may face up down the road.

A list of all Mac OS X versions

We'll be repeatedly referring to these Apple OS versions below, and so information technology's expert to know the basic macOS timeline.

Chetah 10.0 Puma 10.1 Jaguar 10.2
Panther ten.3 Tiger ten.4 Leopard 10.five
Snowfall Leopard 10.half-dozen King of beasts x.7 Mount Lion ten.8
Mavericks 10.ix Yosemite 10.10 El Capitan x.11
Sierra 10.12 Loftier Sierra x.thirteen Mojave 10.14
Catalina 10.15

STEP 1. Gear up your Mac for installation

Given your Mac isn't new and is filled with data, you volition probably need plenty gratuitous space on your Mac. This includes not simply infinite for the OS itself but also space for other applications and your user data. I more argument is that the free space on your disk translates into virtual retentiveness so your apps have "fuel" to operate on. The chart beneath tells yous how much complimentary space is needed.

Annotation, that information technology is recommended that y'all install OS on a clean drive. Next, you will demand enough disk space available, for example, to create Recovery Partitioning. Here are some ideas to free up infinite on your drive:

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

Go to Finder > All My Files > Adjust by size

And then yous can movement your space hoggers onto an external drive or a cloud storage.

If you aren't comfortable with cleaning the Mac manually, in that location are some nice automatic "room cleaners". Our favorite isCleanMyMac every bit it's most simple to utilise of all. It deletes organisation junk, onetime broken apps, and the rest of hidden junk on your bulldoze.

CleanMyMac X - Smart Scan complete

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

Download CleanMyMac for OS 10.9 (gratuitous version)

Download CleanMyMacfor OS 10.10 - x.14 (costless version)

Stride 2. Get a copy of Mac OS 10 download

Normally, information technology is assumed that updating Bone is a one-style road. That's why going back to a past Apple tree Bone version is problematic. The main claiming is to download the Os installation file itself, because your Mac may already be running a newer version. If yous succeed in downloading the Os installation, your next step is to create a bootable USB or DVD and then reinstall the OS on your estimator.

How to download older Mac Bone X versions via the App Shop

Mac operating system download


If yous in one case had purchased an old version of Mac Os 10 from the App Store, open it and get to the Purchased tab. There yous'll discover all the installers you tin can download. However, information technology doesn't e'er work that fashion. The purchased department lists only those operating systems that y'all had downloaded in the by. Merely here is the path to check it:

  1. Click the App Store icon.
  2. Click Purchases in the top carte.
  3. Scroll down to notice the preferred Bone X version.
  4. Click Download.

This method allows you to download Mavericks and Yosemite past logging with your Apple tree ID — but 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 business relationship, y'all can get admission to products that are no longer listed on the App Store. If you desperately need a lower OS X version build, consider creating a new Programmer account amid other options. The membership cost is $99/twelvemonth and provides a bunch of perks unavailable to ordinary users.

Nevertheless, proceed in heed that if yous visit developer.apple.com/downloads, y'all can only observe 10.3-10.vi OS X operating systems there. Newer versions are not bachelor considering starting Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.7, the App Shop has go the only source of updating Apple OS versions.

Buy an older version of Mac operating system

Apple OS Versions

Yous can buy a boxed or email version of past Mac OS X directly from Apple. Both will price you around $20. For the reason of being rather antiquated, Snowfall Leopard and earlier Apple versions can simply be installed from DVD.

Buy a boxed edition of Snow Leopard 10.half dozen
Go an email copy of King of beasts 10.7
Get an email copy of Mountain King of beasts 10.8

The email edition comes with a special download lawmaking you can use for the Mac App Shop. Note, that to install the Lion or Mountain Lion, your Mac needs to exist running Snow Leopard so you tin can install the newer Os on top of it.

How to get macOS El Capitan download

If you are wondering if you can run El Capitan on an older Mac, rejoice as it'southward possible likewise. Just before your Mac can run El Capitan it has to be updated to OS X 10.6.viii. Then, hither are main steps you should take:

i. Install Snowfall Leopard from install DVD.
2. Update to x.6.8 using Software Update.
3. Download El Capitan hither.

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

If you lot have a newer Mac, there is no physical option to install Mac OS 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 Bone versions only do non include hardware drivers for your Mac.

Mac os x download

Merely as it often happens, workarounds are possible. In that location is nonetheless a take chances to download the installation file if y'all accept an admission to a Mac (or virtual machine) running that operating system. For example, to get an installer for Lion, you lot may ask a friend who has Lion-operated Mac or, once again, set a virtual automobile running Panthera leo. Then you will demand to prepare an external bulldoze to download the installation file using OS Ten Utilities.

After y'all've completed the download, the installer should launch automatically, just yous tin click Cancel and re-create the file y'all need. Below is the detailed instruction how to do it.

STEP three. Install older Bone X onto an external drive

The post-obit method allows you to download Mac OS X Lion, Mountain King of beasts, and Mavericks.

  1. Outset your Mac holding downward Command + R.
  2. Gear up a clean external drive (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 Bone should first downloading automatically onto the external drive. After the download is complete, your Mac volition prompt you to do a restart, just at this point, you should completely close information technology down. Now that the installation file is "captured" onto your external bulldoze, you can reinstall the OS, this time running the file on your Mac.

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

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

How to downgrade a Mac running after macOS versions

If your Mac runs macOS Sierra x.12 or macOS High Sierra 10.13, it is possible to revert information technology to the previous system if you lot are non satisfied with the experience. You can practice it either with Time Machine or past creating a bootable USB or external bulldoze.

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Loftier Sierra

Teaching todowngrade from macOS Mojave

Instruction to downgrade from macOS Catalina

Before you do it, the best communication is to back your Mac upwards then your most important files stay intact. In improver to that, it makes sense to clean up your Mac from old arrangement junk files and application leftovers. The easiest mode to do information technology is to run CleanMyMac X on your automobile (download it for free here).

Visit your local Apple Store to download older Bone X version

If none of the options to become older Os X worked, pay a visit to nearest local Apple Store. They should have image installations going back to Os Leopard and earlier. You can also ask their help to create a bootable USB bulldoze with the installation file. And then here yous are. We promise this commodity has helped you to download an former version of Mac OS X. Below are a few more than links you may find interesting.