So, you've decided to download an older version of Mac Bone 10. In that location are many reasons that could point you to this radical conclusion. To begin with, some of your apps may not be working properly (or simply crash) on newer operating systems. Also, you may take noticed your Mac'south performance went down right after the last update. Finally, if you want to run a parallel re-create of Mac Os X on a virtual automobile, you besides volition need a working installation file of an older Mac OS X. Further down nosotros'll explain where to go ane and what problems yous may face up downwards the road.

A listing of all Mac Bone X versions

We'll be repeatedly referring to these Apple Bone versions below, then it'south good to know the basic macOS timeline.

Chetah 10.0 Puma 10.1 Jaguar 10.2
Panther x.three Tiger 10.4 Leopard ten.v
Snowfall Leopard 10.six Panthera leo ten.7 Mountain Lion x.8
Mavericks 10.9 Yosemite 10.10 El Capitan ten.eleven
Sierra 10.12 High Sierra 10.13 Mojave 10.xiv
Catalina ten.xv

STEP ane. Prepare your Mac for installation

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

Notation, that information technology is recommended that you install OS on a clean drive. Next, yous will need plenty disk infinite available, for case, to create Recovery Sectionalization. Here are some ideas to free upwards space 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 > Arrange past size

Then you can motion your space hoggers onto an external drive or a deject storage.

If you aren't comfortable with cleaning the Mac manually, there are some nice automatic "room cleaners". Our favorite isCleanMyMac as it's most simple to use of all. It deletes arrangement junk, quondam broken apps, and the residual of hidden junk on your bulldoze.

CleanMyMac X - Smart Scan complete

Download CleanMyMacfor Os 10.four - x.8 (free version)

Download CleanMyMac for OS 10.9 (free version)

Download CleanMyMacfor OS 10.10 - ten.xiv (costless version)

Footstep two. Go a re-create of Mac Os X download

Unremarkably, it is assumed that updating Bone is a 1-way road. That's why going back to a past Apple tree Bone version is problematic. The main challenge is to download the OS installation file itself, because your Mac may already exist running a newer version. If you lot succeed in downloading the Os installation, your next footstep is to create a bootable USB or DVD then reinstall the OS on your computer.

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

Mac operating system download


If you one time had purchased an old version of Mac OS Ten from the App Store, open it and go to the Purchased tab. There y'all'll detect all the installers you can download. However, information technology doesn't e'er work that way. The purchased section lists but those operating systems that you had downloaded in the past. But here is the path to cheque it:

  1. Click the App Store icon.
  2. Click Purchases in the top menu.
  3. Whorl down to find the preferred Bone X version.
  4. Click Download.

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

Without App Store: Download Mac Os version equally Apple Developer

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

Nevertheless, continue in mind that if you visit developer.apple.com/downloads, y'all can only find x.3-10.6 Os Ten operating systems there. Newer versions are non available because starting Mac Os X Snowfall Leopard ten.7, the App Store has become the only source of updating Apple tree OS versions.

Purchase an older version of Mac operating organisation

Apple OS Versions

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

Buy a boxed edition of Snow Leopard 10.6
Get an electronic mail copy of King of beasts 10.7
Get an email copy of Mountain Lion 10.8

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

How to go macOS El Capitan download

If you are wondering if y'all can run El Capitan on an older Mac, rejoice as it'due south possible too. But before your Mac can run El Capitan it has to exist updated to Os X 10.six.8. And then, hither are main steps you should have:

ane. Install Snowfall Leopard from install DVD.
two. Update to 10.6.viii using Software Update.
3. Download El Capitan here.

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

If you lot have a newer Mac, there is no concrete option to install Mac Os versions older than your current Mac model. For example, if your MacBook was released in 2014, don't expect it to run whatsoever 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 every bit it often happens, workarounds are possible. There is notwithstanding a chance to download the installation file if you take an access to a Mac (or virtual machine) running that operating system. For example, to get an installer for Lion, you may inquire a friend who has King of beasts-operated Mac or, once over again, gear up a virtual machine running Lion. Then you lot will need to fix an external drive to download the installation file using Bone X Utilities.

Later y'all've completed the download, the installer should launch automatically, but you can click Abolish and copy the file you need. Below is the detailed educational activity how to practise it.

STEP 3. Install older Os 10 onto an external bulldoze

The following method allows you to download Mac OS X King of beasts, Mountain Panthera leo, and Mavericks.

  1. Start your Mac holding down Control + R.
  2. Prepare a clean external bulldoze (at least x GB of storage).
  3. Within Os X Utilities, cull Reinstall OS X.
  4. Select external drive every bit a source.
  5. Enter your Apple ID.
How to download old Mac OS X versions

Now the Bone should start downloading automatically onto the external drive. Subsequently the download is complete, your Mac will prompt yous to do a restart, but at this signal, you should completely shut it downwardly. Now that the installation file is "captured" onto your external bulldoze, you can reinstall the Bone, this time running the file on your Mac.

  1. Boot your Mac from your standard bulldoze.
  2. Connect the external drive.
  3. Go to external drive > OS X Install Data.

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

How to downgrade a Mac running later macOS versions

If your Mac runs macOS Sierra 10.12 or macOS Loftier Sierra x.13, it is possible to revert it to the previous system if y'all are not satisfied with the feel. You lot can do it either with Time Machine or by creating a bootable USB or external bulldoze.

Teaching todowngrade from macOS Sierra

Educational activity todowngrade from macOS High Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Mojave

Didactics to downgrade from macOS Catalina

Before you do it, the best advice is to back your Mac upward and then your most important files stay intact. In addition to that, information technology makes sense to make clean up your Mac from old arrangement junk files and awarding leftovers. The easiest way to exercise it is to run CleanMyMac X on your machine (download it for free here).

Visit your local Apple Shop to download older OS X version

If none of the options to become older OS X worked, pay a visit to nearest local Apple tree Store. They should accept image installations going dorsum to Bone Leopard and earlier. You tin too enquire their assistance to create a bootable USB drive with the installation file. So here you are. We hope this article has helped you to download an sometime version of Mac OS X. Below are a few more links yous may find interesting.