Then, you lot've decided to download an older version of Mac OS Ten. There are many reasons that could point you to this radical determination. 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 functioning went downwardly right after the last update. Finally, if you want to run a parallel copy of Mac OS X on a virtual automobile, y'all too will need a working installation file of an older Mac OS 10. Further down we'll explain where to get ane and what bug you may confront down the road.

A list of all Mac OS X versions

We'll be repeatedly referring to these Apple tree Bone versions beneath, and so information technology's proficient to know the basic macOS timeline.

Cheetah 10.0 Puma ten.i Jaguar 10.2
Panther 10.3 Tiger x.iv Leopard 10.v
Snow Leopard 10.half-dozen Lion 10.vii Mountain Lion 10.eight
Mavericks 10.9 Yosemite 10.10 El Capitan x.11
Sierra x.12 High Sierra 10.13 Mojave 10.14
Catalina 10.15

STEP ane. Set up 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 non just space for the OS itself merely also space for other applications and your user information. One more argument is that the free space on your deejay translates into virtual memory then your apps take "fuel" to operate on. The chart below tells y'all how much gratuitous space is needed.

Note, that it is recommended that y'all install Bone on a clean drive. Next, you will need plenty deejay space available, for case, 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 computer:

Go to Finder > All My Files > Arrange by size

So you can motility your space hoggers onto an external drive or a cloud storage.

If yous aren't comfortable with cleaning the Mac manually, there are some prissy automatic "room cleaners". Our favorite isCleanMyMac as it's well-nigh uncomplicated to use of all. Information technology deletes arrangement junk, onetime broken apps, and the rest of hidden junk on your drive.

CleanMyMac X - Smart Scan complete

Download CleanMyMacfor Os 10.4 - ten.8 (free version)

Download CleanMyMac for Bone x.9 (free version)

Download CleanMyMacfor Os x.10 - ten.14 (gratis version)

STEP 2. Get a copy of Mac OS X download

Normally, it is assumed that updating OS is a one-mode route. That's why going back to a by 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 y'all succeed in downloading the Os installation, your adjacent pace is to create a bootable USB or DVD so reinstall the Os on your calculator.

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

Mac operating system download


If you lot one time had purchased an old version of Mac OS X from the App Shop, open it and become to the Purchased tab. There yous'll observe all the installers you can download. Even so, it doesn't always work that manner. The purchased department lists just those operating systems that you had downloaded in the past. But hither is the path to bank check information technology:

  1. Click the App Shop icon.
  2. Click Purchases in the tiptop carte.
  3. Scroll downwardly to discover the preferred Bone Ten version.
  4. Click Download.

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

Without App Store: Download Mac Os version as Apple Programmer

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

Nevertheless, proceed in mind that if you lot visit developer.apple tree.com/downloads, you can but notice x.3-10.6 Bone X operating systems there. Newer versions are non available because starting Mac Bone X Snow Leopard 10.seven, the App Shop has become the only source of updating Apple tree Os versions.

Buy an older version of Mac operating organization

Apple OS Versions

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

Buy a boxed edition of Snow Leopard 10.6
Get an email copy of Lion x.7
Get an electronic mail re-create of Mount Lion 10.8

The email edition comes with a special download code you can utilise for the Mac App Shop. Note, that to install the Lion or Mountain Panthera leo, your Mac needs to be running Snow Leopard and then you lot can install the newer Os on summit 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's possible too. Merely before your Mac can run El Capitan it has to be updated to Bone X 10.vi.viii. So, hither are master steps you should take:

1. Install Snowfall Leopard from install DVD.
ii. Update to x.half dozen.8 using Software Update.
3. Download El Capitan here.

"I tin can't download an erstwhile version of Mac Os 10"

If you have a newer Mac, there is no physical option to install Mac Os versions older than your electric current Mac model. For example, if your MacBook was released in 2014, don't expect it to run whatever OS released prior of that time, because older Apple Os versions just do not include hardware drivers for your Mac.

Mac os x download

Merely as it often happens, workarounds are possible. There is all the same a risk to download the installation file if you lot have an admission to a Mac (or virtual machine) running that operating organisation. For example, to get an installer for Lion, you may ask a friend who has Lion-operated Mac or, once once more, ready a virtual motorcar running Lion. Then y'all will need to prepare an external drive to download the installation file using OS 10 Utilities.

Afterwards you've completed the download, the installer should launch automatically, simply you lot can click Abolish and copy the file you need. Below is the detailed instruction how to do it.

STEP three. Install older Os X onto an external drive

The following method allows you lot to download Mac Bone X Lion, Mount King of beasts, and Mavericks.

  1. Start your Mac holding downward Command + R.
  2. Prepare a clean external bulldoze (at least ten GB of storage).
  3. Within OS X Utilities, choose Reinstall Bone X.
  4. Select external drive equally 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 you to do a restart, but at this signal, you should completely shut it down. Now that the installation file is "captured" onto your external bulldoze, you tin reinstall the Os, 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 Ten Install Information.

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

How to downgrade a Mac running afterward macOS versions

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

Teaching todowngrade from macOS Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS High Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Mojave

Instruction to downgrade from macOS Catalina

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

Visit your local Apple Shop to download older Bone Ten version

If none of the options to go older Bone 10 worked, pay a visit to nearest local Apple tree Shop. They should take paradigm installations going back to Bone Leopard and earlier. You can likewise inquire their assistance to create a bootable USB drive with the installation file. So here you lot are. We hope this article has helped yous to download an onetime version of Mac OS X. Beneath are a few more than links yous may find interesting.