So, you've decided to download an older version of Mac OS 10. There are many reasons that could point you to this radical conclusion. To begin with, some of your apps may not be working properly (or but crash) on newer operating systems. Too, you may have noticed your Mac's 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 machine, y'all too volition need a working installation file of an older Mac OS X. Further down we'll explain where to get one and what issues y'all may face downwards the route.

A list of all Mac Bone 10 versions

We'll exist repeatedly referring to these Apple Os versions below, so it's skilful to know the basic macOS timeline.

Chetah 10.0 Puma 10.ane Jaguar 10.ii
Panther 10.3 Tiger 10.4 Leopard 10.five
Snow Leopard ten.vi Panthera leo 10.seven Mount Lion 10.8
Mavericks x.9 Yosemite x.10 El Capitan 10.11
Sierra 10.12 High Sierra ten.13 Mojave 10.14
Catalina 10.15

Pace 1. Prepare your Mac for installation

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

Note, that it is recommended that y'all install Os on a clean bulldoze. Side by side, you will need enough disk space available, for example, to create Recovery Partition. Here are some ideas to complimentary up space on your bulldoze:

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

Become to Finder > All My Files > Arrange by size

Then y'all can motion your space hoggers onto an external drive or a deject storage.

If y'all aren't comfortable with cleaning the Mac manually, there are some nice automatic "room cleaners". Our favorite isCleanMyMac as it'south near simple to use of all. It deletes system junk, old broken apps, and the rest of hidden junk on your drive.

CleanMyMac X - Smart Scan complete

Download CleanMyMacfor Os x.four - 10.8 (costless version)

Download CleanMyMac for OS 10.9 (gratis version)

Download CleanMyMacfor OS ten.ten - 10.14 (costless version)

Stride 2. Get a copy of Mac Bone X download

Normally, it is assumed that updating Os is a one-way road. That's why going back to a past Apple OS version is problematic. The main claiming is to download the Os installation file itself, because your Mac may already exist running a newer version. If yous succeed in downloading the OS installation, your side by side step is to create a bootable USB or DVD and so reinstall the OS on your computer.

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

Mac operating system download


If you one time had purchased an old version of Mac OS X from the App Store, open up it and get to the Purchased tab. At that place you'll observe all the installers you lot tin can download. Withal, it doesn't always piece of work that fashion. The purchased section lists merely those operating systems that you had downloaded in the past. But here is the path to check it:

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

This method allows y'all to download Mavericks and Yosemite by logging with your Apple ID — just if yous previously downloaded them from the Mac App Shop.

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

If you lot 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 X version build, consider creating a new Developer business relationship among other options. The membership price is $99/year and provides a agglomeration of perks unavailable to ordinary users.

Yet, keep in heed that if you visit programmer.apple tree.com/downloads, you can just find 10.3-ten.half-dozen Bone X operating systems there. Newer versions are not bachelor because starting Mac OS X Snowfall Leopard ten.7, the App Store has become the but source of updating Apple OS versions.

Purchase an older version of Mac operating system

Apple OS Versions

Yous can purchase a boxed or email version of past Mac OS X straight from Apple. Both will cost you around $20. For the reason of beingness rather antiquated, Snow Leopard and earlier Apple tree versions tin only be installed from DVD.

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

The email edition comes with a special download code you can apply for the Mac App Shop. Note, that to install the King of beasts or Mountain Panthera leo, your Mac needs to be running Snow Leopard and so you can install the newer OS on top of it.

How to get macOS El Capitan download

If y'all are wondering if you tin run El Capitan on an older Mac, rejoice every bit it'south possible too. Only before your Mac can run El Capitan it has to be updated to OS X x.6.8. So, hither are main steps y'all should take:

1. Install Snow Leopard from install DVD.
ii. Update to 10.vi.8 using Software Update.
3. Download El Capitan here.

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

If yous have a newer Mac, there is no concrete selection to install Mac OS versions older than your current Mac model. For case, if your MacBook was released in 2014, don't await it to run any Bone released prior of that time, because older Apple Os versions only do not include hardware drivers for your Mac.

Mac os x download

Just equally it often happens, workarounds are possible. At that place is still a chance to download the installation file if you have an access to a Mac (or virtual automobile) running that operating system. For example, to get an installer for King of beasts, you may ask a friend who has Lion-operated Mac or, once again, prepare a virtual machine running Lion. So y'all will demand to prepare an external drive to download the installation file using Os 10 Utilities.

After you've completed the download, the installer should launch automatically, but you can click Cancel and copy the file yous need. Beneath is the detailed instruction how to practice it.

Footstep iii. Install older OS X onto an external drive

The following method allows you to download Mac Os Ten King of beasts, Mountain King of beasts, and Mavericks.

  1. Kickoff your Mac holding down Command + R.
  2. Prepare a make clean external bulldoze (at least ten GB of storage).
  3. Within Os X Utilities, choose 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 OS should beginning downloading automatically onto the external drive. Subsequently the download is complete, your Mac will prompt yous to do a restart, but at this point, you should completely shut it down. Now 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 bulldoze.
  3. Go to external drive > Os X Install Data.

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

How to downgrade a Mac running after macOS versions

If your Mac runs macOS Sierra 10.12 or macOS High Sierra 10.xiii, information technology is possible to revert information technology to the previous system if you are non satisfied with the experience. You can exercise it either with Time Auto or past creating a bootable USB or external bulldoze.

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Sierra

Didactics todowngrade from macOS High Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Mojave

Pedagogy to downgrade from macOS Catalina

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

Visit your local Apple Shop 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 epitome installations going back to Os Leopard and earlier. You tin can besides ask their assistance to create a bootable USB drive with the installation file. So here you are. We promise this article has helped you to download an erstwhile version of Mac OS X. Below are a few more links you may find interesting.