So, you've decided to download an older version of Mac OS X. There are many reasons that could point yous to this radical determination. To begin with, some of your apps may not exist working properly (or just crash) on newer operating systems. Also, you may have noticed your Mac'south performance went downwards correct after the last update. Finally, if yous want to run a parallel copy of Mac Os X on a virtual machine, you also will demand a working installation file of an older Mac Os 10. Further downwards nosotros'll explain where to get one and what problems yous may face down the road.

A listing of all Mac Os 10 versions

Nosotros'll be repeatedly referring to these Apple Bone versions below, so information technology'south good to know the basic macOS timeline.

Chetah x.0 Puma x.ane Jaguar 10.2
Panther 10.3 Tiger 10.iv Leopard 10.five
Snow Leopard x.6 Lion 10.seven Mountain Panthera leo 10.8
Mavericks 10.9 Yosemite ten.10 El Capitan 10.eleven
Sierra 10.12 Loftier Sierra 10.13 Mojave ten.xiv
Catalina 10.fifteen

STEP 1. Prepare your Mac for installation

Given your Mac isn't new and is filled with data, you volition probably need enough gratis space on your Mac. This includes not but space for the OS itself simply as well space for other applications and your user data. 1 more argument is that the gratis space on your disk translates into virtual memory and so your apps have "fuel" to operate on. The chart below tells you how much costless space is needed.

Note, that it is recommended that y'all install Os on a clean bulldoze. Next, you volition demand enough deejay space available, for example, to create Recovery Partitioning. Here are some ideas to complimentary upwards space on your drive:

  • 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 you can movement your infinite hoggers onto an external drive or a cloud storage.

If you lot aren't comfy with cleaning the Mac manually, in that location are some squeamish automated "room cleaners". Our favorite isCleanMyMac as information technology'south most unproblematic to use of all. It deletes system junk, one-time cleaved apps, and the balance of hidden junk on your drive.

CleanMyMac X - Smart Scan complete

Download CleanMyMacfor Os 10.4 - 10.eight (free version)

Download CleanMyMac for Bone 10.9 (costless version)

Download CleanMyMacfor Bone 10.ten - 10.fourteen (gratuitous version)

STEP 2. Get a copy of Mac OS 10 download

Normally, it is assumed that updating OS is a one-way road. That's why going dorsum to a past Apple OS version is problematic. The chief challenge is to download the OS installation file itself, because your Mac may already be running a newer version. If you succeed in downloading the Bone installation, your next stride 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 Store

Mac operating system download


If you lot once had purchased an old version of Mac Bone X from the App Store, open up it and become to the Purchased tab. There you'll discover all the installers you tin can download. However, it doesn't ever work that way. The purchased section lists only those operating systems that you had downloaded in the past. Simply here is the path to cheque information technology:

  1. Click the App Shop icon.
  2. Click Purchases in the tiptop menu.
  3. Scroll down to find the preferred Bone X version.
  4. Click Download.

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

Without App Store: Download Mac Bone version every bit Apple Developer

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

Still, keep in listen that if you visit developer.apple tree.com/downloads, you tin can just observe 10.3-ten.6 OS X operating systems there. Newer versions are not available because starting Mac OS 10 Snow Leopard x.7, the App Store has become the only source of updating Apple OS versions.

Purchase an older version of Mac operating system

Apple OS Versions

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

Buy a boxed edition of Snowfall Leopard 10.6
Get an email copy of Lion 10.7
Get an email copy of Mountain Lion 10.8

The email edition comes with a special download code you can utilize for the Mac App Store. Note, that to install the Lion or Mount Panthera leo, your Mac needs to be running Snow Leopard so y'all tin 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 information technology'due south possible besides. But before your Mac tin run El Capitan it has to be updated to OS X 10.six.8. Then, here are main steps yous should take:

ane. Install Snow Leopard from install DVD.
2. Update to x.6.8 using Software Update.
three. Download El Capitan here.

"I can't download an old version of Mac Os Ten"

If you have a newer Mac, there is no concrete choice to install Mac Bone versions older than your current Mac model. For case, if your MacBook was released in 2014, don't expect it to run whatsoever Bone released prior of that time, considering older Apple OS versions simply practice not include hardware drivers for your Mac.

Mac os x download

But as it often happens, workarounds are possible. In that location is still a take a chance to download the installation file if you take an admission to a Mac (or virtual machine) running that operating arrangement. For example, to get an installer for Lion, you may ask a friend who has King of beasts-operated Mac or, once again, gear up a virtual machine running King of beasts. Then you will need to set up an external drive to download the installation file using Os X Utilities.

After you've completed the download, the installer should launch automatically, but yous tin click Cancel and copy the file you need. Below is the detailed pedagogy how to do it.

Stride 3. Install older OS X onto an external bulldoze

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

  1. Start your Mac property downwardly Command + R.
  2. Fix a clean external drive (at least x GB of storage).
  3. Within OS X Utilities, choose Reinstall Bone Ten.
  4. Select external drive as a source.
  5. Enter your Apple ID.
How to download old Mac OS X versions

At present the Bone should commencement downloading automatically onto the external bulldoze. After the download is consummate, your Mac will prompt you to do a restart, just at this point, you should completely shut it down. At present that the installation file is "captured" onto your external drive, you can reinstall the OS, this fourth dimension 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 Information.

Locate InstallESD.dmg disk paradigm file — this is the file you need to reinstall Lion OS X. The aforementioned steps are valid for Mount Panthera leo and Mavericks.

How to downgrade a Mac running later on macOS versions

If your Mac runs macOS Sierra x.12 or macOS Loftier Sierra x.13, it is possible to revert information technology to the previous system if you lot are non satisfied with the feel. You tin do it either with Time Machine or by creating a bootable USB or external drive.

Teaching todowngrade from macOS Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS High Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Mojave

Instruction to downgrade from macOS Catalina

Earlier you practise it, the best advice is to back your Mac upwardly so your virtually of import files stay intact. In add-on to that, it makes sense to clean upwardly your Mac from quondam system junk files and application leftovers. The easiest mode to practice information technology is to run CleanMyMac X on your machine (download it for complimentary here).

Visit your local Apple Store to download older OS Ten version

If none of the options to go older OS 10 worked, pay a visit to nearest local Apple Store. They should have image installations going back to Bone Leopard and before. You tin also enquire their assistance to create a bootable USB bulldoze with the installation file. So hither y'all are. We hope this article has helped you to download an old version of Mac OS 10. Below are a few more than links yous may find interesting.