So, you've decided to download an older version of Mac Os 10. There are many reasons that could bespeak yous to this radical decision. To begin with, some of your apps may not be working properly (or only crash) on newer operating systems. Also, y'all may have noticed your Mac'south performance went downward correct after the final update. Finally, if you want to run a parallel copy of Mac OS X on a virtual auto, you lot too volition need a working installation file of an older Mac Bone 10. Farther down we'll explain where to go one and what problems you may face down the road.

A list of all Mac Os X versions

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

Cheetah 10.0 Puma x.one Jaguar 10.2
Panther 10.3 Tiger 10.4 Leopard 10.five
Snow Leopard 10.half-dozen Panthera leo 10.7 Mountain Lion 10.8
Mavericks 10.ix Yosemite 10.x El Capitan 10.11
Sierra x.12 High Sierra ten.13 Mojave ten.14
Catalina x.15

Pace 1. Prepare your Mac for installation

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

Note, that information technology is recommended that you install OS on a clean bulldoze. Next, you lot will demand enough disk space available, for example, to create Recovery Partition. 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 computer:

Go to Finder > All My Files > Arrange past size

And so you tin motility your space hoggers onto an external bulldoze or a cloud storage.

If you lot aren't comfortable with cleaning the Mac manually, in that location are some nice automatic "room cleaners". Our favorite isCleanMyMac equally it's nearly uncomplicated to use of all. Information technology deletes system junk, former broken apps, and the rest of hidden junk on your drive.

CleanMyMac X - Smart Scan complete

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

Download CleanMyMac for Os 10.9 (free version)

Download CleanMyMacfor Bone x.x - 10.14 (gratis version)

Step 2. Get a copy of Mac OS X download

Commonly, information technology is assumed that updating Os is a one-way road. That's why going back to a past Apple tree OS 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 you lot succeed in downloading the OS installation, your next pace is to create a bootable USB or DVD and and so reinstall the OS on your estimator.

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

Mac operating system download


If y'all one time had purchased an old version of Mac Os X from the App Shop, open it and go to the Purchased tab. There you'll notice all the installers you can download. However, it doesn't always work that manner. The purchased section lists only those operating systems that you had downloaded in the past. Just here is the path to check it:

  1. Click the App Store icon.
  2. Click Purchases in the superlative card.
  3. Scroll down to find the preferred Os X version.
  4. Click Download.

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

Without App Store: Download Mac Bone version equally Apple Developer

If you are signed with an Apple Developer account, y'all can get admission to products that are no longer listed on the App Store. If you lot badly demand a lower Os X version build, consider creating a new Programmer account amidst other options. The membership cost is $99/yr and provides a bunch of perks unavailable to ordinary users.

Nevertheless, keep in heed that if you lot visit programmer.apple.com/downloads, yous can but observe 10.3-10.6 Bone X operating systems in that location. Newer versions are not available because starting Mac Os Ten Snow Leopard x.7, the App Shop has become the only source of updating Apple OS versions.

Buy an older version of Mac operating system

Apple OS Versions

You can purchase a boxed or email version of past Mac Os X directly from Apple tree. Both will price you around $xx. For the reason of being rather blowsy, Snow Leopard and earlier Apple tree versions can only be installed from DVD.

Buy a boxed edition of Snow Leopard 10.6
Get an email re-create of Lion ten.7
Go an e-mail copy of Mountain Lion 10.eight

The email edition comes with a special download lawmaking you can employ for the Mac App Shop. Note, that to install the Lion or Mountain Lion, your Mac needs to be running Snowfall Leopard so you can install the newer Bone on top of it.

How to become macOS El Capitan download

If you are wondering if y'all can run El Capitan on an older Mac, rejoice as it's possible too. Simply before your Mac can run El Capitan it has to be updated to OS X 10.six.8. So, here are principal steps you should accept:

ane. Install Snow Leopard from install DVD.
2. Update to 10.6.eight using Software Update.
3. Download El Capitan here.

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

If yous have a newer Mac, at that place 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 wait it to run whatsoever Bone released prior of that time, because older Apple Bone versions simply do non include hardware drivers for your Mac.

Mac os x download

But as information technology often happens, workarounds are possible. There is still a hazard to download the installation file if y'all have an access to a Mac (or virtual machine) running that operating system. For example, to get an installer for Lion, yous may enquire a friend who has Lion-operated Mac or, once once again, set up a virtual automobile running Lion. And so you lot volition demand to set up an external drive to download the installation file using Bone X Utilities.

Afterwards you've completed the download, the installer should launch automatically, merely y'all tin click Cancel and copy the file you demand. Below is the detailed instruction how to do it.

STEP 3. Install older Bone X onto an external drive

The following method allows y'all to download Mac OS X Lion, Mountain Panthera leo, and Mavericks.

  1. Start your Mac belongings downward Command + R.
  2. Prepare a make clean external bulldoze (at least 10 GB of storage).
  3. Within OS X Utilities, choose Reinstall OS X.
  4. Select external drive as a source.
  5. Enter your Apple tree ID.
How to download old Mac OS X versions

Now the OS should start downloading automatically onto the external bulldoze. After the download is complete, your Mac will prompt yous to do a restart, but at this indicate, you lot should completely shut it down. Now that the installation file is "captured" onto your external bulldoze, you can reinstall the OS, this fourth dimension running the file on your Mac.

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

Locate InstallESD.dmg disk image file — this is the file you lot need to reinstall Lion Os X. The aforementioned steps are valid for Mount Lion and Mavericks.

How to downgrade a Mac running after macOS versions

If your Mac runs macOS Sierra 10.12 or macOS Loftier Sierra x.thirteen, it is possible to revert it to the previous organisation if you are not satisfied with the experience. You can practice it either with Time Motorcar or by creating a bootable USB or external drive.

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Sierra

Teaching todowngrade from macOS High Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Mojave

Instruction to downgrade from macOS Catalina

Earlier yous do it, the best communication is to back your Mac up and so your most important files stay intact. In addition to that, it makes sense to make clean up your Mac from old system junk files and awarding leftovers. The easiest way to practice information technology 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 go older OS X worked, pay a visit to nearest local Apple tree Store. They should have image installations going back to OS Leopard and before. Y'all can also enquire their assist to create a bootable USB drive with the installation file. And then here you are. Nosotros hope this commodity has helped you to download an old version of Mac OS X. Below are a few more links yous may find interesting.