So, yous've decided to download an older version of Mac Os 10. There are many reasons that could point you lot to this radical decision. To brainstorm with, some of your apps may non be working properly (or but crash) on newer operating systems. Also, you may take noticed your Mac's performance went down right after the last update. Finally, if yous desire to run a parallel copy of Mac Os X on a virtual machine, you too will need a working installation file of an older Mac Os X. Further down we'll explain where to get one and what bug yous may confront down the road.

A listing of all Mac OS Ten versions

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

Cheetah x.0 Puma x.1 Jaguar 10.2
Panther 10.3 Tiger x.4 Leopard 10.5
Snow Leopard 10.6 Lion 10.seven Mountain Lion ten.8
Mavericks ten.9 Yosemite 10.10 El Capitan 10.eleven
Sierra x.12 High Sierra 10.xiii Mojave ten.xiv
Catalina 10.15

Footstep one. Gear up your Mac for installation

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

Note, that information technology is recommended that you install OS on a make clean drive. Next, yous will need enough disk space available, for case, to create Recovery Partition. Here are some ideas to gratuitous upwardly space on your bulldoze:

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

Go to Finder > All My Files > Accommodate by size

So yous can move your space hoggers onto an external bulldoze or a cloud storage.

If y'all aren't comfortable with cleaning the Mac manually, there are some squeamish automatic "room cleaners". Our favorite isCleanMyMac as information technology's well-nigh simple to utilise of all. It deletes organisation junk, former broken apps, and the rest of hidden junk on your drive.

CleanMyMac X - Smart Scan complete

Download CleanMyMacfor OS 10.4 - 10.8 (costless version)

Download CleanMyMac for Bone 10.ix (costless version)

Download CleanMyMacfor Bone 10.x - 10.fourteen (free version)

Pace 2. Get a copy of Mac OS X download

Normally, it is assumed that updating Bone is a one-way road. That'due south why going dorsum to a past Apple Bone version is problematic. The chief claiming is to download the Bone installation file itself, considering your Mac may already be running a newer version. If y'all succeed in downloading the Bone installation, your side by side pace is to create a bootable USB or DVD and and so reinstall the Bone on your computer.

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 Os 10 from the App Shop, open information technology and go to the Purchased tab. At that place you'll find all the installers you lot tin can download. Nonetheless, it doesn't e'er work that style. The purchased section lists simply those operating systems that you had downloaded in the past. But hither is the path to cheque it:

  1. Click the App Store icon.
  2. Click Purchases in the top card.
  3. Whorl downwards 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 you previously downloaded them from the Mac App Store.

Without App Shop: Download Mac OS version as Apple Developer

If you are signed with an Apple Developer business relationship, you can get access to products that are no longer listed on the App Store. If y'all desperately need a lower OS 10 version build, consider creating a new Programmer account among other options. The membership cost is $99/year and provides a bunch of perks unavailable to ordinary users.

However, keep in mind that if you visit programmer.apple.com/downloads, you tin only find 10.3-10.half-dozen Os X operating systems there. Newer versions are non available because starting Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.7, the App Store has go the only source of updating Apple tree Os versions.

Purchase an older version of Mac operating organisation

Apple OS Versions

You lot tin purchase a boxed or email version of past Mac OS 10 direct from Apple. Both will cost you lot around $20. For the reason of being rather antiquated, Snow Leopard and earlier Apple versions can only be installed from DVD.

Buy a boxed edition of Snow Leopard 10.six
Become an e-mail re-create of Lion 10.vii
Get an email copy of Mountain Lion 10.eight

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

How to get macOS El Capitan download

If you are wondering if you tin run El Capitan on an older Mac, rejoice every bit it'southward possible too. But before your Mac tin run El Capitan it has to be updated to OS 10 ten.vi.8. So, here are main steps you lot should take:

ane. Install Snow Leopard from install DVD.
two. Update to 10.6.8 using Software Update.
3. Download El Capitan here.

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

If you take a newer Mac, there is no concrete choice to install Mac OS versions older than your current Mac model. For instance, if your MacBook was released in 2014, don't expect it to run whatever Os released prior of that fourth dimension, considering older Apple OS versions merely exercise not include hardware drivers for your Mac.

Mac os x download

Only as information technology often happens, workarounds are possible. There is still a adventure to download the installation file if you lot take an admission to a Mac (or virtual motorcar) running that operating system. For case, to get an installer for Panthera leo, you lot may enquire a friend who has Lion-operated Mac or, in one case again, gear up a virtual machine running Panthera leo. So yous will need to prepare an external drive to download the installation file using Bone X Utilities.

Later you've completed the download, the installer should launch automatically, but yous tin can click Cancel and copy the file you need. Below is the detailed educational activity how to do information technology.

Footstep iii. Install older Bone X onto an external drive

The following method allows you to download Mac Bone 10 Lion, Mountain Panthera leo, and Mavericks.

  1. Start your Mac holding down Control + R.
  2. Gear up a clean external bulldoze (at least ten GB of storage).
  3. Inside OS 10 Utilities, choose Reinstall OS 10.
  4. Select external bulldoze every bit a source.
  5. Enter your Apple ID.
How to download old Mac OS X versions

Now the OS should offset downloading automatically onto the external drive. Later the download is consummate, your Mac will prompt yous to do a restart, only at this point, you should completely shut it down. Now that the installation file is "captured" onto your external drive, you can reinstall the OS, this time running the file on your Mac.

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

Locate InstallESD.dmg deejay image file — this is the file you demand to reinstall Lion Bone Ten. The same steps are valid for Mountain King of beasts and Mavericks.

How to downgrade a Mac running later on macOS versions

If your Mac runs macOS Sierra 10.12 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 tin can do information technology either with Fourth dimension Machine or by creating a bootable USB or external drive.

Education todowngrade from macOS Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS High Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Mojave

Teaching to downgrade from macOS Catalina

Before y'all practise it, the best communication is to back your Mac up so your well-nigh important files stay intact. In addition to that, it makes sense to clean up your Mac from former system junk files and application leftovers. The easiest way to practice it is to run CleanMyMac X on your machine (download it for gratis hither).

Visit your local Apple tree Store to download older Os X version

If none of the options to become older OS X worked, pay a visit to nearest local Apple Store. They should accept image installations going back to OS Leopard and earlier. You can likewise ask their assist to create a bootable USB bulldoze with the installation file. So here y'all are. Nosotros promise this commodity has helped you to download an old version of Mac OS X. Below are a few more links you may find interesting.