And so, you've decided to download an older version of Mac OS X. There are many reasons that could point you to this radical decision. To begin with, some of your apps may not be working properly (or simply crash) on newer operating systems. Also, you may have noticed your Mac'south functioning went down right after the last update. Finally, if y'all want to run a parallel copy of Mac OS X on a virtual machine, you too will demand a working installation file of an older Mac Os 10. Further downwards we'll explain where to become i and what problems you may face downward the route.

A list of all Mac Bone X versions

Nosotros'll exist repeatedly referring to these Apple tree OS versions below, so it's good to know the basic macOS timeline.

Cheetah 10.0 Puma 10.1 Jaguar 10.ii
Panther x.3 Tiger 10.4 Leopard 10.5
Snowfall Leopard 10.6 Panthera leo 10.vii Mountain Lion 10.8
Mavericks 10.9 Yosemite 10.x El Capitan 10.11
Sierra x.12 High Sierra 10.13 Mojave 10.14
Catalina 10.xv

STEP 1. Prepare your Mac for installation

Given your Mac isn't new and is filled with data, yous will probably need enough gratuitous space on your Mac. This includes non just space for the OS itself but also infinite for other applications and your user data. Ane more statement is that the complimentary infinite on your disk translates into virtual memory so your apps have "fuel" to operate on. The chart below tells you how much complimentary space is needed.

Notation, that it is recommended that you install Os on a make clean bulldoze. Next, you will demand enough disk space available, for example, 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 calculator:

Go to Finder > All My Files > Arrange by size

Then yous tin can movement your space hoggers onto an external drive or a cloud storage.

If you aren't comfortable with cleaning the Mac manually, in that location are some nice automatic "room cleaners". Our favorite isCleanMyMac every bit it'south most unproblematic to use of all. It deletes organisation junk, onetime broken apps, and the rest of hidden junk on your bulldoze.

CleanMyMac X - Smart Scan complete

Download CleanMyMacfor Bone 10.four - 10.8 (free version)

Download CleanMyMac for Bone ten.9 (free version)

Download CleanMyMacfor Os x.10 - 10.14 (free version)

STEP ii. Get a copy of Mac Os X download

Usually, it is assumed that updating Bone is a one-way road. That'southward why going back to a past Apple Os version is problematic. The primary claiming is to download the OS installation file itself, considering your Mac may already be running a newer version. If you succeed in downloading the OS installation, your side by side step is to create a bootable USB or DVD and and so reinstall the Os on your figurer.

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

Mac operating system download


If you once had purchased an sometime version of Mac Os X from the App Store, open it and go to the Purchased tab. At that place you lot'll find all the installers you can download. Notwithstanding, it doesn't always work that way. The purchased section lists simply those operating systems that yous had downloaded in the past. But hither is the path to check information technology:

  1. Click the App Store icon.
  2. Click Purchases in the top menu.
  3. Coil down to detect the preferred Bone X version.
  4. Click Download.

This method allows y'all 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 as Apple Developer

If you are signed with an Apple tree Developer account, you lot can get admission 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 Programmer account amongst other options. The membership toll is $99/twelvemonth and provides a bunch of perks unavailable to ordinary users.

Withal, go along in mind that if y'all visit developer.apple.com/downloads, you can only find 10.3-10.half-dozen OS Ten operating systems in that location. Newer versions are not available because starting Mac OS X Snowfall Leopard 10.7, the App Store has become the only source of updating Apple OS versions.

Purchase an older version of Mac operating organisation

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 $xx. For the reason of being rather antiquated, Snowfall Leopard and earlier Apple versions can but be installed from DVD.

Buy a boxed edition of Snow Leopard ten.6
Get an email copy of Lion ten.7
Become an email re-create of Mountain King of beasts 10.8

The email edition comes with a special download code you tin can use for the Mac App Shop. Annotation, that to install the Panthera leo or Mount Lion, your Mac needs to be running Snow Leopard then you can install the newer Os on top of information technology.

How to get macOS El Capitan download

If you are wondering if yous can run El Capitan on an older Mac, rejoice as information technology'due south possible too. But earlier your Mac tin can run El Capitan it has to exist updated to Os Ten 10.six.8. So, hither are main steps you should take:

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

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

If you take a newer Mac, there is no physical selection to install Mac OS versions older than your electric current Mac model. For case, if your MacBook was released in 2014, don't expect information technology to run whatsoever OS released prior of that time, because older Apple Os versions simply do non include hardware drivers for your Mac.

Mac os x download

But as it often happens, workarounds are possible. There is still a risk to download the installation file if you accept an access to a Mac (or virtual automobile) running that operating system. For case, to get an installer for Lion, you may ask a friend who has Lion-operated Mac or, over again, ready a virtual auto running Panthera leo. Then you will need 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 yous tin can click Cancel and copy the file you need. Below is the detailed educational activity how to do it.

STEP 3. Install older OS 10 onto an external drive

The following method allows you to download Mac OS X Lion, Mountain Lion, and Mavericks.

  1. Start your Mac holding down Command + R.
  2. Prepare a make clean external drive (at to the lowest degree x GB of storage).
  3. Within Bone X Utilities, choose Reinstall OS Ten.
  4. Select external drive equally a source.
  5. Enter your Apple ID.
How to download old Mac OS X versions

At present the OS should outset downloading automatically onto the external drive. After 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, yous tin 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 drive.
  3. Become to external drive > OS Ten Install Information.

Locate InstallESD.dmg disk prototype file — this is the file you lot need to reinstall Lion OS Ten. The same steps are valid for Mountain Lion and Mavericks.

How to downgrade a Mac running later macOS versions

If your Mac runs macOS Sierra 10.12 or macOS High Sierra x.13, it is possible to revert it to the previous organization if y'all are not satisfied with the experience. You can do information technology either with Fourth dimension Machine or past creating a bootable USB or external bulldoze.

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS High Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Mojave

Instruction to downgrade from macOS Catalina

Before yous practise it, the all-time advice is to back your Mac up so your most important files stay intact. In addition to that, it makes sense to clean up your Mac from sometime system junk files and application leftovers. The easiest way to practice it is to run CleanMyMac X on your machine (download it for free hither).

Visit your local Apple Store to download older OS X version

If none of the options to get older Bone X worked, pay a visit to nearest local Apple tree Store. They should have image installations going back to Bone Leopard and earlier. You lot can also ask their assist to create a bootable USB drive with the installation file. And so hither you lot are. We hope this article has helped you to download an old version of Mac OS X. Below are a few more links you lot may find interesting.