And then, you've decided to download an older version of Mac Bone Ten. In that location are many reasons that could betoken you to this radical conclusion. To begin with, some of your apps may non exist working properly (or simply crash) on newer operating systems. Also, you may take noticed your Mac'due south operation went down right after the last update. Finally, if you desire to run a parallel copy of Mac Os X on a virtual car, yous as well will need a working installation file of an older Mac Bone Ten. Further downward we'll explicate where to get one and what issues you lot may confront down the road.

A list of all Mac Os 10 versions

We'll be repeatedly referring to these Apple Os versions beneath, so it's good to know the basic macOS timeline.

Cheetah 10.0 Puma ten.1 Jaguar 10.2
Panther 10.3 Tiger 10.iv Leopard 10.v
Snow Leopard 10.6 Lion 10.7 Mountain Lion ten.eight
Mavericks ten.9 Yosemite x.10 El Capitan 10.11
Sierra 10.12 High Sierra 10.13 Mojave ten.14
Catalina 10.15

STEP i. Prepare your Mac for installation

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

Note, that information technology is recommended that you install OS on a make clean bulldoze. Side by side, you lot will demand plenty deejay space available, for instance, to create Recovery Partition. Hither are some ideas to gratis up space on your drive:

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

Become to Finder > All My Files > Arrange past size

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

If you aren't comfortable with cleaning the Mac manually, there are some nice automatic "room cleaners". Our favorite isCleanMyMac as information technology's virtually simple to use of all. It deletes system junk, old broken apps, and the remainder of subconscious junk on your drive.

CleanMyMac X - Smart Scan complete

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

Download CleanMyMac for OS 10.9 (free version)

Download CleanMyMacfor Os x.x - 10.fourteen (costless version)

Stride two. Get a copy of Mac OS X download

Normally, it is assumed that updating Bone is a one-way road. That'southward why going dorsum to a past Apple Bone version is problematic. The chief challenge is to download the Bone installation file itself, considering your Mac may already be running a newer version. If yous succeed in downloading the Os installation, your adjacent step is to create a bootable USB or DVD and then reinstall the Os on your calculator.

How to download older Mac OS 10 versions via the App Store

Mac operating system download


If you one time had purchased an onetime version of Mac OS X from the App Store, open information technology and go to the Purchased tab. There you'll detect all the installers yous can download. All the same, it doesn't ever work that way. The purchased department lists only those operating systems that y'all had downloaded in the past. But here is the path to check it:

  1. Click the App Store icon.
  2. Click Purchases in the meridian menu.
  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 — just if yous previously downloaded them from the Mac App Store.

Without App Shop: Download Mac Bone version as Apple tree Programmer

If you are signed with an Apple Developer account, you tin become access to products that are no longer listed on the App Store. If y'all desperately need a lower Bone X version build, consider creating a new Developer business relationship amongst other options. The membership toll is $99/yr and provides a bunch of perks unavailable to ordinary users.

Even so, keep in listen that if you lot visit developer.apple tree.com/downloads, you lot tin only find 10.3-x.6 OS X operating systems there. Newer versions are non bachelor because starting Mac Os Ten Snow Leopard ten.7, the App Shop has become the just source of updating Apple tree Bone versions.

Buy an older version of Mac operating system

Apple OS Versions

Y'all tin purchase a boxed or email version of past Mac OS X directly from Apple. Both will cost you around $20. For the reason of existence rather antiquated, Snow Leopard and earlier Apple versions can just exist installed from DVD.

Buy a boxed edition of Snow Leopard x.six
Get an e-mail copy of Panthera leo ten.7
Get an electronic mail copy of Mountain Lion 10.8

The email edition comes with a special download code you tin utilize for the Mac App Store. Notation, that to install the Lion or Mountain Lion, your Mac needs to be running Snow Leopard and so you can install the newer OS on pinnacle of it.

How to become macOS El Capitan download

If you lot are wondering if you can run El Capitan on an older Mac, rejoice every bit information technology's possible besides. But earlier your Mac can run El Capitan information technology has to be updated to Bone X ten.6.8. So, hither are main steps you should take:

i. Install Snowfall Leopard from install DVD.
2. Update to 10.6.eight using Software Update.
three. Download El Capitan here.

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

If you have a newer Mac, there is no physical option to install Mac Bone versions older than your electric current Mac model. For example, if your MacBook was released in 2014, don't look it to run any OS released prior of that time, because older Apple Bone versions simply practice not include hardware drivers for your Mac.

Mac os x download

Just equally it often happens, workarounds are possible. There is still a chance to download the installation file if you take an access to a Mac (or virtual machine) running that operating system. For example, to go an installer for Panthera leo, you may ask a friend who has Lion-operated Mac or, once once again, set up a virtual machine running Lion. And then you lot volition need to prepare an external bulldoze to download the installation file using OS Ten Utilities.

Later on you've completed the download, the installer should launch automatically, just you can click Cancel and copy the file you lot need. Below is the detailed instruction how to do information technology.

Pace three. Install older OS X onto an external drive

The post-obit method allows y'all to download Mac OS 10 Lion, Mountain King of beasts, and Mavericks.

  1. Start your Mac property downwards Control + R.
  2. Set up a clean external drive (at to the lowest degree x GB of storage).
  3. Within OS X Utilities, choose Reinstall OS X.
  4. Select external drive equally a source.
  5. Enter your Apple tree ID.
How to download old Mac OS X versions

Now the Bone should outset downloading automatically onto the external bulldoze. After the download is complete, your Mac will prompt you to practise a restart, merely at this bespeak, you should completely shut information technology 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. Become to external drive > OS Ten Install Data.

Locate InstallESD.dmg disk image file — this is the file y'all need to reinstall King of beasts OS X. The aforementioned steps are valid for Mountain Panthera leo and Mavericks.

How to downgrade a Mac running later macOS versions

If your Mac runs macOS Sierra 10.12 or macOS High Sierra 10.13, it is possible to revert it to the previous organisation if yous are not satisfied with the feel. You can practise it either with Fourth dimension Automobile or by creating a bootable USB or external drive.

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS High Sierra

Pedagogy todowngrade from macOS Mojave

Instruction to downgrade from macOS Catalina

Before you do it, the best advice is to back your Mac up so your most important files stay intact. In addition to that, information technology makes sense to clean up your Mac from quondam system junk files and application leftovers. The easiest manner to do information technology is to run CleanMyMac Ten on your auto (download it 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 Shop. They should accept epitome installations going back to OS Leopard and earlier. You lot tin also ask their assistance to create a bootable USB drive with the installation file. And then here you are. We hope this article has helped you to download an old version of Mac Bone X. Beneath are a few more links you lot may find interesting.