So, you've decided to download an older version of Mac OS Ten. In that location are many reasons that could point you to this radical decision. To brainstorm with, some of your apps may not be working properly (or simply crash) on newer operating systems. Too, you may take noticed your Mac's operation went down right afterwards the last update. Finally, if y'all desire to run a parallel copy of Mac OS Ten on a virtual motorcar, you also volition demand a working installation file of an older Mac OS X. Farther downwardly we'll explain where to get one and what issues you may face up down the route.

A list of all Mac OS 10 versions

We'll be repeatedly referring to these Apple Bone versions below, then it'south good to know the basic macOS timeline.

Cheetah 10.0 Puma 10.ane Jaguar 10.ii
Panther 10.3 Tiger x.4 Leopard 10.v
Snow Leopard 10.vi Lion x.vii Mountain Lion 10.8
Mavericks 10.nine Yosemite 10.10 El Capitan ten.11
Sierra ten.12 High Sierra 10.13 Mojave 10.14
Catalina 10.fifteen

Footstep 1. Prepare your Mac for installation

Given your Mac isn't new and is filled with data, you will probably need plenty free space on your Mac. This includes not just infinite for the Bone itself just also space for other applications and your user data. I more statement is that the free space on your disk translates into virtual retentivity so your apps take "fuel" to operate on. The chart below tells you how much free infinite is needed.

Note, that it is recommended that you install OS on a make clean drive. Next, you volition demand enough disk infinite available, for example, to create Recovery Sectionalization. Here are some ideas to complimentary up space on your bulldoze:

  • 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

So you can motion your infinite hoggers onto an external drive or a cloud storage.

If you aren't comfortable with cleaning the Mac manually, there are some prissy automated "room cleaners". Our favorite isCleanMyMac as it'due south almost unproblematic to use of all. It deletes system junk, onetime broken apps, and the balance of hidden junk on your bulldoze.

CleanMyMac X - Smart Scan complete

Download CleanMyMacfor OS 10.4 - ten.8 (free version)

Download CleanMyMac for OS x.9 (free version)

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

STEP two. Get a copy of Mac Os Ten download

Normally, it is causeless that updating Bone is a 1-way route. That'due south why going back to a by Apple tree OS version is problematic. The main challenge is to download the Os installation file itself, considering your Mac may already exist running a newer version. If y'all succeed in downloading the Os installation, your next stride is to create a bootable USB or DVD and then reinstall the Bone on your computer.

How to download older Mac Bone X versions via the App Store

Mac operating system download


If you once had purchased an old version of Mac Bone 10 from the App Store, open information technology and go to the Purchased tab. At that place y'all'll find all the installers y'all tin can download. However, it doesn't always piece of work that way. The purchased section lists only those operating systems that y'all had downloaded in the by. Just hither is the path to cheque it:

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

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

Without App Shop: Download Mac Os version as Apple tree Developer

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

Nevertheless, proceed in mind that if you visit developer.apple tree.com/downloads, you can simply detect ten.3-x.6 OS X operating systems there. Newer versions are not available considering starting Mac OS 10 Snowfall Leopard x.7, the App Store has become the only source of updating Apple OS versions.

Buy an older version of Mac operating system

Apple OS Versions

You can buy a boxed or email version of past Mac OS X directly from Apple. Both volition cost y'all around $20. For the reason of being rather antiquated, Snow Leopard and before Apple versions can simply be installed from DVD.

Buy a boxed edition of Snow Leopard 10.vi
Get an email copy of Panthera leo 10.vii
Get an electronic mail copy of Mount Lion 10.8

The electronic mail edition comes with a special download code you can utilise for the Mac App Store. Notation, that to install the Lion or Mountain Panthera leo, your Mac needs to exist running Snowfall Leopard so you lot can install the newer Os on top of it.

How to go macOS El Capitan download

If you are wondering if you can run El Capitan on an older Mac, rejoice as it'southward possible too. But before your Mac can run El Capitan it has to be updated to Os Ten 10.6.8. So, here are main steps you should accept:

1. Install Snowfall Leopard from install DVD.
2. Update to 10.6.viii using Software Update.
iii. Download El Capitan here.

"I can't download an sometime version of Mac Bone X"

If you lot have a newer Mac, at that place is no physical option to install Mac OS versions older than your current Mac model. For example, if your MacBook was released in 2014, don't await information technology to run any Bone released prior of that time, because older Apple Os versions but do not include hardware drivers for your Mac.

Mac os x download

Only as information technology often happens, workarounds are possible. There is still a chance to download the installation file if you lot accept an admission to a Mac (or virtual motorcar) running that operating system. For example, to get an installer for Panthera leo, yous may ask a friend who has Panthera leo-operated Mac or, one time again, gear up up a virtual automobile running Lion. Then you will demand to prepare an external drive to download the installation file using Bone 10 Utilities.

After y'all've completed the download, the installer should launch automatically, but you can click Cancel and copy the file you need. Below is the detailed instruction how to exercise it.

Footstep three. Install older OS X onto an external drive

The following method allows you to download Mac OS 10 Lion, Mountain Lion, and Mavericks.

  1. Beginning your Mac holding down Command + R.
  2. Gear up a clean external drive (at least x GB of storage).
  3. Within OS X Utilities, cull Reinstall Bone X.
  4. Select external bulldoze as a source.
  5. Enter your Apple ID.
How to download old Mac OS X versions

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

  1. Kicking your Mac from your standard drive.
  2. Connect the external drive.
  3. Get to external drive > Os X Install Data.

Locate InstallESD.dmg disk image file — this is the file y'all need to reinstall Lion OS 10. 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 x.12 or macOS High Sierra x.thirteen, it is possible to revert it to the previous system if you lot are not satisfied with the experience. You tin can do it either with Time Machine or by creating a bootable USB or external drive.

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Sierra

Pedagogy todowngrade from macOS High Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Mojave

Didactics to downgrade from macOS Catalina

Before yous do it, the best advice is to back your Mac upwardly so your most important files stay intact. In addition to that, it makes sense to clean upwardly your Mac from old system junk files and awarding leftovers. The easiest manner to do it is to run CleanMyMac X on your machine (download information technology for free here).

Visit your local Apple Shop 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 have image installations going back to Os Leopard and earlier. You can also ask their assistance to create a bootable USB bulldoze with the installation file. Then hither you are. We promise this article has helped you lot to download an erstwhile version of Mac Bone X. Below are a few more than links yous may find interesting.