And then, yous've decided to download an older version of Mac Bone X. At that place 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. Also, you may accept noticed your Mac'due south performance went down right subsequently the last update. Finally, if you desire to run a parallel copy of Mac OS X on a virtual machine, y'all too will need a working installation file of an older Mac Bone X. Farther down nosotros'll explicate where to become ane and what problems you may face downwardly the route.

A list of all Mac OS Ten versions

We'll be repeatedly referring to these Apple Bone versions beneath, then it's skillful to know the bones macOS timeline.

Cheetah 10.0 Puma 10.1 Jaguar 10.2
Panther ten.three Tiger x.4 Leopard 10.5
Snow Leopard ten.6 Lion 10.vii Mountain King of beasts 10.viii
Mavericks 10.9 Yosemite 10.10 El Capitan 10.eleven
Sierra 10.12 High Sierra 10.thirteen Mojave 10.xiv
Catalina 10.15

STEP 1. Prepare your Mac for installation

Given your Mac isn't new and is filled with data, you will probably need enough free space on your Mac. This includes non merely infinite for the OS itself only too space for other applications and your user information. Ane more statement is that the free space on your disk translates into virtual retentivity so your apps have "fuel" to operate on. The chart beneath tells you how much free space is needed.

Annotation, that it is recommended that you lot install OS on a clean bulldoze. Next, you will need plenty disk infinite bachelor, for instance, to create Recovery Partition. Here are some ideas to free up space on your bulldoze:

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

Go to Finder > All My Files > Arrange by size

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

If yous aren't comfortable with cleaning the Mac manually, in that location are some nice automatic "room cleaners". Our favorite isCleanMyMac as it'due south most simple to use of all. It deletes organization junk, onetime broken apps, and the remainder of hidden junk on your drive.

CleanMyMac X - Smart Scan complete

Download CleanMyMacfor Bone x.4 - 10.8 (free version)

Download CleanMyMac for Bone 10.9 (free version)

Download CleanMyMacfor Bone ten.10 - 10.14 (gratuitous version)

STEP ii. Get a copy of Mac Bone 10 download

Normally, information technology is causeless that updating Bone is a ane-way road. That's why going back to a by Apple OS version is problematic. The main challenge is to download the OS installation file itself, because your Mac may already be running a newer version. If yous succeed in downloading the OS installation, your next step is to create a bootable USB or DVD and then reinstall the Bone on your computer.

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

Mac operating system download


If y'all in one case had purchased an sometime version of Mac Bone 10 from the App Shop, open up it and get to the Purchased tab. There you'll find all the installers yous can download. However, information technology doesn't always work that way. The purchased section lists only those operating systems that you lot had downloaded in the by. But here is the path to cheque information technology:

  1. Click the App Store icon.
  2. Click Purchases in the elevation 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 tree ID — only if you previously downloaded them from the Mac App Store.

Without App Store: Download Mac OS version every bit Apple Programmer

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

However, go on in mind that if y'all visit developer.apple tree.com/downloads, you can simply find 10.3-10.half dozen OS X operating systems at that place. Newer versions are non available because starting Mac Bone X Snowfall Leopard 10.7, the App Store has become the merely source of updating Apple OS versions.

Purchase an older version of Mac operating arrangement

Apple OS Versions

Y'all tin purchase a boxed or email version of by Mac Os Ten directly from Apple. Both will price you lot around $20. For the reason of existence rather antiquated, Snow Leopard and before Apple versions tin can only be installed from DVD.

Buy a boxed edition of Snow Leopard x.6
Get an email copy of Lion ten.7
Get an e-mail copy of Mount Panthera leo 10.viii

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 Snow Leopard and then yous tin can install the newer OS on top of it.

How to get 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 earlier your Mac can run El Capitan it has to exist updated to OS Ten 10.half dozen.8. And so, here are main steps yous should take:

1. Install Snow Leopard from install DVD.
2. Update to 10.6.viii using Software Update.
3. Download El Capitan hither.

"I can't download an sometime version of Mac Os 10"

If y'all take a newer Mac, at that place is no concrete option to install Mac OS versions older than your current Mac model. For instance, if your MacBook was released in 2014, don't expect information technology to run any OS released prior of that time, because older Apple OS versions simply do non include hardware drivers for your Mac.

Mac os x download

Only as it ofttimes happens, workarounds are possible. In that location is still a chance to download the installation file if you have an access to a Mac (or virtual machine) running that operating system. For example, to get an installer for Panthera leo, you may ask a friend who has Lion-operated Mac or, once again, gear up a virtual automobile running King of beasts. And then you will need to fix an external drive to download the installation file using Os 10 Utilities.

After you've completed the download, the installer should launch automatically, merely you can click Abolish and copy the file you lot need. Below is the detailed instruction how to do it.

STEP iii. Install older OS 10 onto an external drive

The following method allows you to download Mac Bone Ten King of beasts, Mount Lion, and Mavericks.

  1. Beginning your Mac holding downwardly Command + R.
  2. Prepare a clean external drive (at least 10 GB of storage).
  3. Within Bone X Utilities, cull Reinstall OS X.
  4. Select external bulldoze 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 drive. After the download is consummate, your Mac volition prompt y'all to practise a restart, but at this point, you lot should completely shut it down. Now that the installation file is "captured" onto your external drive, y'all can reinstall the OS, this time running the file on your Mac.

  1. Kicking your Mac from your standard drive.
  2. Connect the external drive.
  3. Go to external drive > OS 10 Install Data.

Locate InstallESD.dmg disk image file — this is the file you need to reinstall Panthera leo Os X. 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 10.xiii, information technology is possible to revert it to the previous system if you are not satisfied with the experience. You can do information technology either with Time Car or past creating a bootable USB or external drive.

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Loftier Sierra

Education todowngrade from macOS Mojave

Education to downgrade from macOS Catalina

Earlier y'all practice it, the best advice is to back your Mac upwardly so your near of import files stay intact. In addition to that, information technology makes sense to clean upwardly your Mac from one-time system junk files and application leftovers. The easiest fashion to practice it is to run CleanMyMac X on your machine (download it for free here).

Visit your local Apple Store 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 have epitome installations going dorsum to Bone Leopard and earlier. Yous can likewise 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 Ten. Below are a few more links you lot may notice interesting.