And so, yous've decided to download an older version of Mac Bone 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 but crash) on newer operating systems. Also, you may have noticed your Mac's operation went downwards right after the concluding update. Finally, if you want to run a parallel copy of Mac Bone X on a virtual auto, you lot likewise will need a working installation file of an older Mac OS X. Further downwards we'll explicate where to get one and what bug you may confront downwards the road.

A listing of all Mac Bone X versions

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

Chetah x.0 Puma 10.1 Jaguar 10.2
Panther 10.3 Tiger 10.4 Leopard 10.5
Snow Leopard 10.six Lion 10.7 Mount Panthera leo 10.eight
Mavericks x.ix Yosemite 10.ten El Capitan 10.11
Sierra ten.12 High Sierra x.13 Mojave 10.fourteen
Catalina x.fifteen

STEP 1. Set your Mac for installation

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

Note, that information technology is recommended that you install Bone on a clean drive. Next, you lot will need enough deejay infinite available, for example, to create Recovery Sectionalisation. Hither are some ideas to gratuitous upwards space on your drive:

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

Go to Finder > All My Files > Arrange by size

Then yous can move your infinite hoggers onto an external drive or a cloud storage.

If yous aren't comfortable with cleaning the Mac manually, there are some nice automated "room cleaners". Our favorite isCleanMyMac every bit it's almost elementary to apply of all. It deletes system junk, old cleaved apps, and the rest of hidden junk on your bulldoze.

CleanMyMac X - Smart Scan complete

Download CleanMyMacfor OS 10.iv - x.eight (complimentary version)

Download CleanMyMac for Os 10.ix (free version)

Download CleanMyMacfor Bone 10.10 - 10.14 (complimentary version)

Stride 2. Get a copy of Mac Bone Ten download

Commonly, it is causeless that updating Os is a ane-way route. That's why going back to a past 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 you succeed in downloading the OS installation, your next step is to create a bootable USB or DVD and and so reinstall the OS on your computer.

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

Mac operating system download


If you one time had purchased an quondam version of Mac OS X from the App Store, open it and go to the Purchased tab. There you'll detect all the installers you can download. However, it doesn't always work that way. The purchased section lists merely those operating systems that you had downloaded in the past. But hither is the path to check it:

  1. Click the App Shop icon.
  2. Click Purchases in the top menu.
  3. Curlicue down to observe the preferred Bone X version.
  4. Click Download.

This method allows you to download Mavericks and Yosemite past logging with your Apple ID — only if you previously downloaded them from the Mac App Store.

Without App Store: Download Mac Bone version as Apple Programmer

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

Nevertheless, keep in mind that if you visit developer.apple.com/downloads, you can simply find 10.3-10.vi OS X operating systems at that place. Newer versions are non available considering starting Mac OS 10 Snow Leopard x.7, the App Store has become the merely source of updating Apple Bone versions.

Purchase an older version of Mac operating organisation

Apple OS Versions

You can purchase a boxed or email version of by Mac OS X straight from Apple. Both will cost y'all around $20. For the reason of existence rather antiquated, Snow Leopard and before Apple tree versions can only be installed from DVD.

Purchase a boxed edition of Snowfall Leopard x.6
Get an email copy of Panthera leo ten.seven
Become an email copy of Mountain Lion ten.eight

The email edition comes with a special download code you tin use for the Mac App Shop. Note, that to install the Lion or Mountain Lion, your Mac needs to be running Snow Leopard then you can install the newer Os on summit of it.

How to get macOS El Capitan download

If you are wondering if you tin can run El Capitan on an older Mac, rejoice as it'due south possible too. Only earlier your Mac tin can run El Capitan it has to be updated to OS 10 10.6.8. So, here are main steps you should take:

ane. Install Snow Leopard from install DVD.
2. Update to x.six.8 using Software Update.
3. Download El Capitan here.

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

If you have a newer Mac, there 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 it to run any Bone released prior of that time, considering older Apple tree Bone versions just practice not include hardware drivers for your Mac.

Mac os x download

Merely every bit it often happens, workarounds are possible. At that place 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 get an installer for King of beasts, you may ask a friend who has Panthera leo-operated Mac or, once again, fix a virtual machine running Panthera leo. Then you will need to prepare an external drive to download the installation file using OS Ten Utilities.

After you lot've completed the download, the installer should launch automatically, simply you tin click Cancel and copy the file you need. Beneath is the detailed educational activity how to do it.

Step 3. Install older OS Ten onto an external drive

The following method allows y'all to download Mac OS X Lion, Mountain Lion, and Mavericks.

  1. Start your Mac holding down Command + R.
  2. Prepare a clean external drive (at least 10 GB of storage).
  3. Within OS X Utilities, choose Reinstall Os X.
  4. Select external drive as a source.
  5. Enter your Apple tree ID.
How to download old Mac OS X versions

Now the OS should showtime downloading automatically onto the external drive. After the download is consummate, your Mac will prompt you to do a restart, but at this point, you lot should completely shut it downwardly. 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. Go to external drive > OS Ten Install Data.

Locate InstallESD.dmg disk epitome file — this is the file y'all need to reinstall Lion OS 10. 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 system if you are non satisfied with the experience. Y'all tin do information technology either with Fourth dimension Auto or by creating a bootable USB or external drive.

Teaching todowngrade from macOS Sierra

Didactics todowngrade from macOS Loftier Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Mojave

Instruction to downgrade from macOS Catalina

Earlier you lot do information technology, the best advice is to back your Mac up so your virtually important files stay intact. In improver to that, it makes sense to clean upward your Mac from old system junk files and awarding leftovers. The easiest way to exercise information technology is to run CleanMyMac X on your automobile (download it for free here).

Visit your local Apple Store to download older Os 10 version

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