So, you've decided to download an older version of Mac OS 10. In that location 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. Besides, you may have noticed your Mac'due south performance went down correct after the terminal update. Finally, if you want to run a parallel copy of Mac OS X on a virtual machine, you too will need a working installation file of an older Mac OS X. Further down we'll explain where to get i and what problems y'all may confront down the road.

A list of all Mac Bone X versions

We'll be repeatedly referring to these Apple Bone versions below, so information technology'southward good to know the basic macOS timeline.

Cheetah 10.0 Puma x.ane Jaguar 10.ii
Panther ten.3 Tiger 10.4 Leopard 10.5
Snow Leopard x.6 Lion ten.7 Mountain King of beasts 10.8
Mavericks 10.ix Yosemite 10.10 El Capitan 10.xi
Sierra 10.12 Loftier Sierra ten.13 Mojave 10.14
Catalina 10.15

Stride 1. Set up your Mac for installation

Given your Mac isn't new and is filled with data, y'all volition probably demand enough gratuitous space on your Mac. This includes non just infinite for the Bone itself but also space for other applications and your user information. One more statement is that the complimentary space on your deejay translates into virtual memory then your apps take "fuel" to operate on. The chart below tells you how much free infinite is needed.

Note, that information technology is recommended that you install OS on a clean drive. Adjacent, yous will demand enough disk space available, for example, to create Recovery Division. 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 figurer:

Go to Finder > All My Files > Accommodate by size

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

If yous aren't comfy with cleaning the Mac manually, in that location are some overnice automatic "room cleaners". Our favorite isCleanMyMac as it's nigh uncomplicated to utilize of all. It deletes system junk, sometime broken apps, and the residue of hidden junk on your bulldoze.

CleanMyMac X - Smart Scan complete

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

Download CleanMyMac for Bone 10.9 (free version)

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

Step two. Get a copy of Mac OS X download

Normally, it is assumed that updating OS is a one-mode route. That'south why going back to a past Apple tree OS version is problematic. The primary challenge is to download the OS installation file itself, because your Mac may already exist running a newer version. If you succeed in downloading the Bone installation, your side by side step is to create a bootable USB or DVD and then reinstall the Os on your reckoner.

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

Mac operating system download


If you once had purchased an old version of Mac OS X from the App Store, open it and go to the Purchased tab. There y'all'll discover all the installers yous tin can download. However, it doesn't ever work that fashion. The purchased section lists only those operating systems that you lot had downloaded in the past. But here is the path to check information technology:

  1. Click the App Store icon.
  2. Click Purchases in the superlative menu.
  3. Gyre downward to discover the preferred OS 10 version.
  4. Click Download.

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

Without App Shop: Download Mac OS version as Apple Developer

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

Nevertheless, keep in heed that if you visit developer.apple.com/downloads, you can but notice 10.3-x.half-dozen OS X operating systems at that place. Newer versions are not available considering starting Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.7, the App Shop has become the merely source of updating Apple OS versions.

Buy an older version of Mac operating system

Apple OS Versions

You can purchase a boxed or e-mail version of past Mac OS Ten straight from Apple. Both will price you around $20. For the reason of beingness rather blowsy, Snowfall Leopard and earlier Apple versions can only be installed from DVD.

Purchase a boxed edition of Snow Leopard 10.6
Go an e-mail copy of Panthera leo 10.7
Get an email copy of Mountain Panthera leo 10.8

The email edition comes with a special download code y'all tin can use for the Mac App Store. Note, that to install the Lion or Mountain Panthera leo, your Mac needs to be running Snow Leopard so you tin can install the newer OS on top of it.

How to go macOS El Capitan download

If y'all are wondering if yous can run El Capitan on an older Mac, rejoice as it's possible besides. Just earlier your Mac can run El Capitan it has to be updated to Os X ten.vi.8. So, here are main steps you should have:

ane. Install Snow Leopard from install DVD.
2. Update to 10.half dozen.8 using Software Update.
3. Download El Capitan here.

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

If you lot have a newer Mac, in that location is no physical choice to install Mac Bone 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 fourth dimension, because older Apple Os versions but do not include hardware drivers for your Mac.

Mac os x download

Just as it often happens, workarounds are possible. There is still a chance to download the installation file if you accept an access to a Mac (or virtual machine) running that operating organization. For example, to get an installer for King of beasts, you lot may ask a friend who has King of beasts-operated Mac or, in one case once more, gear up a virtual machine running Lion. Then you lot will need to set an external drive to download the installation file using Os 10 Utilities.

Afterward you've completed the download, the installer should launch automatically, but you can click Cancel and copy the file you need. Below is the detailed teaching how to do it.

Pace 3. Install older Os X onto an external bulldoze

The post-obit method allows you to download Mac OS Ten Lion, Mount King of beasts, and Mavericks.

  1. Start your Mac holding down Control + R.
  2. Set up a clean external drive (at least ten GB of storage).
  3. Within OS X Utilities, cull Reinstall Bone 10.
  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 commencement downloading automatically onto the external drive. After the download is complete, your Mac will prompt yous to exercise a restart, merely at this signal, you should completely shut it downwards. Now that the installation file is "captured" onto your external drive, yous can reinstall the Bone, this time running the file on your Mac.

  1. Boot your Mac from your standard drive.
  2. Connect the external bulldoze.
  3. Go to external drive > OS Ten Install Data.

Locate InstallESD.dmg disk image file — this is the file yous need to reinstall Lion Bone X. The same steps are valid for Mountain King of beasts and Mavericks.

How to downgrade a Mac running after macOS versions

If your Mac runs macOS Sierra 10.12 or macOS High Sierra 10.thirteen, it is possible to revert it to the previous system if y'all are non satisfied with the experience. You can do it either with Time Machine or by creating a bootable USB or external drive.

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS High Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Mojave

Instruction to downgrade from macOS Catalina

Earlier you do information technology, the best communication is to back your Mac up and so your most of import files stay intact. In addition to that, it makes sense to clean upwards your Mac from old organisation junk files and application leftovers. The easiest style to do it is to run CleanMyMac X on your auto (download it for free here).

Visit your local Apple Store to download older OS X version

If none of the options to go older OS 10 worked, pay a visit to nearest local Apple Shop. They should have image installations going back to OS Leopard and before. You lot can likewise enquire their assistance to create a bootable USB bulldoze with the installation file. So here you are. We hope this commodity has helped yous to download an onetime version of Mac OS Ten. Below are a few more than links you lot may find interesting.