So, you've decided to download an older version of Mac OS Ten. There 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. Likewise, you may accept noticed your Mac's operation went down correct after the last update. Finally, if you lot desire to run a parallel copy of Mac OS 10 on a virtual automobile, you as well will need a working installation file of an older Mac Bone X. Further downwards we'll explain where to get one and what issues you may face down the route.

A listing of all Mac OS X versions

We'll be repeatedly referring to these Apple Os versions below, so information technology'south practiced to know the basic macOS timeline.

Cheetah 10.0 Puma 10.1 Jaguar 10.two
Panther x.3 Tiger 10.4 Leopard ten.5
Snow Leopard 10.vi King of beasts ten.vii Mountain Lion 10.8
Mavericks 10.ix Yosemite ten.10 El Capitan 10.11
Sierra x.12 High Sierra ten.thirteen Mojave x.xiv
Catalina 10.15

Pace ane. Prepare your Mac for installation

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

Note, that it is recommended that you install Os on a clean drive. Next, you will need enough disk space bachelor, for case, to create Recovery Sectionalization. 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 calculator:

Go to Finder > All My Files > Arrange past size

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

If you aren't comfy with cleaning the Mac manually, there are some nice automatic "room cleaners". Our favorite isCleanMyMac every bit it's almost uncomplicated to use of all. It deletes system junk, old cleaved apps, and the rest of hidden junk on your drive.

CleanMyMac X - Smart Scan complete

Download CleanMyMacfor Bone 10.4 - ten.eight (free version)

Download CleanMyMac for Os 10.nine (free version)

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

STEP 2. Get a copy of Mac Os X download

Normally, it is assumed that updating OS is a one-way road. 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, because your Mac may already be running a newer version. If you lot 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 X versions via the App Store

Mac operating system download


If you one time had purchased an old version of Mac OS X from the App Store, open it and go to the Purchased tab. There you'll find all the installers you can download. Yet, it doesn't always work that manner. The purchased section lists but those operating systems that you had downloaded in the past. But here is the path to check information technology:

  1. Click the App Shop icon.
  2. Click Purchases in the pinnacle menu.
  3. Whorl down to notice the preferred Bone X version.
  4. Click Download.

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

Without App Store: Download Mac OS version as Apple tree Programmer

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

Nevertheless, go on in listen that if y'all visit developer.apple tree.com/downloads, you tin just find ten.3-ten.6 Os X operating systems there. Newer versions are not bachelor because starting Mac Os X Snowfall Leopard x.7, the App Shop has go the only source of updating Apple Os versions.

Purchase an older version of Mac operating organization

Apple OS Versions

You can purchase a boxed or email version of by Mac OS X straight from Apple tree. Both will cost you around $20. For the reason of being rather blowsy, Snowfall Leopard and earlier Apple tree versions tin only be installed from DVD.

Buy a boxed edition of Snow Leopard x.vi
Get an email copy of Lion 10.7
Get an email copy of Mountain Lion 10.8

The email edition comes with a special download code you lot can use for the Mac App Shop. Note, that to install the King of beasts or Mountain Lion, your Mac needs to be running Snowfall Leopard so yous can install the newer Os on pinnacle of it.

How to go macOS El Capitan download

If yous are wondering if you can run El Capitan on an older Mac, rejoice as information technology's possible too. But before your Mac tin can run El Capitan it has to be updated to Os 10 x.6.viii. Then, hither are primary steps yous should take:

1. Install Snow Leopard from install DVD.
2. Update to ten.half dozen.viii using Software Update.
3. Download El Capitan here.

"I can't download an old version of Mac OS Ten"

If you have a newer Mac, there is no physical 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 OS released prior of that fourth dimension, because older Apple OS versions simply practise not include hardware drivers for your Mac.

Mac os x download

But as it frequently happens, workarounds are possible. At that place is nonetheless a chance to download the installation file if y'all have an access to a Mac (or virtual machine) running that operating system. For case, to get an installer for Lion, yous may ask a friend who has King of beasts-operated Mac or, once again, set up a virtual automobile running Lion. Then you will need to prepare an external bulldoze to download the installation file using OS X Utilities.

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

STEP 3. Install older OS Ten onto an external drive

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

  1. Start your Mac belongings downwardly Control + R.
  2. Prepare a clean external drive (at to the lowest degree 10 GB of storage).
  3. Inside OS 10 Utilities, cull 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 Bone should showtime downloading automatically onto the external drive. Later on the download is complete, your Mac will prompt you to practice a restart, but at this point, yous should completely shut it down. Now that the installation file is "captured" onto your external bulldoze, you tin 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 10 Install Data.

Locate InstallESD.dmg deejay image file — this is the file you demand to reinstall Lion 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 ten.xiii, it is possible to revert information technology to the previous system if you lot are non satisfied with the experience. You can do it either with Fourth dimension Machine or by creating a bootable USB or external drive.

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS High Sierra

Education todowngrade from macOS Mojave

Educational activity to downgrade from macOS Catalina

Before you do it, the best advice is to back your Mac up so your near important files stay intact. In addition to that, it makes sense to clean up your Mac from sometime arrangement junk files and awarding leftovers. The easiest way to practise it is to run CleanMyMac X on your machine (download it for complimentary here).

Visit your local Apple tree Store to download older OS X version

If none of the options to go older OS X worked, pay a visit to nearest local Apple Store. They should have epitome installations going back to OS Leopard and earlier. You can also inquire 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 onetime version of Mac Os X. Beneath are a few more than links you may find interesting.