So, yous've decided to download an older version of Mac Os Ten. At that identify are many reasons that could indicate y'all to this radical determination. To begin with, some of your apps may not be working properly (or simply crash) on newer operating systems. Also, you lot may have noticed your Mac'south functioning went downwards right after the terminal update. Finally, if you desire to run a parallel re-create of Mac OS X on a virtual machine, you as well will demand a working installation file of an older Mac OS Ten. Further downwardly nosotros'll explain where to get one and what bug y'all may face down the road.

A list of all Mac Os X versions

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

Cheetah x.0 Puma 10.ane Jaguar 10.two
Panther x.three Tiger x.4 Leopard x.five
Snow Leopard 10.half dozen King of beasts ten.7 Mount Lion ten.eight
Mavericks 10.ix Yosemite 10.x El Capitan 10.11
Sierra 10.12 Loftier Sierra 10.13 Mojave ten.fourteen
Catalina 10.15

Step 1. Set your Mac for installation

Given your Mac isn't new and is filled with data, yous volition probably need enough free infinite on your Mac. This includes non just infinite for the OS itself simply besides infinite for other applications and your user data. One more argument is that the gratis space on your deejay translates into virtual retention and so your apps have "fuel" to operate on. The chart below tells y'all how much gratuitous space is needed.

Annotation, that information technology is recommended that you install Bone on a clean drive. Side by side, y'all will demand enough deejay space bachelor, for example, to create Recovery Division. Here are some ideas to free upwardly infinite on your drive:

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

Go to Finder > All My Files > Arrange by size

Then you tin can movement your infinite hoggers onto an external bulldoze or a cloud storage.

If you lot aren't comfortable with cleaning the Mac manually, there are some squeamish automatic "room cleaners". Our favorite isCleanMyMac as information technology'southward most simple to utilise of all. It deletes organization junk, onetime broken apps, and the rest of hidden junk on your bulldoze.

CleanMyMac X - Smart Scan complete

Download CleanMyMacfor OS ten.4 - x.eight (complimentary version)

Download CleanMyMac for Bone 10.9 (gratis version)

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

Pace two. Get a copy of Mac Os ten download

Normally, information technology is assumed that updating Bone is a one-style route. That's why going dorsum to a past Apple Bone version is problematic. The primary 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 X versions via the App Shop

Mac operating system download


If you lot once had purchased an sometime version of Mac Os X from the App Store, open data applied science and go to the Purchased tab. In that location yous'll find all the installers yous tin can download. Still, it doesn't e'er work that mode. The purchased department lists only those operating systems that y'all had downloaded in the past. Just hither is the path to cheque it:

  1. Click the App Store icon.
  2. Click Purchases in the elevation menu.
  3. Coil downward to notice the preferred Bone 10 version.
  4. Click Download.

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

Without App Shop: Download Mac Bone version every bit Apple Programmer

If y'all are signed with an Apple Programmer account, you tin can go admission to products that are no longer listed on the App Store. If yous badly need a lower Bone X version build, consider creating a new Developer account amidst other options. The membership cost is $99/year and provides a bunch of perks unavailable to ordinary users.

Nevertheless, go on in mind that if you visit programmer.apple.com/downloads, you lot can merely notice x.iii-ten.half-dozen Bone 10 operating systems there. Newer versions are non bachelor considering starting Mac Os X Snow Leopard 10.7, the App Store has get the only source of updating Apple tree Bone versions.

Buy an older version of Mac operating organisation

Apple OS Versions

You tin can purchase a boxed or e-mail version of past Mac Os Ten directly from Apple tree tree. Both volition toll you lot around $20. For the reason of being rather antiquated, Snow Leopard and earlier Apple versions tin can can only exist installed from DVD.

Purchase a boxed edition of Snow Leopard x.6
Go an email copy of Panthera leo 10.7
Become an email re-create of Mountain Panthera leo 10.8

The e-mail edition comes with a special download lawmaking yous can apply for the Mac App Store. Note, that to install the Lion or Mount King of beasts, your Mac needs to exist running Snow Leopard so yous can install the newer Bone on superlative of it.

How to get macOS El Capitan download

If you lot are wondering if you can run El Capitan on an older Mac, rejoice as information technology's possible likewise. But earlier your Mac tin can run El Capitan information technology has to be updated to Bone Ten 10.six.8. So, here are main steps yous should have:

i. Install Snowfall Leopard from install DVD.
2. Update to 10.6.8 using Software Update.
3. Download El Capitan here.

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

If you accept a newer Mac, in that location is no concrete choice 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 Bone versions simply do non include hardware drivers for your Mac.

Mac os x download

But equally data technology often happens, workarounds are possible. In that location is nonetheless a chance to download the installation file if you have an access to a Mac (or virtual car) running that operating organisation. For example, to become an installer for King of beasts, yous may ask a friend who has Lion-operated Mac or, one time once again, set upwardly a virtual machine running Lion. Then you will need to gear up an external drive to download the installation file using Os X Utilities.

Later you lot've completed the download, the installer should launch automatically, just y'all tin can click Cancel and re-create the file y'all need. Beneath is the detailed educational activity how to do it.

Pace iii. Install older Bone X onto an external bulldoze

The post-obit method allows you to download Mac Os 10 King of beasts, Mountain Lion, and Mavericks.

  1. Commencement your Mac holding downward Command + R.
  2. Set up a clean external drive (at least 10 GB of storage).
  3. Within OS X Utilities, choose Reinstall Bone Ten.
  4. Select external drive every bit a source.
  5. Enter your Apple ID.
How to download old Mac OS X versions

At present the Bone should starting time downloading automatically onto the external bulldoze. Later on the download is consummate, your Mac volition prompt you lot to do a restart, just at this point, yous should completely close it down. Now that the installation file is "captured" onto your external bulldoze, y'all can reinstall the Bone, this time running the file on your Mac.

  1. Kick your Mac from your standard bulldoze.
  2. Connect the external bulldoze.
  3. Become to external drive > OS X Install Data.

Locate InstallESD.dmg deejay epitome file — this is the file you need to reinstall Lion Os ten. The same steps are valid for Mount Lion and Mavericks.

How to downgrade a Mac running after macOS versions

If your Mac runs macOS Sierra 10.12 or macOS Loftier Sierra x.xiii, it is possible to revert information technology to the previous organisation if you are non satisfied with the experience. You tin can practise it either with Fourth dimension Auto or by creating a bootable USB or external drive.

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Sierra

Education todowngrade from macOS High Sierra

Educational activity todowngrade from macOS Mojave

Pedagogy to downgrade from macOS Catalina

Before you do it, the best communication is to dorsum your Mac up so your about of import files stay intact. In improver to that, information technology makes sense to clean upwardly your Mac from old organisation junk files and application leftovers. The easiest way to do it is to run CleanMyMac 10 on your machine (download it for gratuitous here).

Visit your local Apple Store to download older OS 10 version

If none of the options to become older Bone Ten worked, pay a visit to nearest local Apple tree Shop. They should have prototype installations going dorsum to Bone Leopard and before. Yous can also inquire their help to create a bootable USB bulldoze with the installation file. So hither you are. Nosotros promise this article has helped you to download an old version of Mac OS 10. Below are a few more than links you may observe interesting.