So, you'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 only crash) on newer operating systems. Also, y'all may have noticed your Mac's performance went downwards right after the concluding update. Finally, if you lot want to run a parallel copy of Mac OS X on a virtual motorcar, you as well volition need a working installation file of an older Mac OS X. Further down we'll explain where to get one and what problems y'all may face down the road.

A list of all Mac OS X versions

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

Cheetah 10.0 Puma ten.i Jaguar 10.ii
Panther 10.three Tiger 10.four Leopard x.five
Snowfall Leopard x.6 Lion ten.vii Mount Panthera leo ten.8
Mavericks 10.9 Yosemite 10.10 El Capitan 10.eleven
Sierra x.12 Loftier Sierra 10.13 Mojave x.fourteen
Catalina 10.15

Footstep 1. Gear up your Mac for installation

Given your Mac isn't new and is filled with information, yous will probably need enough gratis space on your Mac. This includes not just space for the Bone itself just also space for other applications and your user information. I more argument is that the free infinite on your disk translates into virtual memory then your apps have "fuel" to operate on. The chart beneath tells y'all how much gratis infinite is needed.

Note, that information technology is recommended that you install Bone on a clean bulldoze. Adjacent, you will need plenty disk space available, for example, to create Recovery Sectionalization. Here are some ideas to free up space on your bulldoze:

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

Go to Finder > All My Files > Adapt by size

Then yous can move your space hoggers onto an external bulldoze or a cloud storage.

If yous aren't comfortable with cleaning the Mac manually, there are some nice automatic "room cleaners". Our favorite isCleanMyMac equally it's most uncomplicated to employ of all. It deletes system junk, old broken apps, and the rest of hidden junk on your drive.

CleanMyMac X - Smart Scan complete

Download CleanMyMacfor OS 10.4 - 10.8 (gratis version)

Download CleanMyMac for Bone ten.9 (free version)

Download CleanMyMacfor OS 10.10 - 10.14 (costless version)

Pace two. Get a re-create of Mac OS X download

Unremarkably, information technology is assumed that updating Bone is a one-way road. That's why going dorsum to a past Apple tree OS version is problematic. The main challenge is to download the Bone 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 and then reinstall the Bone 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 Ten from the App Store, open it and go to the Purchased tab. There y'all'll observe all the installers you tin download. However, it doesn't always work that fashion. The purchased department lists but those operating systems that yous had downloaded in the by. But here is the path to check information technology:

  1. Click the App Shop icon.
  2. Click Purchases in the superlative menu.
  3. Coil 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 as Apple Developer

If you lot are signed with an Apple Developer account, y'all tin get access to products that are no longer listed on the App Store. If you desperately need a lower OS 10 version build, consider creating a new Programmer business relationship amid other options. The membership price is $99/yr and provides a agglomeration of perks unavailable to ordinary users.

Nevertheless, go on in mind that if yous visit developer.apple.com/downloads, you tin can just observe 10.3-10.vi OS X operating systems there. Newer versions are non bachelor considering starting Mac OS Ten Snow Leopard 10.seven, the App Store has go the only source of updating Apple tree Os versions.

Purchase an older version of Mac operating organisation

Apple OS Versions

You can purchase a boxed or electronic mail version of past Mac Bone X straight from Apple. Both will price you effectually $20. For the reason of being rather antiquated, Snow Leopard and before Apple tree versions tin can simply be installed from DVD.

Buy a boxed edition of Snow Leopard x.half-dozen
Get an electronic mail copy of Lion 10.seven
Get an electronic mail copy of Mountain Lion 10.8

The electronic mail edition comes with a special download code you can use for the Mac App Store. Notation, that to install the Lion or Mountain Lion, your Mac needs to be running Snow Leopard then you can install the newer OS on top of it.

How to get macOS El Capitan download

If yous are wondering if you can run El Capitan on an older Mac, rejoice every bit it's possible too. But earlier your Mac tin can run El Capitan information technology has to exist updated to OS X 10.6.8. And then, here are main steps you lot should take:

1. Install Snow Leopard from install DVD.
two. Update to 10.6.8 using Software Update.
3. Download El Capitan here.

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

If you accept a newer Mac, there is no concrete pick 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 time, considering older Apple Bone versions simply practise not include hardware drivers for your Mac.

Mac os x download

Simply as it often happens, workarounds are possible. There is still a gamble to download the installation file if you have an access to a Mac (or virtual machine) running that operating arrangement. For instance, to get an installer for Lion, yous may ask a friend who has Lion-operated Mac or, once over again, set a virtual machine running Panthera leo. Then y'all will demand to ready an external bulldoze to download the installation file using Bone X Utilities.

Afterward yous've completed the download, the installer should launch automatically, just you can click Cancel and copy the file you demand. Below is the detailed didactics how to do it.

STEP 3. Install older OS X onto an external drive

The following method allows you lot to download Mac OS Ten Lion, Mountain Lion, and Mavericks.

  1. Start your Mac holding downward Control + R.
  2. Gear up a make clean external bulldoze (at least ten GB of storage).
  3. Within Bone X 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

At present the Bone should commencement downloading automatically onto the external drive. After the download is consummate, your Mac will prompt y'all to do a restart, but at this signal, y'all should completely shut it down. Now that the installation file is "captured" onto your external drive, you lot tin reinstall the Os, this time running the file on your Mac.

  1. Boot your Mac from your standard bulldoze.
  2. Connect the external drive.
  3. Go to external drive > Bone X Install Information.

Locate InstallESD.dmg disk paradigm file — this is the file you need to reinstall Lion Bone 10. The same steps are valid for Mountain Lion and Mavericks.

How to downgrade a Mac running afterwards macOS versions

If your Mac runs macOS Sierra 10.12 or macOS Loftier Sierra x.13, it is possible to revert information technology to the previous system if yous are non satisfied with the experience. You can do it either with Time Machine or by creating a bootable USB or external drive.

Pedagogy todowngrade from macOS Sierra

Didactics todowngrade from macOS High Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Mojave

Instruction to downgrade from macOS Catalina

Before y'all practice it, the best communication is to back your Mac up so your nearly of import files stay intact. In add-on to that, it makes sense to clean up your Mac from old organisation junk files and application leftovers. The easiest way 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 go older OS X worked, pay a visit to nearest local Apple Store. They should accept image installations going back to OS Leopard and earlier. You tin can also enquire their assistance to create a bootable USB drive with the installation file. So here y'all are. Nosotros hope this commodity has helped you to download an old version of Mac Bone X. Below are a few more links you may notice interesting.