And so, yous've decided to download an older version of Mac OS Ten. There are many reasons that could signal you to this radical decision. To begin with, some of your apps may not be working properly (or simply crash) on newer operating systems. Likewise, you may have noticed your Mac's performance went down correct after the last update. Finally, if you want to run a parallel re-create of Mac OS 10 on a virtual car, you likewise volition demand a working installation file of an older Mac Bone Ten. Further down nosotros'll explain where to get one and what problems you may face up down the route.

A list of all Mac Bone 10 versions

We'll be repeatedly referring to these Apple Os versions beneath, so information technology's good to know the bones macOS timeline.

Cheetah 10.0 Puma 10.1 Jaguar 10.2
Panther x.3 Tiger 10.4 Leopard x.5
Snow Leopard 10.6 Lion 10.vii Mount Lion 10.8
Mavericks 10.nine Yosemite ten.10 El Capitan 10.11
Sierra 10.12 High Sierra ten.xiii Mojave 10.14
Catalina 10.15

STEP i. Prepare your Mac for installation

Given your Mac isn't new and is filled with data, you will probably need enough free space on your Mac. This includes non only infinite for the OS itself but as well infinite for other applications and your user information. One more statement is that the free infinite on your disk translates into virtual memory so your apps have "fuel" to operate on. The nautical chart below tells you lot how much complimentary space is needed.

Annotation, that it is recommended that you install OS on a clean bulldoze. Adjacent, you will need enough deejay infinite bachelor, for example, to create Recovery Partition. 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 computer:

Go to Finder > All My Files > Arrange by size

Then yous tin can move your infinite 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 as information technology's almost unproblematic to utilise of all. It deletes system junk, sometime cleaved apps, and the balance of subconscious junk on your drive.

CleanMyMac X - Smart Scan complete

Download CleanMyMacfor Os ten.iv - ten.8 (free version)

Download CleanMyMac for Os 10.9 (free version)

Download CleanMyMacfor Bone 10.10 - 10.14 (free version)

STEP two. Get a re-create of Mac Bone X download

Commonly, it is assumed that updating Bone is a one-way route. That'south why going back to a past Apple Os version is problematic. The chief challenge is to download the Os installation file itself, considering your Mac may already be running a newer version. If you succeed in downloading the Os installation, your next footstep is to create a bootable USB or DVD and and so reinstall the Bone on your estimator.

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

Mac operating system download


If you once had purchased an old version of Mac Bone X from the App Shop, open it and go to the Purchased tab. In that location you'll find all the installers you tin can download. Nonetheless, it doesn't e'er work that style. The purchased department lists only those operating systems that you had downloaded in the past. Merely here is the path to check it:

  1. Click the App Shop icon.
  2. Click Purchases in the top menu.
  3. Scroll downward to find the preferred Os 10 version.
  4. Click Download.

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

Without App Store: Download Mac OS version as Apple Developer

If you are signed with an Apple tree Programmer business relationship, you can go admission to products that are no longer listed on the App Store. If y'all desperately need a lower OS Ten version build, consider creating a new Developer business relationship amongst other options. The membership toll is $99/year and provides a agglomeration of perks unavailable to ordinary users.

Nevertheless, go along in mind that if yous visit developer.apple.com/downloads, you can only detect 10.3-10.six Os X operating systems at that place. Newer versions are not bachelor because starting Mac Bone X Snow Leopard 10.7, the App Store has become the only source of updating Apple OS versions.

Purchase an older version of Mac operating system

Apple OS Versions

You tin purchase a boxed or e-mail version of by Mac OS X directly from Apple. Both will price you around $20. For the reason of being rather antiquated, Snowfall Leopard and before Apple versions can simply be installed from DVD.

Buy a boxed edition of Snow Leopard x.6
Get an electronic mail re-create of Lion 10.7
Get an email copy of Mount Panthera leo 10.viii

The e-mail edition comes with a special download code yous can use for the Mac App Store. Notation, that to install the Lion or Mountain King of beasts, your Mac needs to be running Snowfall Leopard and then you can install the newer OS on summit of it.

How to get macOS El Capitan download

If you are wondering if you can run El Capitan on an older Mac, rejoice equally it's possible too. Simply earlier your Mac can run El Capitan it has to be updated to Os X x.half dozen.8. So, here are master steps you should accept:

i. Install Snow Leopard from install DVD.
2. Update to ten.6.8 using Software Update.
3. Download El Capitan hither.

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

If you have a newer Mac, at that place 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 information technology to run any Bone released prior of that time, considering older Apple Bone versions simply practise not include hardware drivers for your Mac.

Mac os x download

But every bit it often happens, workarounds are possible. In that location is nevertheless a chance to download the installation file if you lot have an admission to a Mac (or virtual machine) running that operating system. For example, to become an installer for Lion, you may ask a friend who has Lion-operated Mac or, once over again, fix up a virtual motorcar running Panthera leo. So you will demand to gear up an external drive to download the installation file using Bone X Utilities.

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

STEP 3. Install older Os X onto an external drive

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

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

At present the Os should start downloading automatically onto the external bulldoze. Subsequently the download is complete, your Mac volition prompt you lot to do a restart, but at this bespeak, you should completely close it down. Now that the installation file is "captured" onto your external drive, y'all tin reinstall the Bone, this time running the file on your Mac.

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

Locate InstallESD.dmg disk image file — this is the file y'all demand to reinstall Panthera leo OS X. The same steps are valid for Mount Panthera leo and Mavericks.

How to downgrade a Mac running afterwards macOS versions

If your Mac runs macOS Sierra ten.12 or macOS Loftier Sierra 10.xiii, it is possible to revert it to the previous organization if you are not satisfied with the experience. You can exercise it either with Time Machine or by creating a bootable USB or external drive.

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Sierra

Education todowngrade from macOS High Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Mojave

Instruction to downgrade from macOS Catalina

Before yous do information technology, the all-time advice is to back your Mac up and so your most of import files stay intact. In addition to that, it makes sense to make clean up your Mac from one-time system junk files and awarding leftovers. The easiest way to exercise information technology is to run CleanMyMac Ten on your machine (download it for complimentary here).

Visit your local Apple Store to download older Os X version

If none of the options to get older OS 10 worked, pay a visit to nearest local Apple tree Store. They should have epitome installations going back to Bone Leopard and earlier. You can as well ask their assistance to create a bootable USB drive with the installation file. So here yous are. We promise this article has helped you lot to download an old version of Mac OS Ten. Below are a few more than links you may find interesting.