So, you've decided to download an older version of Mac Bone Ten. There are many reasons that could point y'all to this radical decision. To begin with, some of your apps may non be working properly (or but crash) on newer operating systems. As well, you may take noticed your Mac's performance went down right afterwards the last update. Finally, if you want to run a parallel re-create of Mac Os X on a virtual machine, y'all also will need a working installation file of an older Mac OS 10. Farther downward we'll explain where to become one and what problems you may face down the road.

A listing of all Mac OS X versions

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

Cheetah 10.0 Puma 10.1 Jaguar 10.2
Panther 10.three Tiger ten.4 Leopard 10.five
Snow Leopard ten.six King of beasts x.7 Mount Lion 10.viii
Mavericks 10.9 Yosemite 10.10 El Capitan ten.11
Sierra 10.12 High Sierra 10.thirteen Mojave 10.14
Catalina 10.15

STEP i. Set up your Mac for installation

Given your Mac isn't new and is filled with data, you will probably demand plenty costless space on your Mac. This includes not but space for the OS itself but as well space for other applications and your user data. Ane more argument is that the gratis space on your disk translates into virtual memory and so your apps have "fuel" to operate on. The nautical chart below tells you how much gratuitous infinite is needed.

Notation, that it is recommended that you install Os on a make clean drive. Next, you will need plenty disk space available, for example, to create Recovery Division. Here are some ideas to free upwardly space on your drive:

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

Go to Finder > All My Files > Suit by size

And then you can motility your space hoggers onto an external bulldoze or a cloud storage.

If yous aren't comfortable with cleaning the Mac manually, at that place are some overnice automated "room cleaners". Our favorite isCleanMyMac every bit it'south nigh simple to use of all. It deletes organization junk, sometime broken apps, and the rest of hidden junk on your drive.

CleanMyMac X - Smart Scan complete

Download CleanMyMacfor Os 10.four - 10.8 (free version)

Download CleanMyMac for OS ten.9 (gratuitous version)

Download CleanMyMacfor Os 10.10 - 10.14 (free version)

STEP 2. Get a copy of Mac Bone X download

Normally, it is assumed that updating OS is a one-fashion route. That's why going dorsum to a past Apple OS version is problematic. The master 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 then reinstall the OS on your computer.

How to download older Mac OS 10 versions via the App Shop

Mac operating system download


If you in one case had purchased an quondam version of Mac Os X from the App Store, open it and go to the Purchased tab. In that location you'll find all the installers you can download. Even so, information technology doesn't always work that way. The purchased department lists only those operating systems that you had downloaded in the past. But here is the path to bank check it:

  1. Click the App Store icon.
  2. Click Purchases in the top bill of fare.
  3. Gyre down to find the preferred OS Ten version.
  4. Click Download.

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

Without App Shop: Download Mac OS version as Apple Developer

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

Nevertheless, keep in mind that if you visit developer.apple.com/downloads, you can only find 10.3-10.6 Os X operating systems there. Newer versions are not available 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

Yous can purchase a boxed or email version of past Mac Bone X direct from Apple. Both volition cost you around $20. For the reason of being rather antiquated, Snow Leopard and earlier Apple versions tin can only be installed from DVD.

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

The email edition comes with a special download lawmaking you can use for the Mac App Store. Note, that to install the Lion or Mountain Panthera leo, your Mac needs to exist running Snow Leopard so you can install the newer Os on top of information technology.

How to get macOS El Capitan download

If you are wondering if y'all can run El Capitan on an older Mac, rejoice every bit it's possible as well. Merely before your Mac tin can run El Capitan information technology has to exist updated to OS X 10.half dozen.eight. And then, here are main steps you should take:

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

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

If y'all have a newer Mac, at that place 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 wait information technology to run any OS released prior of that fourth dimension, because older Apple OS versions just do not include hardware drivers for your Mac.

Mac os x download

Only every bit it often happens, workarounds are possible. There is withal a chance to download the installation file if yous have an access to a Mac (or virtual auto) running that operating organization. For example, to get an installer for Lion, you may ask a friend who has Lion-operated Mac or, in one case again, set upwardly a virtual machine running King of beasts. Then yous will need to prepare an external drive to download the installation file using OS X Utilities.

Later on you've completed the download, the installer should launch automatically, but you can click Cancel and re-create the file yous need. Below is the detailed education how to do it.

STEP iii. Install older OS X onto an external drive

The following method allows you to download Mac Bone Ten King of beasts, Mountain King of beasts, and Mavericks.

  1. Beginning your Mac holding down Command + R.
  2. Prepare a clean external drive (at least ten GB of storage).
  3. Within OS 10 Utilities, choose Reinstall Bone X.
  4. Select external bulldoze every bit 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 drive. Afterwards the download is complete, your Mac will prompt you to do a restart, merely at this point, you lot should completely shut information technology down. Now that the installation file is "captured" onto your external drive, yous can reinstall the Os, this fourth dimension running the file on your Mac.

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

Locate InstallESD.dmg deejay image file — this is the file y'all need to reinstall Lion Bone X. The same steps are valid for Mountain Lion and Mavericks.

How to downgrade a Mac running later macOS versions

If your Mac runs macOS Sierra 10.12 or macOS Loftier Sierra x.xiii, information technology is possible to revert it to the previous system if you are not satisfied with the experience. You lot can practice it either with Time Machine or by creating a bootable USB or external drive.

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Sierra

Pedagogy todowngrade from macOS Loftier Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Mojave

Instruction to downgrade from macOS Catalina

Before yous do it, the best communication 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 old organisation junk files and application leftovers. The easiest way to practise it is to run CleanMyMac Ten on your motorcar (download it for free here).

Visit your local Apple Store to download older Bone X version

If none of the options to get older Bone X worked, pay a visit to nearest local Apple Shop. They should take image installations going back to OS Leopard and before. You can besides inquire their assistance to create a bootable USB drive with the installation file. So here yous are. Nosotros promise this article has helped y'all to download an old version of Mac OS 10. Below are a few more links yous may find interesting.