So, you've decided to download an older version of Mac OS 10. In that location are many reasons that could indicate yous to this radical determination. To begin with, some of your apps may not be working properly (or simply crash) on newer operating systems. As well, you may have noticed your Mac's performance went down right after the last update. Finally, if you want to run a parallel copy of Mac OS X on a virtual machine, you too will demand a working installation file of an older Mac OS 10. Farther downwardly nosotros'll explain where to become one and what problems you lot may face downwardly the road.

A listing of all Mac OS X versions

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

Cheetah 10.0 Puma 10.1 Jaguar 10.2
Panther x.3 Tiger 10.4 Leopard 10.5
Snow Leopard 10.6 Lion ten.vii Mountain Lion 10.viii
Mavericks 10.9 Yosemite 10.ten El Capitan x.11
Sierra 10.12 High Sierra ten.13 Mojave 10.14
Catalina 10.xv

STEP 1. Fix 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 space for the OS itself but also space for other applications and your user data. One more argument is that the gratuitous infinite on your disk translates into virtual retentiveness and so your apps take "fuel" to operate on. The chart below tells you how much free space is needed.

Note, that it is recommended that you install OS on a clean drive. Next, you will demand enough disk space available, for example, to create Recovery Partitioning. Here are some ideas to gratuitous up space on your drive:

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

Go to Finder > All My Files > Conform by 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, in that location are some overnice automatic "room cleaners". Our favorite isCleanMyMac every bit information technology'south most unproblematic to apply of all. Information technology deletes system junk, old broken apps, and the rest of hidden junk on your bulldoze.

CleanMyMac X - Smart Scan complete

Download CleanMyMacfor Bone 10.iv - 10.8 (gratis version)

Download CleanMyMac for OS 10.9 (free version)

Download CleanMyMacfor Bone 10.x - x.14 (free version)

Step ii. Get a re-create of Mac Bone X download

Ordinarily, it is assumed that updating OS is a one-way road. That'due south why going back to a by Apple OS version is problematic. The chief challenge is to download the Os installation file itself, because your Mac may already be running a newer version. If you succeed in downloading the OS installation, your next step is to create a bootable USB or DVD and so reinstall the Os on your figurer.

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

Mac operating system download


If you once had purchased an quondam version of Mac Os 10 from the App Store, open it and get to the Purchased tab. In that location yous'll find all the installers you can download. Yet, information technology doesn't always work that manner. The purchased section lists only those operating systems that yous had downloaded in the past. But hither is the path to bank check it:

  1. Click the App Store icon.
  2. Click Purchases in the top 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 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 Developer account, you tin can get admission to products that are no longer listed on the App Store. If yous desperately need a lower Bone X version build, consider creating a new Developer business relationship amongst other options. The membership cost is $99/yr and provides a bunch of perks unavailable to ordinary users.

Nevertheless, go on in mind that if you visit developer.apple.com/downloads, you lot can only observe x.iii-10.6 OS X operating systems there. Newer versions are non available considering starting Mac OS X Snowfall Leopard 10.7, the App Shop has get the only source of updating Apple OS versions.

Buy an older version of Mac operating system

Apple OS Versions

You lot tin can purchase a boxed or email version of past Mac Bone Ten straight from Apple. Both will price yous around $20. For the reason of being rather antiquated, Snow Leopard and earlier Apple versions can just be installed from DVD.

Buy a boxed edition of Snow Leopard x.half-dozen
Become an email re-create of Lion ten.7
Become an electronic mail re-create of Mountain Lion x.eight

The email edition comes with a special download code you tin use for the Mac App Store. Annotation, that to install the King of beasts or Mount Lion, your Mac needs to be running Snow Leopard so you lot can install the newer OS on peak of information technology.

How to go macOS El Capitan download

If yous are wondering if you lot can run El Capitan on an older Mac, rejoice as it's possible too. But before your Mac tin run El Capitan information technology has to exist updated to OS Ten 10.6.8. So, here are primary steps yous should take:

1. Install Snow Leopard from install DVD.
ii. Update to 10.6.eight using Software Update.
3. Download El Capitan here.

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

If you have a newer Mac, at that place is no concrete option to install Mac Bone versions older than your current Mac model. For instance, if your MacBook was released in 2014, don't await it to run whatsoever OS released prior of that time, considering older Apple tree Os versions simply practice not include hardware drivers for your Mac.

Mac os x download

But as it often happens, workarounds are possible. In that location is yet a gamble to download the installation file if y'all have an access to a Mac (or virtual machine) running that operating system. For example, to get an installer for Lion, you may ask a friend who has Panthera leo-operated Mac or, once again, set up a virtual machine running Lion. Then you will need to fix an external drive to download the installation file using OS X Utilities.

After y'all've completed the download, the installer should launch automatically, only yous can click Abolish 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 post-obit method allows you lot to download Mac Bone X Lion, Mountain Lion, and Mavericks.

  1. Start your Mac property down Command + R.
  2. Fix a make clean external drive (at least 10 GB of storage).
  3. Within 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 OS should get-go downloading automatically onto the external drive. After the download is complete, your Mac will prompt y'all to do a restart, but at this point, you lot should completely shut it downwards. Now that the installation file is "captured" onto your external drive, yous tin can reinstall the OS, this fourth dimension running the file on your Mac.

  1. Boot your Mac from your standard bulldoze.
  2. Connect the external bulldoze.
  3. Go to external bulldoze > Bone Ten Install Data.

Locate InstallESD.dmg disk image file — this is the file you need to reinstall Panthera leo Os 10. The same steps are valid for Mountain Panthera leo and Mavericks.

How to downgrade a Mac running afterwards macOS versions

If your Mac runs macOS Sierra ten.12 or macOS High Sierra 10.13, information technology is possible to revert it to the previous arrangement if you are not satisfied with the experience. Y'all tin can do information technology either with Time Machine or by creating a bootable USB or external drive.

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS High Sierra

Educational activity todowngrade from macOS Mojave

Instruction to downgrade from macOS Catalina

Before you practice it, the best communication is to back your Mac up so your nigh of import files stay intact. In addition to that, it makes sense to make clean up your Mac from erstwhile system junk files and application leftovers. The easiest way to do it is to run CleanMyMac 10 on your machine (download it for gratis here).

Visit your local Apple Store to download older Bone X version

If none of the options to get older OS X worked, pay a visit to nearest local Apple tree Store. They should have epitome installations going back to OS Leopard and earlier. You can likewise ask 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 old version of Mac OS 10. Below are a few more links you may find interesting.