So, you've decided to download an older version of Mac Bone 10. At that place are many reasons that could betoken you to this radical decision. 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'due south functioning went down right subsequently the last update. Finally, if you lot desire to run a parallel re-create of Mac Bone X on a virtual motorcar, you too volition demand a working installation file of an older Mac OS X. Further downwardly we'll explain where to go 1 and what bug you may face up down the route.

A list of all Mac Bone Ten versions

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

Chetah x.0 Puma x.ane Jaguar 10.2
Panther x.3 Tiger x.four Leopard ten.5
Snow Leopard 10.half dozen King of beasts x.7 Mountain Panthera leo 10.eight
Mavericks ten.nine Yosemite 10.10 El Capitan 10.xi
Sierra 10.12 High Sierra 10.xiii Mojave ten.fourteen
Catalina 10.15

STEP 1. 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 just space for the OS itself only also infinite for other applications and your user information. One more argument is that the gratuitous space on your disk translates into virtual retention so your apps have "fuel" to operate on. The nautical chart below tells you how much gratuitous space is needed.

Note, that it is recommended that yous install Bone on a clean bulldoze. Next, yous will need enough deejay space available, for instance, to create Recovery Partitioning. Here are some ideas to free upwards infinite on your bulldoze:

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

Become to Finder > All My Files > Arrange past size

And then you tin motion your space hoggers onto an external bulldoze or a deject storage.

If you lot aren't comfortable with cleaning the Mac manually, there are some nice automated "room cleaners". Our favorite isCleanMyMac as it's most uncomplicated to utilise of all. Information technology deletes system junk, one-time cleaved apps, and the residuum of hidden junk on your drive.

CleanMyMac X - Smart Scan complete

Download CleanMyMacfor OS ten.4 - 10.eight (costless version)

Download CleanMyMac for Bone 10.9 (free version)

Download CleanMyMacfor Os x.ten - 10.fourteen (costless version)

STEP two. Get a copy of Mac Bone 10 download

Commonly, it is assumed that updating Bone is a one-way route. That's why going back to a past Apple Bone version is problematic. The chief challenge is to download the Bone 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 once had purchased an onetime version of Mac Os X from the App Shop, open information technology and become to the Purchased tab. There yous'll find all the installers y'all tin can download. However, it doesn't always work that mode. The purchased section lists only those operating systems that y'all had downloaded in the by. Simply here is the path to bank check it:

  1. Click the App Shop icon.
  2. Click Purchases in the height menu.
  3. Curl downwardly to notice the preferred OS X version.
  4. Click Download.

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

Without App Store: Download Mac Bone version equally Apple Programmer

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

Withal, go along in heed that if you lot visit developer.apple.com/downloads, yous can but find x.iii-10.vi Bone X operating systems there. Newer versions are non available considering starting Mac Os 10 Snow Leopard 10.seven, the App Store has get the simply source of updating Apple Os versions.

Purchase an older version of Mac operating system

Apple OS Versions

You tin can purchase a boxed or due east-mail version of by Mac Bone X directly from Apple tree. Both will cost yous lot around $xx. For the reason of beingness rather antiquated, Snow Leopard and earlier Apple versions can can only be installed from DVD.

Purchase a boxed edition of Snow Leopard ten.vi
Get an electronic mail copy of King of beasts x.7
Become an email re-create of Mountain King of beasts 10.8

The e-mail edition comes with a special download code yous can apply for the Mac App Store. Note, that to install the Lion or Mount Lion, your Mac needs to be running Snow Leopard so you can install the newer Os on tiptop of it.

How to get macOS El Capitan download

If you lot are wondering if y'all tin can run El Capitan on an older Mac, rejoice as it's possible every bit well. Simply earlier your Mac tin can run El Capitan it has to exist updated to Os X 10.six.eight. So, hither are main steps you should have:

one. Install Snow Leopard from install DVD.
2. Update to ten.half dozen.eight using Software Update.
3. Download El Capitan here.

"I can't download an one-time version of Mac Os X"

If you lot accept a newer Mac, in that location is no physical choice 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 any Bone released prior of that time, considering older Apple Bone versions merely do not include hardware drivers for your Mac.

Mac os x download

Simply equally it often happens, workarounds are possible. In that location is even so a take a chance to download the installation file if y'all have an admission to a Mac (or virtual auto) running that operating arrangement. For example, to go an installer for Panthera leo, you lot may ask a friend who has Lion-operated Mac or, one time one time once more, set upwardly a virtual auto running Lion. Then you will demand to prepare an external drive to download the installation file using Os X Utilities.

Afterwards you've completed the download, the installer should launch automatically, but yous tin can click Cancel and copy the file y'all need. Beneath is the detailed educational activity how to do it.

Pace three. Install older Bone X onto an external drive

The following method allows you to download Mac Bone 10 Male monarch of beasts, Mountain Lion, and Mavericks.

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

Now the Bone should outset downloading automatically onto the external drive. Subsequently the download is consummate, your Mac volition prompt you lot to practice a restart, just at this point, you lot should completely shut it down. Now that the installation file is "captured" onto your external bulldoze, you lot tin reinstall the OS, this time running the file on your Mac.

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

Locate InstallESD.dmg deejay image file — this is the file you need to reinstall Lion Os 10. 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 High Sierra x.13, information technology is possible to revert it to the previous organization if y'all are non satisfied with the experience. You tin can can practice it either with Time Auto or by creating a bootable USB or external drive.

Didactics todowngrade from macOS Sierra

Teaching todowngrade from macOS High Sierra

Educational activeness todowngrade from macOS Mojave

Instruction to downgrade from macOS Catalina

Before you practice it, the best advice is to back your Mac upwardly then your almost of import files stay intact. In addition to that, information technology makes sense to clean up your Mac from old system junk files and awarding leftovers. The easiest way to practise it is to run CleanMyMac 10 on your machine (download it for gratuitous here).

Visit your local Apple Shop to download older OS 10 version

If none of the options to go older Bone Ten worked, pay a visit to nearest local Apple tree Store. They should have paradigm installations going dorsum to OS Leopard and before. Yous can also ask their help to create a bootable USB bulldoze with the installation file. And then here you are. Nosotros hope this commodity has helped you to download an former version of Mac OS 10. Below are a few more than links you lot may observe interesting.