New privacy information on the App Store 7 lets you see a summary of the privacy practices of each app before you decide to download it — just like nutrition labels help you understand what’s in food before you buy it. Developers self-report how they use your data, including what data they collect and whether that data is used to track you.

So, you’ve decided to download an older version of Mac OS 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 simply crash) on newer operating systems. Also, 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 need a working installation file of an older Mac OS X. Further down we’ll explain where to get one and what problems you 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’s good to know the basic macOS timeline.

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 not just space for the OS itself but also space for other applications and your user data. One more argument is that the free space on your disk translates into virtual memory so your apps have “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 need enough disk space available, 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 you can move your space hoggers onto an external drive or a cloud storage.
If you aren’t comfortable with cleaning the Mac manually, there are some nice automatic “room cleaners”. Our favorite is CleanMyMac as it’s most simple to use of all. It deletes system junk, old broken apps, and the rest of hidden junk on your drive.

Download CleanMyMac for OS 10.4 - 10.8 (free version)

Download CleanMyMac for OS 10.9 (free version)

Download CleanMyMac for OS 10.10 - 10.14 (free version)

STEP 2. Get a copy of Mac OS X download

Normally, it is assumed that updating OS is a one-way road. That’s why going back to a past Apple OS version is problematic. The main 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 then reinstall the OS on your computer.

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

If you once had purchased an old version of Mac OS X from the App Store, open it and go to the Purchased tab. There you’ll find all the installers you can download. However, it doesn’t always work that way. The purchased section lists only those operating systems that you had downloaded in the past. But here is the path to check it:

1. Click the App Store icon.
2. Click Purchases in the top menu.
3. Scroll 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 Store.

Without App Store: Download Mac OS version as Apple Developer

If you are signed with an Apple Developer account, you can get access to products that are no longer listed on the App Store. If you desperately need a lower OS X version build, consider creating a new Developer account among other options. The membership cost is $99/year and provides a bunch 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 OS 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

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

Buy a boxed edition of Snow Leopard 10.6
Get an email copy of Lion 10.7
Get an email copy of Mountain Lion 10.8

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

How to get macOS El Capitan download

If you are wondering if you can run El Capitan on an older Mac, rejoice as it’s possible too. But before your Mac can run El Capitan it has to be updated to OS X 10.6.8. So, 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 OS X”

If you have a newer Mac, there 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 expect it to run any OS released prior of that time, because older Apple OS versions simply do not include hardware drivers for your Mac.

But as it often happens, workarounds are possible. There is still a chance to download the installation file if you 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 Lion-operated Mac or, once again, set up a virtual machine running Lion. Then you will need to prepare an external drive to download the installation file using OS X Utilities.

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

STEP 3. Install older OS X onto an external drive

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

1. Start your Mac holding down Command + R.
2. Prepare a clean external drive (at least 10 GB of storage).
3. Within OS X Utilities, choose Reinstall OS X.
4. Select external drive as a source.
5. Enter your Apple ID.

Now the OS should start downloading automatically onto the external drive. After the download is complete, your Mac will prompt you to do a restart, but at this point, you should completely shut it down. Now that the installation file is “captured” onto your external drive, you can reinstall the OS, this time running the file on your Mac.

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

Locate InstallESD.dmg disk image file — this is the file you need to reinstall Lion OS 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 High Sierra 10.13, it is possible to revert it to the previous system if you are not satisfied with the experience. You can do it either with Time Machine or by creating a bootable USB or external drive.
Instruction to downgrade from macOS Sierra

Instruction to downgrade from macOS High Sierra

Instruction to downgrade from macOS Mojave

Instruction to downgrade from macOS Catalina

Before you do it, the best advice is to back your Mac up so your most important files stay intact. In addition to that, it makes sense to clean up your Mac from old system junk files and application leftovers. The easiest way to do 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 get older OS X worked, pay a visit to nearest local Apple Store. They should have image installations going back to OS Leopard and earlier. You can also 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 X. Below are a few more links you may find interesting.

These might also interest you:

Apple has released the next version of macOS 11 named Big Sur at WWDC 2020. The looks and visual changes have been amazing. If you are excited and want to install it then take a look at this ultimate guide to download macOS Big Sur 11.0.1 developer beta 1 on your Mac.

macOS Big Sur Supported Mac

• • MacBook 2015 and later
  • MacBook Air 2013 and later
  • MacBook Pro Late 2013 and later
  • Mac mini 2014 and later
  • iMac 2014 and later
  • iMac Pro 2017 and later (all models)
  • Mac Pro 2013 and later

Take Backup of Mac Before Updating to macOS Big Sur

Even before installing regular updates, we suggest taking a backup of the macOS device. And this is a developer beta – most likely having bugs and other issues! So, we stress even more that you backup your Mac before installing macOS Big Sur. To do this:

1. Plug in an external HDD or SSD to your Mac
2. You will see a window asking you to use the drive to back up with Time Machine. Check the box for Encrypt Backup Disk. After this click on Use as Backup Disk.
3. If you do not see the above window, click on the Apple icon, and select System Preferences. Click on Time Machine.
4. Click on Select Backup Disk, and choose your drive.
5. Finally, check the box for Encrypt Backups (recommended) and click on Use Disk.
6. Check the box for Show Time Machine in the menu bar. Next, click on it from the top menu bar, and select Backup Now.

How to Download macOS Big Sur 11.0.1 Developer Beta 1

Macos Sierra App Store

1. Visit developer.apple.com. Click on Account and sign in with your developer account
2. Click on Downloads, from the left sidebar.
3. Click on Install Profile for macOS Big Sur beta. This will download a .dmg file (around 134 KB).
4. Go to the Downloads folder (or the folder where your browser saves files by default). Double-click on macOSDeveloperBetaAccessUtility.dmg file to open it.
5. Next, double click on macOSDeveloperBetaAccessUtility.pkg
6. Click on Continue, read, and agree to terms and conditions. Then, click on Install.
   
7. Next, follow the instructions to install the macOS developer beta. System Preferences will automatically open, and you will see the Software Update screen. In case you do not, click the () Apple logo in the top left corner → Select System Preferences → Click Software Update.
   Note: If even now you do not see an update for macOS Big Sur, restart your Mac and then go to the Software Update section
8. Here you can see the macOS Big Sur developer beta option. Click Upgrade Now and wait for the download to finish. Depending on your internet speed it may take a while.

How to Install macOS Big Sur 11.0.1 Developer Beta 1

Once the full download completes, you will see a window asking you to start the installation process.

1. Click on Continue.
2. Click on Agree (if you do). Confirm by clicking Agree again
3. Click on Install. (on my MacBook Pro, it needed 50 GB of free space for installation. If required clear some space.)
4. Finally, go through the simple on-screen instructions

It usually takes considerable time for the entire installation process to finish. Once the full process completes, click on Continue, enter your Apple ID password, and explore the beautiful macOS 11.

How to Install macOS Big Sur 11.0.1 Developer Beta 1 on Partition

To keep things safe, you may choose to install the beta version of macOS on Mac’s storage partition. This keeps the current operating system and the beta separate. Here is how to do that.

Macos High Sierra Installer App

1. First of all, you will have to create a partition on Mac. If you already have a partition, read on
2. After the download completes, you see a window asking you to start the installation. Click on Continue.
3. Click on Agree and confirm
4. Here, select a partition. Click Show All Disks to choose a partition
5. Finally, click on Install.

Macos Sierra Developer Preview Installer App Offline

That’s all!

These are straightforward steps to download and install macOS Big Sur developer beta 10.

You may also like to read them:

Macos Sierra Developer Preview Installer App Download

I have been an Apple user for over seven years now. At iGeeksBlog, I love creating how-tos and troubleshooting guides that help people do more with their iPhone, iPad, Mac, AirPods, and Apple Watch. In my free time, I like to watch stand up comedy videos, tech documentaries, news debates, and political speeches.

Macos Sierra Installer Dmg

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