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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.
| Cheetah 10.0 | Puma 10.1 | Jaguar 10.2 |
| Panther 10.3 | Tiger 10.4 | Leopard 10.5 |
| Snow Leopard 10.6 | Lion 10.7 | Mountain Lion 10.8 |
| Mavericks 10.9 | Yosemite 10.10 | El Capitan 10.11 |
| Sierra 10.12 | High Sierra 10.13 | Mojave 10.14 |
| 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 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:
Apple Snow Leopard Disk
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:
- Click the App Store icon.
- Click Purchases in the top menu.
- Scroll down to find the preferred OS X version.
- 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.
- Start your Mac holding down Command + R.
- Prepare a clean external drive (at least 10 GB of storage).
- Within OS X Utilities, choose Reinstall OS X.
- Select external drive as a source.
- 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.
- Boot your Mac from your standard drive.
- Connect the external drive.
- 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:
Mac OS X Snow Leopard is among the leading Macintosh operating systems. The operating system provides a sleeker interface with a neat and clean environment. Presenting many powerful tools like Photobooth, Screen sharing, DVD player, iChat, QuickTime, and many more. Due to its simple interface, even a newbie can master within a few minutes.
File: mac_os_x_snow_leopard_10.6.iso
Size: 7.2 GB
Developer: Apple Inc
Language: English
Released: August 28, 2009
Last update: July 25, 2011
First thing first, we have clear it here that unlike the previous Mac OS X version, Apple has not done something new. We can say that there no eye-popping interface or any new feature. However, it doesn’t mean that this operating system is completely useless.
Apple has tried a different marketing strategy as they have made a major improvement in the operating system. Instead of trying something new, which users might like or distasteful. They have worked way harder on the previous version to make Mac OS Leopard way better.
In short, it is safe to say that Apple has created a great upgrade to the previous version.
Mac OS X Leopard 10.6 is the seventh major release of the Mac OS X series by Apple. The operating system was publicly unveiled on June 8, 2009 on WWDC (Apple Worldwide Developers Conference). And on August 28 2009, it was distributed worldwide.
Snow Leopard was available for the users for around 29$ for a single-user license. It was way reasonable as compared to its predecessor Mac OS X Leopard which was around 129$. Users liked the price and the operating system which caused a high sale.
The operating system provided improved performance, great efficiency, and a brilliant deal for the users. These qualities made users love the operating system for a long period.
Snow Leopard took two years to get released. And it has the second-longest life span in Mac OS X series, as the first place is taken by Mac OS X Leopard.
Mac OS X Snow Leopard was replaced by Mac OS X Lion 10.7 on July 20 2011 who was later replaced by Mountain Lion.
The last update released for Mac OS X Snow Leopard was released on July 25, 2011. The update’s version was 10.6.8 and the update was highly focused on Mac App Store. The update size was about 3.5 MB.
System Requirements
Before downloading Mac OS X Snow Leopard on your computer, you will need to keep in mind the following specs. As if you have the following spec then you are able to run it on your computer.
Keep in mind that the Macintosh operating system doesn’t support PowerPC based processors. So, you will need a Mac computer with an Intel processor inside such as Core 2 Duo. Core i5 and i7 can be a better option. There is a need for 1GB of RAM with at least 5GB of free storage.
Other hardware like DVD drive, USB port and FireWire DVD drive is also needed.
Features
Apple marketed the Mac OS X Snow Leopard as an operating system with no new features. The main goal behind the action was to improve the old tools to have a stable and more productive environment. As reviewing the OS and observing each and every part in detail, we can have done some brilliant work here.
No new feature doesn’t mean there is absolutely no feature or nothing is new. Here are some features that are either upgraded or are completely new.
Mac OS X started to ship its new OS with a 64-bit kernel. It was a clear sign that Apple wanted to move/ change to 64-bit as 32-bit was getting a part of history in the past. However, due to low numbers of 64-bit supported applications, still 32-bit were support in Snow Leopard.
OpenCL is a computing language that many give the credits for the pavement of the current improved graphical interface of Apple devices. OpenCL was used to cover the load of graphical work on GPU. It was also used to support 3D graphics and was supported by all of the leading graphical processing chips. As, it was the open standard format.
Storage was a big issue in the past. So, Apple has solved the problem with new algorithms and frameworks. Apple mainly cut down all the pre-installed drivers for printers. Which in result saved more than 7 GB of space.
If you are connected to an internet connection and then you connect your printer to your Mac. In such cases, your operating system will download all the necessary drivers needed. Same with PowerPC applications. If you want to open any PowerPC application, then Snow Leopard will offer you to install Rosetta and to install the app using Apple’s Software Update Utility.
A full-sized app store was introduced. It was used to download all the applications for your Macintosh operating system.
Apple’s email, calendar, and contact apps works peachy with Exchange 2007 server. This gives users the ability the same as Microsoft Entourage. However, the Exchange 2007 server has better designed, is less memory-intensive app and works way faster.
Using Wi-Fi mapping, Mac OS X Snow Leopard can figure out where you are and change your date and time accordingly.
Malware is a problem that many of the users are either afraid or annoyed. Apple has provided a built-in system that detects malicious software and protects the user’s computers from threats. The application detects the file and erases them before the malware takes control over your computer.
Preview is a program that accurately detects any document. It gives you the option of selecting either horizontal or vertical columns in page layout. Other features like accurate cutting, copying pasting are also acceptable. As compared to Adobe reader, Preview opens way faster and can open more than one PDF file at a time.
QuickTime X is introduced which is a newer version of QuickTime. Using QuickTime X, you can records videos from your mac’s camera or record your entire screen. The videos can be edited and shared to social media. This application can also convert your movies for your iPod, iPhone, or Apple TV.
Expose is one of the major improvements made in the interface. By holding the function key in your keyboard or holding the Dock icon you can find the window you want. Expose will display the windows on the desktop in the form of thumbnails and by hitting the tab key you can cycle through the windows.
Let’s say you want to send an email to one of your friends and you want to attach a picture inside your email. With Dock, you can drag and drop the image inside the email. Dock is not limited to email only, but you can drag any file from one application to another.
Mac OS X Snow Leopard Download
App Store Snow Leopard Download
Mac OS X Snow Leopard has a number of tools with a productive environment that many users loved. And if you want to experience this amazing operating system then click here on the direct links to download Mac OS X Snow Leopard offline setup installer for free.
File: mac_os_x_snow_leopard_10.6.iso
Size: 7.2 GB
Program Class: Operating System
Language: English
Apple Store Snow Leopard Download Free
Released: August 28, 2009
Last update: July 25, 2011
Developer: Apple Inc
Successor: Mac OS X Lion 10.7
Predecessor: Mac OS X Leopard
Setup Type: Offline Installer/ Full standalone setup