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

On a Mac that is compatible with El Capitan, open the disk image and run the installer within, named InstallMacOSX.pkg. It installs an app named Install OS X El Capitan into your Applications folder. You will create the bootable installer from this app, not from the disk image or.pkg installer. Use the 'createinstallmedia' command in Terminal. Download Lion from the Mac App Store—but don't install it yet, because of the disappearing installer issue noted above. Find the installer in your Applications folder and right-click on it then. IMac Mac OS X Install DVD by Apple. Publication date 2009 Topics imac, apple, mac os. Operating system installer originally shipped with an iMac.

We’ll be repeatedly referring to these Apple OS versions below, so it’s good to know the basic macOS timeline.

Download Mac OS X Lion from the Mac App Store ($29.99) From the Mac OS X Finder, locate the Mac OS X Installation file that was downloaded, right-click, and “Show Package Contents” Find and open the “SharedSupport” folder and locate a disc image file called “InstallESD.dmg”. What is Mac OS X 10.5.1 Leopard Install (DVD DL)? Mac OS X v10.5 codename “Leopard” is the sixth version of Apple’s Operating System Mac OS X for Macintosh computers (desktop, laptop and servers alike). If you can't install the latest macOS, you might be able to install an earlier macOS. Create a bootable installer, then use it to install macOS on your Mac or another Mac. If you just had your Mac logic board replaced during a repair, macOS Recovery might offer only the latest macOS compatible with your Mac.

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

Mac Os X Installer Download

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

Macbook Air Mac Os X Install Dvd Download

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:

If you have been dealing with softwares and operating systems for a period, then you must have come across an indispensible terminology as 'ISO image' or 'ISO file'. Do you ever wonder what do they mean exactly while working with them? Most of the users do not pay much attention to the detail of the file, but rather proceed with the procedures that lay ahead. Well that is not going to support you if you head on with intricate software and operating system issues for the long run. So it is better to know what ISO images really are.

ISO images are basically images containing information of a particular software or operating system you are so seeking in a compressed format. This menial format allows software vendors and IT companies to securely and conveniently share their products across the market without much difficulty. And ISO can be burned into DVD and USB for installing a operating system.

So if you ever run into a situation where your system has been compromised and you need to re-install or format it immediately, then you definitely need an ISO burner to burn ISO images to an optical disk (USB or DVD/CD). Mere copy paste of the file into the disk would not do the job. And this is what we are going to discuss in this article in detail.

Method 1: Burn ISO Image to DVD/CD with ImgBurn

ImgBurn is generally used for producing ISO image files as well as burning ISO files to discs. Apart from ISO images, it can also burn quite a huge number of file formats to discs like ISO, IMG, MDS, BIN & NRG files. Not only that, you can even use this tool to make ISO, IMG and BIN files from the existing files and folders in your computer. But it is only supported in almost all Windows platform, from Windows 95 to the latest Windows 8. Moreover, there are many exception features that are not available on free tools but be careful because ImgBurn will automatically install adware during the installation, so make sure to uncheck them and customize the installation process according to your requirement.

Step 1. Download and run the installer for Pismo File Mount Audit Package.

Step 2. After finishing the installation process, just right click on the ISO file and select 'Mount Image'.

Step 3. Within few seconds the mounting should be done and the icon of the ISO image will change that looks like as follows - You may now double click on the folder and it will open normally like the snapshot below.

Step 4. Now, select all the files and folders from the mounted image and copy it to a distinct folder. After copying is finished, go ahead and 'unmount' the ISO image file so that it can return to the ISO format.

Cons –

• It is an outdated version and might not support UEFI-basd Windows 10, 64 bit.
• Automatically install adware during the installation.
• Suitable for professionals.
• Doesn't support for RAW formats. This goes for ripping and also for burning.

Install Mac Os From Usb

Method 2: Burn ISO Image to Bootable DVD/CD with ISOGeeker

Due to the lackness of effective techniques and updates, ImgBurn didn't support the latest UEFI-based computer and windows 10 64 bit. On the contrary, TunesBro ISOGeeker has been released since the begining of the Windows 7 and totally different to the other tools. It can be able to burn a ISO image into a writable DVD, CD disk with also writing the ISO booting parameters, after the burning, your DVD/CD can be bootable on another computer. The whole burning procedure is done automatically and continuously without getting any errors like other tools, you don't need to make any settings. There are some other useful features included such as burning ISO, creating ISO, extracting ISO, editing ISO and copy image from Disc.

Needless to say, that this ISOGeeker is fully equipped with all the necessary features that has been missing in many of your attempted tools, and can really assure you of a full fledge output.

ISOGeeker - Directly Extrtact ISO Image Files without Burning

• All-in-one ISO tool including Burning, Extracting, Creating, Editing and making ISO from Disc.
• Two ways to burn: USB, DVD/CD
• It works for both MBR (legacy BIOS/CMS boot) modes and GPT (UEFI boot).
• Open and extract everything from a ISO file with one-click.
• C ompatible with all Windows OS, namely, XP/ Vista/ 7/ 8/ 10.

Step 1. Download ISOGeeker on to your computer (Windows and Mac vesrion are all available), then Install it accurately with installation wizard. Now open up the tool and from the main screen click on 'Burn' option.

Step 2. This part, you will first be required to select the ISO file that you want to burn into DVD/CD. Just click the browsing button to import your ISO image. If you're using a portable DVD/CD drive, then you need to connect your DVD or DVD drive into your computer. The program will recognize your DVD and list it in the box. Then click the Burn button to start writing ISO image to your DVD/CD.

Step 3. It will take few minutes to finish the burning process, kind your DVD/CD drive is connected during the burning. You'll see a progress screen while the data is written to the DVD/CD and finalizing

After burning, it will pops up a Windows saying 'Burn successfully!' and DVD/CD will be ejected. Then you can check the all the ISO files were burned into the disc, means it can be used to install operating system.

And it's all done. The whole process is very straight-forward, and for a full walkthrough on this.

Conclusion:

Most ISO burning software may has a bit of legal trouble because they will remove macro copyright. But don't worry, TunesBro ISOGeeker never remove the copyright protection from any DVD/CD, it just write the ISO image to disc with legitimate control arithmetic, and never remove copyright protection. If you have a ISO installation file, it's highly recommend to using ISOGeeker to create a bootable DVD/CD fro ISO image right now, If your computer is in danger and requires urgent formatting due to malware invasion, then the newly created bootable disc will be helpful to you.

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