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.
ES is a computer operating system developed originally by Nintendo and since 2008 by Esrille. It is open source and runs natively on x86 platforms. NeXTSTEP; Novell. NetWare – network operating system providing high-performance network services. Has been superseded by Open Enterprise Server line, which can be based on NetWare or Linux.
- JDK 5 Update 16 (version 1.5.016) minimum ( Java for Mac OS X 10.4, Release 7 or Java for Mac OS X 10.5 Update 2 or later) Apple Quicktime Player 7.5.5 minimum is required to run the JavaFX Mobile Emulator, which is currently available only on the Microsoft Windows platform.
- Global Nav Open Menu Global Nav Close Menu; Apple; Shopping Bag +.
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:
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.
Mac Os Download
'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.
Full Mobile Access,
Strong Call Center Support,
Running On Mac or Linux
The Best Technical Support
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Looking for a quick cloud PBX solution for telecommuting? FacetPhone cloud service is $25 per user per month plus actual phone service charges at the extremely reasonable rates of our wholesale service provider. Marios time machine mac os. There is no contract. Use it as long as you like, cancel anytime you want. There are no add-on packages. Every customer gets every feature. Users who have a computer with speakers and webcam or microphone can use the built-in soft phone in our web based user interface. That allows us to get them going very quickly with no desk phone to configure.
FacetPhone Advantages
FacetPhone is an IP-PBX business phone system with call center capabilities that is available as a hosted service or as an on-premise system that runs on Mac OS X or Linux. It provides Unified Communications features with a computer user interface that includes a built-in soft phone. FacetPhone's mobile app serves as a phone extension on the system plus it has the Unified Communications features of the computer user interface. With its Voice over IP architecture and the user interface, FacetPhone is ideal for uniting branch offices and telecommuters into a unified business communications system.
In fact, FacetPhone was built for telecommuting. It was originally inspired by a snow storm in Dallas Texas where there is no significant snow removal! Voice over IP was just coming of age and it seemed to us that we should be able to make a phone system that would allow us to work remotely, no matter what the weather, and keep the company open. Being a company of software engineers, we decided to take on that challenge, hopped on the VoIP bandwagon and created FacetPhone. We designed it with telecommuting in mind and added what came to be known as Unified Communication features that allow you to see other users' status and calls on the system, giving remote users a better sense of what their co-workers are doing. Fast forward 20 years and now over half our staff telecommutes almost all the time. We were able to significantly downsize our office space for a big savings. Let us show you how almost any company can move most of their office workers home.
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A Note on Telecommuting and COVID-19
Telecommuting is being recognized as an important tool in supporting employees working from home to help contain the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak. If your telecommuting employees have computers with speakers and webcam or microphone, we can have them up and running very quickly using the built-in soft phone of our web user interface with no need for an IP desk phone. Otherwise, we have very low cost desk phones available. During this crisis we are waiving normal setup fees.
After the outbreak ends, whenever and however that might occur, you will probably find that telecommuting has also saved your employees time and money on commuting and been good for the climate. Eventually you will discover that you can save on your bottom line by downsizing your office space.
Grofast Industries Mac Os Catalina
Have questions about telecommuting? We have been doing it for a long time and would be happy to share our insights. Just give us a call or ask a question on our contact form.
FacetPhone's Computer
User Interface
FacetPhone's Unified Communications features are provided by both the computer user interface and the mobile app. These include presence management (see other users' status), instant messaging, details of calls active on the system, visual voicemail, and visual call control. Being aware of others' status avoids phone tag. Instant messaging with your colleagues can let you quietly get additional information while you are already on the phone with someone else. Visual voice mail allows you to listen to them in whatever order you want. Controlling your calls with the user interface instead of buttons on your phone makes transfers, conferencing, holding, parking, etc intuitive and easy. The built-in soft phone removes the need for an IP desk phone.
Advanced Mobile
Soft Phone App
FacetPhone's mobile app is unrivaled among soft phones for business phone systems. The app not only makes your smart phone an extension on the phone system but also has the users' status display, current calls display, call control, instant messaging and visual voice mail that the computer user interface has. Take the power of FacetPhone with you when you are on the go.
Every Customer
Gets It All
Every FacetPhone customer gets every FacetPhone feature. There are no add-on packages. Whether it's our unparalleled technical support, mobile app, or call center features, it's all included!
- 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.
Mac Os Download
'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.
Full Mobile Access,
Strong Call Center Support,
Running On Mac or Linux
The Best Technical Support
You'll Ever Experience
Looking for a quick cloud PBX solution for telecommuting? FacetPhone cloud service is $25 per user per month plus actual phone service charges at the extremely reasonable rates of our wholesale service provider. Marios time machine mac os. There is no contract. Use it as long as you like, cancel anytime you want. There are no add-on packages. Every customer gets every feature. Users who have a computer with speakers and webcam or microphone can use the built-in soft phone in our web based user interface. That allows us to get them going very quickly with no desk phone to configure.
FacetPhone Advantages
FacetPhone is an IP-PBX business phone system with call center capabilities that is available as a hosted service or as an on-premise system that runs on Mac OS X or Linux. It provides Unified Communications features with a computer user interface that includes a built-in soft phone. FacetPhone's mobile app serves as a phone extension on the system plus it has the Unified Communications features of the computer user interface. With its Voice over IP architecture and the user interface, FacetPhone is ideal for uniting branch offices and telecommuters into a unified business communications system.
In fact, FacetPhone was built for telecommuting. It was originally inspired by a snow storm in Dallas Texas where there is no significant snow removal! Voice over IP was just coming of age and it seemed to us that we should be able to make a phone system that would allow us to work remotely, no matter what the weather, and keep the company open. Being a company of software engineers, we decided to take on that challenge, hopped on the VoIP bandwagon and created FacetPhone. We designed it with telecommuting in mind and added what came to be known as Unified Communication features that allow you to see other users' status and calls on the system, giving remote users a better sense of what their co-workers are doing. Fast forward 20 years and now over half our staff telecommutes almost all the time. We were able to significantly downsize our office space for a big savings. Let us show you how almost any company can move most of their office workers home.
Grofast Industries Mac Os Download
A Note on Telecommuting and COVID-19
Telecommuting is being recognized as an important tool in supporting employees working from home to help contain the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak. If your telecommuting employees have computers with speakers and webcam or microphone, we can have them up and running very quickly using the built-in soft phone of our web user interface with no need for an IP desk phone. Otherwise, we have very low cost desk phones available. During this crisis we are waiving normal setup fees.
After the outbreak ends, whenever and however that might occur, you will probably find that telecommuting has also saved your employees time and money on commuting and been good for the climate. Eventually you will discover that you can save on your bottom line by downsizing your office space.
Grofast Industries Mac Os Catalina
Have questions about telecommuting? We have been doing it for a long time and would be happy to share our insights. Just give us a call or ask a question on our contact form.
FacetPhone's Computer
User Interface
FacetPhone's Unified Communications features are provided by both the computer user interface and the mobile app. These include presence management (see other users' status), instant messaging, details of calls active on the system, visual voicemail, and visual call control. Being aware of others' status avoids phone tag. Instant messaging with your colleagues can let you quietly get additional information while you are already on the phone with someone else. Visual voice mail allows you to listen to them in whatever order you want. Controlling your calls with the user interface instead of buttons on your phone makes transfers, conferencing, holding, parking, etc intuitive and easy. The built-in soft phone removes the need for an IP desk phone.
Advanced Mobile
Soft Phone App
FacetPhone's mobile app is unrivaled among soft phones for business phone systems. The app not only makes your smart phone an extension on the phone system but also has the users' status display, current calls display, call control, instant messaging and visual voice mail that the computer user interface has. Take the power of FacetPhone with you when you are on the go.
Every Customer
Gets It All
Every FacetPhone customer gets every FacetPhone feature. There are no add-on packages. Whether it's our unparalleled technical support, mobile app, or call center features, it's all included!