Intel-based Macs would run a new recompiled version of OS X along with Rosetta, a binary translation layer which enables software compiled for PowerPC Mac OS X to run on Intel Mac OS X machines. The system was included with Mac OS X versions up to version 10.6.8. Apple dropped support for Classic mode on the new Intel Macs. Easily check which versions of mac OS, iOS, iPadOS, or watchOS are compatible with your Mac model or iDevice. Guide includes OS X 10.8.x to macOS 11.0.x.
- When was Big Sur released?
The first version of Big Sur was released on the 12th of November 2020
• Total design refresh
• App enhancements to Safari, Messages, Maps
• Compatible with new M1 apple silicon
Latest Version of Mac OS – Big Sur 11.0.1
Big Sur brings BIG changes to the MacOS, from a new OS interface to new architecture compatible with the all new M1 chip. It offers the ability for Apple to use their new silicon processors based on arm64 architecture, which brings massive improvements in speed and power efficiency.
Big Sur comes with a ton of new updates and here is a highlight of what you will get with the latest 11.0.1 version:
Big Sur Safari Updates
- Privacy Updates
- Password monitoring
- Speed optimization
- New design elements
- Customizable start Page
- Expanded extensions support
- New dedicated category for finding new extensions in the App Store
- New tab design and website preview when you hover over a tab.
- Translation (beta) for English, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, French, German, Russian, or Brazilian Portuguese [US-English and Canadian-English only]
- Privacy Report with an overview of trackers blocked by Intelligent Tracking Prevention
- Safari privacy prompts for extensions
Big Sur Control Center Updates
- Puts favorite menus and Mac controls in one place
- Additional controls for Control Center menus
- Support for pinning favorite menus from Control Center to the menu bar
Big Sur Notification Center Updates
- New data-rich native widgets
- Support for third party widgets
- Notifications and widgets come together in one view in the Notification Center
- Interactive notifications display additional information and actions when expanded.
- Edit view allows for adding widgets and customizing them.
Big Sur Messages Updates
- Pinned conversations – up to 9
- Mentions let you direct a message to an individual in a group conversation
- Inline replies let you reply to a specific message earlier in the conversation
- New emojis and stickers
- #images – find trending gifs to message
- Message effects – laser, balloon, confetti, etc.
Big Sur Messages Maps
- Updated cities with 3d map experience
- Guides for curated recommendations
- indoor maps for airports and malls
- Better cycling directions
- Electric vehicle routing
Currently, there is a public beta version for Big Sur11.2 and here you can find the latest news about it.
macOS Catalina 10.15.7
macOS Catalina 10.15.7 comes with important security updates and fixes for known bugs on your Mac. Here is what you will get with the latest version:
- Fixes an issue with macOS not automatically connecting to Wi-Fi networks
- Resolves an issue that prevents files from syncing through iCloud Drive
- Addresses a graphic issue on iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2020) that may occur with Radeon Pro 5700 XT
Catalina Mac OS 10.15. is the successor to macOS Mojave. The new features that this update brought to Mac include a battery health feature that is supposed to reduce the rate at which the device's battery ages. This feature can analyze the charging patterns of the battery and the current state of its health and then control the extent to which it would get charged so as to slow-down chemical aging. This feature can be turned on and off from System Preferences >Energy Saver.
Newest Features
Catalina's OS name is inspired by Santa Catalina Island, an island located in California's Channel.
Mac Osx Current Version
Notable changes made with macOS Catalina are the removal of iTunes, the addition of the Sidecar feature, the expansion of the iPhone and iPad Screen Time featureto Mac computers, and others. Additionally, significant changes have also been made to the macOS security. Below, we will have a quick look at each of these improvements:
Battery Life Improvement
The CPU and TurboBoost function have been both optimized for increased battery life. It works by shutting off CPU cores but allowing for a higher frequency rate on working cores to sustain performance.
iTunes removal
iTunes has been a part of Mac computers ever since 2001 but with Catalina, it has officially been terminated. Now, instead of iTunes, users will have access to three separate apps that together take over the functions of iTunes. Those apps are Music, TV, and Podcasts.
As for managing your devices, with Catalina, this is done via Finder and not via an app.
Sidecar
This feature allows Mac users who also own an iPad to turn their iPads into second screens for their Mac computers. The Mac screen could be extended to the iPad or they could both show the same content (mirror screen). Sidecar also works with Apple pen, enabling users to use their iPads as drawing tablets.
Screen Time
This is an iPhone and iPad feature that, with Catalina, has been carried over to Mac computers. Screen Time allows you to track the usage of all your Apple devices, providing useful information on how your time is being spent across them.
Find My
The Find My app implements the Find My Mac and Find my Friends technology to provide users with the ability to potentially find their lost/stolen device. This technology does this by employing Bluetooth and the help of other devices that are near the lost/stolen one.
Security Improvements
One of the biggest changes made that came with Catalina is related to the security of the macOS.
The first improvement is the Read-Only system volume – a dedicated system volume that allows Catalina to run separately from other data, thereby preventing any potential attempts at tampering with system files done by malware and hackers.
Next, the Gatekeeper feature, which previously only used to check the sources of new apps, now also checks the apps themselves and prevents them from running if it deems them potentially unsafe.
Thirdly, unlike earlier macOS releases, Catalina requires explicit user approval if an app wants to access data stored in the Desktop, Downloads, and Documents folder. Only after the user gives their permission would the app be able to gain access to such data. Jw meaning in text.
Other changes
One other notable change is that 32-bit apps can no longer be run on Mac computers if the latter have been updated to Catalina, making macOS Mojave the last macOS release that supports 32-bit apps.
Older versions
In this section of the article, we will briefly go over the older macOS releases and the most notable changes they've introduced, starting with the leaser recent one:
Yosemite (10.10) – released on the 16th of October, 2014
Yosemite overhauled macOS's user interface and introduced the Continuity and Handoff features which improved and expanded pairing between iOS and macOS devices. Receiving phone calls and text messages was now possible on either device and so was editing same documents across devices.
Later on, a Yosemite update replaced Aperture and iPhoto with Photos.
El Capitan (10.11) – released on the 30th of September, 2015
This macOS release was focused on system performance improvements and changes to already existing features. Public transport information was made available in the Mapsapp, the Notesapp received interface improvements, and the Metal API performance-enhancing app was officially introduced to macOS.
Sierra (10.12) – released on the 20th of September, 2016
Sierra brought Siri to Mac computers and added several Mac-exclusive features for the app. Improvements were also made to the iCloudapp, which could now store user data from the Desktopand Documentsfolders, allowing syncing of those folders with other Macs that share an Apple ID. Additionally, Sierra website support for Apple Pay through the use of a nearby Touch ID or iOS device for authentication.
High Sierra (10.13) – released on the 25th of September, 2017
Most improvements here were 'under-the-hood' – High Sierra brought improvements to VR support, as well as to apps such as Safari, Spotlight, Notes, and Photos. High Sierra was the first to start using Apple File Systemand it also introduced the successor to the Metal API performance-enhancement application – Metal 2.
Mojave (10.14) – released on the 24 of September, 2018
New features introduced by Mojavewere the Dynamic Desktop, Desktop Stack, and Dark Mode. Several iOS-exclusive apps such as Home, Apple News, and Voice Memoswere also carried over to macOS.
How to check the current version on your Mac
In order to find out what your current macOS version is, click on the Apple menu located in the top-left corner of your screen and then select the option labeled About this Mac. The current version of your macOS will be shown at the top of the Overview tab. If you see an older version written there, you may want to update your Mac to the latest version (see below).
How to update to the latest macOS version
To get the latest macOS version, you must open the Mac App Store and search for macOS Big Sur. Once you find the Big Sur update, click on the download (Get) button and wait for the download to complete. Downloading may take a while, so just be patient. Once the update has been downloaded, the installer will be launched automatically. To install the update, simply follow the steps from the installer.
How to downgrade macOS version (using Time Machine)
Note that in order to perform this downgrade with the help of Time Machine, you will need to have first created a Time Machine backup disk from when you still had the earlier macOS version. If you have such a backup, here's how to use it in order to downgrade your OS.
Warning: It is highly advisable that you back up any important data you've created or downloaded since your Mac got updated to the latest OS version. Otherwise, such data would be lost after the downgrade!
Time Needed :30 minutes
How to downgrade macOS version (using Time Machine)
- Time Machine
Enter the Time Machine backup disk into your Mac.
- Restart
Click on the apple icon and press Restart
- Settings
Toggle through the snapshots with the arrows until you find an appropriate date before updating to the latest OS version. Then click RESTORE
- Snapshots
From the options that appear, select the one labeled Restore From Time Machine Backup and then select Continue.
- Continue
5. The next screen will ask you to once again click on the Continue button- do it.
- Restore
Now, select the backup drive as your Restore Source.
- Upload
On the next screen, you will see all available backups – select the latest one that's been made prior to updating your Mac. Elder scrolls 6 hammerfell.
- Complete
Confirm the restoration and wait for the process to complete.
- Mac OS X
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:
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)
Osx Catalina Current 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
Big Sur comes with a ton of new updates and here is a highlight of what you will get with the latest 11.0.1 version:
Big Sur Safari Updates
- Privacy Updates
- Password monitoring
- Speed optimization
- New design elements
- Customizable start Page
- Expanded extensions support
- New dedicated category for finding new extensions in the App Store
- New tab design and website preview when you hover over a tab.
- Translation (beta) for English, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, French, German, Russian, or Brazilian Portuguese [US-English and Canadian-English only]
- Privacy Report with an overview of trackers blocked by Intelligent Tracking Prevention
- Safari privacy prompts for extensions
Big Sur Control Center Updates
- Puts favorite menus and Mac controls in one place
- Additional controls for Control Center menus
- Support for pinning favorite menus from Control Center to the menu bar
Big Sur Notification Center Updates
- New data-rich native widgets
- Support for third party widgets
- Notifications and widgets come together in one view in the Notification Center
- Interactive notifications display additional information and actions when expanded.
- Edit view allows for adding widgets and customizing them.
Big Sur Messages Updates
- Pinned conversations – up to 9
- Mentions let you direct a message to an individual in a group conversation
- Inline replies let you reply to a specific message earlier in the conversation
- New emojis and stickers
- #images – find trending gifs to message
- Message effects – laser, balloon, confetti, etc.
Big Sur Messages Maps
- Updated cities with 3d map experience
- Guides for curated recommendations
- indoor maps for airports and malls
- Better cycling directions
- Electric vehicle routing
Currently, there is a public beta version for Big Sur11.2 and here you can find the latest news about it.
macOS Catalina 10.15.7
macOS Catalina 10.15.7 comes with important security updates and fixes for known bugs on your Mac. Here is what you will get with the latest version:
- Fixes an issue with macOS not automatically connecting to Wi-Fi networks
- Resolves an issue that prevents files from syncing through iCloud Drive
- Addresses a graphic issue on iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2020) that may occur with Radeon Pro 5700 XT
Catalina Mac OS 10.15. is the successor to macOS Mojave. The new features that this update brought to Mac include a battery health feature that is supposed to reduce the rate at which the device's battery ages. This feature can analyze the charging patterns of the battery and the current state of its health and then control the extent to which it would get charged so as to slow-down chemical aging. This feature can be turned on and off from System Preferences >Energy Saver.
Newest Features
Catalina's OS name is inspired by Santa Catalina Island, an island located in California's Channel.
Mac Osx Current Version
Notable changes made with macOS Catalina are the removal of iTunes, the addition of the Sidecar feature, the expansion of the iPhone and iPad Screen Time featureto Mac computers, and others. Additionally, significant changes have also been made to the macOS security. Below, we will have a quick look at each of these improvements:
Battery Life Improvement
The CPU and TurboBoost function have been both optimized for increased battery life. It works by shutting off CPU cores but allowing for a higher frequency rate on working cores to sustain performance.
iTunes removal
iTunes has been a part of Mac computers ever since 2001 but with Catalina, it has officially been terminated. Now, instead of iTunes, users will have access to three separate apps that together take over the functions of iTunes. Those apps are Music, TV, and Podcasts.
As for managing your devices, with Catalina, this is done via Finder and not via an app.
Sidecar
This feature allows Mac users who also own an iPad to turn their iPads into second screens for their Mac computers. The Mac screen could be extended to the iPad or they could both show the same content (mirror screen). Sidecar also works with Apple pen, enabling users to use their iPads as drawing tablets.
Screen Time
This is an iPhone and iPad feature that, with Catalina, has been carried over to Mac computers. Screen Time allows you to track the usage of all your Apple devices, providing useful information on how your time is being spent across them.
Find My
The Find My app implements the Find My Mac and Find my Friends technology to provide users with the ability to potentially find their lost/stolen device. This technology does this by employing Bluetooth and the help of other devices that are near the lost/stolen one.
Security Improvements
One of the biggest changes made that came with Catalina is related to the security of the macOS.
The first improvement is the Read-Only system volume – a dedicated system volume that allows Catalina to run separately from other data, thereby preventing any potential attempts at tampering with system files done by malware and hackers.
Next, the Gatekeeper feature, which previously only used to check the sources of new apps, now also checks the apps themselves and prevents them from running if it deems them potentially unsafe.
Thirdly, unlike earlier macOS releases, Catalina requires explicit user approval if an app wants to access data stored in the Desktop, Downloads, and Documents folder. Only after the user gives their permission would the app be able to gain access to such data. Jw meaning in text.
Other changes
One other notable change is that 32-bit apps can no longer be run on Mac computers if the latter have been updated to Catalina, making macOS Mojave the last macOS release that supports 32-bit apps.
Older versions
In this section of the article, we will briefly go over the older macOS releases and the most notable changes they've introduced, starting with the leaser recent one:
Yosemite (10.10) – released on the 16th of October, 2014
Yosemite overhauled macOS's user interface and introduced the Continuity and Handoff features which improved and expanded pairing between iOS and macOS devices. Receiving phone calls and text messages was now possible on either device and so was editing same documents across devices.
Later on, a Yosemite update replaced Aperture and iPhoto with Photos.
El Capitan (10.11) – released on the 30th of September, 2015
This macOS release was focused on system performance improvements and changes to already existing features. Public transport information was made available in the Mapsapp, the Notesapp received interface improvements, and the Metal API performance-enhancing app was officially introduced to macOS.
Sierra (10.12) – released on the 20th of September, 2016
Sierra brought Siri to Mac computers and added several Mac-exclusive features for the app. Improvements were also made to the iCloudapp, which could now store user data from the Desktopand Documentsfolders, allowing syncing of those folders with other Macs that share an Apple ID. Additionally, Sierra website support for Apple Pay through the use of a nearby Touch ID or iOS device for authentication.
High Sierra (10.13) – released on the 25th of September, 2017
Most improvements here were 'under-the-hood' – High Sierra brought improvements to VR support, as well as to apps such as Safari, Spotlight, Notes, and Photos. High Sierra was the first to start using Apple File Systemand it also introduced the successor to the Metal API performance-enhancement application – Metal 2.
Mojave (10.14) – released on the 24 of September, 2018
New features introduced by Mojavewere the Dynamic Desktop, Desktop Stack, and Dark Mode. Several iOS-exclusive apps such as Home, Apple News, and Voice Memoswere also carried over to macOS.
How to check the current version on your Mac
In order to find out what your current macOS version is, click on the Apple menu located in the top-left corner of your screen and then select the option labeled About this Mac. The current version of your macOS will be shown at the top of the Overview tab. If you see an older version written there, you may want to update your Mac to the latest version (see below).
How to update to the latest macOS version
To get the latest macOS version, you must open the Mac App Store and search for macOS Big Sur. Once you find the Big Sur update, click on the download (Get) button and wait for the download to complete. Downloading may take a while, so just be patient. Once the update has been downloaded, the installer will be launched automatically. To install the update, simply follow the steps from the installer.
How to downgrade macOS version (using Time Machine)
Note that in order to perform this downgrade with the help of Time Machine, you will need to have first created a Time Machine backup disk from when you still had the earlier macOS version. If you have such a backup, here's how to use it in order to downgrade your OS.
Warning: It is highly advisable that you back up any important data you've created or downloaded since your Mac got updated to the latest OS version. Otherwise, such data would be lost after the downgrade!
Time Needed :30 minutes
How to downgrade macOS version (using Time Machine)
- Time Machine
Enter the Time Machine backup disk into your Mac.
- Restart
Click on the apple icon and press Restart
- Settings
Toggle through the snapshots with the arrows until you find an appropriate date before updating to the latest OS version. Then click RESTORE
- Snapshots
From the options that appear, select the one labeled Restore From Time Machine Backup and then select Continue.
- Continue
5. The next screen will ask you to once again click on the Continue button- do it.
- Restore
Now, select the backup drive as your Restore Source.
- Upload
On the next screen, you will see all available backups – select the latest one that's been made prior to updating your Mac. Elder scrolls 6 hammerfell.
- Complete
Confirm the restoration and wait for the process to complete.
- Mac OS X
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:
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)
Osx Catalina Current 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.
Current Osx Version Number
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.
Mac Os X Versions
- 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.
Logic pro x recommended specs. 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.