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.

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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. Video card for mac pro 2012. 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:

Here's a guide of keyboard shortcut and automations tools for the Mac.

I created aDvorak Keyboard Layoutusing ResEdit on Mac back in 1992, and been using QuicKeys back then, it was the best automation tool. Also many app launchers and keyboard tools over the decades that came and went.On this page, i only list the latest ones that's still available.

Swap Modifiers

Karabiner-Elements

Karabiner-Elements (was known as KeyRemap4MacBook) lets you do advanced key remapping.

Download at[Karabiner-Elements At https://karabiner-elements.pqrs.org/ ]

Karabiner is very advanced. You can:

• Distinguish left Ctrl vs right Ctrl, remap Escape, remap Enter key.
• Set Space bar to be Ctrl or ⌘command when held down with another key, but as space itself when no other keys is pressed at the same time.
• Set keys to be device dependent. i.e. You have 2 keyboard. You want F2 to do different things.

Change Keyboard Shortcut in App

Mac OS X since 10.4 (year 2005) lets you change keyboard shortcut in a specific app.

Go to System Preferences, Keyboard and Mouse, Keyboard Shortcuts. Then click the + sign add button.

Note: This mechanism is not very flexible, because:

• It only lets you create a key for a action that has a menu. (for example, you cannot define a key to launch a app.)
• Once you created a hotkey, the original key will be lost. (for example, if you set F1 to Copy, then ⌘command+c won't work anymore.)
• Numerical keypad keys cannot be used as trigger. (For example, you cannot make the number pad keys as personalized extra function keys.)

Suppose you have a gaming mouse,and you've set buttons to do copy and paste, across any computer running macOS.But you've also madeF2 as copy on your home Mac, so you can do them easily from keyboard too.Now, your mouse copy button don't work anymore, because⌘command+cno longer works.

Programable Keyboards

Get a programable keyboard with onboard memory. This is the best solution.Because you can plug the keyboard in any computer and it'll work with your settings.

See Programable Keyboards with Onboard Memory Sims for mac online.

Google App Download For Mac

or, get a programable keypad.

App Launcher

App launchers are primarily designed to launch apps, open files, run scripts.You set a key to do them, or, a hotkey that pops up a dialog, then type any letter to launch or search.

Quicksilver. A app launcher. Assign hotkey to launch/switch/open apps or files. The hotkey can be single key (For example, F1) or combo-key (For example, ⌘command+F1).

Alfred Automation Tool

Hammerspoon Automation Tool

Using lua as scripting language.

Map App For Mac Os X 10.7

Keyboard Maestro

Text Editor Key Behavior

aka DefaultKeyBinding.dict

This is macOS's system-wide mechanism, for creating keybinding to control cursor movement or editing operations.

See: macOS: Create Custom Keyboard Layout

USB Overdrive

USB Overdrive is low-level USB tool. It lets you remap key or mouse buttons at USB level.

Excellent.

[USB Overdrive By Alessandro Levi Montalcini. At http://www.usboverdrive.com/USBOverdrive/News.html ]

View Keypress and Keycode

Install[Karabiner-Elements At https://karabiner-elements.pqrs.org/ ]

It'll also install a “Karabiner-EventViewer”. It's in your Applications folder.

Launch it, and press key or mouse button and it'll show the keycode.

ControllerMate

[ControllerMate At http://www.orderedbytes.com/controllermate/. Commercial. USB interface mapper. Seems to let you remap any USB input device's signals in flexible ways, including mouse.]

Google Maps App For Mac

Shortcuts For Mac - Image Results. [review of ControllerMate by Jonny, 2017-02-27.]

I've been using ControllerMate for several years now and I have to saythat it is really an amazing and extremely powerful piece of software,and very flexible! The developer is also very quick to respond to questionson the forum and to come up with solutions which require coding (custompatches or add ons to download, or updates to download- depending on thesituation). There is a bit of a learning curve! And while the interfaceis logical and straightforward, getting used to the basic underlying logicbehind it all takes some time. But I can't even begin to explain all theunique and creative things you can do with it.

But I'll give a could examples.. I quite easily was able to switcharound and re-program lots keys on my keyboard (KM0Z1-5N6P and was ableto physically switch the keys around as well to match), I also did somemore complicated reprogramming using the Apps/Menu key almost like a newmodifier, mainly to launch apps but also to access the higher Fn-keys (adding10 to what's printed on the keyboard — only up to F20 though which he saysis the MacOS limit).

Free Mind Map Software For Mac Os X

I also customized my trackball so that if I double-middle-click-hold the ball becomes an any direction scroll “ball”.

Another major product was creating a very unique, customized programmingfor a Logitech G13. I did use the native software for just a couple offunctions- basically for setting up the backlight colors for the various“pages” and configuring the applets. One cool thing I did that I use allthe time is to setup the joystick to switch “Spaces” (Mission Control),and to move windows between my multiple monitors, and to move windows between“Spaces” depending on which of the adjacent button(s) I'm holding. It'sSUPER easy and convenient! I also use those buttons (pretty much designedto be mouse buttons) as shift-life modifiers to access deeper levels ofthe closer buttons (in addition to and unique for the 3 ‘main’ pages whichare built in). In some cases I set them up to trigger regular hotkeys,sometimes I create custom hotkeys with the keyboard control panel (typicallyusing combos involving keys that aren't even on my keyboard or that arevery difficult to type), and sometimes I have them trigger AppleScriptsthat native commands or use GUI control but only if the app is alreadyrunning.

Honestly that barely even scratches the surface of all the things Iknow that ControllerMate can do which is only a fraction of what it canreally do!

Google Maps App Mac Os X

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