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.

• Download El Capitan Installer App
• Download El Capitan Installer Apple
• Download El Capitan Installer Free
• Download El Capitan Installer App
• Download El Capitan Installer On Windows

Install OS X El Capitan 10.11.6.iso (7.14 GB) Choose free or premium download. Click on the download link that shows up, and enter the personal redemption code given to you. Open the downloaded Mac OS X El Capitan software and preview the file in the Applications folder. Click “Continue” and then select “Agree”. Click on “Install” and then enter your admin password.

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:

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. 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.

v3.6 :

• Open the disk image, then open the.pkg installer inside the disk image. It installs an app named Install Version Name. Open that app from your Applications folder to begin installing the operating system. MacOS Sierra 10.12 can upgrade El Capitan, Yosemite, Mavericks, Mountain Lion, or Lion.
• Download Mac OS X El Capitan 10.11.1 DMG free latest standalone offline setup. The Mac OS X El Capitan 10.11.1 DMG is the twelfth major release of OS X providing different enhancements and many new features.

Purchase Mac OS X Lion installer on the Apple Store: When it was still Lion DiskMaker, DiskMaker X had the ability to burn DVDs too. Older versions are available here. Download DiskMaker 2.0.2 ( ZIP file, about 3 MB). NB: this version of DiskMaker X is not able to build a Mavericks installer from Mac OS X 10.6.8. More information here.

• Supports Apple M1
• Better compatibility with latest Adobe Creative Cloud 2021
• v3.6 improves File > Reset extension list for CC 2021
• Now displays progress when downloading extension updates
• Supports redirects when downloading extension updates
• Better overall update support on all CC versions
• Improved error display when Creative Cloud Desktop needs to be reinstalled
• Security fixes
• All made by your feedback! Please keep it coming --Anastasiy

v3.5 :

• Full compatibility with latest Adobe Creative Cloud 2021
• Now displays progress when downloading extension updates
• Supports redirects when downloading extension updates
• Better overall update support on all CC versions
• Improved error display when Creative Cloud Desktop needs to be reinstalled
• Security fixes
• All made by your feedback! Please keep it coming --Anastasiy

v3.4 :

• Fixed empty extension list issue after various Adobe Creative Cloud updates
• Better support for Adobe Creative Cloud 2020+
• Better support for Enterprise environments
• Fixed issues with displaying extensions belonging to specific Adobe products
• Fixed issue with Administrator access requirement
• New option reset extension list from File > Reset Extension List
• Removed extension numbers for a cleaner look
• Security fixes and updates
• All made by your feedback! Please keep it coming --Anastasiy

v3.2 :

• Fixed compatibility with Adobe Creative Cloud 2019/2020, Adobe XD
• Fixed issues in Enterprise environment
• Various minor UI updates and improvements

v3.0 :

• Now supports Adobe XD plugins
• Improved compatibility with most recent Adobe Creative Cloud
• Fixed crash when no Photoshop CC was installed prior to Extension Manager run
• Various UI fixes and improvements

v2.11 :

• Improved compatibility with most recent Adobe Creative Cloud
• Fixed crash when no Photoshop CC was installed prior to Extension Manager run
• Various UI fixes and improvements

v2.03 :

• Further improved update check, now extension updates are displayed for more scenarios
• Improved compatibility with recent Adobe platform updates
• No more warnings about unidentified developer, improved compatibility with macOS

v2.02 :

• Improved update check, now extension updates are displayed for all possible scenarios
• Improved compatibility with recent Adobe platform updates

v2.01 :

• Improved compatibility with recent Adobe platform updates
• Fixed an issue when updates were not displayed immediately after installation of the extension
• Improved messaging after successful installation

v2.00 :

• Support for recent Adobe platform updates
• No longer displays/removes system Adobe extensions
• Simplifies UI by displaying extensions for different Adobe Creative Cloud versions (2014, 2015 etc) on the same page
• Performance improvements

v1.62 :

• Synced with the latest Adobe updates to CC2017

v1.61 :

• Improved error detection

v1.60 :

• Fixed small issue connected to removal of the extensions

v1.59 :

• Improved removal of the extensions, it no longer blocks the UI

v1.58 :

• Improved compatibility with the most recent CC2017 updates

v1.57 :

• Improved updating of the extensions

v1.56 :

• Improved messaging on CC2017

v1.55 :

• Improved performance in certain scenarios

v1.54 :

• Improved installation of extensions with international letters in paths

v1.53 :

• Extensions list now maintains selected extension after updating the extension

v1.52 :

• Improvements connected to new Adobe Creative Cloud CC2017

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v1.51 :

• Installation of extensions is faster, no longer locks up the UI
• Minor bug fixes

v1.50 :

• Added ability to autocopy extension manager to Applications folder

v1.49 :

• Correct Adobe platform product now remains selected after removal/installation of the extensions

v1.48 :

• Fixed scenario when Adobe applications were open while removing the extension

v1.47 :

• Improved compatibility with macOS Sierra and El Capitan
• Improved messaging
• Another fix to update messages not displaying correctly

v1.46 :

• Improved compatibility with macOS Sierra and El Capitan
• Improved messaging

v1.45 :

• Improved messaging
• Fixed Adobe Creative Cloud 2015.5/2015.3 specific compatibility
• Fixed update messages not displaying correctly

v1.44 :

• Improved messaging
• Fixed Adobe Creative Cloud 2015 specific compatibility

v1.43 :

• Switched to new Mac OS X SDK for better support of Yosemite, El Capitan and macOS Sierra

v1.42 :

• Fixed an issue that prevented UI update on Adobe CC2015.5 environment

v1.41 :

• Improvements to extension update scenarios
• Fixed unresponsive update button

v1.40 :

• More improvements to extensions icons display in various scenarios

v1.39 :

• Updated to new format of CC2014/2015/2015.5 extension info

v1.38 :

• Improved messaging
• Improved CC2015.3/CC2015.5 updates handling

v1.37 :

• Improved hi-res icon display for extensions on CC2015.5 and CC2015.3
• Improved extension updating

v1.36 :

• Fixed extension icons display on Adobe Creative Cloud CC2015.5
• Extension icons are now displayed correctly in the list (for both Adobe Creative Cloud and Creative Suite)
• Fixed extension removal problems
• Fixed process of extension update

v1.35 :

• Updated to support new Adobe Creative Cloud CC2015.5

v1.34 :

• Improved updating on Adobe Creative Cloud CC2015 and Creative Suite CS6

v1.33 :

• Improved compatibility with recent updates to Adobe Creative Cloud CC2015

v1.32 :

• Improved performance
• Fixed messaging when installing Adobe Photoshop plugins

v1.31 :

• Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator compatibility improved
• Various improvements to the UI

v1.30 :

• Updated support link in the About box
• Fixed a problem connected to Adobe Photoshop disk permissions

v1.29 :

• Fixed problem connected to El Capitan and new Adobe updates
• Minor fixes to UI

v1.28 :

• Improved recent Photoshop CC 2015 support
• Minor fixes to UI

v1.27 :

• Improved compatibility with extensions containing international letters
• Fixed minor compatibility problems with Adobe Creative Suite CS6

v1.26 :

• Improved compatibility with recent updates to Adobe Creative Cloud 2015/2016 and Mac OS X El Capitan
• Updated Mac Sparkle framework for better security
• Fixed error messaging

v1.25 :

• Improved updating and delivery of some 3rd party extensions, based on users feedback

v1.24 :

• Fixed update behavior
• Improved compatibility with Adobe Creative Cloud CC2016

v1.23 :

• Extension Manager is out of beta! This is first public release
• Improved messaging
• Fixed UI problems by your feedback
• Tested and works with Adobe Creative Suite CS5-CS6 and Creative Cloud CC2014-CC2016
• Tested and works on Mac OS X and Windows

v0.22 :

• Improved updating of the extensions on Windows and Mac for Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator CC2015

v0.21 :

• Fixed bug connected to .mxp/.zxp extension handling
• Improved messaging
• Improved error reporting connected to Photoshop CC2015
• Better extension metadata handling

v0.20 :

• Improved compatibility after reinstallation of Photoshop and Illustrator CC2015.1
• Improved error messaging

v0.19 :

• Improved updating of the extensions
• Improved error messaging

v0.18 :

• Extensions can be updated by clicking the Update button
• Implemented downloading of new extension versions
• Implemented automatic detection of extensions that need to be updated

v0.17 :

• Improved error detection
• Fixed permissions problem for selected extensions

v0.16 :

• Improved Retina display support on Mac
• Fixed bug on El Capitan connected to updates

v0.15 :

• Retina display support on Mac!
• Fixed minor bugs
• Getting ready to support extension updates!

v0.14 :

• Improved Photoshop CC2015.2 compatibility
• Improved compatibility with newer panels including MixColors

v0.13 :

• Fixed UI bugs connected to columns widths

v0.12 :

• Improved support of various panels, including MagicPicker color wheel
• Fixed bug connected to Photoshop and date on the computer

v0.11 :

• Imrpoved compatibility with Adobe Photoshop CC 2015.1 and Illustrator CC 2015.2
• Now the correct messages are displayed in case of different errors

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v0.10 :

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• Fixed an issue when extesion didn't disappear from the list after removing/uninstalling it
• Fixed a UI issue with the list

v0.9 :

• Fixed bug with extensions having space in their name
• Added display of extensions versions

v0.8 :

• Improved UI
• Fixed a bug in the extension removal process
• Fixed connected to .zxp installation
• Windows version now supports automatic updates and drag’n’drop of the .zxp files on the icon
• Windows version now can install extensions from the command line

v0.7 :

• Now you can drag-n-drop .zxp files on the extension manager for automatic installation

v0.6 :

• Improved .zxp files handling

v0.5 :

• Fixed small bug connected to Photoshop

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v0.4 :

• Added ability to remove extensions
• Fixed bug with updates that prevented Extension Manager to run

v0.3 :

• Mac and PC support
• Tested and works with Adobe's native extensions
• Support for all 3rd party extensions including MagicPicker color wheel, MixColors color mixer and DiskFonts font manager
• Basic support for: Adobe Creative Suite and Adobe Creative Cloud platforms
• Basic support for: Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere Pro, Flash Pro, AfterEffects, Dreamweaver, Fireworks
• Added icons display for the extensions

Microsoft remote desktop mac yosemite download. To get the latest features and maintain the security, stability, compatibility, and performance of your Mac, it's important to keep your software up to date. Apple recommends that you always use the latest macOS that is compatible with your Mac.

Learn how to upgrade to macOS Big Sur, the latest version of macOS.

Check compatibility

If a macOS installer can't be used on your Mac, the installer will let you know. For example, it might say that it's too old to be opened on this version of macOS, or that your Mac doesn't have enough free storage space for the installation.

To confirm compatibility before downloading, check the minimum requirements for macOS Catalina, Mojave, High Sierra, Sierra, El Capitan, or Yosemite. You can also find compatibility information on the product-ID page for MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, MacBook, iMac, Mac mini, or Mac Pro.

Make a backup

Before installing, it’s a good idea to back up your Mac. Time Machine makes it simple, and other backup methods are also available. Learn how to back up your Mac.

Download macOS

It takes time to download and install macOS, so make sure that you're plugged into AC power and have a reliable internet connection.

Safari uses these links to find the old installers in the App Store. After downloading from the App Store, the installer opens automatically.

• macOS Catalina 10.15 can upgrade Mojave, High Sierra, Sierra, El Capitan, Yosemite, Mavericks
• macOS Mojave 10.14 can upgrade High Sierra, Sierra, El Capitan, Yosemite, Mavericks, Mountain Lion
• macOS High Sierra 10.13 can upgrade Sierra, El Capitan, Yosemite, Mavericks, Mountain Lion

Safari downloads the following older installers as a disk image named InstallOS.dmg or InstallMacOSX.dmg. Open the disk image, then open the .pkg installer inside the disk image. It installs an app named Install [Version Name]. Open that app from your Applications folder to begin installing the operating system.

• macOS Sierra 10.12 can upgrade El Capitan, Yosemite, Mavericks, Mountain Lion, or Lion
• OS X El Capitan 10.11 can upgrade Yosemite, Mavericks, Mountain Lion, Lion, or Snow Leopard
• OS X Yosemite 10.10can upgrade Mavericks, Mountain Lion, Lion, or Snow Leopard

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Install macOS

Follow the onscreen instructions in the installer. It might be easiest to begin installation in the evening so that it can complete overnight, if needed.

If the installer asks for permission to install a helper tool, enter the administrator name and password that you use to log in to your Mac, then click Add Helper.

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Please allow installation to complete without putting your Mac to sleep or closing its lid. Your Mac might restart, show a progress bar, or show a blank screen several times as it installs macOS and related firmware updates.

Download El Capitan Installer App

Learn more

Download El Capitan Installer Without App Store

Download El Capitan Installer Dmg

You might also be able to use macOS Recovery to reinstall the macOS you're using now, upgrade to the latest compatible macOS, or install the macOS that came with your Mac.