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 |
Mac OS X Server version 10.3 “Panther”is the fourth major release of Apple’s award- winning server software, providing standards-based workgroup and Internet services without the complexity inherent in other UNIX-based solutions. It was included as the default browser in Mac OS X v10.3 (Panther) and is the only browser bundled with Mac OS X v10.4 (Tiger). Safari uses Apple's brushed metal user interface, has a bookmark management scheme that functions like the iTunes jukebox software, is integrated with Apple's QuickTime multimedia technology, and features a tabbed.
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.
“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
Mac Os X 10.3.9
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.
Mac Os X 10.3 Panther Download
Tips on: 10.2 Jaguar (including firmware updated necessary for older Macs to get to 10.2 or higher), 10.3 Panther, 10.4 Tiger, 10.5 Leopard
When determining whether you meet the requirements for updating, see this tip on Mac model and age:
This is part of a series of tips from 10.2 through 10.11 (10.6 through 10.11 not mentioned above links as 10.5.8 is the end of the line for all Macs with 10.3 that support up to 10.5.8), which all refer to Mac OS X Client. The server version of Mac OS X may have different requirements in which the Server forum is better able to answer.
Note, if Apple menu -> About this Mac says you are running Mac OS X 10.4.3 (Mac OS X 10.3.9, 10.2.8, 10.1.5, 10.0.4, Mac OS without X are all older. iOS is only for iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch) and earlier, you can't upgrade past 10.5.8. And then you can do that only if you have an 867 Mhz G4, or 1 Ghz or greater or G5 Mac. For more on upgrading to 10.5.8, read this tip. If all you have is Firewire, you can upgrade to 10.4.11. The ports that look like the image below
are the two most common ports on Macs that are Firewire. F800 = Firewire 800, also known as 9 pin IEEE 1394b. F400 is Firewire 400, also known as 6 pin IEEE 1394a. 4 pin IEEE 1394a exists on some camcorders and non-Apple computers:
Backing up, shutting down, removing the backup from the machine, and updating to 10.3.9 for Macs without Firewire.
Macs that have no Firewire, but still have USB, the latest Java found on one of these two links:
Those with Firewire should at least consider updating to 10.4.11 to get a later Java, as is described in this tip:
CAUTION: For those with Mac OS X 10.1.5, 10.1.4, 10.1.3, 10.1.2, 10.1.1, 10.1, 10.0.4, 10.0.3, 10.0.2, 10.0.1, 10.0, 10 Public Beta, Mac OS 9.2.2 or less (not to be confused with Mac OS X 10.9.2, which is 12 years newer): If your firmware is not up to date, you may lose video on your machine permanently without the proper update, and without an up to date PRAM battery before installing the said firmware update. The link here provides all necessary firmware updates:
Mac OS X 10.3 (Panther) can install on any Mac with built-in USB up till the release of 10.4, on April 29, 2005. A few Powerbook G3/333 Mhz and 400 Mhz without Firewire could not install Panther at all, and their DVD module did not work with Panther. Make sure your firmware is up to date while booted from Mac OS 9 before installing any copy of Mac OS X 10.2 or later.
Some firmware updates are only available from resources listed on this tip.
Here are the official system requirements for 10.3:
Additionally, an extra 15% of free hard disk space has arbitrarily been found best for Mac OS X systems.
Be sure to backup your data first at least twice before installing any operating system. Shut down, and disconnect any peripherals before continuing with the installation. Read the info below to ensure you are compatible. Finally, you may need to use the Startup Manager to boot the operating system when the 'C' key doesn't work in order to get the installer to work or repair the disk before installation if the initial attempt to install fails. To determine if that repair is necessary, post to the forum, and someone will be able to help you to find out which repairs might be necessary.
To determine if your Mac is too new for 10.3, look at its serial number reported in Apple menu -> About this Mac -> More info in Mac OS X,
or Apple menu -> Apple System Profiler under Mac OS 9.
Macs with Intel CPUs can't run 10.3.
The first two characters of a serial number do not say anything about a machine's age.
The third, fourth, and fifth tell you everything about its age.
Thus if your serial number begins xx517.... through xx832 where x can be any letter or number, it can't install 10.3.
xx833.... was the serial number for the first G3 iMac, which was the first machine with built-in USB.
G3s and G4s of higher serial numbers could install 10.3.
New Macs beginning in January 2003 no longer were able to boot into Mac OS 9, but still could use Classic. See this user tip to see if you are affected.
Macs that were released between 10/24/2003 and 12/17/2003 (xx343...xx350) could only install 10.3.2, or 10.3.5 retail as is labelled on the disc, and the prebundled installer disc that came with them. All retail discs for 10.3 looked like: and did not say upgrade, dropin, or OEM.
Macs that were released between 12/17/2003 and 8/12/2004 with serial numbers xx351...xx432 could only install 10.3.5 retail as is labelled on the disc and the prebundled 10.3 installer disc that came with them.
Mac Os X 10.3 Iso
Macs released with serial numbers xx433 to xx516 could only use the 10.3 installer disc that shipped with them to install 10.3, and for retail release could use 10.4, or 10.5 depending on their configuration stated in this user tip:
Before upgrading to 10.4 or 10.5, realize some features may make you want to remain in 10.3. Mac OS X 10.3 was the first operating system to no longer use Sherlock for the Find File command, and the Find File was integrated in the Finder's File menu.
No Mac that can use 10.3 can install Snow Leopard or Lion. The highest 10.3, is 10.3.9 that is available for free from to update any system from 10.3 to 10.3.8:
Here's the airport update that supports 10.3.3 through 10.3.9 that includes WPA2 support for those Macs with Airport Extreme cards:
See this article comparing Airport to Airport Extreme:
The original Airport does not support the more secure WPA2 encryption, only the Extreme which runs 802.11g at 33 Mbps does.
10.3 was the first operating system to include the Dashboard web based applets that appear on their own screen.
Sadly Dashboard widgets at this point are no longer developed, though you can download them from:
These printers are compatible with 10.3:
C!Net has this software search of all 10.3 compatible software.
Once you determine if you can install 10.3, you have these options for installation: