Dr. Sauce Mac OS

Connect the hard drive or USB with Mac and open Disk Utility from Applications. Locate the drive from the left side panel of Disk Utility and open it. Now switch to the Erase tab and click on the Format drag-down menu. Choose the Mac OS Extended (Journaled) option. Open Disk Utility. Select your new hard drive from the sidebar. If you don’t see it, go to View Show All Devices. Click the Erase button at the top of the window.

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 10.0Puma 10.1Jaguar 10.2
Panther 10.3Tiger 10.4Leopard 10.5
Snow Leopard 10.6Lion 10.7Mountain Lion 10.8
Mavericks 10.9Yosemite 10.10El Capitan 10.11
Sierra 10.12High Sierra 10.13Mojave 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.

Mac

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

Dr. Sauce Mac Os 11

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.

Dr. Sauce Mac Os Catalina

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.

Have you ever wondered how to mount ISO file on Mac or tried to do so? Actually, Mac OS X mount ISO is super easy. For starters, you should know that there are several ways to mount ISO file on Mac OS X. Among them, there are ways to free ISO mount Mac, and there are paid ways to mount ISO Mac OS, which one is better? Of course, free would be better. However, how can you choose the right way to free ISO to mount Mac? This article will introduce 3 ways for you to choose from.

Part 1: About Mounting ISO File

Before starting the process of how to mount ISO file on Mac, let's beef up some basic information about mounting ISO file. First of all, you should notice the concept of ISO image file. So what is an ISO image? It is simple to understand when you need to store a huge amount of data on an optical disc. The ISO image file is commonly used as an archive file for saving identical copies from DVD discs. With the main purpose of backing up all the metadata, it also serves for distributing large files by burning to optical discs.

Mounting ISO image files is a tricky mean to let the computing system think the disc drive is filled with an actual optical disc instead of the ISO file itself. Once your computer regards the ISO file is a real physical disc, all other applications are going to treat the ISO image file as the same. This will save you the time and effort from getting a physical disc and to burn ISO files on Mac. Especially, if you are a game lover, you would be so happy to take advantage of this convenience from mounting ISO file on Mac. There will not be necessary for you to always insert a game disc into your computer as most video games need to import the original disc.

Furthermore, mounting ISO image files are not difficult at all. In general, you can use some program called 'disk emulator' to open the ISO file and select the drive letter to represent the 'real disc'. With more users are jumping into the trend of Mac system, how to mount ISO file on Mac can be a new question for starters. As a matter of fact, Mac OS X mount ISO image files is not that hard as you think, although the process is different from mounting an ISO file on Windows. Next, we will introduce some solutions for mounting ISO on Mac without paying any single penny.

Part 2: Mount ISO Mac OS X with Disk Utility

Some Mac users might not even be familiar with this application on Mac although this program has been preinstalled with the Mac OS X. Nine times out of ten, this Disk Utility program is just being tucked away in the big Application folder. If you are a careful person about what software you have on Mac OS X, you could find this one from the 'Utilities' folder which is under the Application contents. As our first solution, you should know that you can utilize Disk Utility to mount ISO Mac OS X.

Let's have a brief look at what this Disk Utility is capable of since it is born to serve this Mac OS X. Disk Utility is introduced to manage internal discs even with external storage devices including erasing and formatting process. While users are allowed to organize the date into subdivisions, managing the volumes is also available. It performs excellently with RAID sets if people like to integrate multiple discs into a RAID sets. For your information, the RAID set has the ability to improve the reliability and storage space of the system as many discs can be regarded as a merged one disc. Another purpose for arming this app for Mac OS X is to assist users with a diagnosis of a disc, it can also offer some solutions to fix issues of damaged volumes. Beyond that, the most essential feature here is the capacity of mounting ISO on Mac. With this application, you are allowed to create the disc image of files for archiving and backup as you require.

Follow the steps below if you don't know how to mount ISO file on Mac with Disk Utility.

Step 1: Locate the app of Disk Utility. You are able to quickly access this app by the handy Spotlight function providing by Mac OS X. To call out the Spotlight, you can press Command and Space Bar at the same time to trigger it. Then input any content related to Utilities. The Disk Utility tool will be shown in the search results immediately. Or you can open the Applications folder, then find and click on the 'Utilities' folder where you will see the Disk Utility icon. Double-click on the icon to arouse the program.

Step 2: Once you launch the Disk Utility program, it is easy to navigate yourselves from the menu. Move the mouse up to the Disk Utility menu next to the Apple icon, choose the 'File' and from the down options, you will see the 'Open Disk Image.' Click on it and select the ISO files you want for free ISO mount Mac.

Dr. Sauce Mac Os X

Notice that if you are operating a later released version of Mac OS X like MacOS High Sierra and Mac OS X El Capitan, this Disk Utility program has been modified with many changes. There could be more solutions when you desire to do something with a disc such as ripping DVD on Mac El Capitan.

Part 3: Mac OS X Mount ISO with Mac OS X Command Line

Besides making use of the Disk Utility program, users are welcome to utilize the Mac OS X command line to mount ISO Mac OS X. Have not heard of the command line on Mac OS X? Don't worry, it works as another program and basically, people call it the name of Terminal. If you like to deal with IT techniques, this program will take you to the finest performance from taming the Mac machine to command what you exactly desire. This way might be a little hard for those who are not good at IT. It sounds like an advanced method that makes you feel not that comfortable with to mount ISO Mac. However, you can learn it step by step at this part.

Step 1: Find out the path of the ISO file that you want to mount. For instance, '~/Downloads/filename.iso'

Step 2: Open up the Terminal Window. It usually can be found under the 'Applications' folder. Enter the 'Applications' folder, then locate the folder of 'Utilities'. Get inside of the 'Utilities' to find the Terminal application, now you can launch it by double-clicking on it. When the console pops up, just type the following command 'hdiutil mount ~/PathToYourISO/filename.iso'.

Notice: '~/PathToYourISO/filename' is the path of the ISO file that you want to mount from step 1. Now you have learned how to mount ISO Mac OS X thru executing the command. Yet there is an even simple method for you to open and play ISO image of movies directly in the next part.

Part 4: Directly Play ISO File with Leawo Blu-ray Player for Mac

Apart from the above methods, you can also play an ISO movie without mounting it. How? With Leawo Blu-ray Player for Mac.

Leawo Blu-ray Player for Mac is a 100% free professional media player. You should know that a lot of software claim to be free, however, there is a hidden cost when you use it, no need to worry about it when comes to Leawo Blu-ray Player for Mac. As a professional piece of software, Leawo Blu-ray Player can also provide the most beneficial promises. It offers original quality to play any ISO movie. When you use a third-party software to play the ISO file, the original quality must be your priority. And Leawo Blu-ray Player for Mac already takes care of that for you. Moreover, the added visual and subtitle settings are aiming to provide a better experience for you. These functions are optional in case you are already satisfied with your IOS movie. In addition, even if you never used this software, you can still use it easily with a user-friendly interface and control the play according to your own habits. And it is completely compatible with OS X 10.9 Mavericks, so no need to worry about compatibility.

A little tip: If you are using a very old Mac OS, you can also update your OS to get a better experience. After knowing the advantages of Leawo Blu-ray Player for Mac, follow the below steps to play ISO movie with this bravo product.

Step 1: Download Leawo Blu-ray Player for Mac and launch it.

Step 2: Choose the ISO movie that you need to play. Click 'Open File' and you can choose the ISO file.

Step 3: Make the subtitle setting (Optional). Hit the subtitle button to set subtitle on the top-left corner of the screen. You have four choices: A. Enable (Disable) subtitles, B. Subtitle offset, C. Subtitle selecting, D. Browse for subtitle.

Step 4: Make the video setting (optional). Hit the video setting button on the top-left corner of the screen in order to set the video settings. You can have a better visual experience. You have options like Deinterlace video, Deinterlace method, crop block bars, View mode, Zoom amount, etc.

Part 5: Conclusion

If you are looking for a free way to solve a problem like how to mount ISO file on Mac, the first two solutions have provided you with the inbuilt programs. However, it could be hard to handle if you are new to the Mac OS X system. Meantime, the last solution of Leawo Blu-ray Player for Mac is your best choice because it is very easy-to-use and convenient. Thousands of people already try out for you. Also, this brilliant software has a Window version, so you can mount ISO on Windows with it as well. Have a try and you won't regret it since it is free for all.