How To Get Mac Os X For Free

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Mac OS X 10.7 Lion is available for older systems that are not compatible with the latest version of macOS and requires the following: Mac computer with an Intel Core 2 Duo, Core i3, Core i5, Core i7, or Xeon processor.

  1. 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.
  2. For earlier versions of Mac OS X, including Mac OS X Mavericks 10.9, Mac OS X Mountain Lion 10.8, Mac OS X Lion 10.7, Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6, Mac OS X Leopard 10.5, Mac OS X Tiger 10.4, and before, the process to obtain those installers differs a bit. Downloading MacOS Installers via Terminal.
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Running the latest software is not always the best decision. There are plenty of reasons you might want to downgrade or run an older version of macOS on your computer.

You may find that after the latest update your computer runs slower, your apps don’t function, or that the programs you need to run are not yet compatible with the upgrade. Maybe as a developer, you want to create a test environment to ensure your software runs properly in all available versions of OS X - check out the infographic below. Or you may simply like the look of the old version better (no judgement) and not want to upgrade until absolutely necessary.

Keep your apps while downgrading

Get Setapp, a collection of Mac apps that strengthen your macOS. Whenever you decide to downgrade, your apps will travel with you.

How to Install Old OS X on Your Mac

Although you might think that going back to the old macOS is not possible by looking at the App Store Updates tab, it’s actually quite easy to do. In this article, we’ll take you through everything you need to download and install an old OS X on your Mac.

Prepare your Mac first

How to get mac os x for free

Make sure you are ready to downgrade your operating system by checking in with what version of OS X you already have and ensuring you have enough hard drive room to download the older version. Clicking the apple in the top left corner of your desktop and selecting About This Mac will allow you to see what OS X version you are currently running. Tabbing over to Storage will let you know how much disk space you have available. You’ll need around around eight gigabytes free depending on which macOS you downgrade to.

How To Get Mac Os X For Free Full

Even if you do have enough space, it’s a good idea to clean your computer before installing the desired operating system. You can, of course, do so manually by deleting unused files and uninstalling old software to free up disk space. Depending on how tidy you are, this might take quite a bit of time.

To make things easy, use a specialized app like CleanMyMac, which will quickly free up space by detecting unused apps and large files, and offering to completely delete them, with all their hidden corresponding files, in one quick click.

Optimizing your Mac with CleanMyMac is effortless:

  1. Launch CleanMyMac
  2. Select the Smart Scan tab and click Scan
  3. Review Details to see the list of suggested optimizations
  4. Click Clean

To uninstall certain apps, find the Uninstaller tab and select the apps you haven’t been using for a while.

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The final preparation step is to make sure you back up all your important files to cloud storage or an external drive. A proper backup app like Get Backup Pro can save you a lot of headache here.

To create a new backup with Get Backup Pro:

  1. Connect your external hard drive
  2. Click the plus icon in the bottom left corner
  3. Type in the name for your backup
  4. Choose your external drive as a destination
  5. Adjust all the settings according to your preference and click OK
  6. Tap the play button once you ready to perform the backup

Grab an old macOS with Setapp

Downgrading to previous operating systems on Mac gets easier. To put it shortly, Setapp has your back here.

Download the OS X you want

Once you have space on your computer, figure out what version of OS X you would like to install. You can see all previous versions of OS X your Mac has installed by opening up the App Store and clicking the icon in Applications. Tab to the Purchase page of the menu and scroll down to find the line for previous operating systems. Clicking the install button of the macOS you want will begin downloading the file.

What if I can’t find the version I want in the app store?

If your goal is to download a version of macOS that you have not already used, or, that was not available as an update from the App Store after you bought your Mac, you may need to purchase it. The earliest versions, OS X Lion and OS X Mountain Lion are available on the Apple Store’s website and arrive to you via email for download. OS X Snow Leopard ships as a boxed version and requires a disk drive to install.

It could be helpful to know where you sit on the timeline of macOS X updates. Below is a chronological list of all the updates beginning with the most recent update, High Sierra, released in 2017:

  • OS X High Sierra 10.13
  • OS X Sierra 10.12
  • OS X ElCapitan 10.11
  • OS X Yosemite 10.10
  • OS X Mavericks 10.9
  • OS X Mountain Lion 10.8
  • OS X Lion 10.7, released in 2011

Visiting the Apple Support’s Downloads page makes it easy to search for any version of macOS you might need, and most are available for free. Downloads for previous versions of OS X are linked below and include:

Alternative sources for downloading macOS

If you can’t find the version you want from Apple, ask a friend who is running the macOS you’re looking for to make a copy of the installer file for you. Downloading a .dmg file from a torrent site may seem a quick solution, but it means risking your security. Alternatively, you could hit up your nearest Apple Store. They will likely have image files of all the different versions of the software and help you install it right there as well.

Install the macOS

If you download the file from the App Store, the installer will start immediately. Follow the prompts and be prepared to restart your computer. If you acquire the installer from another source, just downloading the file will not install the OS X right away on your Mac, you’ll need to find the file in your Downloads or Applications folder, then open and run the installer from the downloaded file.

I can’t download an old version of Mac OS X

A downgrade is different than an upgrade. When you try to downgrade macOS, the installer may not launch right away depending on which versions of macOS you are moving between. If your installer does not launch, or you get an error message that reads: “This copy of the ‘Install OS X’ application is too old to be opened on this version of OS X,” you’ll need to use a bootable USB or external drive to work around this problem.

Get a bootable drive with OS X

Creating a bootable USB or a bootable drive is not complicated. You’ll need an external drive with enough space to hold your desired OS X on it and a basic familiarity with Terminal, Apple’s command line interface.

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If you’re uncomfortable using Terminal to execute basic commands, use an app like Disk Drill to help create a boot drive. Whether you use Terminal or Disk Drill, our guide on creating a bootable installer will walk you through all the necessary steps.

Remove the old OS X

Once your drive is prepared with your bootable version of OS X, erase the unwanted version. After you restart your computer, press and hold Command + R. When you enter the macOS Utilities screen, navigate to Disk Utility, click continue, and find your Startup Disk. Tab to the Erase page and name the file you want erased (e.g. macOS High Sierra). Then select Mac OS Extended (Journaled) from the dropdown menu. Hit Erase and quit out of Disk Utility. This will return you to the OS X Utilities selector.

Install the bootable version of OS X

If you used Disk Drill for creating your bootable drive, a window will prompt your actions for using the install disk you made. But if you created your own using Terminal, use OS X Utilities Selector and find Reinstall OS X. Find and select your install disk with your bootable version of your preferred macOS, and click continue through to the license agreement. Once you agree, you should be prompted by the installer. Once the installation is completed, your computer should restart. If it does not restart itself, make sure you restart it normally. The downgrade should be complete!

As you can see, downgrading your OS X is not as dreadful as you might think, especially if you use helper apps like CleanMyMac, Get Backup Pro, and Disk Drill — all of which are available for a free trial on Setapp. So downgrade away!

Mac os x 10.8 download free

macOS evolution inforgaphic


Big Sur
macOS 11

November 19, 2020

Epic design change: new Control Center, notifications, and more. With the transition to Apple’s M1 chips, you can now run iOS apps natively on Mac.


October 7, 2019

iTunes is replaced by dedicated apps for music, movies, and podcasts. It’s now possible to port iOS apps to macOS and expand your workspace with Sidecar.

Mojave
macOS 10.14

September 24, 2018

Visual refinements introduced via Dark Mode and Dynamic Desktoptake central stage in Mojave. The new apps migrating from iOS include Stocks, News, Home, and Voice Memos..

September 25, 2017

Major improvements go unnoticed for a user, but the overall performance skyrockets, due to embracing Apple File System and a new video standard, HEVC.

Sierra
macOS 10.12

September 20, 2016

With Sierra, OS X dies and macOS is born. The renamed system introduces even more iOS perks like Siriand unlocking Mac with Apple Watch.

September 30, 2015

El Capitan features Split Views– dual-window functionality for arranging and managing app windows. Plus, OS X 10.11 comes with improved Safari, Mail, and Spotlight.

Yosemite
OS X 10.10

October 16, 2014

A completely new sleek design is what Yosemite is remembered for. Continuityand Handoffintegrated into the new OS strengthen bonds between iOS and OS X devices.

October 22, 2013

Maps, iBooks, and Tagsdebut in the first inanimate OS X – Mavericks. To enable secure password encryption and storage, iCloud Keychainin introduced.

Mountain Lion
OS X 10.8

July 25, 2012

Mountain Lion adds new integrations and further iOS perks like Reminders, Notes, and Messages. It gets easier to track app updates via the Notification Center.

July 20, 2011

iCloudarrives. Apart from that, lots of iOS advancements find reflection in OS X Lion, covering Launchpad, multi-touchgestures, and more.

Snow Leopard
OS X 10.6

August 28, 2009

While Leopard did a great job, Snow Leopard arrives to refine it even more. Mainly, it comes with apps rewritten in 64 bit and OpenCL. The 2009 OS X release is also known for Mac App Storelaunch.

October 26, 2007

Long-awaited and Mac-changing. Leopard gives a spectacular leap, introducing Time Machine, Boot Camp, QuickLook, and full support for 64-bit software.


Tiger
OS X 10.4

April 29, 2005

A rich harvest for Mac, Tiger marks the launch of 200+ new features. Spotlightsearch and Dashboardare the top stars, with Apple TV, Automator, and VoiceOver joining the crowd.

October 24, 2003

Panther release introduces Exposé, a feature for seamless management of open applications. Safariofficially becomes the default web browser.


Jaguar
OS X 10.2

August 23, 2002

A large grey Apple logoappears for the first time, replacing Happy Mac at startup. Optimized search functionality of Finder and the first release of Accessibility API – Universal Access. App arrivals: iChat and Address Book.

September 25, 2001

No big functionality updates, the focus is shifted to performanceinstead. From improved file management to CD and DVD burning, Puma just makes it work better.


Cheetah
OS X 10.0

March 24, 2001

“When you saw it, you wanted to lick it,” said Steve Jobs about Aqua– the brand new UI born with the release of Cheetah. Preview, Mail, QuickTime, and TextEdit make debut at this point.

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Apple has released OS X 10.9 Mavericks, and somewhat surprisingly it is a free upgrade for all existing OS X users. If you’re using a Mac laptop or desktop from the last five years or so, you should be able to download OS X Mavericks for free just by visiting the Mac App Store. Some exclusions and caveats do apply, though, so read on for more information.

Downloading and installing OS X 10.9 Mavericks for free

Before you upgrade to OS X 10.9 for free, the most important question is whether your Mac hardware is compatible. In general, if you’re already running OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard, you should be able to install Mavericks. Here’s a complete list of Mac laptops and desktops compatible with OS X 10.9 Mavericks:

  • MacBook Pro (mid/late 2007 and newer)
  • MacBook Air (late 2008 and newer)
  • iMac (mid 2007 and newer)
  • MacBook (late 2008 aluminium, or early 2009 and newer)
  • Mac Mini (early 2009 and newer)
  • Mac Pro (early 2008 and newer)
  • Xserve (early 2009)

Before you begin the upgrade process, you should save and close any open programs. If you’re upgrading some older Mac hardware, you might also find it useful to clear up your hard drive first, by uninstalling unused apps, transferring large files to external storage, and using a clean-up tool such as CCleaner.

How To Download Mac Os X Software For Free

If you have Snow Leopard, Lion, or Mountain Lion installed (10.6, 10.7, 10.8), upgrading to 10.9 Mavericks is as simple as heading to the Mac App Store, clicking the huge OS X Mavericks banner, and clicking “Install.” It will download the update (which is around 5GB), and then ask whether you want to begin the installation process. Once you begin the installation, that’s it: It’s a one-step installer without any “next” buttons.

For me, on a fairly bogged-down 2011 MacBook Pro, the free upgrade to OS X Mavericks took around 90 minutes. On a newer and fresher systems, it should be a lot faster.

After installing OS X Mavericks…

Once the installation process is complete, a notification will pop up offering to teach you about Mavericks’ new features. You should probably click it, especially if you’re coming from Snow Leopard or Lion as quite a lot has changed. The most exciting new features in Mavericks are probably the iCloud Keychain, Notifications tweaks, and some cool low-level tech that should improve battery life and performance (Timer Coalescing, App Nap, and Memory Compression). If you’ve always wished for iBooks, Maps, and Calendar to make the leap from iOS to your Mac, you’re in luck, too.

If you have any problems upgrading, or you want to draw our attention to an interesting new feature (or bug), leave a comment.

How To Download Mac Os X 10.10 For Free

Now read: Is the core of Apple’s OS X rotting from within?