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.
El Capitan ISO Direct Download. In these days, you can get an elegant experience with downloading and installing the latest version El Capitan OS to your Mac device. This El Capitan is the Mac operating system gives several ways to use El Capitan ISO Direct Download without any problem. Download Mac OS X El Capitan 10.11.6 for all Mac users. This is latest version DMG image iso file OS X El Capitan 10.11.6 (bootable) for Mac users. Again in the left side of TransMac, right click on your USB drive and this time select “Restore with Disk Image” and then select the copy of the “EL Pwn Version.dmg” file you should have.
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 |
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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:
- 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
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 operating system is available in many versions and El Capitan DMG version 10.11 is the twelfth major version of it. It has been developed by adding up a wide range of enhancements and powerful features. It has a smoother user interface with an eye-catching environment, so the users are able to find everything in a blink. The El Capitan DMG has been developed focusing the compatibility, security, and the stability of the system. And the Apple Inc. has added some fixes to improve the performance and the reliability of the OS. This is the last version of the Mac operating system that comes under the OS X name, and it was named as the El Capitan after the formation of the rock at the Yosemite National Park.
Review of El Capitan DMG
Focusing on the performance, stability, and the security, Apple Inc. released the twelfth major version of the Mac operating system; the El Capitan DMG. There is a huge rock named El Capitan in the Yosemite National Park, and this twelfth version of the Mac OS was named after the formation of it. It is more stable than the previous OS X versions because the Apple Inc. has added various updates and enhancements to this update. I.e. numerous enhancements and components for mailbox, various bug fixes, and also the compatibility enhancements are there for easiness of the users. El Capitan DMG gives better compatibility for the latest Microsoft Office 2016, and also the company has added over 150 new emojis to the OS.
What is DMG?
A DMG file is mountable disk image created in Mac OS X versions. These are commonly used for the OS X software installers which downloaded from the world wide web mounts a virtual desktop on the PC when opened. In fact, DMG is a disk image which comes in handy when transferring software. A file with the extension of .dmg is called a disk image file or a Mac OS X disk image file. This file format is used to store compressed software installers which can be used instead of physical discs. The DMG files are mostly seen when downloading the Mac OS software from the internet, and this article is all about El Capitan DMG.
Features of El Capitan
- The El Capitan DMG has a revamped full-screen mode for the apps. This feature makes it more feasible to use for the users. The split view of the version El Capitan allows you to run two apps side-by-side in the full screen. You can adjust the screen by deciding how much screen needed from each app by clicking and pulling the divider in the middle.
- Now it is easier to use because of the Mission Control has got a slight overall. In the Yosemite, the windows were not grouped together like a cluttered mess but here, it is well organized with the Mission Control.
- You get the chance to be much richer in notes in the El Capitan DMG. It includes the ability of making checklists, adding instant attachments, share info from other apps, etc.
- The Spotlight feature of the El Capitan DMG allows you to resize and move the windows as you can do with any app. The search feature of the Spotlight has been expanded, and you can now search context sensitive things using the natural language. It is possible to search for the things such as scores, sports, news, rosters, schedules, etc. Apart from all, you can search for your own system for your files by sorting them under any title. (ex:- pictures from November, files created on last week)
- Although the disk utility didn’t change much since the OS X Panther version, the El Capitan DMG has finally bought some stuff. You can have more information about your disc, that includes the encryption information. From the encryption information, you can find out whether the new System Integrity Protection feature is enabled or not. The System Integrity Protection secure your system processes from being tampered even when someone has the root access. And that helps you to prevent problems of malware and other possible exploits.
- You can enlarge the size of the cursor by wiggling the mouse. Sounds silly but, it comes in very handy for the users with massive screens.
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How to download El Capitan DMG?
El Capitan Os Download Iso
- Go to the El Capitan page by going through the Mac Apple Store.
- Click on the ‘Download’ button in the El Capitan page and then a file named ‘Install OS X El Capitan’ will be downloaded to your Applications folder.
- Once the download is done, the installer will open automatically. Click ‘Continue’ and follow the onscreen instructions.
Download Os X 10.11 El Capitan
Important! If you are concerned about the protection of your data while upgrading to the El Capitan DMG, keep in mind to take a backup of your personal data. Therefore, make a complete backup of your important data to an external storage device, so it will be a help to avoid data loss issues. If you missed making the backup, your data may be lost while updating to the El Capitan.