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.

1. I Want To Become Fondue Mac Os Catalina
2. I Want To Become Fondue Mac Os Catalina

Apr 25, 2021 Apps Shortcuts. Apple released the Shortcuts automation app over two years ago for iOS, and it’s become a truly powerful tool for getting things done. But on the Mac it would be indispensible. There’s nothing more satisfying than building a hackintosh, i.e. Installing Mac OS X on a non-Apple machine. Although it isn’t as easy as it sounds, but the end result is worth the effort. Building a PC with specific components and installing Mac OS X on it can save you thousands of dollars you might spend on a real Mac. And now, it’s time to step into the portable world. When asked why Apple decided to make Mac OS updates free, and make its iWork suite complimentary with new Macs, CEO Tim Cook said it was just what Apple wanted to do. “Our primary reason for doing. Get more done with the new Google Chrome. A more simple, secure, and faster web browser than ever, with Google’s smarts built-in.

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.

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.

The rainbow-colored spinning beach ball in macOS Mojave can be quite a painful sight for many Mac users. For some who are lucky, it’ll just disappear in a matter of seconds, but more often than not, it stays for minutes and minutes, leaving users hopelessly locked out of their Mac.

Now, since there is no definite way to deal with the spinning beach ball in Mac and there is no clear reason why it’s showing up in the first place, allow us to break things down for you.

In this post, we will discuss everything we know about the spinning beach ball in Mojave, including potential reasons why it surfaces and ways to get rid of it.

What the Spinning Beach Ball Signifies

Also called the “spinning beach ball of death,” the spinning beach ball in macOS Mojave is simply an indicator that your Mac is no longer capable of handling the tasks given to it at the moment.

Pro Tip: Scan your Mac for performance issues, junk files, harmful apps, and security threats
that can cause system issues or slow performance.

Special offer. About Outbyte, uninstall instructions, EULA, Privacy Policy.

Technically, every app on Macs has a corresponding server. Once the app receives more tasks than it can process, the server will automatically “release” the spinning beach ball. Sometimes, it’ll show in an instant, but most of the time, it will take about five seconds for the app to become non-responsive.

Aside from being unable to process more tasks, there are other reasons why the spinning beach ball of death appears. These include:

1. There is a standalone issue within the app.
2. Your hardware is faulty.
3. You have an insufficient RAM.

Depending on the cause, the solutions vary. However, the most common way to get around the problem is to simply find the right software and execute the appropriate system commands.

Stopping the Spinning Beach Ball

In case you find yourself stuck in a frozen app, then there is one thing you can do: Force Quit. To do that, follow these steps:

1. Click the Apple icon.
2. Select Force Quit.
3. Choose the app that is no longer responding.
4. Click Force Quit.

Forcefully quitting an app sounds like a brutal way to resolve your problem. Worse, it does not even address the real reason why the app got stuck in the first place. Well, it could just be a random glitch, but if the app keeps freezing to the point that other software and programs are already affected, then you may need to take a closer look.

Application Keeps Freezing

Since Mac apps don’t usually have a proper uninstaller, you would need to move them to the Trash bin. As a result, traces of the app are left behind, and these app leftovers are possible culprits over why the spinning beach ball surfaces.

Now, if a certain app keeps freezing every time you open it, you might need to reset or reinstall it.

Resetting an App

To reset an app, you have to access and use its own settings or preferences. But in the event that an app does not allow you to access its settings because it keeps freezing, you may try using third-party tools.

There are plenty of apps out there that allows you to reset a Mac Mojave app. Perform a quick search online or seek recommendations from friends if you need to.

I Want To Become Fondue Mac Os Catalina

Generally, to use such third-party apps, you have to download and install them first. From there, follow the on-screen instructions provided and you’re done.

If the beach ball keeps rolling whenever you attempt using the app again, you may need to reinstall the app completely. Instead of selecting Uninstall, click Reset. Just always remember that moving the app to the Trash bin won’t solve the problem.

Why Your Entire Mac Mojave Is No Longer Responsive

I Want To Become Fondue Mac Os Catalina

What if your Mac, not just an app, becomes unresponsive? What’s causing the spinning beach ball to occur and how do you get rid of that annoying ball? Again, depending on the reason, the solutions vary.

1. Your Processor Is Overworked.

One possible reason is that your Mac computer is getting old and abused. You can find out if the model of your Mac is causing the problem by checking your CPU usage. To check your Mac’s CPU usage, open Activity Monitor. You can find it under the Applications/Utilities folder.

In this folder, you can see your current system load in percentage. If all the processes amount to more than 50 percent and some processes remain opened for long, then it could be an indicator that your processor could no longer handle the tasks. To fix a processor that is overworked all the time, the only thing you can do is to get a new Mac.

2. You Have a Low Disk Space.

You need not fill your startup disk with lots of unnecessary stuff to see the pesky ball. A heavily loaded hard disk with large files can already trigger the ball to show up.

To clear a fully-loaded hard disk drive, you simply need to do a cleanup. The good thing is that it’s a relatively easy task. You can download Outbyte MacRepairto do the cleaning for you. Just run it, wait for it to finish scanning your system for any junk files, and you’re all good. It’s also a handy app for prepping your Mac for optimal performance.

3. You Have an Insufficient RAM.

Another possible reason why the spinning beach ball is showing up is that you have an insufficient RAM. To find out if you need more RAM, check the Activity Monitor again. Under the Memory tab, check the Memory pressure table graph. If it is red, it means your RAM is strained under the active apps.

To resolve your RAM problem, you need to upgrade to a bigger RAM. That means you need to buy a new one and install it. Oftentimes, an 8GB RAM is enough for most apps and tasks, but if you need to render heavy videos all the time, then you will need more RAM.

Summary

Some of the solutions we shared require updating hardware, but others merely need cleaning your system. There are other ways to get around the dreaded spinning beach ball issue on Mojave, but we hope we were able to tackle the basic stuff that you might need in order to temporarily fix the issue.

If you know other effective ways to deal with the spinning beach ball in macOS, let us know. Drop your comments below!