10.7 was also available for a limited time on an Apple released USB flash drive. Call AppleCare if you need that disc:ġ0.6 retail otherwise is available for pre-MaIntel Macs: Ī backup is still better than having no backups, as you avoid the pitfalls of older operating systems not being able to handle newer software, or newer software not being able to run on older operating systems. Macs newer than March 29, 2010, but older than Jcould not use a 10.6 installer CD, other than the prebundled CD with them. El Capitan: OS X El Capitan: Revert to a previous OS X versionįor a limited time 10.7 is available for purchase and download here:Īdditional upgrade installers beyond 10.8 are available either on Apple's link or the App Store.Ĭhange the /us/ for your country's 2 letter code when you go to to get the download link for your country. You may have to contact App Store billingto get an older online releaes available, or get a refund for an already previously purchased operating system that you go back to download.Īlso, Apple has written these tips for those with Time Machine, wishing to restore an older versions of Mac OS X from Mavericks: With each new retail release, the availability in the App Store may vary once you install an older retail online release. As indicated elsewhere on this forum, Macs that had a hardware refresh on or after July 20, 2011, can't boot into 10.6.8 or earlier, though 10.6 server can be installed through virtualization.

Some macs older than 10.7's releasecould get this utility through this firmware update. Starting with 10.7, on Jdowngrading took an entirely new approach:Īpple introduced a restore install utility for Mac OS X 10.7 or later that boots with a command-R. It is better if you downgrade, to have a clone backup of the older system to fall back to, that way avoiding incompatibilities of newer libraries.

Also note, if you upgrade your libraries to a newer system, such as an Apple Photos library, only the raw photos will be readable by the older system, and not the libraries, tags, albums and favorites. If you are just going to flip booting back and forth, only the first step is needed, as the Option key booting will choose the operating system that is loaded regardless of the drive formatting. And an extra step to make 10.13 or later readable to the 10.12.6 booted system would be to clone backup the newer system, and wipe and reformat the newer system's drive as HFS Extended Journaled. An extra step to make 10.13 or later readable from 10.12.6 or older systems would be to make sure the 10.12.6 or older system is to wipe and formatted HFS Extended Journaled before installing 10.12.6 or earlier. With 10.13's release Apple introduced APFS, which is not readable by older operating systems.

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