Jul 12, 2020. OS X Mountain Lion is available now as a download from the Mac App Store. Just click the Mac App Store icon in your dock, purchase Mountain Lion and follow the onscreen instructions to install it. Mountain Lion will not only make your Mac work better, it also makes your Mac work even better with your iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. Because it comes with iCloud, your mail, calendars, contacts. To watch or listen to iTunes content on your mobile device, you'll use the Music or Videos app instead. Using the iTunes Store. With the iTunes Store, you can buy music, movies, TV shows, mobile apps, and e-books, and they will be downloaded to your computer automatically.In addition to buying things, you can download free college lecture videos from iTunes U, and you can subscribe to free. May 28, 2018. It turns out that when you download the Mountain Lion installer from the Mac App Store, that copy of the installer installs whatever version of OS X was available at the time of download.
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 10.0 | 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 |
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”
Free Download Mountain Lion 10.8
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
Mountain Lion Download App Store Link
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.
These might also interest you:
Here is the link to download Mac OS X Lion 10.7.5 DMG free standalone setup. If you have a slow bandwidth, then downloading massive like these can become frustrating. For avoiding such situations, we have also brought a torrent file. So that you can enjoy the file when the file is downloaded by the torrent.
File: mac_os_x_lion_10.7.5.dmg
Size: 4.2 GB
Developer: Apple Inc
Language: English
Released: July 20, 2011
Last update: October 4, 2012
Unlike snow leopard who was released in the past with absolutely no changes. Mac OS X Lion was released with numerous changes in all areas like interface, framework… The changes can be observed from the installation screen, to navigation and settings. From start-up till the shut down each and every expectation has been changed.
This time the process of installation was way simple. The operating system was easily navigable. With improved stability, compatibility and security has become the main focus.
Great security tools are added to protect the user’s privacy while attractive design was also added.
OS Lion was the first-ever Macintosh operating system that supported the Mac App Store. Mac App Store was a massive improvement as numbers of applications were getting released each day.
Mac OS X Lion (10.7) is the eighth major release by Apple in the Mac OS X series. It was publicly shown on October 20, 2010 at a special occasion called “Back to Mac”. While on February 24, 2011, the first developer’s preview of Lion was released which was only access able the users who had subscribed to the Apple Developer Program.
Still it was not available for the users until July 1, 2011 when it was released to manufacturing. And after few days on July 20, 2011 the final version was released on Mac App Store.
It was the first version of the Macintosh operating system where it was distributed without any physical media. The operating system was purchased at 29.99$ on Mac App Store. However, on users demands, later Apple released the operating system in a USB flash drive for 69$.
About 1 million copies of the operating system were sold on the first day and six million word wide more added in the list by the end of October 2011.
Mac OS X Lion was the successor of Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6 and was succeeded by Mac OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion.
The last update released by Apple was on October 4, 2012. It was Mac OS X Lion 10.7.5 which was about bugs fixes on Safari, and Gatekeepers functionality.
System Requirements
Before you start the download of mac OS X Lion 10.7.5 DMG for your computer. You will need to have a look at system requirements.
The operating system can be used on iMac(Mid 2007 or later), MacBook (Aluminum, late 2008) or (Polycarbonate, early 2009 or newer), MacBook Pro(Late 2007 or newer), MacBook Air (Late 2008 or newer), Mac Mini (Early 2009 or newer), Mac Pro (Early 2008 or newer).
An Intel Core 2 Duo, Core i3, Core i5, Core i7 or Xeon processor with 8 GB of free storage and 2 GB RAM is required.
Airdrop is supported on the following Mac models: MacBook Pro (late 2008 or newer), MacBook Air (late 2010 or newer), MacBook (late 2008 or newer), iMac (early 2009 or newer), Mac Mini (mid-2010 or newer), Mac Pro (early 2009 with AirPort Extreme card and mid-2010 or newer).
Features of OS X Mountain Lion
When the operating system was publicly revealed on the occasion of “Back to Mac”, most of the users loved the news. As fans of Mac OS X were getting impatient as Apple was way too focused on. Apple was fully focused on IOS, which effected the Lion OS as well. Observing the changes made to Lion is a clear sign that they have changed the course of Mac OS X to IOS.
The first change you will realize after logging in your OS will be the login screen. There is a textured grey background with account photos rendered in bubbles. Other than the login screen, you can also notice the aqua interface of windows. Elements progress bars have also been changed the same with buttons.
Now, the buttons are colored in Red, Yellow, and Green. Minimize and maximize buttons are added whereas users can also resize the windows by its edges. However, the most loved feature in the interface by the users is the support of full-screen applications. Users loved the idea to use application in full screen.
Apple has built new tools into its developer’s kit to make it easier for the developers to enable the full-screen functionality for their applications. This feature can allow users to use and switch between multiple applications.
Many of us have faced the same problem. As an example, with every project, I had a number of files that need to be inside related folders which caused many problems. While for each project I had to create a folder, inside that folder numbers of other folders and putting all those contents into related folders were a great deal of work. To solve those types of problems, Apple has released a feature called “Group Folder”. This can group all of your folders by a single click you can navigate through the folders.
Many improvements are made in Preview. In past Preview wasn’t able to make his mark, however with the new updates made to application giving it a second chance won’t be a bad idea. The interface got cleaner and logical, support different file formats, and a great set of tools for PDF files were added.
One of the most eye-catching features of Preview is the signature. As you can draw down your signature on a piece of paper and scan it even with your webcam. Then you can use it inside your documents.
If one thing we should praise Apple for is that they are always a way ahead than their competition. They have introduced a multi-touch gesture where users can use their trackpad to perform certain action. Like by using four fingers to swipe left or right on the trackpad will open applications like Expose. Still the same idea is being used in different devices in current days.
Expose and Spaces are now combined. You can control all your work space from one easy panel.
Lion was shipped with Mac App Store as a built-in application.
Screen sharing has been around for a while in OS X. However, it was always limited to a single user mode. But now, you can use remotely someone else’s computer with a secondary user name while the main uses on the machine can continue working.
About This Mac is a single-window in your OS X. It gives you information about your computers basic specs including RAM, Processor, software version and serial number.
Other small app upgrades are also made. Like now in Safari there is a separate button on top with the option to scroll from top to bottom (vice versa) by using the track pad. Open the button will pop-up a small window inside the browser to show the downloads. Other than Safari Apple mail client has also been improved in security and performance. Same with spotlight, iCal, iChat, and facetime.
Download Mac OS X Lion 10.7.5 DMG Free Download
Download Mac OS X Lion 10.7.5 DMG free standalone setup. Indeed Mac OS X 10.7.5 is one of the most stable and enhanced operating systems provided by Apple. Many security patches have been made within addition to tons of new features.
File: mac_os_x_lion_10.7.5.dmg
Size: 4.4 GB
Program Class: Operating System
Language: English
Released: July 20, 2011
Last update: October 4, 2012
Developer: Apple Inc
Successor:Mac OS X Snow Leopard
Predecessor: Mac OS X Mountain Lion
Setup Type: Offline Installer/ Full standalone setup