Reinstall from macOS Recovery
macOS Recovery makes it easy to reinstall the Mac operating system, even if you need to erase your startup disk first. All you need is a connection to the Internet. If a wireless network is available, you can choose it from the Wi-Fi menu , which is also available in macOS Recovery.
1. Start up from macOS Recovery
To start up from macOS Recovery, turn on your Mac and immediately press and hold one of the following sets of keys on your keyboard. Release the keys when you see an Apple logo, spinning globe, or other startup screen.
Command (⌘)-R
In the purchased section of the app store app for mac you can download older versions of OS X. I have back to Lion available there to download anytime when I check. I've downloaded older OS multiple times this way in the past. Original Poster 5 points 3 years ago. 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. We’ll focus on two specific commands in this guide: One that downloads the latest macOS update, and another that will let you download older macOS or OS X build, as detailed by 512 Pixels. If you want to run older versions of OS X on your Mac, you need to get an older Mac that can run them. Step 2: Download the version of macOS, Mac OS X you require.
Reinstall the latest macOS that was installed on your Mac (recommended).
Option-⌘-R
Global Nav Open Menu Global Nav Close Menu; Apple; Shopping Bag +.
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Upgrade to the latest macOS that is compatible with your Mac.
Shift-Option-⌘-R
Reinstall the macOS that came with your Mac, or the closest version still available.
You might be prompted to enter a password, such as a firmware password or the password of a user who is an administrator of this Mac. Enter the requested password to continue.
When you see the utilities window, you have started up from macOS Recovery.
2. Decide whether to erase (format) your disk
You probably don't need to erase, unless you're selling, trading in, or giving away your Mac, or you have an issue that requires you to erase. If you need to erase before installing macOS, select Disk Utility from the Utilities window, then click Continue. Learn more about when and how to erase.
3. Install macOS
When you're ready to reinstall macOS, choose Reinstall macOS from the Utilities window. Then click Continue and follow the onscreen instructions. You will be asked to choose a disk on which to install.
- If the installer asks to unlock your disk, enter the password you use to log in to your Mac.
- If the installer doesn't see your disk, or it says that it can't install on your computer or volume, you might need to erase your disk first.
- If the installer is for a different version of macOS than you expected, learn about macOS Recovery exceptions.
- If the installer offers you the choice between installing on Macintosh HD or Macintosh HD - Data, choose Macintosh HD.
Please allow installation to complete without putting your Mac to sleep or closing its lid. During installation, your Mac might restart and show a progress bar several times, and the screen might be empty for minutes at a time.
If your Mac restarts to a setup assistant, but you're selling, trading in, or giving away your Mac, press Command-Q to quit the assistant without completing setup. Then click Shut Down. When the new owner starts up the Mac, they can use their own information to complete setup.
macOS Recovery exceptions
The version of macOS offered by macOS Recovery might vary in some cases:
- If macOS Sierra 10.12.4 or later has never been installed on this Mac, Option-Command-R installs the macOS that came with your Mac, or the closest version still available. And Shift-Option-Command-R isn't available.
- If you erased your entire disk instead of just the startup volume on that disk, macOS Recovery might offer only the macOS that came with your Mac, or the closest version still available. You can upgrade to a later version afterward.
- If your Mac has the Apple T2 Security Chip and you never installed a macOS update, Option-Command-R installs the latest macOS that was installed on your Mac.
- If you just had your Mac logic board replaced during a repair, macOS Recovery might offer only the latest macOS that is compatible with your Mac.
If you can't get macOS Recovery to offer the installer you want, you might be able to use one of the other ways to install macOS.
Other ways to install macOS
- You can also install macOS from the App Store or Software Update preferences. If you can't install macOS Catalina, you might be able to install an earlier macOS, such as macOS Mojave, High Sierra, Sierra, El Capitan, or Yosemite.
- Or create a bootable installer disk, then use that disk to install macOS on your Mac or another Mac.
Are you the owner of a truly old Mac (for example, a PowerBook running Snow Leopard, the very first iMac with Tiger, LC 475 with System 7.0.1, Quadra 800 with Mac OS 9 or Macintosh SE on System 6)? Then sooner or later you will need to download the operating system for your “old man”. But where to find it?
Older Versions of OS X and macOS
The first instance in such cases is the corresponding page on the official Apple support site. Of course, you can find only proprietary, apple software on it – iMovie, Pages, Keynote, iLife, old system updates for OS X, firmware updates and security updates, previous versions of iTunes and QuickTime, etc. Try to find the necessary software on this page – and you will almost certainly be lucky.
Older Software – for Classic Mac OS, PowerPC, 040, etc
Well, with Apple “AD” software, as we showed above, things are pretty simple. But what to do if you have a really old device? For example, on Mac OS 8 or 9, or running System 7.5.2 and System 7.6.1? What about applications for PowerPC processors, 68040 and 68030? You can be helped by our collection of links – just please do not forget that, at present, all these applications are not supported by anyone (including Apple), and therefore no one releases updates for them.
Read more: How to Reset Mac to Factory Settings?
On the other hand, they should (in theory) work fine on the good old Macs – Bondi Blue iMac, G4 Cube, Macintosh SE/30, Performa 6220, iBook, PowerBook 2400 and other “pre-Intel” Macs.
Download Previous Mac Os
This collection is also useful for fans of retro-emulators, as well as for those who, for whatever reason, needed to run very “old” software – for example, you can use Mini vMac, Basilisk or SheepShaver to emulate on your modern “poppy” System 7. And if you don’t want to “bother” too much with emulation, but still you would not mind looking at “how it was before,” there are old systems emulators in the browser — Hypercard and Mac Plus.
The old software for the old Mac “weighs” very little (for example, Photoshop – less than 1 MB). But transferring them to “ancient” computers may not be an easy task! Often, users simply make an FTP server on a modern Mac and install an FTP client like Fetch or Archie on an old Mac, and with their help transfer the archive with the file to the old computer. Of course, if the “old man” has the ability to connect to the Internet or read physical media (SD memory card, CD/DVD-ROM or external hard disk) even with the help of an adapter, this problem is eliminated.
Conclusion
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I hope this article will help you to revive old equipment from Apple. Despite the years I’m sure these “old men” can still perform basic tasks and in the end they are very archaic and cool!