The first versions initially had no name but came to be known as the 'Macintosh System Software' in 1988, 'Mac OS' in 1997 with the release of Mac OS 7.6, and retrospectively called ' Classic Mac OS '. Mac OS 8 was also the operating system that appeared on the first iMacs that were released in 1998, as Apple began exploring all-in-one computers. October 23, 1999: Mac OS 9 Released. Mind mapping software for Mac OS. IMindQ for Mac is a mind mapping tool that gives you everything you need to create beautiful mind maps, flowcharts and concept maps.Updated for OS X El Capitan, iMindQ delivers innovative way to brainstorm, research and present your ideas.You can work seamlessly between Mac and iOS devices.

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 10.0Puma 10.1Jaguar 10.2
Panther 10.3Tiger 10.4Leopard 10.5
Snow Leopard 10.6Lion 10.7Mountain Lion 10.8
Mavericks 10.9Yosemite 10.10El Capitan 10.11
Sierra 10.12High Sierra 10.13Mojave 10.14
Catalina 10.15

Mind: First Mac Os Update

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)

Mind: First Mac Os X

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

Mac

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.

Nowadays, mind mapping has become more and more popular, which is a great way for brainstorming. Instead of using a simple list, users can make use of free mind map maker software to link thoughts in diverse ways. It makes users come up with ideas more creatively. You can check out this guidance to know some best mind mapping software for Mac 2018 and free mind mapping software for Windows 10 as well. You can also have the chance to know how to transfer mind mapping files from Mac to iPhone through reading this tutorial.

Part 1: Best Mind Mapping Software for Mac 2018

If you and your team are fond of mind mapping on Mac, you can read this part carefully, for I will recommend some best mind mapping software 2018 Mac for you to use. Brainstorming is quite precious to a company or a team in this new era with fierce competitions. Now let’s check them out.

No.1: MindMeister

This best mind mapping software for Mac 2018 is quite popular among users, for it is an online tool, which has more than 4 million registered users now. It has won a big award and can offer users great service to brainstorm, take notes and create plans in detail.

No.2: Mindjet

This program is recognized as one best mind mapping software 2018 Mac as well, which can offer you great assistance in brainstorming, collaborating on work and arranging tasks effectively. Users can do work with team members with high efficiency. Every user can pay $15/mo for an individual plan. It can also integrate with the web services and tools you are using, such as Microsoft Office, Box and etc.

No.3: XMind

XMind is also a good choice for you to do mind mapping, which can be called on best mind mapping app 2018. It offers flexible functions and you can create simple mind maps and complex ones. You can also manage tasks by using the Gantt view feature of XMind, which offers you great convenience.

Part 2: Best Mind Mapping Software for Windows 10

If your computer is Windows 10 system, you can check out the free mind mapping software for Windows 10 shown below to help you to do brainstorming and make work plans.

No.1: Text2Mindmap

Text2Mindmap, as one top mind mapping software 2018 on Windows, has high speed and great simplicity, which enables users to create mind maps easily. When the map is completed, it will be converted into a single node in the minimap for you to check out conveniently.

No.2: Freemind

Freemind is a free mind mapping software for Windows 10, which has great flexibility and its features are quite consistent. This powerful mind mapping program can provide users with complicated diagrams and lots of branches as well as graphics and so on. Its features attract many users to have a try on it. You can also export your mind map to other formats with this software.

No.3: BluMind

BluMind is developed by one best mind map maker, which is loved by most users. Its powerful features have many advantages, such as working on a pack of documents at once and creating charts, and so on. You can also open or edit other mind maps created by other similar tools as well.

These best mind mapping app 2018 are really wonderful, which makes mind mapping more easily and efficiently. You can choose one from the ones listed above to help you to create detailed plans for a project or a trip.

Part 3: How to Transfer Mind Mapping Files from Mac to iPhone via iTransfer

After getting to know top mind mapping software 2018 on both Mac and Windows 10, you can continue to read this guidance to understand the method to transfer mind mapping files from Mac to iPhone with iTransfer. This operation is quite useful for you to take the mind maps to anywhere you like with your iPhone, which is quite portable for you to do like this. Leawo iTransfer is really a powerful tool to help you to achieve this aim. First, you can export mind mapping files to images. Then you can transfer PNG or JPG from Mac to iPhone directly.

Leawo iTransfer for Mac

☉ copy files among iOS devices, iTunes and PCs with ease.
☉ copy up to 14 kinds of data and files without iTunes.
☉ Support the latest iOS devices like iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, etc.
☉ Play back, view, and delete data and files on iOS devices.

3.1 Export Mind Mapping Files to Images

In order to realize the goal to transfer mind mapping files from Mac to iPhone, you need to export them to image files at first. This is not hard to handle at all. Almost every top mind mapping software 2018 has this feature. Here I would like to take MindMeister for instance to show you the steps to export to images.

1. Open one mind map and then click on the export icon with a cloud icon and a downward arrow.

2. After that, you will see the next interface, and you need to choose “Image File”. Click on “Export” button to save it one Mac folder with the format of GIF, PNG or JPG. Here I like to use JPG to store it.

3.2 Transfer Image Files to iPhone from Mac with iTransfer

After you get mind mapping image files from the mind mapping software, you can continue to use iTransfer to add it to iPhone from Mac folder. The detailed steps are shown below. If you have some photo to save on iMac, you could try iTransfer to backup photos from iOS devices to Mac.

Step 1: Run iTransfer for Mac and Connect iPhone with Mac

Run iTransfer for Mac and then insert iPhone into Mac with proper USB cable. Your iPhone information will be recognized by the software automatically.

Step 2: Select Mind Map Images to Transfer from iPhone to Mac

Click on iPhone icon and then move to “Photo” tab to view all images on iPhone. Click on “Add> Add File” or “Add> Add Folder” according to your need. Navigate to the mind map images or folder on Mac, and the software will immediately transfer them from Mac to iPhone. In a few seconds, you can take your mind maps on iPhone to company or anywhere you prefer.

This method to add mind maps to iPhone from Mac is quite great to apply. When you encounter the same issue, you can try this solution to help you to make it.