Java is a runtime environment maintained by Oracle that you must install on your Mac to be able to run applications written using the Java programming language. Moreover, Java allows developers to make apps available on multiple operating systems at the same time because Java-based utilities will run on any platform that can integrate the runtime environment.
When I upgrade to Mavericks, it uninstalls Java 1.6. I can install Java 7, but for some applications and development work, I still need access to Java 6. How can I reinstall Java 6 in Mavericks? Apple docs generally recommend downloading Java directly from Oracle, but I don't see a Mac version listed on the Oracle download page for Java SE 6. Java for macOS 2017-001 installs the legacy Java 6 runtime for macOS 10.13 High Sierra, macOS 10.12 Sierra, macOS 10.11 El Capitan, macOS 10.10 Yosemite, macOS 10.9 Mavericks, macOS 10.8 Mountain Lion, and macOS 10.7 Lion.
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.
I'm using IntelliJ 13 CE and Mac OS X 9 Mavericks. I ran Oracle's Java 8 installer, and the files look like they ended up at. This site has a download link for. Download Mac Mavericks for free. You can get visibility into the health and performance of your Cisco ASA environment in a single dashboard.
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.
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
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.
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.
![Download Java For Mac Mavericks Download Java For Mac Mavericks](/uploads/1/2/6/5/126578350/613725762.png)
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
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
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![Java 8 download for mac Java 8 download for mac](https://learndown.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Mac-OS-X-Mavericks-Essential-Training.jpg)
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:
This page tells you how to download and install Java 8 and Eclipse on Mac OS X, and how to configure Eclipse.
Installing Java 8
- Go to the Oracle website. You'll see something like this:
- Scroll down until you see a heading beginning 'Java SE 8u65/8u66.' On the right, you'll see a Download button under the JDK header. Click it. The next screen will look like this:Click the radio button next to 'Accept License Agreement' and then click on jdk-8u65-macosx-x64.dmg. You'll be asked whether to save the file that is going to be downloaded; click on Save File.
- Open your Downloads folder, and double-click on jdk-8u65-macosx-x64.dmg. You'll see this window:
- Double-click on the package icon, and follow the instructions to install. When the installation has completed, click on Done. At this point, you may close up the window and drag jdk-8u65-macosx-x64.dmg to the Trash.
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Installing Eclipse
- If you already have Eclipse installed on your Mac, you need to get rid of it. To do so, first quit Eclipse if you're currently running it. Then, go to your workspace folder (probably in Documents/workspace) and save anything there that you want to keep, because you're about to get rid of this folder. Next, drag the workspace folder to the Trash.Go to your Applications folder. One way to get there is, from the Finder, type command-shift-A. You'll a folder named eclipse in there; drag the eclipse folder to the Trash. If you have an Eclipse icon in your dock, remove it from the dock.
- Now you're ready to download and install the newest version of Eclipse. Go to this website. You'll see a window like this:Scroll down until you see 'Eclipse IDE for Java Developers' and click where it says 64 bit under Mac OS X.
- You will see this window:Click on the yellow download button. If asked, click on 'Open with Archive Utility (default)' and then click OK. The download might take a few minutes. You should not feel compelled to donate.
- After the download completes, folders should automatically expand. If they don't, double-click on the .tar file. When that's done, you should see a folder named eclipse in your Downloads folder. When you open your Downloads folder, if you see Applications under the Favorites on the left side of the window, you should drag the eclipse folder into Applications. If you don't see Applications, then open a new window for Applications (from the Finder, command-shift-A), and drag the eclipse folder into Applications.
- Open your Applications folder, and then open the eclipse folder. You'll see an item named Eclipse; if you like, drag its icon into the dock so that you'll be able to launch Eclipse easily.
- Launch Eclipse. If you're asked whether you want to open it, of course you do; click Open. You'll see a window like this:It will have your user name rather than mine (scot). Select where you want your workspace to be; I recommend the default of your Documents folder. Click the checkbox for using this location as the default, and then click OK.
- You'll see a window like this:Click on the Workbench arrow in the upper right that I've circled. You shouldn't see this screen again, even if you quit Eclipse and relaunch it.
- You'll get an empty workbench like this:We won't be using the 'Task List' and 'Connect Mylyn' windows. Click the 'x' on each to close it. Press the mouse on the Window menu item, then choose 'Perspective', and finally choose 'Save Perspective as...'. Enter 'cs10' for the name of this perspective and press return. Your workbench will now look like this:You have now installed Eclipse!
Configuring Eclipse
Java 8 For Mac
You don't have to configure Eclipse the way I do, but you'll probably avoid some confusion if you do. Here's how.
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- In the Eclipse menu bar, click on the Eclipse menu and then on 'Preferences...'. You'll see a window with two panes. On the left pane is a list of types of things you can configure.
- Click on the triangle to the left of General. Then click on the triangle to the left of Appearance. Then click on 'Colors and Fonts.' You should see a window like this:
- In the window in the middle, click on the triangle next to Java. Then double-click on 'Java Editor Text Font':
- You'll see this window:On the right, where you can select the size, click 12. Then close this window by clicking on the window's close button.
- Close up the General preferences by clicking on the triangle to the left of General. Click the triangle next to Java and then click the triangle next to 'Code Style.' Then click Formatter. Here's what you should see:
- Click the button that says 'New...'. You'll see a window such as this one:You can type in any profile name you like. I used 'CS 10':Click OK.
- You should see a window like this:Change the tab size to 2:You'll see that the indentation size automatically changes as well.
- Click on 'Blank Lines,' and after 'Between import groups' and 'Before declarations of the same kind,' change the values 1 to 0:
- Click on 'Control Statements,' and check the first four boxes as I've done here:Click OK.
- Now click on triangles to close up Java. Click on the triangle next to Run/Debug, and then click on Console:
- Click on the green color sample next to 'Standard In text color.' You'll get a color picker:
- Slide the slider on the right down, so that you get a dark green. (You're at Dartmouth. What other color could you possibly want?)Close the color picker window by clicking its close button, and click OK again to close the Preferences window.
And you're done!