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Need a copy of System 6.0.8, 7.0.1, or a newer version of the Classic Mac OS for your vintage Mac? You can dig through apple.com and try to find them – or you can download them using the updated links on this page. (Apple does rearrange things, making it more difficult to find things.) All versions of the Mac OS linked here are copyrighted by Apple Computer and free to Macintosh owners. System 7.1.x as well as 7.6.x and later are not free products and must be purchased.
Making Floppies
Software is stuffed and requires an expander, such as StuffIt Expander (which was traditionally bundled with early Mac web browsers). Mounting disk images or making floppies from them requires Disk Copy (download Disk Copy) or MountImage.
You will need a 400K or 800K floppy drive to produce single-sided disks for use with the Mac 128K and 512K Fat Mac. Apple’s high density floppy drives cannot format single-sided floppies.
You cannot use a USB floppy drive to create 800K floppy disks; they can only be formatted and written to using an Apple 800K or 1.4M HD floppy drive.
You should have no trouble formatting and writing to high density floppies using a USB floppy drive.
Drive Prep
- Global Nav Open Menu Global Nav Close Menu; Apple; Shopping Bag +.
- Download old versions of macOS once on mojave I would like to test an app on older macOS versions (specifically 10.13) but I cannot download the installer anywhere. Most tips suggest going to the Purchased section on the Mac App Store and indeed this worked previously, but as of macOS Mojave old versions no longer show up here.
- But you may want to go back to an older operating system. This is especially true if you’re trying out a beta version of iOS on your iPhone or iPad. When a new stable version of iOS comes out, it’s usually only possible to downgrade back to the old version for a few days, although there’s a trick you can use.
Whenever possible, Apple branded hard drives should be formatted or updated with HD SC Setup 7.3.5 or later before installing a new version of the OS. (Exception: If the hard drive of a Mac Portable is formatted with any version newer than 7.3.1, it will crash instead of waking from sleep mode.)
For an interesting overview of Mac OS history, read Evolution v. Revolution on MacKiDo. And for tips on choosing a version of the Mac OS, read What’s the Best System Version?
Pre System 6
- Several older versions of the Mac OS were available for download through links on The Mac 512, including 1.0, 1.1, 2.0, 3.2, and 4.2. However, Apple forced them and other sites to stop distributing older versions of the Mac OS. Gamba’s page may still work.
- Introduction to Mac OS 1 through 5 on MacKiDo provides a quick overview of every version of the Mac OS from System 1.0/Finder 1.0 to System Software 5.1. (Note: Many download links no longer work.)
System 6
- System 6.0.x from System 6 Heaven
- Hardware Requirements for System 6.0.8 to 7.6, Gamba
- For more on System 6, visit System 6 Heaven and see The Joy of Six: Apple’s Fast, Svelte, Reliable, and Still Useful System 6
System 7
- System 7.1 and Update 3.0 are available for download from the University of Calgary.
- Apple has made available System 7.5.3 for free download (19 image files!) but no longer hosts the files. Data files require System 7.0.1 or later. (Don’t forget the System 7.5.5 update.) Try these links:
- For international users, first go to Apple’s software updates page, then choose the language you want, then select Macintosh, then click on System, and then choose System 7.5 Update 2.0.
- Hardware requirements for System 6.0.8 to 7.6, Gamba
- Newer versions of the system must be purchased (see below).
Mac OS 8
- Petition: Release Mac OS 8.1 and 8.5.1, Steve Godun, Petition Online. If you’d like to see Apple make OS 8.1 and 8.5.1 free to all, as they did with System 7.5.3, please sign this petition.
Classic Mac OS Updates
Mac OS X updates are readily handled through Software Update, but pre-X updates can be difficult to locate. Links are to English language version of the Mac OS.
- System 7.5.3 update (from 7.5.x)
- System 7.5.5 update (only from 7.5.3)
- Mac OS 7.6.1 update (only from 7.6)
- For more on Mac OS 7.x, visit System 7 Today and see System 7: Bigger, Better, More Expandable, and a Bit Slower than System 6 and System 7.5 and Mac OS 7.6: The Beginning and End of an Era
- Mac OS 8.1 update (only from 8.0, adds HFS+ support, last to support any 680×0 Macs, and 680×0 Macs cannot boot from HFS+ volumes, first version of Mac OS to support Carbon apps)
- Mac OS 8.6 update (from 8.5 or 8.5.1, PowerPC only, new nanokernel supports Multiprocessing Services 2.0)
- For more on Mac OS 8.x, see Mac OS 8 and 8.1: Maximum Size, Maximum Convenience
- Mac OS 9.1 update (from 9.0.x)
- Mac OS 9.2.1 update (from 9.1 or 9.2)
- Mac OS 9.2.2 update (only from 9.2.1)
- For more on Mac OS 9, visit Mac OS 9 Lives
Where to Buy the Classic Mac OS
Free Apple Operating System Download
Rhino download. You may be able to purchase system software from Apple or dealers with old stock.
Free Operating Systems
- System 6.0.8, $15
- System 7.1 + Update 3.0, $25
- System 7.5.3 + Update to 7.5.5, $25
Mac OS 7.6 and later are usually available through dealers, eBay, and LEM Swap. Mac OS 7.6 requires a 32-bit clean Mac, a 68030 or later CPU, 8 MB of RAM (16 MB recommended), and at least 70 MB of available drive space (120 MB if you wish to install all the options).
Keywords: #classicmacos #system6 #system7 #macos8 #macos9
Short link: http://goo.gl/kiQLF0
searchword: classicmacos
Catalina Operating System Apple Download
Year | Event |
---|---|
1978 | In June 1978, Apple introduced Apple DOS 3.1, the first operating system for the Apple computers. |
1984 | Apple introduced System 1 in 1984. |
1985 | Apple introduced System 2 in 1985. |
1986 | Apple introduced System 3 in 1986. |
1987 | Apple introduced System 4 in 1987. |
1988 | Apple introduced System 6 in 1988. |
1991 | Apple introduced System 7 operating system on May 13, 1991. |
1995 | Apple allows other computer companies to clone its computer by announcing its licensed the Macintosh operating system rights to Radius on January 4. |
1997 | Apple introduced macOS 8 in 1997. |
1997 | Apple buys NeXT Software Inc. for $400 million and acquires Steve Jobs, Apple co-founder, as a consultant. |
1999 | Apple introduced macOS 9 in 1999. |
1999 | Apple released macOS X Server 1.0 on March 16, 1999. |
2001 | Apple introduced macOS X 10.0, code-named Cheetah, and became available on March 24, 2001. |
2001 | Apple introduced macOS X 10.1, code-named Puma, and became available on September 25, 2001. |
2002 | Apple introduced macOS X 10.2, code-named Jaguar, and became available on August 23, 2002. |
2003 | Apple introduced macOS X 10.3, code-named Panther, on October 25, 2003. |
2004 | Apple introduced macOS X 10.4, code-named Tiger, at the WWDC on June 28, 2004. |
2007 | Apple introduced macOS X 10.5, code-named Leopard, on October 26, 2007. |
2008 | Apple introduced MobileMe at the WWDC on June 9, 2008. |
2009 | Apple introduced macOS X 10.6, code-named Snow Leopard, at the WWDC on June 8, 2009. |
2010 | Apple introduced macOS X 10.7, code-named Lion, at the 'Back to the Mac' event on October 20, 2010. The operating system was later released on July 20, 2011. New features included AirDrop, Gatekeeper, and many more. |
2012 | Apple released macOS X 10.8, code-named Mountain Lion, on July 25, 2012. |
2013 | Apple introduced macOS X 10.9, code-named Mavericks, at the WWDC on June 10, 2013. |
2014 | Apple introduced macOS X 10.10, code-named Yosemite, at the WWDC on June 2, 2014. |
2014 | Apple introduced Force Touch, a haptic feedback system for macOS. Simultaneously, they launch a similar feedback system for iOS called 3D Touch. |
2015 | Apple introduced macOS X 10.11, code-named El Capitan, at the WWDC on June 8, 2015. |
2016 | Apple introduced macOS X 10.12, code-named Sierra, at the WWDC on June 13, 2016. |
2017 | Apple introduced macOS X 10.13, code-named High Sierra, at the WWDC on June 5, 2017. |
2018 | Apple introduced macOS X 10.14, code-named Mojave, at the WWDC on June 4, 2018. |
2018 | Apple introduced Dark Mode in macOS X 10.14 (Mojave), a feature that turns the background to black and text to white. Dark Mode is easier on users' eyes at night, reducing eye strain. |
2019 | Apple introduced macOS X 10.15, code-named Catalina, at the WWDC on June 3, 2019. |