In that location are a few reasons why y'all might want to download and install old versions of macOS or Mac Bone X. Perhaps you are relying on software you accept discovered doesn't piece of work properly in the latest version. Or maybe you just don't like the new version of macOS that you take installed.

Another scenario is that you are a developer and you demand to be running multiple versions of macOS and Mac Os X so that you lot tin exist sure that your software runs correctly on them. Either mode, yous take questions and nosotros have answers.

In this article nosotros will cover how to get one-time versions of macOS including Large Sur, Catalina, Mojave, El Capitan, Sierra, Yosemite and even old versions of Mac OS 10. Nosotros explicate how to get hold of the relevant installer files so that you lot tin install the software on your Mac.

We have a separate commodity that explains how to install old versions of macOS for when y'all become to that stage of the process.

If y'all are looking for a way to revert to the previous version of macOS, we have a more specific article virtually downgrading from Monterey to Big Sur and other versions, although we practice encompass the method hither too. Nosotros likewise accept a guide to downgrading from the macOS beta.

Nonetheless, if y'all were hoping to run older versions of macOS on M1 Macs that'south not possible.

Yous also might want to become the installer for a version of macOS in order to make a bootable installer for installing macOS on multiple Macs (we likewise look at that scenario separately).

Where can I download old macOS?

Before yous tin install an older version of macOS or Mac OS X you will need to get hold of the installer for the version of macOS you want to install. Luckily it is possible to gets hold of these files - as long as you know where to continue the Mac App Store.

Nosotros accept the necessary links to the Mac App Shop below. We will show yous a fashion to get the following macOS installers:

  • macOS Big Sur
  • macOS Catalina
  • macOS Mojave
  • macOS High Sierra
  • macOS Sierra
  • OS Ten El Capitan
  • OS Ten Yosemite
  • OS X Mavericks
  • OS 10 Mountain Lion
  • OS 10 Lion

*Note that we have discovered that the links nosotros give below volition only work if you are surfing in Safari, then nosotros suggest you lot switch to Apple's browser earlier moving on. You should also close the Mac App Shop app if you have that open up or the link may not work*

Yous won't be able to get the Mac OS X Snow Leopard download this way, but we'll wait at that afterwards. In fact, nosotros tell you how to get copies of Leopard, Lion and Mountain Lion besides!

We accept a listing of which Macs run which versions of macOS & Mac Os Ten.

How to download macOS Big Sur

You lot tin download the installer for Big Sur from the Mac App Store - as long as you know where to observe it - searching the Mac App Store will not work.

  • Click on this link which to open the Mac App Store on the Big Sur page. (Apply Safari and make sure the Mac App Store app is closed commencement or it might not work).

Follow these steps to download Large Sur (or whatever other version of macOS) from the Mac App Store:

  1. Click this link to open up the Mac App Store on the Big Sur page.
  2. Click on Get.
  3. Software Update will open with the words "Finding Update". Eventually a message "Are you sure you want to download macOS Big Sur" will appear. Information technology might look like an update rather than the full version, but you'll see from the size of the download (effectually 6GB) that this is the complete installer for Large Sur.
  4. Once the installer has downloaded do not click Install. If you install it the installer will automatically be deleted.
  5. Y'all should be able to find the Install macOS Big Sur app in your Applications folder, you'll need this for the next steps, which we outline here: How to downgrade macOS, install an older version on your Mac.

How to download macOS Catalina

You can also download the installer for Catalina from the Mac App Shop - as long every bit you know the magic link.

  • Click on this link which will open the Mac App Store on the Catalina page. (Use Safari and make sure the Mac App Store app is airtight first).

Catalina Mac App Store

As above, follow these steps to download Catalina (or any other version of macOS) from the Mac App Shop:

  1. Click this link to open up the Mac App Shop on the Catalina page.
  2. Click on Get.
  3. Software Update will open with the words "Finding Update". Eventually a message "Are y'all sure you want to download macOS Catalina" will appear. It might look similar an update rather than the full version, but you'll come across from the size of the download (around 6GB) that this is the complete installer for Catalina. Download Catalina
  4. Once the installer has downloaded exercise not click Install. If you install it the installer will automatically be deleted.
  5. You should be able to find the Install macOS Catalina app in your Applications folder, you'll need this for the side by side steps, which we outline hither: How to downgrade macOS, install an older version on your Mac.

How to download macOS Mojave

It is too possible to admission the Mojave installer via this link to the Mac App Store. Note that every bit above, for this link to work y'all need to be running Safari and you need to close the Mac App Store app start. If the Mac App Shop app is open up this redirect volition non work.

  • Click on this link to open the Mac App Store on the Mojave page.

Follow the steps in the section above to download it.

Download Mojave

How to download Loftier Sierra

Information technology is as well possible to download High Sierra via this link. (Use Safari, close the Mac App Shop app first).

Follow the steps in the department above to download High Sierra.

How to download Sierra, El Capitan or Yosemite

Apple provides dmg files of these older macOS versions - you need to download them in Safari. A disk image named InstallOS.dmg volition download and in one case it does you need to locate the pkg installer inside the disk image.

That Mac App Store link isn't working for me!

Nosotros've said above that in our experience usually the reason the above links don't work is if you lot are browsing in something other than Safari, or if y'all accept already got the Mac App Store open. However, if you are still finding that the link isn't working you could try the alternative methods below.

Another issue is if the link takes you to the correct page in the Mac App Store, only y'all see an Update not found error message when you effort to download information technology. This is an issue we are aware of that others take encountered, although we haven't. In that case we suggest yous endeavor to download the installer via that link using an older Mac.

You may also encounter issues if y'all are trying to download an older version of macOS that your Mac cannot support. Normally when Apple introduces a new Mac it will not be able to run the version of macOS that shipped before the one installed on that Mac. The older macOS might not support certain components in that Mac, for example.

Find out more nearly what version of macOS your Mac supports hither: What version of macOS tin my Mac run?

Other ways to get old macOS versions

If y'all are running an older version of macOS - or someone yous know is - you should be able to easily find older versions of macOS and even Mac OS 10 in the Mac App Store. How easy they are to find will be determined by the version of macOS running on that Mac.

Prior to macOS Mojave's arrival in 2018 the installers for the older macOS versions could exist searched for or found via the Purchased tab (non that anyone has had to pay for a Mac OS Ten update for years).

All the same, when Apple introduced Mojave the Mac App Store changed, and these installers tin no longer be searched for or found in the purchased section of the shop. (Although we exercise have redirect links in the department above to each of the relevant pages on the Mac App Store.)

If you happen to have access to a Mac that's running an older version of macOS, log into the Mac App Store with your countersign and download the Mojave installer on that Mac. Alternatively enquire a friend to download a copy of the installer from the Mac App Store for you. Nosotros run through this method in the section below.

As above, once the installer has downloaded don't install information technology! If you lot do and so the installer volition be deleted. You'll discover the installer in your Applications binder from which you lot can re-create on to your Mac - or create a bootable installer.

Nosotros've heard that it may be possible to download the installer via Terminal, however we were unable to go that method to work.

Yous may as well find updates to quondam version of macOS on Apple's website hither, however these are just point updates, rather than the full version, so it won't exist much help if you lot are trying to go the full download.

The one matter yous really mustn't do is go to a torrent site and download a copy of the Bone 10 you want. Just because Apple tree gives away its software for gratuitous, don't think it's fine to just pick up a copy. Pirated copies of Apple software could take been adjusted to allow hackers admission to the software and your Mac.

Download Mac OS 10

If you have access to a Mac running Os X Yosemite or older it is possible to see old versions of Mac Os X in the Mac App Store. Yosemite, Mavericks and Mountain King of beasts can all be seen here.

It's worth noting that you'll merely see old versions of Mac Bone X that you've downloaded under Purchased - if you never downloaded it (or if it was never on the Mac App Store), that version will not be in your Purchased section. Another reason why the version of Mac OS X might exist missing is if your automobile shipped with that version installed. We'll await at that scenario subsequently.

Here is how to get an older version of Mac Bone X from the Mac App Store (this only works if yous've downloaded information technology in the by and it won't work if yous have already installed Mojave or later):

  1. Open the Mac App Store (choose Store > Sign In if you need to log in).
  2. Click Purchased.
  3. Ringlet downwards to find the copy of OS Ten or macOS you desire.
  4. Click Install.

Clicking Install won't actually install the software, merely it volition download the installer application to your Applications folder.

You won't be able to simply install this older version of the operating system directly onto a Mac running a newer version of Os 10 or macOS. We will explain how it can exist installed on a Mac - including i currently running an earlier operating organisation here: How to install erstwhile Mac OS X versions.

Can't find Mac Bone X in Purchased?

If you know you have previously downloaded the version of macOS you are after, but you aren't seeing it in the Purchased section, in that location are a few things to try:

  1. Log out of the App Shop then log in again.
  2. If it's a possibility that you downloaded it while logged in to a dissimilar Apple ID (perchance a work-related i), log in using that ID.
  3. Alternatively, detect someone who has downloaded that version of the Mac operating system and inquire them to download the installation file for you.

If you never downloaded the version of Mac Bone X then jump to stride 3 and find a friendly person who did. Ask them to download the Mac Os 10 installer for yous.

Luckily the re-create of Os X isn't locked to their account and so it volition install on any Mac.

How to get OS X Lion, Mountain Lion

Prior to June 2021 yous could purchase OS X ten.7 Panthera leo or Mountain Lion from Apple for £19.99 each - Apple tree would send you a download code. Now Apple has stopped charging for the ageing operating organisation versions. Instead you can download the operating systems directly from the company's website.

The operating systems can be downloaded from the following links:

If it'due south Mac OS X 10.7 Panthera leo that you are later on, information technology'south nevertheless bachelor for £nineteen.99 here US or here Great britain. Apple tree volition send yous a download code to apply on the Mac App Store, so y'all will need to exist running Snow Leopard to install information technology.

If it's Os X 10.viii Mountain King of beasts that yous can even so purchase it for £19.99 here US or here United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland.

Nosotros accept more than data virtually getting the gratuitous installers for Os X Lion and Mountain King of beasts from Apple in Apple offers gratis downloads of OS X Lion and Mountain Lion.

Whether your Mac will actually run these operating systems is some other question we address here: Which versions of macOS can my Mac run? Notation that simply Macs that predate 2012 will run Lion.

How to get OS 10 Snow Leopard

If your Mac has a version of macOS installed that is older than Snow Leopard you won't have access to the Mac App Store. Since for a number of years afterward Snow Leopard arrived all versions of Mac Os X arrived via the Mac App Store, those who never installed Snow Leopard had a problem: without Snow Leopard they couldn't update.

Until 2021 Apple still sold a boxed version of Mac Os X ten.vi Snow Leopard here for £19.99 (at its launch in 2009 it cost £25). If you purchased Snow Leopard this manner yous were sent a physical box containing an optical disc - and so you lot will need a CD/DVD bulldoze to install information technology (which you lot will probably have if the Mac is that old).

Apple has at present removed the power to buy Snowfall Leopard. However, this isn't a big problem because those people who were previously locked out of updates tin at present download the Lion or Mountain Lion update, equally explained above.

Get Snow Leopard

How to get OS X Leopard or before

If the onetime version of the OS you are after predates Snow Leopard and you take a developer account you might be able to go it from programmer.apple.com/downloads. If you search inside the OS X category yous should see downloads for all versions of OS X, at least from version 10.three to 10.6.

You may be able to access the Developer section of the website, but you lot volition only be able to access sure software downloads if your Apple ID is associated with a paid Apple Developer Program.

If y'all haven't signed up as a Apple Programmer, notice out what that entails here. It costs £79 ($99) a twelvemonth to bring together the Apple tree Developer Program and you have to sign a non disclosure agreement.

You could besides endeavour looking on Amazon or eBay to see if anyone is selling onetime versions of the Mac operating system. For example there's a Full Install of Bone X Lion available for £8.50 on Amazon here.

If it's Tiger you are later on, so it will cost a little more than. There was a copy of Tiger on Amazon for £89.99 but it's currently unavailable.

How to download Mac OS X Mountain Lion, Snow Leopard and older Mac software