There are a few reasons why you might want to download and install old versions of macOS or Mac Bone 10. Perhaps y'all are relying on software you have discovered doesn't work properly in the latest version. Or mayhap you just don't similar the new version of macOS that you have installed.

Some other scenario is that you are a developer and y'all need to be running multiple versions of macOS and Mac Bone X so that you tin can exist sure that your software runs correctly on them. Either way, yous have questions and nosotros take answers.

In this article nosotros will cover how to get old versions of macOS including Big Sur, Catalina, Mojave, El Capitan, Sierra, Yosemite and even old versions of Mac Os X. We explain how to become concord of the relevant installer files so that y'all can install the software on your Mac.

We have a separate commodity that explains how to install old versions of macOS for when you get to that stage of the procedure.

If yous are looking for a style to revert to the previous version of macOS, we have a more than specific commodity about downgrading from Monterey to Large Sur and other versions, although we exercise encompass the method here likewise. We also have 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.

You also might desire to get the installer for a version of macOS in order to make a bootable installer for installing macOS on multiple Macs (nosotros also wait at that scenario separately).

Where tin can I download erstwhile macOS?

Before y'all tin can install an older version of macOS or Mac OS Ten y'all will need to go hold of the installer for the version of macOS you lot want to install. Luckily it is possible to gets concord of these files - as long equally you know where to go along the Mac App Store.

We have the necessary links to the Mac App Store below. We will show you lot a style to get the post-obit macOS installers:

  • macOS Big Sur
  • macOS Catalina
  • macOS Mojave
  • macOS High Sierra
  • macOS Sierra
  • Os Ten El Capitan
  • OS X Yosemite
  • OS X Mavericks
  • OS 10 Mountain King of beasts
  • Bone X Panthera leo

*Notation that we have discovered that the links we give below will just work if you are surfing in Safari, so we suggest you switch to Apple'south browser before moving on. You should also close the Mac App Store app if you take that open or the link may not work*

You lot won't be able to go the Mac Os X Snow Leopard download this fashion, just we'll look at that later on. In fact, we tell you how to become copies of Leopard, Lion and Mountain Lion as well!

Nosotros accept a list of which Macs run which versions of macOS & Mac OS X.

How to download macOS Big Sur

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

  • Click on this link which to open up the Mac App Shop on the Big Sur folio. (Use Safari and make sure the Mac App Store app is closed first or information technology might not work).

Follow these steps to download Big Sur (or whatsoever other version of macOS) from the Mac App Shop:

  1. Click this link to open the Mac App Shop on the Big Sur page.
  2. Click on Go.
  3. Software Update volition open up with the words "Finding Update". Somewhen a bulletin "Are you lot certain you lot desire 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 (around 6GB) that this is the consummate installer for Big Sur.
  4. Once the installer has downloaded practice not click Install. If you install it the installer will automatically be deleted.
  5. You should be able to discover the Install macOS Big Sur app in your Applications binder, you'll need this for the next steps, which we outline hither: How to downgrade macOS, install an older version on your Mac.

How to download macOS Catalina

Y'all can also download the installer for Catalina from the Mac App Store - as long as yous know the magic link.

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

Catalina Mac App Store

As to a higher place, follow these steps to download Catalina (or any other version of macOS) from the Mac App Store:

  1. Click this link to open up the Mac App Store on the Catalina page.
  2. Click on Get.
  3. Software Update will open with the words "Finding Update". Eventually a bulletin "Are you sure you desire to download macOS Catalina" will appear. It might await like an update rather than the full version, but yous'll meet from the size of the download (effectually 6GB) that this is the complete installer for Catalina. Download Catalina
  4. One time the installer has downloaded practice non click Install. If you install it the installer will automatically exist deleted.
  5. Y'all should be able to find the Install macOS Catalina 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 Mojave

It is likewise possible to access the Mojave installer via this link to the Mac App Store. Note that as above, for this link to work you lot need to be running Safari and yous demand to close the Mac App Store app first. If the Mac App Shop app is open this redirect volition not 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 High Sierra

Information technology is also possible to download Loftier Sierra via this link. (Use Safari, close the Mac App Store app showtime).

Follow the steps in the section 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 prototype named InstallOS.dmg will download and in one case it does you demand to locate the pkg installer within the disk image.

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

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

Some other effect is if the link takes you to the correct page in the Mac App Store, but you encounter an Update not found error message when yous endeavor to download it. This is an issue we are aware of that others have encountered, although we oasis't. In that example we advise y'all try to download the installer via that link using an older Mac.

You lot may likewise encounter bug if you are trying to download an older version of macOS that your Mac cannot support. Usually when Apple tree 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 sure components in that Mac, for example.

Observe out more than nearly what version of macOS your Mac supports here: What version of macOS can my Mac run?

Other ways to get old macOS versions

If you lot are running an older version of macOS - or someone you know is - yous should exist able to easily detect older versions of macOS and even Mac OS X in the Mac App Store. How easy they are to observe will exist determined by the version of macOS running on that Mac.

Prior to macOS Mojave'south 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 Bone Ten update for years).

Nevertheless, when Apple introduced Mojave the Mac App Store changed, and these installers can no longer be searched for or plant in the purchased section of the store. (Although we practice have redirect links in the section above to each of the relevant pages on the Mac App Store.)

If you lot happen to take admission to a Mac that's running an older version of macOS, log into the Mac App Store with your password and download the Mojave installer on that Mac. Alternatively ask a friend to download a copy of the installer from the Mac App Store for you. We run through this method in the section below.

As above, once the installer has downloaded don't install information technology! If y'all practice then the installer volition be deleted. Yous'll find the installer in your Applications binder from which you can copy on to your Mac - or create a bootable installer.

We've heard that it may be possible to download the installer via Terminal, nonetheless we were unable to get that method to work.

You lot may also find updates to old version of macOS on Apple'south website here, still these are merely signal updates, rather than the full version, and then it won't be much help if you are trying to get the full download.

The one thing y'all actually mustn't do is go to a torrent site and download a copy of the Bone Ten y'all want. Simply because Apple gives abroad its software for free, don't think information technology's fine to just pick upwards a copy. Pirated copies of Apple software could have been adjusted to allow hackers access to the software and your Mac.

Download Mac Bone 10

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

It's worth noting that you'll only run across onetime versions of Mac Bone X that you've downloaded under Purchased - if you never downloaded information technology (or if information technology was never on the Mac App Store), that version volition not be in your Purchased section. Another reason why the version of Mac OS Ten might be missing is if your car shipped with that version installed. We'll look at that scenario later.

Here is how to get an older version of Mac OS X from the Mac App Shop (this simply works if you've downloaded it in the past and it won't work if you have already installed Mojave or later on):

  1. Open the Mac App Store (choose Store > Sign In if yous need to log in).
  2. Click Purchased.
  3. Scroll down to find the copy of Os 10 or macOS y'all want.
  4. Click Install.

Clicking Install won't actually install the software, just it will download the installer awarding to your Applications folder.

You won't be able to but install this older version of the operating system straight onto a Mac running a newer version of Os X or macOS. Nosotros volition explain how it can be installed on a Mac - including one currently running an earlier operating system hither: How to install one-time Mac OS X versions.

Can't detect Mac OS 10 in Purchased?

If you know you have previously downloaded the version of macOS you are after, only you aren't seeing it in the Purchased section, at that place are a few things to effort:

  1. Log out of the App Store and so log in over again.
  2. If it's a possibility that you downloaded it while logged in to a different Apple ID (possibly a work-related i), log in using that ID.
  3. Alternatively, notice someone who has downloaded that version of the Mac operating organisation and enquire them to download the installation file for you.

If yous never downloaded the version of Mac Os X and then jump to pace 3 and observe a friendly person who did. Ask them to download the Mac OS Ten installer for yous.

Luckily the copy of OS X isn't locked to their business relationship so it will install on any Mac.

How to get OS X King of beasts, Mountain Lion

Prior to June 2021 you could buy Os X 10.7 Lion or Mountain Lion from Apple for £19.99 each - Apple tree would send you a download code. At present Apple has stopped charging for the ageing operating system versions. Instead you can download the operating systems directly from the visitor'south website.

The operating systems can be downloaded from the following links:

If it's Mac OS X x.7 King of beasts that you are after, it's still available for £nineteen.99 here United states of america or here Great britain. Apple tree will send you lot a download code to use on the Mac App Store, so you lot will need to be running Snow Leopard to install it.

If it's OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion that you can nevertheless buy information technology for £xix.99 here US or here UK.

We have more than information about getting the free installers for Os X Lion and Mount Panthera leo from Apple in Apple offers free downloads of Os X Lion and Mountain Lion.

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

How to get OS X Snow Leopard

If your Mac has a version of macOS installed that is older than Snow Leopard you lot won't have access to the Mac App Store. Since for a number of years after Snowfall Leopard arrived all versions of Mac Bone 10 arrived via the Mac App Store, those who never installed Snowfall Leopard had a problem: without Snowfall Leopard they couldn't update.

Until 2021 Apple still sold a boxed version of Mac Bone X x.6 Snow Leopard hither for £nineteen.99 (at its launch in 2009 it cost £25). If yous purchased Snow Leopard this way you were sent a physical box containing an optical disc - and so you will need a CD/DVD drive to install it (which you will probably have if the Mac is that old).

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

Get Snow Leopard

How to go Os X Leopard or earlier

If the old version of the OS you lot are after predates Snow Leopard and you lot have a developer account you might be able to get it from programmer.apple tree.com/downloads. If y'all search within the OS X category you should see downloads for all versions of Bone Ten, at least from version 10.3 to 10.6.

You may be able to access the Programmer section of the website, but you will just be able to access certain software downloads if your Apple ID is associated with a paid Apple Programmer Program.

If you haven't signed upward as a Apple Developer, detect out what that entails here. It costs £79 ($99) a yr to join the Apple Programmer Program and you lot accept to sign a non disclosure agreement.

You could also effort looking on Amazon or eBay to see if anyone is selling old versions of the Mac operating arrangement. For instance there'southward a Full Install of OS X King of beasts bachelor for £eight.50 on Amazon here.

If it's Tiger you lot are after, then it will cost a little more. In that location was a re-create of Tiger on Amazon for £89.99 only it's currently unavailable.

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