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

Another scenario is that you lot are a developer and yous need to exist running multiple versions of macOS and Mac OS X so that you tin be sure that your software runs correctly on them. Either manner, y'all have questions and we have answers.

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

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

If y'all are looking for a style to revert to the previous version of macOS, we have a more specific article about downgrading from Monterey to Big Sur and other versions, although we practise embrace the method hither likewise. We likewise have a guide to downgrading from the macOS beta.

However, if you were hoping to run older versions of macOS on M1 Macs that's not possible.

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

Where can I download former macOS?

Earlier you can install an older version of macOS or Mac OS 10 you lot will demand to become concur of the installer for the version of macOS y'all want to install. Luckily it is possible to gets hold of these files - as long as you know where to proceed the Mac App Store.

Nosotros have the necessary links to the Mac App Store below. We will show y'all a mode to get the following macOS installers:

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

*Note that we have discovered that the links we give below volition simply work if you are surfing in Safari, so we advise you switch to Apple's browser earlier moving on. You should as well close the Mac App Shop app if you accept that open or the link may not work*

Yous won't be able to go the Mac Bone X Snow Leopard download this mode, but we'll look at that later on. In fact, nosotros tell you how to become copies of Leopard, Lion and Mountain King of beasts also!

We take a list of which Macs run which versions of macOS & Mac OS Ten.

How to download macOS Big Sur

You can download the installer for Big Sur from the Mac App Store - as long as you know where to find it - searching the Mac App Store volition non work.

  • Click on this link which to open the Mac App Store on the Large Sur folio. (Utilize Safari and make sure the Mac App Store app is airtight first or information technology might non piece of work).

Follow these steps to download Big Sur (or any 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 Go.
  3. Software Update will open with the words "Finding Update". Eventually a message "Are you sure y'all want to download macOS Big Sur" will appear. It might look like an update rather than the full version, but you'll run across from the size of the download (around 6GB) that this is the complete installer for Big Sur.
  4. One time the installer has downloaded do non click Install. If you install it the installer will automatically be deleted.
  5. You should exist able to find the Install macOS Big Sur app in your Applications folder, you lot'll demand 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 tin also download the installer for Catalina from the Mac App Shop - as long equally you lot know the magic link.

  • Click on this link which volition open the Mac App Shop on the Catalina folio. (Apply Safari and make sure the Mac App Shop app is closed starting time).

Catalina Mac App Store

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

  1. Click this link to open the Mac App Store on the Catalina page.
  2. Click on Go.
  3. Software Update will open with the words "Finding Update". Eventually a message "Are y'all sure you lot want to download macOS Catalina" will appear. It might wait similar an update rather than the full version, simply y'all'll see from the size of the download (around 6GB) that this is the complete installer for Catalina. Download Catalina
  4. One time the installer has downloaded do not click Install. If you install information technology the installer volition automatically be deleted.
  5. You should exist able to notice the Install macOS Catalina app in your Applications folder, you lot'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 besides possible to access the Mojave installer via this link to the Mac App Store. Note that every bit above, for this link to work you need to be running Safari and you need to shut the Mac App Shop app commencement. If the Mac App Store app is open 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 information technology.

Download Mojave

How to download High Sierra

It is also possible to download High Sierra via this link. (Utilise Safari, close the Mac App Shop app beginning).

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 demand to download them in Safari. A disk image named InstallOS.dmg volition download and once it does you demand to locate the pkg installer inside the deejay image.

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

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

Some other issue is if the link takes you to the right page in the Mac App Store, just y'all meet an Update not found error message when you try to download information technology. This is an issue nosotros are enlightened of that others have encountered, although we oasis't. In that example we suggest you endeavor to download the installer via that link using an older Mac.

You may as well encounter issues if you are trying to download an older version of macOS that your Mac cannot back up. Usually when Apple introduces a new Mac information technology will not exist able to run the version of macOS that shipped before the i installed on that Mac. The older macOS might not support certain components in that Mac, for example.

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

Other ways to get erstwhile macOS versions

If y'all are running an older version of macOS - or someone you know is - you should be able to hands discover older versions of macOS and even Mac OS Ten in the Mac App Store. How easy they are to detect will be adamant 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 be searched for or found via the Purchased tab (not that anyone has had to pay for a Mac OS 10 update for years).

However, when Apple introduced Mojave the Mac App Store inverse, and these installers tin no longer exist searched for or constitute in the purchased department of the store. (Although we do have redirect links in the section above to each of the relevant pages on the Mac App Shop.)

If you happen to accept access to a Mac that's running an older version of macOS, log into the Mac App Shop with your password and download the Mojave installer on that Mac. Alternatively inquire a friend to download a re-create of the installer from the Mac App Store for you. We run through this method in the section below.

As in a higher place, once the installer has downloaded don't install it! If you do so the installer will be deleted. You'll find the installer in your Applications binder from which you lot can re-create on to your Mac - or create a bootable installer.

We've heard that information technology may be possible to download the installer via Terminal, however nosotros were unable to go that method to piece of work.

You may besides find updates to old version of macOS on Apple'south website here, even so these are just signal updates, rather than the full version, so it won't be much help if you are trying to get the full download.

The one thing you really mustn't do is go to a torrent site and download a re-create of the OS X you want. Just because Apple tree gives away its software for free, don't think it's fine to just pick up a copy. Pirated copies of Apple tree software could take been adjusted to permit hackers admission to the software and your Mac.

Download Mac OS X

If y'all take admission to a Mac running Os 10 Yosemite or older it is possible to see one-time versions of Mac OS X in the Mac App Store. Yosemite, Mavericks and Mountain Lion can all exist seen here.

It'south worth noting that yous'll but see quondam versions of Mac OS Ten that you've downloaded under Purchased - if y'all never downloaded information technology (or if information technology was never on the Mac App Store), that version volition not exist in your Purchased department. Another reason why the version of Mac Os Ten might exist 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 Store (this but works if you've downloaded information technology in the past and it won't work if you take 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. Curl down to find the copy of Bone X or macOS you want.
  4. Click Install.

Clicking Install won't actually install the software, but information technology will 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 X or macOS. Nosotros will explain how it can be installed on a Mac - including one currently running an earlier operating system here: How to install old Mac OS X versions.

Tin can't find Mac Os X in Purchased?

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

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

If you never downloaded the version of Mac OS X then leap to step three and discover a friendly person who did. Enquire them to download the Mac OS X installer for yous.

Luckily the re-create of OS X isn't locked to their business relationship so information technology will install on whatsoever Mac.

How to go Bone X Lion, Mountain Lion

Prior to June 2021 yous could purchase Os X 10.7 Lion or Mountain Lion from Apple for £xix.99 each - Apple would ship you a download lawmaking. Now Apple has stopped charging for the ageing operating system versions. Instead yous can download the operating systems direct from the visitor's website.

The operating systems can be downloaded from the following links:

If it'southward Mac Bone X x.vii Lion that you are after, it'due south notwithstanding available for £19.99 here US or here UK. Apple tree will send you a download code to utilize on the Mac App Store, and then you volition need to exist running Snowfall Leopard to install it.

If it'due south OS X 10.8 Mount King of beasts that you can still purchase information technology for £19.99 here United states of america or here United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland.

Nosotros take more data about getting the free installers for OS X Lion and Mount Lion from Apple in Apple tree offers costless downloads of Bone X Lion and Mountain Panthera leo.

Whether your Mac will actually run these operating systems is another question we address here: Which versions of macOS can my Mac run? Note that only 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 Snowfall Leopard you won't have access to the Mac App Store. Since for a number of years subsequently Snow Leopard arrived all versions of Mac Os Ten 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 even so sold a boxed version of Mac Os X x.vi Snowfall Leopard hither for £xix.99 (at its launch in 2009 information technology cost £25). If yous purchased Snow Leopard this style you were sent a physical box containing an optical disc - so yous will need a CD/DVD drive to install it (which you will probably have if the Mac is that one-time).

Apple has now removed the ability to buy Snow Leopard. All the same, 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, as explained to a higher place.

Get Snow Leopard

How to become Os X Leopard or earlier

If the old version of the OS you are afterwards predates Snow Leopard and yous accept a developer account yous might be able to go it from developer.apple.com/downloads. If you search within the OS Ten category you lot should run across downloads for all versions of Bone X, at least from version 10.three to x.6.

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

If you lot haven't signed up equally a Apple Developer, detect out what that entails hither. It costs £79 ($99) a year to join the Apple Programmer Program and you have to sign a not disclosure agreement.

Y'all could too try looking on Amazon or eBay to see if anyone is selling old versions of the Mac operating organization. For case there's a Total Install of OS X King of beasts available for £8.50 on Amazon here.

If it's Tiger you are later on, and so it will cost a little more. 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