There are a few reasons why yous might want to download and install old versions of macOS or Mac OS X. Possibly you are relying on software you have 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 yous are a programmer and you lot need to be running multiple versions of macOS and Mac OS X so that y'all tin be sure that your software runs correctly on them. Either fashion, you have questions and we have answers.

In this article we will cover how to get one-time versions of macOS including Big Sur, Catalina, Mojave, El Capitan, Sierra, Yosemite and fifty-fifty old versions of Mac Os X. We explicate how to get agree of the relevant installer files so that you can install the software on your Mac.

Nosotros have a separate article that explains how to install old versions of macOS for when you lot become to that phase of the process.

If you are looking for a way to revert to the previous version of macOS, nosotros take a more specific article nearly downgrading from Monterey to Big Sur and other versions, although nosotros practise embrace the method here too. We also accept a guide to downgrading from the macOS beta.

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

Y'all also might desire to become the installer for a version of macOS in order to brand a bootable installer for installing macOS on multiple Macs (we also wait at that scenario separately).

Where tin I download old macOS?

Before you can 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 desire to install. Luckily it is possible to gets concord of these files - as long as you know where to keep the Mac App Store.

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

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

*Notation that we have discovered that the links we give beneath will merely piece of work if you are surfing in Safari, so we propose you switch to Apple's browser before moving on. Yous should as well close the Mac App Store app if you have that open or the link may not work*

You won't exist able to get the Mac OS 10 Snowfall Leopard download this way, simply we'll look at that later. In fact, nosotros tell you how to go copies of Leopard, Lion and Mountain Lion too!

We have a list of which Macs run which versions of macOS & Mac Bone X.

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 will not piece of work.

  • Click on this link which to open up the Mac App Store on the Large Sur folio. (Use Safari and make certain the Mac App Shop app is airtight kickoff or information technology might non work).

Follow these steps to download Big 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 Large Sur page.
  2. Click on Become.
  3. Software Update will open with the words "Finding Update". Eventually a bulletin "Are you certain you want to download macOS Big Sur" volition appear. It might look like an update rather than the full version, just you'll run into from the size of the download (around 6GB) that this is the complete installer for Big Sur.
  4. Once the installer has downloaded practice not click Install. If you install it the installer will automatically exist deleted.
  5. You should be able to find the Install macOS Big Sur app in your Applications folder, you'll demand 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

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

  • Click on this link which will open the Mac App Store on the Catalina folio. (Use Safari and make sure the Mac App Store app is closed get-go).

Catalina Mac App Store

Every bit 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 Store on the Catalina page.
  2. Click on Go.
  3. Software Update will open with the words "Finding Update". Somewhen a bulletin "Are you sure you want to download macOS Catalina" will appear. It might expect like an update rather than the full version, but yous'll see from the size of the download (around 6GB) that this is the consummate 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 lot should exist able to detect 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 also possible to admission the Mojave installer via this link to the Mac App Store. Notation that every bit above, for this link to work you lot need to exist running Safari and you demand to close the Mac App Shop app first. If the Mac App Store app is open this redirect will not work.

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

Follow the steps in the section in a higher place to download it.

Download Mojave

How to download High Sierra

It is also possible to download High Sierra via this link. (Use Safari, close the Mac App Store app kickoff).

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 epitome named InstallOS.dmg will download and once it does you need to locate the pkg installer inside the disk image.

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

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

Another issue is if the link takes you to the right folio in the Mac App Store, but you encounter an Update not found error message when y'all try to download it. This is an outcome nosotros are aware of that others have encountered, although we haven't. In that case we advise yous try to download the installer via that link using an older Mac.

You may besides encounter issues if you are trying to download an older version of macOS that your Mac cannot support. Usually 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 non support certain components in that Mac, for case.

Find out more than about what version of macOS your Mac supports here: What version of macOS tin my Mac run?

Other ways to get onetime macOS versions

If y'all are running an older version of macOS - or someone you know is - you should be able to easily find older versions of macOS and fifty-fifty Mac Bone 10 in the Mac App Shop. How easy they are to find will be 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 be searched for or plant via the Purchased tab (non that anyone has had to pay for a Mac OS X update for years).

However, when Apple tree introduced Mojave the Mac App Store changed, and these installers tin can no longer be searched for or found in the purchased section of the store. (Although we do accept redirect links in the department above to each of the relevant pages on the Mac App Store.)

If y'all happen to accept access 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 enquire a friend to download a copy of the installer from the Mac App Store for you lot. We run through this method in the section below.

Equally above, in one case the installer has downloaded don't install it! If you exercise and then the installer volition be deleted. You lot'll notice the installer in your Applications binder from which you can copy 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 we were unable to get that method to work.

Yous may besides find updates to onetime version of macOS on Apple's website here, however these are just point updates, rather than the full version, so it won't be much assist if yous are trying to go the full download.

The one matter you lot really mustn't do is go to a torrent site and download a copy of the OS X you want. But because Apple gives away its software for free, don't think it's fine to but selection up a copy. Pirated copies of Apple tree software could accept been adapted to let hackers access to the software and your Mac.

Download Mac Os X

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

It'south worth noting that yous'll only see old versions of Mac OS 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 department. Another reason why the version of Mac Os X might be missing is if your car shipped with that version installed. Nosotros'll expect at that scenario afterward.

Hither is how to go an older version of Mac Bone X from the Mac App Store (this only works if you've downloaded it in the past and it won't work if you take already installed Mojave or subsequently):

  1. Open up the Mac App Shop (choose Shop > Sign In if y'all demand to log in).
  2. Click Purchased.
  3. Coil down to find the copy of OS X or macOS you desire.
  4. Click Install.

Clicking Install won't actually install the software, but information technology will download the installer awarding to your Applications binder.

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. We volition explicate how it can be installed on a Mac - including one currently running an earlier operating organisation here: How to install old Mac OS Ten versions.

Can't find Mac OS X in Purchased?

If you know you accept previously downloaded the version of macOS you are subsequently, just you aren't seeing it in the Purchased department, in that location are a few things to try:

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

If yous never downloaded the version of Mac OS Ten then jump to step 3 and detect a friendly person who did. Enquire them to download the Mac Bone X installer for you.

Luckily the copy of Bone 10 isn't locked to their account and then information technology will install on any Mac.

How to get Bone 10 Lion, Mountain Lion

Prior to June 2021 y'all could purchase OS X ten.vii Lion or Mount Lion from Apple for £xix.99 each - Apple tree would send you a download code. Now Apple has stopped charging for the ageing operating organization versions. Instead you tin download the operating systems direct from the company's website.

The operating systems tin can be downloaded from the post-obit links:

If it'southward Mac Bone X 10.7 Lion that you are subsequently, information technology'due south still available for £19.99 hither United states or here United kingdom. Apple tree will ship yous a download code to use on the Mac App Store, so y'all will need to be running Snowfall Leopard to install it.

If it's OS X x.eight Mount Lion that you tin nonetheless buy it for £nineteen.99 here United states or here United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland.

We have more information about getting the complimentary installers for OS X King of beasts and Mountain Lion from Apple in Apple tree offers free downloads of OS X Lion and Mount Lion.

Whether your Mac will really run these operating systems is another question nosotros accost here: Which versions of macOS tin can my Mac run? Note that simply Macs that predate 2012 will run King of beasts.

How to go OS X Snow Leopard

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

Until 2021 Apple still sold a boxed version of Mac Os X 10.6 Snow Leopard here for £nineteen.99 (at its launch in 2009 it cost £25). If you purchased Snow Leopard this way you were sent a concrete box containing an optical disc - and so you will need a CD/DVD drive to install it (which you volition probably have if the Mac is that sometime).

Apple has now removed the ability to buy Snow Leopard. However, this isn't a big problem because those people who were previously locked out of updates can now download the King of beasts or Mount Panthera leo update, as 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 Snowfall Leopard and you lot accept a developer account you might be able to get information technology from programmer.apple.com/downloads. If you search within the Os X category yous should meet downloads for all versions of OS Ten, at least from version ten.3 to 10.6.

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

If you haven't signed upward every bit a Apple Developer, observe out what that entails here. Information technology costs £79 ($99) a year to join the Apple Developer Program and you have to sign a non disclosure agreement.

You could also try looking on Amazon or eBay to see if anyone is selling old versions of the Mac operating organization. For case at that place'southward a Full Install of OS X Lion available for £8.50 on Amazon hither.

If information technology'southward Tiger you are later on, then it volition price a little more. There was a copy of Tiger on Amazon for £89.99 merely it's currently unavailable.

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