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

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

In this article we will embrace how to become old versions of macOS including Big Sur, Catalina, Mojave, El Capitan, Sierra, Yosemite and even old versions of Mac OS X. Nosotros explain how to get concur of the relevant installer files so that you tin install the software on your Mac.

We accept a separate article that explains how to install erstwhile versions of macOS for when you get to that stage of the process.

If you are looking for a way to revert to the previous version of macOS, nosotros have a more specific commodity about downgrading from Monterey to Large Sur and other versions, although nosotros do cover the method here too. Nosotros also have 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.

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

Where can I download erstwhile macOS?

Earlier you lot tin can install an older version of macOS or Mac Bone X you will need to get concur of the installer for the version of macOS you want to install. Luckily information technology is possible to gets hold 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 will show you a way to get the following macOS installers:

  • macOS Big Sur
  • macOS Catalina
  • macOS Mojave
  • macOS Loftier Sierra
  • macOS Sierra
  • Os 10 El Capitan
  • Bone Ten Yosemite
  • OS X Mavericks
  • Os 10 Mount King of beasts
  • OS X King of beasts

*Note that we accept discovered that the links we give below volition only piece of work if yous are surfing in Safari, so nosotros propose you switch to Apple's browser before moving on. You should also shut the Mac App Store app if you have that open or the link may not piece of work*

You won't be able to get the Mac OS X Snow Leopard download this way, but we'll look at that after. In fact, nosotros tell you lot how to get copies of Leopard, King of beasts and Mountain Lion as well!

We accept a listing of which Macs run which versions of macOS & Mac OS X.

How to download macOS Big Sur

You tin download the installer for Big Sur from the Mac App Store - every bit long every bit you know where to discover it - searching the Mac App Store volition not work.

  • Click on this link which to open the Mac App Store on the Big Sur page. (Utilize Safari and make sure the Mac App Store app is closed first or it might not 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 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 lot sure you want to download macOS Big Sur" volition appear. It might look like an update rather than the total version, just you'll meet from the size of the download (effectually 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 lot should be able to find the Install macOS Big Sur 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 Catalina

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

  • Click on this link which will open the Mac App Shop on the Catalina page. (Utilise Safari and brand sure the Mac App Store app is closed kickoff).

Catalina Mac App Store

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

  1. Click this link to open up the Mac App Store on the Catalina folio.
  2. Click on Get.
  3. Software Update will open up with the words "Finding Update". Eventually a message "Are you sure you want to download macOS Catalina" will appear. It might wait like an update rather than the full version, but you'll meet from the size of the download (around 6GB) that this is the complete installer for Catalina. Download Catalina
  4. In one case the installer has downloaded practice not click Install. If you install it the installer volition automatically be deleted.
  5. Yous 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 hither: 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. Annotation that as above, for this link to work you lot need to be running Safari and you demand to shut the Mac App Shop app kickoff. If the Mac App Store app is open this redirect volition not work.

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

Follow the steps in the section above to download it.

Download Mojave

How to download High Sierra

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

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

How to download Sierra, El Capitan or Yosemite

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

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

We've said higher up that in our feel 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 Shop open. However, if you are withal finding that the link isn't working you could endeavor the alternative methods below.

Some other issue is if the link takes y'all to the correct page in the Mac App Store, just you see an Update not constitute error message when you endeavor to download information technology. This is an effect we are aware of that others take encountered, although we oasis't. In that case we propose you attempt to download the installer via that link using an older Mac.

You may too meet bug 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 ane installed on that Mac. The older macOS might non support certain components in that Mac, for example.

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

Other ways to get erstwhile macOS versions

If you are running an older version of macOS - or someone y'all know is - you should be able to easily find older versions of macOS and even Mac Os Ten in the Mac App Shop. How easy they are to observe 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 be searched for or found via the Purchased tab (not that anyone has had to pay for a Mac Bone 10 update for years).

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

If you happen to accept admission to a Mac that'due south 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 to a higher place, one time the installer has downloaded don't install information technology! If you do then the installer will exist deleted. You'll find the installer in your Applications folder 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, nevertheless nosotros were unable to get that method to piece of work.

Yous may too find updates to former version of macOS on Apple's website hither, withal these are just point updates, rather than the full version, so it won't exist much aid if you are trying to become the full download.

The one thing you actually mustn't do is go to a torrent site and download a copy of the OS Ten you want. Just because Apple gives abroad its software for free, don't think it's fine to just option up a copy. Pirated copies of Apple software could have been adjusted to permit hackers access to the software and your Mac.

Download Mac Bone Ten

If you have access to a Mac running Bone 10 Yosemite or older it is possible to run into former versions of Mac Bone X in the Mac App Store. Yosemite, Mavericks and Mount Lion tin all be seen here.

Information technology'due south worth noting that you lot'll only run across old versions of Mac OS Ten that you've downloaded under Purchased - if y'all 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 be missing is if your machine shipped with that version installed. We'll look at that scenario later.

Here is how to go an older version of Mac Os Ten from the Mac App Store (this simply works if you've downloaded it in the by and it won't work if you lot have already installed Mojave or later):

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

Clicking Install won't really install the software, but information technology volition download the installer awarding to your Applications folder.

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

Can't discover Mac OS X in Purchased?

If y'all know you have previously downloaded the version of macOS you are afterwards, but you aren't seeing information technology in the Purchased department, there are a few things to try:

  1. Log out of the App Store then log in again.
  2. If it'due south a possibility that yous downloaded information technology while logged in to a unlike Apple ID (mayhap a work-related one), log in using that ID.
  3. Alternatively, notice someone who has downloaded that version of the Mac operating arrangement and ask them to download the installation file for you lot.

If you never downloaded the version of Mac Bone 10 then bound to step 3 and find a friendly person who did. Ask them to download the Mac Bone 10 installer for y'all.

Luckily the re-create of OS X isn't locked to their account so it will install on whatever Mac.

How to get Os X Lion, Mountain King of beasts

Prior to June 2021 yous could purchase OS 10 10.vii Lion or Mount King of beasts from Apple for £xix.99 each - Apple would send you a download lawmaking. Now Apple has stopped charging for the ageing operating system versions. Instead yous can download the operating systems directly from the company'south website.

The operating systems can be downloaded from the following links:

If it's Mac Bone X 10.7 Lion that you lot are subsequently, it's still available for £19.99 here U.s. or hither UK. Apple will send you a download code to employ on the Mac App Store, so you will need to exist running Snow Leopard to install it.

If it's OS Ten 10.8 Mountain Panthera leo that you tin can nevertheless purchase it for £xix.99 here US or here UK.

We accept more information about getting the complimentary installers for Bone 10 Lion and Mountain Lion from Apple in Apple offers complimentary downloads of Bone Ten Lion and Mountain Lion.

Whether your Mac volition actually run these operating systems is another question we accost hither: Which versions of macOS tin my Mac run? Note that only Macs that predate 2012 will run Lion.

How to get Os Ten Snowfall 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 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 Snowfall Leopard they couldn't update.

Until 2021 Apple nonetheless sold a boxed version of Mac OS Ten 10.half dozen Snow Leopard here for £xix.99 (at its launch in 2009 it price £25). If you purchased Snow Leopard this way you were sent a concrete box containing an optical disc - so you will need a CD/DVD drive to install it (which you lot will probably have if the Mac is that quondam).

Apple has at present removed the ability to buy Snow Leopard. However, this isn't a large trouble because those people who were previously locked out of updates can now download the Lion or Mountain Lion update, as explained above.

Get Snow Leopard

How to get Bone X Leopard or before

If the old version of the OS you are after predates Snow Leopard and you have a programmer account you lot might exist able to get it from developer.apple.com/downloads. If you search within the OS 10 category you should see downloads for all versions of OS X, at least from version 10.3 to 10.6.

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

If you haven't signed upwardly as a Apple tree Developer, find out what that entails hither. It costs £79 ($99) a yr to join the Apple Developer Programme and you have to sign a non disclosure agreement.

You could also attempt looking on Amazon or eBay to see if anyone is selling old versions of the Mac operating arrangement. For example at that place's a Full Install of OS X Lion available for £8.fifty on Amazon here.

If information technology'southward Tiger you are after, then it will cost a niggling more. There was a re-create 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