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

Another scenario is that yous are a developer and you need to be running multiple versions of macOS and Mac Os X so that you can be certain 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 quondam versions of macOS including Large Sur, Catalina, Mojave, El Capitan, Sierra, Yosemite and fifty-fifty old versions of Mac OS X. We explicate how to get hold of the relevant installer files so that you lot can install the software on your Mac.

Nosotros have a split article that explains how to install old 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 nigh downgrading from Monterey to Large Sur and other versions, although we do cover the method hither also. We also have a guide to downgrading from the macOS beta.

Nevertheless, if yous were hoping to run older versions of macOS on M1 Macs that'due south not possible.

You lot as well 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 as well expect at that scenario separately).

Where can I download old macOS?

Earlier you lot tin can install an older version of macOS or Mac Bone 10 yous volition need to get hold of the installer for the version of macOS y'all want to install. Luckily information technology is possible to gets concord of these files - as long as you know where to get on the Mac App Store.

Nosotros have the necessary links to the Mac App Store below. We will bear witness you a mode to go the following macOS installers:

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

*Note that we take discovered that the links we requite beneath will only piece of work if you are surfing in Safari, and then nosotros suggest you lot switch to Apple tree's browser before moving on. Y'all should also shut the Mac App Store app if y'all have that open or the link may not work*

You won't be able to get the Mac Os Ten Snow Leopard download this way, but we'll wait at that subsequently. In fact, nosotros tell you how to go copies of Leopard, Lion and Mountain King of beasts as well!

We take a listing of which Macs run which versions of macOS & Mac Bone X.

How to download macOS Big Sur

You tin can download the installer for Big Sur from the Mac App Shop - every bit long every bit you know where to discover information technology - searching the Mac App Store will not work.

  • Click on this link which to open up the Mac App Shop on the Large Sur page. (Use Safari and make sure the Mac App Store app is closed first or it 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 the Mac App Shop on the Big Sur page.
  2. Click on Get.
  3. Software Update volition open with the words "Finding Update". Eventually a bulletin "Are yous sure you desire to download macOS Big Sur" will appear. It might look similar 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 Large Sur.
  4. Once the installer has downloaded practice non click Install. If yous install information technology the installer volition automatically exist deleted.
  5. You should be able to find the Install macOS Big Sur app in your Applications binder, you'll need this for the side by side steps, which we outline here: How to downgrade macOS, install an older version on your Mac.

How to download macOS Catalina

You can too download the installer for Catalina from the Mac App Shop - as long as you lot 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 closed starting time).

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 Become.
  3. Software Update will open with the words "Finding Update". Eventually a bulletin "Are y'all sure you want to download macOS Catalina" will appear. It might wait like an update rather than the full version, simply you'll see 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 yous install it the installer will automatically be deleted.
  5. You should be able to detect the Install macOS Catalina app in your Applications folder, you'll demand 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

Information technology is also possible to access the Mojave installer via this link to the Mac App Shop. Note that as above, for this link to work y'all demand to be running Safari and y'all need to shut the Mac App Store app first. If the Mac App Store app is open this redirect will not work.

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

Follow the steps in the department 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 Shop app showtime).

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 will download and once it does you need to locate the pkg installer inside the deejay image.

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

Nosotros've said to a higher place that in our experience usually the reason the above links don't work is if you are browsing in something other than Safari, or if you take already got the Mac App Store open up. Withal, if you are nonetheless finding that the link isn't working you could endeavour the alternative methods below.

Some other issue is if the link takes yous to the correct page in the Mac App Shop, but you see an Update not found error message when you try to download it. This is an consequence we are aware of that others have encountered, although we oasis't. In that case nosotros propose you try to download the installer via that link using an older Mac.

You may also meet issues if yous 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 not back up certain components in that Mac, for example.

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

Other ways to get former macOS versions

If y'all are running an older version of macOS - or someone you lot know is - you should be able to easily discover older versions of macOS and even Mac Os X in the Mac App Store. How like shooting fish in a barrel they are to find volition be determined by the version of macOS running on that Mac.

Prior to macOS Mojave's inflow in 2018 the installers for the older macOS versions could exist searched for or plant via the Purchased tab (not that anyone has had to pay for a Mac Bone X update for years).

Even so, when Apple introduced Mojave the Mac App Store changed, and these installers tin can no longer exist searched for or constitute in the purchased section of the store. (Although we exercise have redirect links in the section in a higher place to each of the relevant pages on the Mac App Shop.)

If yous happen to have admission to a Mac that's running an older version of macOS, log into the Mac App Shop 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 lot. Nosotros run through this method in the department beneath.

Equally above, once the installer has downloaded don't install it! If yous do then the installer volition be deleted. You lot'll find the installer in your Applications folder from which you tin can re-create on to your Mac - or create a bootable installer.

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

Yous may likewise observe updates to one-time version of macOS on Apple'southward website hither, nevertheless these are just point updates, rather than the full version, so it won't be much aid 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 copy of the Bone 10 yous want. Just because Apple tree gives away its software for free, don't call up information technology's fine to just pick up a copy. Pirated copies of Apple software could have been adjusted to allow hackers access to the software and your Mac.

Download Mac OS Ten

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

Information technology's worth noting that you'll only see old versions of Mac Bone 10 that y'all've downloaded under Purchased - if you never downloaded it (or if it was never on the Mac App Shop), that version volition not be in your Purchased section. Another reason why the version of Mac Bone X might exist missing is if your machine shipped with that version installed. We'll look at that scenario afterward.

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

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

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

You won't be able to simply install this older version of the operating organization directly onto a Mac running a newer version of OS X or macOS. We will explicate how it can be installed on a Mac - including ane currently running an earlier operating organization here: How to install old Mac OS X versions.

Can't find Mac Os X in Purchased?

If you know you lot have previously downloaded the version of macOS you lot are afterward, but you aren't seeing it in the Purchased section, there are a few things to effort:

  1. Log out of the App Shop then log in again.
  2. If it'due south a possibility that you lot downloaded it while logged in to a different Apple ID (maybe a piece of work-related one), 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 OS X and so jump to step 3 and discover a friendly person who did. Ask them to download the Mac Os X installer for you lot.

Luckily the copy of Os X isn't locked to their account so it will install on any Mac.

How to go OS X Lion, Mount Lion

Prior to June 2021 you could purchase OS 10 ten.7 Lion or Mount Panthera leo from Apple for £19.99 each - Apple would ship y'all a download code. Now Apple has stopped charging for the ageing operating system versions. Instead you can download the operating systems direct from the company's website.

The operating systems can be downloaded from the following links:

If it'southward Mac Bone X 10.seven King of beasts that y'all are later, it's nonetheless available for £nineteen.99 here United states or here UK. Apple volition send you a download code to utilize on the Mac App Store, and then you will need to exist running Snow Leopard to install it.

If it'south Bone X x.viii Mountain Lion that you can still purchase information technology for £19.99 here U.s.a. or here UK.

Nosotros have more data about getting the gratis installers for Os X King of beasts and Mountain Panthera leo from Apple tree in Apple offers free downloads of Os Ten King of beasts and Mount Lion.

Whether your Mac will really run these operating systems is another question we accost here: Which versions of macOS can my Mac run? Note that simply Macs that predate 2012 volition 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 won't have access to the Mac App Store. Since for a number of years afterwards Snow Leopard arrived all versions of Mac Bone 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 withal sold a boxed version of Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard here for £xix.99 (at its launch in 2009 information technology cost £25). If you purchased Snowfall Leopard this style yous were sent a concrete box containing an optical disc - so you will need a CD/DVD drive to install information technology (which you will probably accept if the Mac is that old).

Apple has now removed the ability to buy Snow Leopard. However, this isn't a big problem considering those people who were previously locked out of updates tin can now download the Lion or Mountain Lion update, as explained higher up.

Get Snow Leopard

How to get Bone 10 Leopard or earlier

If the old version of the Os you are after predates Snowfall Leopard and yous have a developer account you might exist able to get information technology from programmer.apple tree.com/downloads. If you lot search inside the OS X category yous should see downloads for all versions of Bone X, at to the lowest degree from version ten.3 to 10.6.

Y'all may be able to admission the Developer department of the website, only you lot volition only exist able to access certain software downloads if your Apple ID is associated with a paid Apple tree Developer Programme.

If you haven't signed up equally a Apple Programmer, discover out what that entails here. Information technology costs £79 ($99) a yr to join the Apple Programmer Plan and you have to sign a non disclosure agreement.

You could also try looking on Amazon or eBay to see if anyone is selling onetime versions of the Mac operating system. For example at that place'due south a Total Install of OS X Lion available for £8.50 on Amazon here.

If it's Tiger you are afterwards, then information technology will toll a little more. There was a copy of Tiger on Amazon for £89.99 just it's currently unavailable.

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