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

Another scenario is that you are a developer and you demand to exist running multiple versions of macOS and Mac OS X and then that yous can be sure that your software runs correctly on them. Either style, you accept questions and nosotros take answers.

In this commodity we will comprehend how to get old versions of macOS including Large Sur, Catalina, Mojave, El Capitan, Sierra, Yosemite and fifty-fifty old versions of Mac Bone X. Nosotros explain how to get hold 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 onetime versions of macOS for when you get to that stage of the process.

If you are looking for a manner to revert to the previous version of macOS, we take a more specific article about downgrading from Monterey to Big Sur and other versions, although nosotros do cover the method hither too. We too take a guide to downgrading from the macOS beta.

Notwithstanding, if you were hoping to run older versions of macOS on M1 Macs that's non possible.

You lot also might want to go the installer for a version of macOS in order to make a bootable installer for installing macOS on multiple Macs (nosotros also expect at that scenario separately).

Where tin I download one-time macOS?

Earlier you can install an older version of macOS or Mac Bone X you will demand to get agree 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 every bit you know where to go along the Mac App Store.

Nosotros have the necessary links to the Mac App Shop beneath. We will show yous a way to get the post-obit macOS installers:

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

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

Yous won't be able to get the Mac OS X Snow Leopard download this way, just we'll look at that later. In fact, we tell y'all how to get copies of Leopard, Lion and Mount Lion besides!

We have a list of which Macs run which versions of macOS & Mac Os 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 information technology - searching the Mac App Store will non 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 not 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 the Mac App Store on the Large Sur folio.
  2. Click on Get.
  3. Software Update will open with the words "Finding Update". Eventually a bulletin "Are you sure y'all want to download macOS Big Sur" will announced. Information technology might look like an update rather than the full version, only you'll run across from the size of the download (around 6GB) that this is the complete installer for Big Sur.
  4. Once the installer has downloaded practise not click Install. If you install it the installer will automatically be deleted.
  5. You should be able to detect the Install macOS Big Sur app in your Applications folder, y'all'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 Catalina

You lot tin also download the installer for Catalina from the Mac App Store - as long equally you 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 airtight start).

Catalina Mac App Store

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

  1. Click this link to open the Mac App Shop on the Catalina page.
  2. Click on Get.
  3. Software Update will open with the words "Finding Update". Eventually a message "Are y'all sure you want to download macOS Catalina" will appear. It might expect similar an update rather than the full version, but you'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 do not click Install. If you install it the installer will automatically be deleted.
  5. You should be able to observe the Install macOS Catalina app in your Applications folder, you'll need this for the adjacent steps, which we outline hither: How to downgrade macOS, install an older version on your Mac.

How to download macOS Mojave

It is also possible to access the Mojave installer via this link to the Mac App Store. Annotation that every bit in a higher place, for this link to work you need to be running Safari and y'all need 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 Shop on the Mojave page.

Follow the steps in the section in a higher place to download information technology.

Download Mojave

How to download High Sierra

It is too possible to download High Sierra via this link. (Utilise Safari, shut the Mac App Store app first).

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 lot 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 disk image.

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

Nosotros've said above that in our feel usually the reason the to a higher place links don't work is if y'all are browsing in something other than Safari, or if y'all take already got the Mac App Store open. Yet, if you are still finding that the link isn't working yous could endeavour the culling methods beneath.

Another upshot is if the link takes yous to the correct page in the Mac App Shop, only you see an Update not constitute error message when y'all try to download it. This is an upshot nosotros are aware of that others have encountered, although nosotros haven't. In that case nosotros suggest you try to download the installer via that link using an older Mac.

You may also encounter issues if you are trying to download an older version of macOS that your Mac cannot support. Commonly 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 sure components in that Mac, for example.

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

Other ways to go old macOS versions

If you are running an older version of macOS - or someone you know is - you should exist able to easily find older versions of macOS and fifty-fifty Mac Bone X in the Mac App Store. How easy they are to detect will be determined past the version of macOS running on that Mac.

Prior to macOS Mojave's arrival 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 Ten update for years).

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

If you happen to have access to a Mac that'due south 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 Shop for you. We run through this method in the section below.

As above, in one case the installer has downloaded don't install it! If you do and so the installer will be deleted. Y'all'll find the installer in your Applications binder from which y'all 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, however nosotros were unable to get that method to work.

You may also find updates to onetime version of macOS on Apple'southward website hither, however these are just indicate updates, rather than the full version, so it won't exist much help if you lot are trying to get the full download.

The 1 matter you actually 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 remember it's fine to just pick up a copy. Pirated copies of Apple software could have been adjusted to let hackers admission to the software and your Mac.

Download Mac OS 10

If you have admission to a Mac running OS 10 Yosemite or older it is possible to run across old versions of Mac Bone Ten in the Mac App Store. Yosemite, Mavericks and Mount Panthera leo can all be seen here.

It's worth noting that you'll only encounter quondam versions of Mac OS Ten that you lot've downloaded under Purchased - if you never downloaded it (or if information technology was never on the Mac App Shop), that version will not exist in your Purchased department. Another reason why the version of Mac OS Ten might be missing is if your machine shipped with that version installed. We'll expect at that scenario subsequently.

Here is how to get an older version of Mac OS 10 from the Mac App Shop (this only works if yous'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 Shop > Sign In if you demand to log in).
  2. Click Purchased.
  3. Ringlet downward to observe the copy of Bone X or macOS you want.
  4. Click Install.

Clicking Install won't really install the software, just it will download the installer application to your Applications binder.

You won't be able to simply install this older version of the operating arrangement straight onto a Mac running a newer version of Bone X or macOS. We will explicate how it tin be installed on a Mac - including one currently running an earlier operating system here: How to install old Mac Bone 10 versions.

Tin can't find Mac OS X in Purchased?

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

  1. Log out of the App Store and so log in once again.
  2. If information technology'due south a possibility that y'all downloaded it while logged in to a unlike Apple ID (perhaps a work-related ane), log in using that ID.
  3. Alternatively, find 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 jump to stride 3 and detect a friendly person who did. Ask them to download the Mac OS X installer for y'all.

Luckily the re-create of Os X isn't locked to their account and then it will install on any Mac.

How to become OS Ten Lion, Mountain Lion

Prior to June 2021 yous could purchase Os X 10.7 King of beasts or Mountain Lion from Apple for £xix.99 each - Apple tree would send you lot a download code. Now Apple has stopped charging for the ageing operating system versions. Instead y'all can download the operating systems directly from the visitor'due south website.

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

If it's Mac OS Ten ten.7 Panthera leo that you are after, it'southward still available for £nineteen.99 here U.s. or hither Great britain. Apple volition send you a download code to use on the Mac App Store, so you will demand to be running Snow Leopard to install information technology.

If it'due south OS 10 10.8 Mountain Lion that you tin can still buy it for £xix.99 here US or here United kingdom.

Nosotros have more information about getting the costless installers for OS 10 Lion and Mountain Lion from Apple in Apple offers free downloads of Bone 10 Lion and Mountain Lion.

Whether your Mac will really run these operating systems is another question we address here: Which versions of macOS can my Mac run? Notation that only Macs that predate 2012 will run King of beasts.

How to get Bone X Snow Leopard

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

Until 2021 Apple tree still sold a boxed version of Mac Bone X x.half dozen Snow Leopard here for £xix.99 (at its launch in 2009 information technology cost £25). If you purchased Snow Leopard this way you lot were sent a physical box containing an optical disc - so you will demand a CD/DVD drive to install it (which you will probably take if the Mac is that old).

Apple tree has now removed the ability to buy Snowfall Leopard. However, this isn't a large trouble because those people who were previously locked out of updates can now download the Panthera leo or Mountain Lion update, every bit explained above.

Get Snow Leopard

How to go Os X Leopard or before

If the one-time version of the Bone you are after predates Snow Leopard and yous accept a programmer account you might be able to get it from developer.apple.com/downloads. If you search within the Bone X category you should run into downloads for all versions of Bone X, at least from version 10.3 to 10.6.

Yous may be able to access the Programmer section of the website, but you will simply be able to access sure software downloads if your Apple ID is associated with a paid Apple tree Developer Plan.

If y'all oasis't signed up equally a Apple tree Developer, find out what that entails here. It costs £79 ($99) a year to join the Apple tree Developer Programme and you have to sign a non disclosure understanding.

You could also try looking on Amazon or eBay to see if anyone is selling quondam versions of the Mac operating system. For instance there'south a Full Install of OS 10 Panthera leo available for £8.l on Amazon hither.

If information technology'due south Tiger you lot are subsequently, 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