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

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

In this article nosotros volition cover how to become old versions of macOS including Large Sur, Catalina, Mojave, El Capitan, Sierra, Yosemite and even onetime versions of Mac Bone Ten. We explicate how to get hold of the relevant installer files and so that you tin can install the software on your Mac.

We have a dissever commodity that explains how to install old versions of macOS for when you lot get to that stage of the procedure.

If you lot are looking for a manner to revert to the previous version of macOS, we accept a more specific article near downgrading from Monterey to Large Sur and other versions, although nosotros do comprehend the method hither too. Nosotros also have a guide to downgrading from the macOS beta.

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

You too might want to become 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 one-time macOS?

Before you can install an older version of macOS or Mac Os X you will need to get agree of the installer for the version of macOS you want to install. Luckily information technology is possible to gets concord of these files - as long as you know where to proceed the Mac App Store.

We accept the necessary links to the Mac App Store below. We will show yous a way to become the following macOS installers:

  • macOS Large Sur
  • macOS Catalina
  • macOS Mojave
  • macOS High Sierra
  • macOS Sierra
  • Os 10 El Capitan
  • Os X Yosemite
  • Os X Mavericks
  • Bone 10 Mount Panthera leo
  • OS X Lion

*Annotation that nosotros have discovered that the links we give beneath volition but work if you are surfing in Safari, so nosotros suggest y'all switch to Apple'due south browser before moving on. You should also shut the Mac App Store app if you take that open or the link may not work*

You lot won't be able to go the Mac Bone X Snow Leopard download this manner, simply we'll wait at that afterward. In fact, we tell you how to get copies of Leopard, Lion and Mountain Lion too!

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

How to download macOS Large Sur

You can download the installer for Large Sur from the Mac App Store - every bit long as y'all know where to find 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. (Use Safari and make certain 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 up 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 message "Are you lot certain y'all want to download macOS Big Sur" will appear. It might wait similar an update rather than the total version, but you'll see 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 not click Install. If yous install it the installer will automatically be deleted.
  5. You should exist able to observe the Install macOS Big Sur app in your Applications folder, yous'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 can also download the installer for Catalina from the Mac App Store - as long as you know the magic link.

  • Click on this link which volition open the Mac App Store on the Catalina page. (Use Safari and make sure the Mac App Shop app is closed first).

Catalina Mac App Store

Equally in a higher place, follow these steps to download Catalina (or any other version of macOS) from the Mac App Shop:

  1. Click this link to open the Mac App Store on the Catalina page.
  2. Click on Get.
  3. Software Update will open with the words "Finding Update". Eventually a bulletin "Are you certain yous desire to download macOS Catalina" will announced. It might look like an update rather than the full version, but you lot'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 practice not click Install. If you install it the installer will automatically be deleted.
  5. You should be able to find the Install macOS Catalina app in your Applications binder, you'll demand this for the adjacent steps, which we outline here: 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 Store. Note that as above, for this link to piece of work you need to be running Safari and y'all demand to shut the Mac App Store app first. If the Mac App Store app is open up 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 above to download it.

Download Mojave

How to download High Sierra

It is besides possible to download Loftier Sierra via this link. (Use Safari, close 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 need to download them in Safari. A disk paradigm named InstallOS.dmg will download and once it does y'all need 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 experience usually the reason the above links don't work is if you are browsing in something other than Safari, or if yous have already got the Mac App Store open. However, if you are all the same finding that the link isn't working you could try the alternative methods below.

Another issue is if the link takes y'all to the correct page in the Mac App Store, but y'all see an Update non found fault message when you try to download information technology. This is an consequence we are aware of that others have encountered, although we haven't. In that instance we propose you try to download the installer via that link using an older Mac.

You may also see issues if you are trying to download an older version of macOS that your Mac cannot back up. Unremarkably when Apple introduces a new Mac it will not be able to run the version of macOS that shipped before the i installed on that Mac. The older macOS might not back up sure components in that Mac, for instance.

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

Other ways to get former macOS versions

If you are running an older version of macOS - or someone yous know is - you should be able to easily find 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 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 found via the Purchased tab (non that anyone has had to pay for a Mac OS X update for years).

Even so, when Apple tree introduced Mojave the Mac App Store inverse, and these installers can no longer be searched for or found in the purchased section of the store. (Although nosotros do have redirect links in the section in a higher place to each of the relevant pages on the Mac App Store.)

If you lot happen to accept access to a Mac that'southward running an older version of macOS, log into the Mac App Shop 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 Store for you. Nosotros run through this method in the department below.

As above, in one case the installer has downloaded don't install information technology! If you do then the installer will be deleted. Yous'll discover the installer in your Applications folder from which y'all can copy on to your Mac - or create a bootable installer.

We've heard that it may exist possible to download the installer via Terminal, withal we were unable to get that method to work.

You may also observe updates to erstwhile version of macOS on Apple'southward website hither, however these are just point updates, rather than the total version, so it won't be much assist if you lot are trying to get the full download.

The one affair you really mustn't do is get to a torrent site and download a copy of the OS X yous desire. Merely because Apple gives away its software for gratis, don't retrieve it's fine to just pick upward a copy. Pirated copies of Apple tree software could have been adjusted to allow hackers access to the software and your Mac.

Download Mac OS X

If y'all accept access to a Mac running OS 10 Yosemite or older information technology is possible to see old versions of Mac OS X in the Mac App Store. Yosemite, Mavericks and Mount King of beasts can all be seen hither.

It's worth noting that you'll only see 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 auto shipped with that version installed. We'll look at that scenario later.

Here is how to get an older version of Mac OS 10 from the Mac App Store (this only works if y'all've downloaded information technology in the past and information technology won't work if you have already installed Mojave or later):

  1. Open the Mac App Store (choose Store > Sign In if you demand to log in).
  2. Click Purchased.
  3. Curl down to notice the copy of OS X or macOS you want.
  4. Click Install.

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

You won't exist able to just install this older version of the operating system straight onto a Mac running a newer version of OS Ten or macOS. We will explain how it can be installed on a Mac - including 1 currently running an earlier operating organization here: How to install old Mac OS X versions.

Can't find Mac OS 10 in Purchased?

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

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

If you never downloaded the version of Mac Os X then spring to step iii and observe a friendly person who did. Ask them to download the Mac OS X installer for you.

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

How to get OS X Lion, Mount King of beasts

Prior to June 2021 y'all could purchase Os X 10.vii Lion or Mountain Lion from Apple for £19.99 each - Apple would transport yous a download code. At present Apple has stopped charging for the ageing operating system versions. Instead you tin can download the operating systems direct from the company's website.

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

If it'southward Mac OS 10 10.vii Lion that y'all are after, information technology's still available for £19.99 hither US or here UK. Apple volition transport you a download lawmaking to use on the Mac App Store, so yous will need to be running Snow Leopard to install information technology.

If it'south Os X 10.8 Mountain Lion that you can still purchase it for £19.99 here The states or hither U.k..

Nosotros have more than information about getting the gratis installers for Os Ten Lion and Mountain Lion from Apple tree in Apple offers free downloads of Bone X Lion and Mountain Lion.

Whether your Mac will 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 10 Snow Leopard

If your Mac has a version of macOS installed that is older than Snow Leopard y'all won't accept access to the Mac App Store. Since for a number of years subsequently Snowfall Leopard arrived all versions of Mac OS 10 arrived via the Mac App Shop, those who never installed Snow Leopard had a problem: without Snow Leopard they couldn't update.

Until 2021 Apple still sold a boxed version of Mac OS 10 ten.6 Snow Leopard here for £nineteen.99 (at its launch in 2009 it cost £25). If yous purchased Snowfall Leopard this mode you were sent a concrete box containing an optical disc - so you lot volition demand a CD/DVD bulldoze to install information technology (which you will probably accept if the Mac is that old).

Apple has at present removed the power to buy Snowfall Leopard. Still, this isn't a large problem because those people who were previously locked out of updates can at present download the King of beasts or Mountain Lion update, as explained higher up.

Get Snow Leopard

How to become Bone 10 Leopard or earlier

If the old version of the Bone yous are after predates Snow Leopard and you accept a programmer account y'all might be able to get it from programmer.apple.com/downloads. If yous search within the OS X category you should see downloads for all versions of Bone X, at least from version ten.3 to ten.vi.

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

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

You could also try looking on Amazon or eBay to see if anyone is selling former versions of the Mac operating system. For example there'south a Full Install of OS Ten Panthera leo available for £8.50 on Amazon here.

If information technology'south Tiger you lot are after, then it will toll a piddling more. At that place was a copy of Tiger on Amazon for £89.99 but information technology'south currently unavailable.

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