There are a few reasons why you might want to download and install onetime versions of macOS or Mac OS 10. Peradventure y'all are relying on software you have discovered doesn't work properly in the latest version. Or perchance you just don't like the new version of macOS that you have installed.

Another scenario is that yous are a programmer and you need to be running multiple versions of macOS and Mac OS X so that you tin can exist sure that your software runs correctly on them. Either style, y'all have questions and we have answers.

In this article we will cover how to get old versions of macOS including Big Sur, Catalina, Mojave, El Capitan, Sierra, Yosemite and even erstwhile versions of Mac Bone X. We explain how to get concord of the relevant installer files so that you tin can install the software on your Mac.

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

If you are looking for a way to revert to the previous version of macOS, nosotros have a more than specific commodity about downgrading from Monterey to Big Sur and other versions, although nosotros practice cover the method hither too. We also have a guide to downgrading from the macOS beta.

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

You also might desire to become the installer for a version of macOS in order to make a bootable installer for installing macOS on multiple Macs (we also expect at that scenario separately).

Where can I download old macOS?

Before y'all tin install an older version of macOS or Mac OS Ten you will need to get hold of the installer for the version of macOS you want to install. Luckily information technology is possible to gets hold of these files - every bit long every bit you lot know where to go on the Mac App Store.

We accept the necessary links to the Mac App Store beneath. We will evidence you a style to get the post-obit macOS installers:

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

*Note that we have discovered that the links we give below will simply work if you are surfing in Safari, then nosotros advise you lot switch to Apple'southward browser before moving on. You should too shut the Mac App Store app if you have that open up or the link may not work*

You won't be able to get the Mac Os 10 Snowfall Leopard download this way, but nosotros'll wait at that later. In fact, we tell y'all how to get copies of Leopard, Lion and Mountain King of beasts likewise!

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

How to download macOS Large Sur

Y'all tin download the installer for Big Sur from the Mac App Store - as long as you know where to notice it - searching the Mac App Store will non piece of work.

  • Click on this link which to open the Mac App Store 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 Large Sur (or any other version of macOS) from the Mac App Store:

  1. Click this link to open the Mac App Shop on the Large Sur page.
  2. Click on Become.
  3. Software Update will open with the words "Finding Update". Eventually a message "Are you sure you want to download macOS Big Sur" will appear. It might look like an update rather than the full version, only yous'll run into from the size of the download (effectually 6GB) that this is the complete installer for Big Sur.
  4. Once the installer has downloaded do not click Install. If you install it the installer volition automatically be deleted.
  5. You should exist able to find the Install macOS Big Sur app in your Applications folder, you'll demand this for the next steps, which nosotros outline hither: How to downgrade macOS, install an older version on your Mac.

How to download macOS Catalina

You tin can too download the installer for Catalina from the Mac App Shop - as long as you 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 airtight first).

Catalina Mac App Store

As in 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 the Mac App Store on the Catalina page.
  2. Click on Get.
  3. Software Update volition open up with the words "Finding Update". Eventually a message "Are you lot sure you want to download macOS Catalina" will appear. It might wait similar an update rather than the full version, just you'll encounter from the size of the download (around 6GB) that this is the complete installer for Catalina. Download Catalina
  4. Once the installer has downloaded do non click Install. If y'all install information technology the installer will automatically be deleted.
  5. You should exist able to detect the Install macOS Catalina 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 Mojave

It is also possible to access the Mojave installer via this link to the Mac App Store. Note that as above, for this link to work yous need to be running Safari and yous need to close the Mac App Shop app first. If the Mac App Shop app is open this redirect volition not piece of work.

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

Follow the steps in the department above to download information technology.

Download Mojave

How to download High Sierra

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

Follow the steps in the section above to download Loftier 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 information technology does you demand to locate the pkg installer within the disk image.

  • Y'all tin can Sierra via this link.
  • El Capitan tin be downloaded from this link.
  • Yosemite is bachelor here.

That Mac App Shop 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 you are browsing in something other than Safari, or if you take already got the Mac App Store open. However, if y'all are however finding that the link isn't working you could endeavour the alternative methods below.

Another issue is if the link takes you to the correct folio in the Mac App Shop, but you encounter an Update not found error message when y'all try to download it. This is an issue we are enlightened of that others have encountered, although we haven't. In that instance we propose y'all endeavor to download the installer via that link using an older Mac.

Y'all may too meet issues if you are trying to download an older version of macOS that your Mac cannot support. Normally when Apple tree introduces a new Mac it volition not be able to run the version of macOS that shipped before the one installed on that Mac. The older macOS might non back up certain components in that Mac, for example.

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

Other ways to go old 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 easy they are to notice will exist determined past the version of macOS running on that Mac.

Prior to macOS Mojave'due south 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 Ten update for years).

All the same, when Apple tree introduced Mojave the Mac App Store inverse, and these installers can no longer exist searched for or plant in the purchased section of the store. (Although nosotros practise take redirect links in the section above to each of the relevant pages on the Mac App Shop.)

If you happen to have admission to a Mac that'southward running an older version of macOS, log into the Mac App Shop with your countersign 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 y'all. We run through this method in the section beneath.

As above, one time the installer has downloaded don't install it! If you practice and so the installer will be deleted. You'll find the installer in your Applications folder from which you lot tin copy on to your Mac - or create a bootable installer.

We've heard that information technology may exist possible to download the installer via Final, notwithstanding nosotros were unable to get that method to work.

You may also observe updates to old version of macOS on Apple'south website here, even so these are but signal updates, rather than the full version, so it won't be much help if you are trying to get the full download.

The one thing you really mustn't practice is go to a torrent site and download a copy of the Os X you want. Just because Apple gives away its software for free, don't think it'southward 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 Bone X

If you have admission to a Mac running OS X Yosemite or older it is possible to see old versions of Mac Bone X in the Mac App Shop. Yosemite, Mavericks and Mountain Lion tin all be seen here.

It's worth noting that you lot'll but 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 section. Another reason why the version of Mac OS Ten might be missing is if your machine shipped with that version installed. We'll look at that scenario afterwards.

Here is how to get an older version of Mac OS X from the Mac App Store (this but works if you lot've downloaded information technology in the by and it won't work if you lot have already installed Mojave or later):

  1. Open the Mac App Shop (choose Shop > Sign In if you need to log in).
  2. Click Purchased.
  3. Gyre down to discover the copy of Bone X or macOS y'all desire.
  4. Click Install.

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

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

Can't find Mac OS Ten in Purchased?

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

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

If you lot never downloaded the version of Mac Os X then jump to pace three and detect a friendly person who did. Ask them to download the Mac OS Ten installer for you.

Luckily the re-create of Os X isn't locked to their business relationship so it will install on any Mac.

How to get Bone X Lion, Mount Lion

Prior to June 2021 you could purchase OS 10 10.7 Lion or Mountain Lion from Apple tree for £19.99 each - Apple would ship you a download code. Now 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 be downloaded from the post-obit links:

  • DMG for Mac Bone X 10.7 Lion (iv.72GB)
  • DMG for Mac Os 10 ten.8 Mountain Panthera leo (4.45GB)

If information technology'due south Mac OS X 10.seven Lion that y'all are afterward, information technology's still bachelor for £19.99 here The states or here Great britain. Apple will send you a download lawmaking to employ on the Mac App Shop, so y'all will need to be running Snow Leopard to install it.

If it's Bone X 10.8 Mountain Lion that yous can still buy it for £19.99 here US or here Great britain.

We take more information nigh getting the free installers for Bone X Lion and Mountain King of beasts from Apple in Apple offers gratis downloads of OS Ten Lion and Mountain Lion.

Whether your Mac will actually run these operating systems is some other question nosotros accost here: Which versions of macOS can my Mac run? Note that just Macs that predate 2012 will run Panthera leo.

How to go OS Ten Snow Leopard

If your Mac has a version of macOS installed that is older than Snowfall Leopard you lot won't have access to the Mac App Store. Since for a number of years afterward Snow Leopard arrived all versions of Mac OS X 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 tree still sold a boxed version of Mac Os X 10.6 Snow Leopard hither 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 then yous will need a CD/DVD bulldoze to install it (which you will probably accept if the Mac is that old).

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

Get Snow Leopard

How to get OS X Leopard or earlier

If the old version of the Bone you lot are after predates Snowfall Leopard and you lot accept a developer account you might be able to get it from developer.apple.com/downloads. If you lot search within the Os 10 category you should encounter downloads for all versions of Os X, at least from version x.three to x.6.

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

If yous haven't signed up equally a Apple Developer, find out what that entails here. It costs £79 ($99) a year to join the Apple Developer Program and you have to sign a not disclosure agreement.

Y'all could also try looking on Amazon or eBay to run into if anyone is selling old versions of the Mac operating system. For instance in that location'southward a Full Install of Bone X Panthera leo bachelor for £viii.50 on Amazon here.

If it's Tiger you lot are after, then it will price a niggling more. There was a copy of Tiger on Amazon for £89.99 but information technology's currently unavailable.

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