There are a few reasons why y'all might desire to download and install old versions of macOS or Mac Os X. Perchance you are relying on software you have discovered doesn't work properly in the latest version. Or possibly you merely don't like the new version of macOS that you take installed.

Some other scenario is that you lot are a developer and you demand to be running multiple versions of macOS and Mac Os X so that y'all can be sure that your software runs correctly on them. Either way, you have questions and we take answers.

In this article nosotros will cover how to go one-time versions of macOS including Big Sur, Catalina, Mojave, El Capitan, Sierra, Yosemite and fifty-fifty old versions of Mac Os X. We explain how to become hold of the relevant installer files and then that you lot tin can install the software on your Mac.

Nosotros have a separate commodity that explains how to install one-time versions of macOS for when you get to that stage of the procedure.

If you lot are looking for a mode to revert to the previous version of macOS, nosotros have a more specific article almost downgrading from Monterey to Big Sur and other versions, although we do embrace the method here too. We also have a guide to downgrading from the macOS beta.

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

You also might want to go the installer for a version of macOS in lodge to make a bootable installer for installing macOS on multiple Macs (we besides await at that scenario separately).

Where can I download sometime macOS?

Before you tin 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 desire to install. Luckily information technology is possible to gets agree 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 go the following macOS installers:

  • macOS Big Sur
  • macOS Catalina
  • macOS Mojave
  • macOS Loftier Sierra
  • macOS Sierra
  • OS 10 El Capitan
  • Bone Ten Yosemite
  • Bone X Mavericks
  • Bone Ten Mount Lion
  • Bone X Lion

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

You won't be able to become the Mac OS X Snowfall Leopard download this way, but we'll await at that later. In fact, we tell you how to get copies of Leopard, Lion and Mountain Panthera leo too!

Nosotros accept a list of which Macs run which versions of macOS & Mac OS X.

How to download macOS Big Sur

You tin can download the installer for Big Sur from the Mac App Shop - as long equally you lot know where to find information technology - searching the Mac App Shop will not work.

  • Click on this link which to open the Mac App Store on the Big Sur page. (Use Safari and make sure the Mac App Store app is closed first or information technology might non work).

Follow these steps to download Big Sur (or whatever other version of macOS) from the Mac App Shop:

  1. Click this link to open the Mac App Shop on the Large Sur folio.
  2. Click on Become.
  3. Software Update will open with the words "Finding Update". Eventually a message "Are you certain you want to download macOS Big Sur" will announced. It might look like an update rather than the full version, just y'all'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 practice non click Install. If you install information technology the installer will automatically be deleted.
  5. Yous should be able to find the Install macOS Big Sur app in your Applications folder, you'll demand 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 tin also download the installer for Catalina from the Mac App Store - 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 outset).

Catalina Mac App Store

Every bit above, 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 Shop on the Catalina folio.
  2. Click on Get.
  3. Software Update will open with the words "Finding Update". Somewhen a bulletin "Are you sure yous want to download macOS Catalina" will appear. It might look like an update rather than the full version, but you'll see from the size of the download (around 6GB) that this is the consummate 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 exist able to discover the Install macOS Catalina 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 Mojave

Information technology is also possible to admission the Mojave installer via this link to the Mac App Shop. Note that as to a higher place, for this link to work you need to exist running Safari and y'all need to close the Mac App Store app first. If the Mac App Store app is open up this redirect volition not work.

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

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

Download Mojave

How to download High Sierra

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

Follow the steps in the section above to download High Sierra.

How to download Sierra, El Capitan or Yosemite

Apple tree 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 y'all demand to locate the pkg installer inside the disk image.

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

We've said above that in our experience usually the reason the above links don't piece of work is if you are browsing in something other than Safari, or if you lot have already got the Mac App Shop open. Still, if yous are nonetheless finding that the link isn't working yous could try the alternative methods beneath.

Another issue is if the link takes you to the correct folio in the Mac App Store, but you lot see an Update not found error bulletin when you attempt to download it. This is an outcome we are aware of that others take encountered, although nosotros haven't. In that case nosotros advise yous 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. 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 non support certain components in that Mac, for example.

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

Other means to get old macOS versions

If you are running an older version of macOS - or someone you know is - y'all should be able to easily observe older versions of macOS and even Mac Bone Ten in the Mac App Shop. How like shooting fish in a barrel they are to find volition be adamant 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 plant via the Purchased tab (not 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 changed, and these installers can no longer be searched for or found in the purchased section of the store. (Although we exercise have redirect links in the section higher up 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 password and download the Mojave installer on that Mac. Alternatively ask a friend to download a re-create of the installer from the Mac App Store for you. We run through this method in the section below.

As above, one time the installer has downloaded don't install it! If you practise and then the installer will exist deleted. Yous'll find the installer in your Applications folder from which yous 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, however we were unable to get that method to work.

You lot may also find updates to erstwhile version of macOS on Apple's website hither, however these are only 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 affair y'all really mustn't do is get to a torrent site and download a re-create of the OS X you want. Only because Apple gives abroad its software for gratis, don't retrieve it'due south fine to merely choice upwards a copy. Pirated copies of Apple software could accept been adjusted to allow hackers access to the software and your Mac.

Download Mac OS 10

If y'all have access to a Mac running OS X Yosemite or older it is possible to encounter old versions of Mac Os X in the Mac App Shop. Yosemite, Mavericks and Mountain Panthera leo can all be seen here.

It's worth noting that you'll only meet old versions of Mac OS Ten 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 X might be missing is if your car shipped with that version installed. We'll look at that scenario later.

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

  1. Open the Mac App Shop (choose Store > Sign In if you need to log in).
  2. Click Purchased.
  3. Scroll downwardly to find the copy of OS 10 or macOS you lot desire.
  4. Click Install.

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

You won't be able to only install this older version of the operating organization directly onto a Mac running a newer version of Bone X or macOS. We will explain how information technology can be installed on a Mac - including i currently running an earlier operating system here: How to install old Mac OS 10 versions.

Tin can't detect Mac OS X in Purchased?

If you know you take previously downloaded the version of macOS you are after, merely you aren't seeing it in the Purchased department, at that place are a few things to endeavor:

  1. Log out of the App Store then log in again.
  2. If it'due south a possibility that you lot downloaded it while logged in to a different 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 enquire them to download the installation file for you lot.

If you never downloaded the version of Mac Bone X and so jump to step 3 and discover a friendly person who did. Enquire them to download the Mac Bone X installer for you.

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

How to get Bone X King of beasts, Mountain Lion

Prior to June 2021 you could purchase OS X 10.7 Lion or Mount Lion from Apple for £nineteen.99 each - Apple would transport you a download code. Now Apple has stopped charging for the ageing operating arrangement versions. Instead y'all tin can download the operating systems directly from the visitor's website.

The operating systems can be downloaded from the following links:

If information technology's Mac Bone X 10.7 Panthera leo that yous are after, it's nevertheless bachelor for £nineteen.99 here US or here Great britain. Apple will transport you a download code to use on the Mac App Store, and so y'all volition need to be running Snow Leopard to install it.

If it'south Bone X 10.viii Mount King of beasts that you lot tin can nevertheless buy it for £19.99 hither Usa or here U.k..

We have more than information about getting the free installers for Os Ten Panthera leo and Mountain Panthera leo from Apple in Apple tree offers free downloads of OS Ten Lion and Mountain Panthera leo.

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

How to become 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 Shop. Since for a number of years after Snow Leopard arrived all versions of Mac OS 10 arrived via the Mac App Shop, those who never installed Snow Leopard had a trouble: without Snow Leopard they couldn't update.

Until 2021 Apple still sold a boxed version of Mac OS 10 10.half dozen Snow Leopard hither for £19.99 (at its launch in 2009 it cost £25). If you purchased Snow Leopard this style y'all were sent a physical box containing an optical disc - so you volition need a CD/DVD drive to install it (which you will probably have 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, every bit explained to a higher place.

Get Snow Leopard

How to become Bone X Leopard or earlier

If the one-time version of the OS you are later on predates Snow Leopard and you have a developer business relationship yous might be able to get it from developer.apple.com/downloads. If you lot search within the Bone 10 category you should see downloads for all versions of Bone 10, at to the lowest degree from version x.3 to x.half-dozen.

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

If you haven't signed upward every bit a Apple Programmer, find out what that entails here. It costs £79 ($99) a year to join the Apple Developer Plan and you have to sign a non disclosure understanding.

You could likewise try looking on Amazon or eBay to see if anyone is selling old versions of the Mac operating system. For example in that location'southward a Full Install of Os X Lion available for £viii.fifty on Amazon here.

If it'due south Tiger you are afterwards, then 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