At that place are a few reasons why you might desire to download and install old versions of macOS or Mac OS X. Perhaps you are relying on software you take discovered doesn't piece of work properly in the latest version. Or maybe you merely don't like the new version of macOS that you have installed.

Another scenario is that you are a developer and yous need to be running multiple versions of macOS and Mac OS X so that you tin can be sure that your software runs correctly on them. Either manner, you take questions and nosotros have answers.

In this article we will cover how to get one-time versions of macOS including Big Sur, Catalina, Mojave, El Capitan, Sierra, Yosemite and fifty-fifty former versions of Mac Bone 10. Nosotros explain how to get concur of the relevant installer files and then that y'all can install the software on your Mac.

We accept a separate article that explains how to install old versions of macOS for when y'all get to that phase of the process.

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

Even so, if y'all were hoping to run older versions of macOS on M1 Macs that's not possible.

Y'all also might want to become the installer for a version of macOS in club to make a bootable installer for installing macOS on multiple Macs (we also wait at that scenario separately).

Where can I download old macOS?

Before yous can install an older version of macOS or Mac Bone X you will need to get hold of the installer for the version of macOS you want to install. Luckily it is possible to gets hold of these files - as long every bit you know where to proceed the Mac App Store.

Nosotros accept the necessary links to the Mac App Shop below. Nosotros will show you a way to get the following macOS installers:

  • macOS Big Sur
  • macOS Catalina
  • macOS Mojave
  • macOS High Sierra
  • macOS Sierra
  • Os X El Capitan
  • Os X Yosemite
  • Os 10 Mavericks
  • OS X Mountain Lion
  • Os Ten Lion

*Note that we take discovered that the links nosotros give below will merely piece of work if you are surfing in Safari, and so we suggest you switch to Apple's browser earlier moving on. Y'all should also close the Mac App Store app if you have that open or the link may not work*

Yous won't be able to get the Mac OS X Snow Leopard download this fashion, merely we'll look at that later. In fact, nosotros tell you lot how to become copies of Leopard, Panthera leo and Mount Lion too!

We have a list of which Macs run which versions of macOS & Mac OS X.

How to download macOS Large Sur

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

  • Click on this link which to open the Mac App Store on the Big Sur page. (Use Safari and brand certain the Mac App Store app is closed commencement 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 Shop on the Big Sur page.
  2. Click on Get.
  3. Software Update volition open with the words "Finding Update". Eventually a message "Are you sure you want to download macOS Big Sur" will announced. It might wait similar an update rather than the full version, but you'll see from the size of the download (effectually 6GB) that this is the complete installer for Big Sur.
  4. Once the installer has downloaded practise not click Install. If you install information technology the installer will automatically be deleted.
  5. You should be able to find the Install macOS Big Sur app in your Applications binder, y'all'll need this for the adjacent steps, which we outline here: How to downgrade macOS, install an older version on your Mac.

How to download macOS Catalina

Y'all can also download the installer for Catalina from the Mac App Store - every bit 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

Every bit in a higher place, follow these steps to download Catalina (or whatsoever other version of macOS) from the Mac App Store:

  1. Click this link to open the Mac App Store on the Catalina folio.
  2. Click on Get.
  3. Software Update will open with the words "Finding Update". Somewhen a message "Are you sure you want to download macOS Catalina" will appear. It might look like 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 Catalina. Download Catalina
  4. Once the installer has downloaded do not click Install. If you install it the installer will automatically exist deleted.
  5. Y'all should be able to discover the Install macOS Catalina app in your Applications folder, you'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 Mojave

It is besides possible to admission the Mojave installer via this link to the Mac App Shop. Note that every bit to a higher place, for this link to work you need to be running Safari and y'all need to shut the Mac App Store app first. If the Mac App Shop app is open 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 Loftier Sierra

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

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 deejay image named InstallOS.dmg will download and once it does yous 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 experience usually the reason the above links don't work is if y'all are browsing in something other than Safari, or if you take already got the Mac App Store open. However, if you are all the same finding that the link isn't working y'all could try the alternative methods below.

Another issue is if the link takes you to the correct page in the Mac App Shop, but you see an Update not found fault message when you effort to download information technology. This is an upshot we are aware of that others have encountered, although we oasis't. In that example we advise you endeavour to download the installer via that link using an older Mac.

Yous may also meet issues if yous are trying to download an older version of macOS that your Mac cannot support. Normally when Apple introduces a new Mac it will non exist 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 instance.

Find out more than about 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 yous know is - you should be able to easily detect older versions of macOS and even Mac OS X in the Mac App Shop. How easy they are to find volition be adamant past the version of macOS running on that Mac.

Prior to macOS Mojave'southward arrival in 2018 the installers for the older macOS versions could be searched for or constitute via the Purchased tab (non that anyone has had to pay for a Mac OS Ten update for years).

However, when Apple introduced Mojave the Mac App Shop inverse, and these installers can no longer be searched for or establish in the purchased section of the shop. (Although nosotros do 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's 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 Store for you. Nosotros run through this method in the section beneath.

As to a higher place, once the installer has downloaded don't install it! If you practise and then the installer will be deleted. Y'all'll find the installer in your Applications folder from which you lot can copy on to your Mac - or create a bootable installer.

We've heard that information technology may be possible to download the installer via Last, however nosotros were unable to get that method to piece of work.

You may as well find updates to one-time version of macOS on Apple tree's website hither, nevertheless these are just point updates, rather than the full version, and then it won't be much help if you are trying to become the total download.

The i thing you really mustn't exercise is go to a torrent site and download a re-create of the OS X you want. Simply considering Apple gives abroad its software for costless, don't remember information technology's fine to just selection up a copy. Pirated copies of Apple software could accept been adjusted to allow hackers admission to the software and your Mac.

Download Mac OS X

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

It'southward worth noting that you'll simply see old versions of Mac Os X that yous've downloaded under Purchased - if you lot never downloaded it (or if it was never on the Mac App Store), that version volition non be in your Purchased section. Another reason why the version of Mac OS X might exist missing is if your automobile shipped with that version installed. We'll look at that scenario later on.

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

  1. Open the Mac App Shop (choose Store > Sign In if you demand to log in).
  2. Click Purchased.
  3. Whorl downward to find the copy of Os Ten or macOS you want.
  4. Click Install.

Clicking Install won't really 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 system directly onto a Mac running a newer version of OS X or macOS. We will explain how it can exist installed on a Mac - including one currently running an before operating system here: How to install old Mac Os Ten versions.

Can't discover Mac Bone X 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 department, there are a few things to try:

  1. Log out of the App Store and then log in once again.
  2. If information technology's a possibility that you downloaded it while logged in to a dissimilar Apple ID (peradventure a work-related one), log in using that ID.
  3. Alternatively, discover someone who has downloaded that version of the Mac operating system and ask them to download the installation file for you lot.

If you lot never downloaded the version of Mac OS 10 then jump to step iii and notice a friendly person who did. Ask them to download the Mac OS X installer for yous.

Luckily the copy of Os 10 isn't locked to their business relationship so it volition 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.seven Panthera leo or Mountain Panthera leo from Apple for £19.99 each - Apple would transport you a download code. Now Apple has stopped charging for the ageing operating system versions. Instead you can download the operating systems directly from the company's website.

The operating systems can exist downloaded from the following links:

If information technology'due south Mac Os X 10.7 Lion that you are later, information technology'south withal available for £nineteen.99 here U.s. or hither UK. Apple will send you a download code to use on the Mac App Store, so you will need to be running Snow Leopard to install it.

If it's OS X 10.8 Mount Lion that y'all can withal purchase it for £19.99 here Usa or here United kingdom.

We have more than information near getting the free installers for OS Ten Lion and Mount King of beasts from Apple in Apple offers free downloads of OS X King of beasts and Mountain Panthera leo.

Whether your Mac volition actually run these operating systems is another question we address here: Which versions of macOS tin my Mac run? Notation that only Macs that predate 2012 volition run Lion.

How to get Bone Ten Snow Leopard

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

Until 2021 Apple still sold a boxed version of Mac OS Ten 10.6 Snowfall Leopard hither for £19.99 (at its launch in 2009 it toll £25). If y'all purchased Snow Leopard this manner you lot were sent a concrete box containing an optical disc - so you will need a CD/DVD drive to install it (which you will probably have if the Mac is that sometime).

Apple has now removed the ability to buy Snow Leopard. However, 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 Mount Lion update, as explained higher up.

Get Snow Leopard

How to get OS Ten Leopard or earlier

If the erstwhile version of the OS y'all are after predates Snow Leopard and you have a developer account you might exist able to get it from developer.apple.com/downloads. If you search inside the Bone X category you should see downloads for all versions of OS X, at least from version x.3 to 10.6.

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

If you oasis't signed upward equally a Apple Developer, detect out what that entails here. It costs £79 ($99) a yr to bring together the Apple Developer Program and you accept to sign a not disclosure agreement.

You could also try looking on Amazon or eBay to see if anyone is selling erstwhile versions of the Mac operating arrangement. For case there's a Full Install of Os X Lion available for £8.fifty on Amazon hither.

If it's Tiger you are later, then it will toll a lilliputian 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