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

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

In this article we volition cover how to get quondam versions of macOS including Big Sur, Catalina, Mojave, El Capitan, Sierra, Yosemite and even former versions of Mac OS X. We explain how to get hold of the relevant installer files so that you can install the software on your Mac.

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

If you are looking for a way to revert to the previous version of macOS, we have a more specific article almost downgrading from Monterey to Big Sur and other versions, although we do cover the method here likewise. We as well take a guide to downgrading from the macOS beta.

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

You also might want to become the installer for a version of macOS in guild to make a bootable installer for installing macOS on multiple Macs (we too look at that scenario separately).

Where tin can I download old macOS?

Before you tin can install an older version of macOS or Mac Os X 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 - as long as you know where to go on the Mac App Store.

We have the necessary links to the Mac App Store below. We will show you a mode to get the following macOS installers:

  • macOS Big Sur
  • macOS Catalina
  • macOS Mojave
  • macOS Loftier Sierra
  • macOS Sierra
  • Bone X El Capitan
  • Os X Yosemite
  • OS X Mavericks
  • OS X Mountain Panthera leo
  • OS X Panthera leo

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

Y'all won't be able to become the Mac Bone X Snow Leopard download this mode, just we'll wait at that later on. In fact, we tell you lot how to get copies of Leopard, Lion and Mountain Lion too!

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 equally yous know where to notice it - searching the Mac App Store volition not piece of 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 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 Big Sur folio.
  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 Large Sur" 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 complete installer for Big Sur.
  4. One time the installer has downloaded do not click Install. If you install it the installer will automatically be deleted.
  5. You should exist able to find the Install macOS Big Sur app in your Applications folder, you'll need this for the next steps, which nosotros 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 equally you know the magic link.

  • Click on this link which will open the Mac App Store on the Catalina page. (Apply Safari and brand sure the Mac App Store app is closed first).

Catalina Mac App Store

As above, 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 folio.
  2. Click on Go.
  3. Software Update volition open with the words "Finding Update". Eventually a message "Are you lot sure you lot desire to download macOS Catalina" will appear. Information technology might expect like an update rather than the full 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 practise not click Install. If you install it the installer volition automatically exist deleted.
  5. You should be able to detect the Install macOS Catalina 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 Mojave

Information technology is also possible to admission the Mojave installer via this link to the Mac App Store. Note that as above, for this link to work you need to be running Safari and you 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 up 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 too possible to download High Sierra via this link. (Employ Safari, close the Mac App Store app first).

Follow the steps in the section to a higher place to download High Sierra.

How to download Sierra, El Capitan or Yosemite

Apple tree provides dmg files of these older macOS versions - yous need to download them in Safari. A disk image named InstallOS.dmg volition download and once information technology does you lot need to locate the pkg installer inside the disk epitome.

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 work is if you lot are browsing in something other than Safari, or if you have already got the Mac App Shop open. However, if you lot are nonetheless finding that the link isn't working you could endeavor the alternative methods below.

Another effect is if the link takes yous to the correct page in the Mac App Store, merely y'all see an Update non found mistake message when you effort to download it. This is an event we are aware of that others have encountered, although nosotros haven't. In that case we propose you endeavour to download the installer via that link using an older Mac.

You lot may also run into 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 back up sure components in that Mac, for example.

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

Other ways to get one-time macOS versions

If you are running an older version of macOS - or someone you lot know is - you should be able to easily detect older versions of macOS and even Mac OS 10 in the Mac App Store. How easy they are to find will be determined 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 found via the Purchased tab (non that anyone has had to pay for a Mac Bone X update for years).

However, when Apple introduced Mojave the Mac App Store changed, and these installers can no longer be searched for or constitute in the purchased department of the shop. (Although we do have redirect links in the section to a higher place to each of the relevant pages on the Mac App Shop.)

If y'all happen to take admission to a Mac that'southward 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. We run through this method in the section below.

Every bit to a higher place, once the installer has downloaded don't install it! If you exercise then the installer will be deleted. You lot'll observe the installer in your Applications folder from which you tin 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.

Yous may too find updates to onetime version of macOS on Apple's website here, however these are merely point updates, rather than the total version, so information technology won't exist much help if you are trying to get the full download.

The ane thing y'all really mustn't do is go to a torrent site and download a copy of the Bone 10 you want. Simply because Apple tree gives abroad its software for gratuitous, don't retrieve information technology'south fine to simply choice up a copy. Pirated copies of Apple tree software could accept been adjusted to allow hackers access to the software and your Mac.

Download Mac Os X

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

It's worth noting that you'll only see old versions of Mac OS 10 that yous've downloaded under Purchased - if yous never downloaded it (or if it was never on the Mac App Store), that version will not exist in your Purchased department. Another reason why the version of Mac Bone 10 might be missing is if your machine shipped with that version installed. We'll look at that scenario later.

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

  1. Open the Mac App Shop (cull Store > Sign In if you need to log in).
  2. Click Purchased.
  3. Ringlet down to observe the copy of Os X or macOS you want.
  4. Click Install.

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

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

Can't detect Mac Os Ten in Purchased?

If you know y'all take previously downloaded the version of macOS you are subsequently, but you lot aren't seeing it in the Purchased section, at that place are a few things to try:

  1. Log out of the App Store and then log in again.
  2. If information technology'south a possibility that yous 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 system and inquire them to download the installation file for y'all.

If you never downloaded the version of Mac OS X and so jump to step iii and detect a friendly person who did. Ask them to download the Mac OS X installer for y'all.

Luckily the copy of OS X isn't locked to their account so it will install on whatsoever Mac.

How to get OS X Panthera leo, Mountain Lion

Prior to June 2021 y'all could purchase Os Ten 10.7 Lion or Mountain Lion from Apple for £nineteen.99 each - Apple would send you a download code. Now Apple has stopped charging for the ageing operating system versions. Instead you tin download the operating systems directly from the company's website.

The operating systems can exist downloaded from the following links:

If it's Mac Os 10 x.7 Lion that you are after, it's still bachelor for £19.99 here U.s. or here U.k.. Apple will send you a download lawmaking to use on the Mac App Store, and so you will need to be running Snow Leopard to install information technology.

If it's OS X 10.8 Mountain Panthera leo that you can still buy it for £19.99 hither United states of america or here Uk.

We accept more information about getting the free installers for Bone X Lion and Mountain Lion from Apple in Apple tree offers free downloads of Bone 10 Lion and Mountain Lion.

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

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 have access to the Mac App Store. Since for a number of years afterwards Snow Leopard arrived all versions of Mac Bone X arrived via the Mac App Store, those who never installed Snowfall Leopard had a trouble: without Snowfall Leopard they couldn't update.

Until 2021 Apple still sold a boxed version of Mac OS X x.6 Snowfall Leopard here for £19.99 (at its launch in 2009 it cost £25). If you purchased Snow Leopard this fashion you were sent a physical box containing an optical disc - so you will need a CD/DVD drive to install it (which you will probably accept if the Mac is that old).

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

Get Snow Leopard

How to go OS 10 Leopard or earlier

If the former version of the OS you are after predates Snowfall Leopard and you lot have a programmer account y'all might be able to get it from programmer.apple tree.com/downloads. If you lot search within the OS Ten category you should see downloads for all versions of OS Ten, at to the lowest degree from version x.3 to 10.6.

You may be able to access the Programmer department of the website, just you lot will only be able to access sure software downloads if your Apple ID is associated with a paid Apple Developer Program.

If you haven't signed up as a Apple tree Programmer, find out what that entails hither. It costs £79 ($99) a year to bring together the Apple Programmer Program and y'all accept to sign a non disclosure agreement.

Y'all could as well try looking on Amazon or eBay to see if anyone is selling old versions of the Mac operating system. For instance there's a Full Install of Os X Lion available for £8.fifty on Amazon here.

If it's Tiger y'all are after, then information technology volition cost a little more. There was a copy of Tiger on Amazon for £89.99 merely information technology'southward currently unavailable.

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