At that place are a few reasons why you might want to download and install old versions of macOS or Mac OS 10. Perhaps you are relying on software you take discovered doesn't work properly in the latest version. Or maybe you just don't similar the new version of macOS that you have installed.

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

In this commodity we will cover how to go old versions of macOS including Large Sur, Catalina, Mojave, El Capitan, Sierra, Yosemite and fifty-fifty old versions of Mac Bone X. We explain how to get concord of the relevant installer files so that you lot can install the software on your Mac.

Nosotros have a separate article that explains how to install old versions of macOS for when you go to that phase of the procedure.

If you are looking for a way to revert to the previous version of macOS, nosotros have a more than specific article almost downgrading from Monterey to Big Sur and other versions, although we practice cover the method here likewise. Nosotros also have a guide to downgrading from the macOS beta.

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

You lot also might want to go the installer for a version of macOS in social club to make a bootable installer for installing macOS on multiple Macs (nosotros besides wait at that scenario separately).

Where tin I download old macOS?

Before you lot can install an older version of macOS or Mac OS X you lot volition need to get agree of the installer for the version of macOS you want to install. Luckily it is possible to gets concur of these files - as long as y'all know where to go on the Mac App Store.

Nosotros have the necessary links to the Mac App Shop below. Nosotros will evidence yous a way to get the following macOS installers:

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

*Notation that we have discovered that the links nosotros requite beneath volition only work if you lot are surfing in Safari, then nosotros suggest you lot switch to Apple's browser before moving on. You should as well close 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 Ten Snowfall Leopard download this way, simply we'll await at that later. In fact, we tell yous how to get copies of Leopard, Panthera leo and Mountain Lion too!

We have a listing of which Macs run which versions of macOS & Mac OS Ten.

How to download macOS Big Sur

Y'all tin can download the installer for Big Sur from the Mac App Store - as long equally you know where to find it - searching the Mac App Shop volition not piece of work.

  • Click on this link which to open the Mac App Shop on the Large Sur page. (Utilise Safari and make sure the Mac App Store app is airtight showtime or it might non 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 up the Mac App Store on the Big Sur page.
  2. Click on Get.
  3. Software Update will open with the words "Finding Update". Eventually a bulletin "Are yous sure you want to download macOS Big Sur" will announced. It might look like an update rather than the total version, but you'll see from the size of the download (effectually 6GB) that this is the consummate 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 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 hither: How to downgrade macOS, install an older version on your Mac.

How to download macOS Catalina

You can likewise download the installer for Catalina from the Mac App Store - every bit long every bit you know the magic link.

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

Catalina Mac App Store

As above, 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 Go.
  3. Software Update will open with the words "Finding Update". Eventually a bulletin "Are you sure you want to download macOS Catalina" volition announced. Information technology might look like an update rather than the full version, but yous'll run into from the size of the download (around 6GB) that this is the complete installer for Catalina. Download Catalina
  4. One time the installer has downloaded exercise not click Install. If you install it the installer volition automatically exist deleted.
  5. You should be able to find the Install macOS Catalina app in your Applications folder, you lot'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 too possible to access the Mojave installer via this link to the Mac App Shop. Note that as above, for this link to work you need to be running Safari and you need to shut the Mac App Shop app outset. If the Mac App Shop app is open this redirect will non 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

Information technology is also possible to download Loftier Sierra via this link. (Utilize Safari, shut the Mac App Shop 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 prototype named InstallOS.dmg will download and once it does you demand to locate the pkg installer inside the deejay image.

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

We've said above that in our experience usually the reason the to a higher place links don't work is if you are browsing in something other than Safari, or if you have already got the Mac App Store open. However, if you are however finding that the link isn't working you could try the alternative methods below.

Another issue is if the link takes you to the correct page in the Mac App Store, simply you meet an Update not establish error message when y'all endeavor to download it. This is an outcome we are enlightened of that others have encountered, although we oasis't. In that instance we suggest you effort to download the installer via that link using an older Mac.

You lot may also encounter problems if you lot are trying to download an older version of macOS that your Mac cannot support. Unremarkably when Apple tree introduces a new Mac it volition not be able to run the version of macOS that shipped earlier the 1 installed on that Mac. The older macOS might not back up sure components in that Mac, for example.

Find out more almost what version of macOS your Mac supports hither: What version of macOS tin can my Mac run?

Other ways to go old macOS versions

If you are running an older version of macOS - or someone you lot know is - you should be able to easily discover older versions of macOS and fifty-fifty Mac Bone Ten in the Mac App Store. How easy they are to find volition 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 establish via the Purchased tab (not that anyone has had to pay for a Mac Bone Ten update for years).

Notwithstanding, when Apple tree introduced Mojave the Mac App Store inverse, and these installers tin no longer be searched for or plant in the purchased section of the shop. (Although we do have redirect links in the section above to each of the relevant pages on the Mac App Store.)

If you happen to have access to a Mac that's running an older version of macOS, log into the Mac App Store 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 Shop for you. We run through this method in the department beneath.

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

Nosotros've heard that information technology may exist possible to download the installer via Terminal, however we were unable to go that method to work.

Y'all may also find updates to old version of macOS on Apple tree's website hither, nonetheless these are just betoken updates, rather than the full version, so it won't exist much help if you lot are trying to go the full download.

The one thing you really mustn't practice is become to a torrent site and download a re-create of the Bone 10 you want. Just because Apple gives away its software for gratuitous, don't think it'southward fine to just pick up a copy. Pirated copies of Apple software could have been adjusted to permit hackers access to the software and your Mac.

Download Mac Os X

If you have access to a Mac running Os X Yosemite or older information technology is possible to run across old versions of Mac OS Ten in the Mac App Shop. Yosemite, Mavericks and Mountain Panthera leo can all be seen here.

Information technology's worth noting that yous'll only see onetime versions of Mac Bone X that you lot've downloaded nether Purchased - if you never downloaded it (or if information technology was never on the Mac App Store), that version will non be in your Purchased section. Another reason why the version of Mac Os X might be missing is if your machine shipped with that version installed. We'll look at that scenario later.

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

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

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

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

Tin can't observe Mac Bone X in Purchased?

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

  1. Log out of the App Shop then log in once more.
  2. If it's a possibility that you downloaded it while logged in to a dissimilar Apple tree ID (mayhap a piece of work-related one), log in using that ID.
  3. Alternatively, find someone who has downloaded that version of the Mac operating system and inquire them to download the installation file for y'all.

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

Luckily the copy of OS 10 isn't locked to their account so information technology will install on any Mac.

How to get Os X Lion, Mountain Lion

Prior to June 2021 yous could purchase Os X 10.seven Lion or Mountain King of beasts from Apple for £xix.99 each - Apple would send y'all a download code. Now Apple tree has stopped charging for the ageing operating system versions. Instead you can download the operating systems directly from the company'southward website.

The operating systems can be downloaded from the following links:

If it'due south Mac OS X 10.7 Panthera leo that you are later on, it's still available for £19.99 hither US or here Britain. Apple volition 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 information technology's OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion that you tin can withal purchase it for £xix.99 hither US or here UK.

We accept more information about getting the free installers for OS X Lion and Mountain Lion from Apple tree in Apple offers gratuitous downloads of Os 10 Lion and Mount King of beasts.

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

How to get Bone X Snow Leopard

If your Mac has a version of macOS installed that is older than Snow Leopard you won't accept access to the Mac App Store. Since for a number of years after Snow Leopard arrived all versions of Mac Os X 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 X 10.6 Snowfall Leopard here for £19.99 (at its launch in 2009 information technology price £25). If you purchased Snow Leopard this mode you were sent a physical box containing an optical disc - and so you will demand a CD/DVD bulldoze to install information technology (which you will probably have if the Mac is that quondam).

Apple has now removed the ability to buy Snowfall Leopard. All the same, this isn't a large problem because those people who were previously locked out of updates can now download the Lion or Mount Panthera leo update, as explained higher up.

Get Snow Leopard

How to get OS X Leopard or earlier

If the former version of the Bone you lot are after predates Snowfall Leopard and yous take a developer account you might be able to get it from programmer.apple.com/downloads. If you lot search inside the Bone X category you lot should see downloads for all versions of Bone Ten, at least from version 10.3 to 10.6.

You may exist able to access the Programmer section of the website, but you lot will only exist 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 Programmer, notice out what that entails here. It costs £79 ($99) a year to join the Apple tree Developer Program and y'all have to sign a not disclosure agreement.

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

If it's Tiger you are after, then it will toll a little more. There was a copy of Tiger on Amazon for £89.99 merely information technology's currently unavailable.

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