There are a few reasons why you might want 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 perchance yous only don't like the new version of macOS that yous have installed.

Another scenario is that you lot are a developer and you need to be running multiple versions of macOS and Mac Os X then that you can exist sure that your software runs correctly on them. Either fashion, you have questions and we take answers.

In this article we will cover how to get sometime versions of macOS including Big Sur, Catalina, Mojave, El Capitan, Sierra, Yosemite and even one-time versions of Mac Os X. We explain how to get agree of the relevant installer files and then that yous can install the software on your Mac.

We have a divide commodity that explains how to install old versions of macOS for when y'all get to that stage of the process.

If you are looking for a way to revert to the previous version of macOS, we accept a more specific article about downgrading from Monterey to Big Sur and other versions, although we practice cover the method here too. We also take a guide to downgrading from the macOS beta.

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

Yous too might want to get the installer for a version of macOS in social club to make a bootable installer for installing macOS on multiple Macs (we as well look at that scenario separately).

Where tin can I download old macOS?

Before yous can install an older version of macOS or Mac OS 10 y'all will need to become concur of the installer for the version of macOS you want to install. Luckily it is possible to gets hold of these files - as long as yous know where to become on the Mac App Store.

We have the necessary links to the Mac App Store below. Nosotros volition bear witness you lot a fashion to get the post-obit macOS installers:

  • macOS Big Sur
  • macOS Catalina
  • macOS Mojave
  • macOS High Sierra
  • macOS Sierra
  • OS X El Capitan
  • Bone X Yosemite
  • OS X Mavericks
  • Os X Mount King of beasts
  • Os X Lion

*Note that we accept discovered that the links nosotros give below will only work if you are surfing in Safari, so we suggest y'all switch to Apple's browser before moving on. Y'all should also close the Mac App Shop app if you take that open up or the link may non work*

You won't be able to go the Mac Os Ten Snow Leopard download this way, but we'll look at that later. In fact, we tell you how to get copies of Leopard, Panthera leo and Mountain Lion too!

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

How to download macOS Large Sur

You can download the installer for Large Sur from the Mac App Store - as long equally you know where to observe information technology - searching the Mac App Store will non work.

  • Click on this link which to open the Mac App Store on the Big Sur folio. (Use Safari and make sure the Mac App Store app is closed first or it might not work).

Follow these steps to download Big 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 page.
  2. Click on Get.
  3. Software Update will open up with the words "Finding Update". Eventually a message "Are you certain yous want to download macOS Big Sur" will announced. It might look like an update rather than the total version, just y'all'll run into from the size of the download (around 6GB) that this is the complete installer for Large Sur.
  4. In one case the installer has downloaded practice non click Install. If yous 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 folder, yous'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 Catalina

You can also download the installer for Catalina from the Mac App Shop - as long every bit you know the magic link.

  • Click on this link which will open the Mac App Store on the Catalina folio. (Employ Safari and brand sure the Mac App Store app is closed get-go).

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 the Mac App Shop on the Catalina page.
  2. Click on Go.
  3. Software Update volition open with the words "Finding Update". Eventually a message "Are you sure you lot want to download macOS Catalina" will appear. It might look like an update rather than the full version, but you'll meet from the size of the download (effectually 6GB) that this is the complete installer for Catalina. Download Catalina
  4. Once the installer has downloaded do non click Install. If you install information technology the installer will automatically be deleted.
  5. You lot should be able to observe 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

It is also possible to access the Mojave installer via this link to the Mac App Store. Note that as in a higher place, for this link to work you need to exist running Safari and yous need to close the Mac App Store app commencement. If the Mac App Shop app is open this redirect will non piece of work.

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

Follow the steps in the section higher up to download it.

Download Mojave

How to download High Sierra

It is besides possible to download High Sierra via this link. (Use Safari, close 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 image named InstallOS.dmg will download and once it does you demand to locate the pkg installer inside the disk image.

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

Nosotros've said higher up 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 yous have already got the Mac App Store open up. Withal, if you are still finding that the link isn't working yous could endeavor the alternative methods below.

Some other consequence is if the link takes you to the correct page in the Mac App Store, merely you meet an Update non constitute error message when you attempt to download information technology. This is an issue we are aware of that others have encountered, although we haven't. In that case we suggest yous try to download the installer via that link using an older Mac.

You may likewise encounter issues if you lot are trying to download an older version of macOS that your Mac cannot support. Usually when Apple tree 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 not support certain components in that Mac, for example.

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

Other ways to get quondam macOS versions

If you are running an older version of macOS - or someone y'all know is - you should be able to easily find older versions of macOS and fifty-fifty Mac OS X in the Mac App Store. How easy they are to discover will be determined by the version of macOS running on that Mac.

Prior to macOS Mojave'southward inflow in 2018 the installers for the older macOS versions could be searched for or constitute via the Purchased tab (not that anyone has had to pay for a Mac OS 10 update for years).

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

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 enquire a friend to download a re-create of the installer from the Mac App Shop for y'all. We run through this method in the section below.

As above, in one case the installer has downloaded don't install it! If you lot do and so the installer volition be deleted. Yous'll find the installer in your Applications binder from which you can re-create on to your Mac - or create a bootable installer.

Nosotros've heard that it may be possible to download the installer via Terminal, nevertheless we were unable to get that method to work.

You may also find updates to old version of macOS on Apple'southward website hither, notwithstanding these are merely signal updates, rather than the full version, so it won't be much aid if y'all are trying to get the total download.

The one matter you really mustn't exercise is get to a torrent site and download a copy of the Os Ten you desire. But considering Apple gives away its software for free, don't think information technology'due south fine to just pick 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 10

If y'all have access to a Mac running Bone X Yosemite or older it is possible to run into old versions of Mac Bone X in the Mac App Store. Yosemite, Mavericks and Mountain Lion can all be seen here.

It's worth noting that you'll only see old versions of Mac Bone Ten that you've downloaded nether Purchased - if you never downloaded it (or if it was never on the Mac App Shop), that version will not 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 wait at that scenario later.

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

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

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

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

Tin can't observe Mac Os X in Purchased?

If you know y'all have previously downloaded the version of macOS you are afterwards, but you aren't seeing it in the Purchased department, there are a few things to try:

  1. Log out of the App Store then log in again.
  2. If it'southward a possibility that y'all downloaded it while logged in to a dissimilar Apple ID (possibly a work-related 1), log in using that ID.
  3. Alternatively, observe someone who has downloaded that version of the Mac operating organization and ask them to download the installation file for you.

If y'all never downloaded the version of Mac Bone 10 then jump to step 3 and detect a friendly person who did. Ask them to download the Mac Bone X installer for y'all.

Luckily the copy of OS Ten isn't locked to their business relationship so it volition install on any Mac.

How to get Os X Panthera leo, Mount Panthera leo

Prior to June 2021 you could buy OS 10 10.seven Panthera leo or Mount Lion from Apple for £19.99 each - Apple would ship you a download lawmaking. At present Apple has stopped charging for the ageing operating arrangement versions. Instead you tin can download the operating systems straight from the company'southward website.

The operating systems tin can be downloaded from the following links:

If information technology'south Mac OS X x.7 Lion that you are after, it's all the same available for £xix.99 here US or here UK. Apple will send you a download code to employ on the Mac App Shop, so you will demand to be running Snowfall Leopard to install information technology.

If it's OS Ten 10.8 Mountain Lion that yous can even so purchase it for £19.99 here US or here Britain.

We have more than information almost getting the complimentary installers for Bone X Lion and Mountain King of beasts from Apple in Apple offers costless downloads of OS X Lion and Mount Lion.

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

How to get OS Ten Snowfall Leopard

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

Until 2021 Apple tree still sold a boxed version of Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard here for £19.99 (at its launch in 2009 it price £25). If you lot purchased Snowfall Leopard this manner yous were sent a physical box containing an optical disc - and then yous 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 Snowfall Leopard. Notwithstanding, this isn't a big problem because those people who were previously locked out of updates tin at present download the Lion or Mountain King of beasts update, as explained above.

Get Snow Leopard

How to become Os Ten Leopard or earlier

If the old version of the Os you are after predates Snowfall Leopard and you have a developer business relationship y'all might exist able to get it from developer.apple.com/downloads. If y'all search within the Bone Ten category you should run across downloads for all versions of OS Ten, at to the lowest degree from version 10.3 to 10.half-dozen.

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

If you lot oasis't signed up as a Apple Developer, find out what that entails here. It costs £79 ($99) a yr to bring together the Apple tree Developer Program and you have to sign a non disclosure understanding.

You could as well try looking on Amazon or eBay to see if anyone is selling sometime versions of the Mac operating organization. For example at that place's a Full Install of Os 10 Panthera leo available for £viii.50 on Amazon here.

If it'southward Tiger y'all are afterwards, then it will cost a piddling more. At that place 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