There are a few reasons why y'all might want to download and install erstwhile versions of macOS or Mac Bone X. Perchance you are relying on software you take discovered doesn't work properly in the latest version. Or mayhap you just don't like the new version of macOS that you lot have installed.

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

In this commodity we will cover how to become former versions of macOS including Large Sur, Catalina, Mojave, El Capitan, Sierra, Yosemite and even old versions of Mac OS X. We explain how to go hold of the relevant installer files and so that you lot tin can install the software on your Mac.

We take a split up article that explains how to install one-time versions of macOS for when yous get to that stage of the process.

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

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

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

Where can I download old macOS?

Earlier you lot can install an older version of macOS or Mac OS X you volition need to get hold of the installer for the version of macOS you want to install. Luckily it is possible to gets agree of these files - equally long as yous know where to proceed the Mac App Store.

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

  • macOS Large Sur
  • macOS Catalina
  • macOS Mojave
  • macOS High Sierra
  • macOS Sierra
  • Os X El Capitan
  • Os X Yosemite
  • OS 10 Mavericks
  • OS 10 Mountain King of beasts
  • OS X Lion

*Note that we take discovered that the links we requite below volition but piece of work if you are surfing in Safari, so nosotros suggest you lot switch to Apple tree'southward browser before moving on. You should also shut the Mac App Store app if you lot have that open or the link may not piece of work*

You won't be able to become the Mac OS X Snow Leopard download this manner, just we'll look at that after. In fact, nosotros tell you lot how to get copies of Leopard, Lion and Mountain Lion besides!

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

How to download macOS Big Sur

You lot can download the installer for Large Sur from the Mac App Shop - as long as you know where to detect it - searching the Mac App Store will not piece of work.

  • Click on this link which to open up the Mac App Store on the Big Sur page. (Utilise Safari and make sure the Mac App Store app is airtight starting time or it might not piece of work).

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

  1. Click this link to open up the Mac App Store on the Large Sur page.
  2. Click on Get.
  3. Software Update will open up with the words "Finding Update". Somewhen a bulletin "Are you sure you want to download macOS Big Sur" will appear. It might look like an update rather than the total version, only y'all'll come across from the size of the download (around 6GB) that this is the consummate installer for Big Sur.
  4. In one case the installer has downloaded exercise not click Install. If you lot install it the installer will automatically be deleted.
  5. You lot should exist able to discover the Install macOS Big Sur app in your Applications folder, you'll demand this for the next steps, which we outline hither: 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 as you lot know the magic link.

  • Click on this link which will open up the Mac App Store on the Catalina folio. (Use Safari and make sure the Mac App Store app is airtight start).

Catalina Mac App Store

Equally higher up, follow these steps to download Catalina (or whatever 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". Somewhen a bulletin "Are yous sure y'all want to download macOS Catalina" volition appear. It might look like an update rather than the full version, simply you'll encounter 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 do not click Install. If yous install it the installer will automatically be deleted.
  5. Y'all should be able to notice the Install macOS Catalina app in your Applications folder, you'll need this for the next steps, which we outline hither: 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. Annotation that as in a higher place, for this link to work you need to be running Safari and you demand to close the Mac App Store app get-go. If the Mac App Store app is open up this redirect will not work.

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

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

Download Mojave

How to download High Sierra

Information technology is besides possible to download Loftier Sierra via this link. (Employ Safari, close the Mac App Store app get-go).

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

How to download Sierra, El Capitan or Yosemite

Apple provides dmg files of these older macOS versions - you demand to download them in Safari. A disk paradigm named InstallOS.dmg will download and in one case it does y'all demand to locate the pkg installer within the disk image.

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

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

Some other issue is if the link takes you to the right page in the Mac App Store, simply you come across an Update not found error message when you try to download it. This is an outcome we are aware of that others have encountered, although nosotros haven't. In that case we suggest you endeavor to download the installer via that link using an older Mac.

You lot may also meet issues if you 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 non support certain components in that Mac, for example.

Notice out more than virtually what version of macOS your Mac supports here: What version of macOS can my Mac run?

Other ways 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 observe older versions of macOS and fifty-fifty Mac Os X in the Mac App Store. How like shooting fish in a barrel they are to detect will 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 exist searched for or plant via the Purchased tab (non that anyone has had to pay for a Mac Bone X update for years).

Notwithstanding, when Apple introduced Mojave the Mac App Store changed, and these installers tin can no longer be searched for or constitute in the purchased department of the store. (Although nosotros practise have redirect links in the section above to each of the relevant pages on the Mac App Shop.)

If yous happen to have access 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 lot. We run through this method in the department beneath.

As above, once the installer has downloaded don't install it! If you lot do then the installer volition be deleted. You'll detect the installer in your Applications folder from which you lot tin copy on to your Mac - or create a bootable installer.

We've heard that it may be possible to download the installer via Terminal, however we were unable to get that method to piece of work.

You may too detect updates to old version of macOS on Apple'south website here, even so these are but bespeak updates, rather than the full version, and then it won't be much help if yous are trying to get the full download.

The one thing you really mustn't do is go to a torrent site and download a copy of the Os X you lot desire. Just because Apple gives away its software for free, don't call up it's fine to but 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 see onetime versions of Mac Bone X in the Mac App Store. Yosemite, Mavericks and Mount Lion can all be seen here.

It'south worth noting that you'll just see old versions of Mac Os X that yous've downloaded nether Purchased - if you never downloaded information technology (or if it was never on the Mac App Store), that version will non be in your Purchased section. Another reason why the version of Mac OS 10 might be missing is if your auto shipped with that version installed. Nosotros'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 information technology in the past and it won't work if you have already installed Mojave or later):

  1. Open up the Mac App Store (cull Store > Sign In if you lot demand to log in).
  2. Click Purchased.
  3. Ringlet downward to find the re-create of Bone X or macOS yous want.
  4. Click Install.

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

You lot won't exist able to but install this older version of the operating organisation directly onto a Mac running a newer version of OS X or macOS. We will explain how it can be installed on a Mac - including one currently running an earlier operating system here: How to install sometime Mac Os X versions.

Can't find Mac OS X in Purchased?

If you lot know you have previously downloaded the version of macOS you are after, but you aren't seeing information technology in the Purchased section, there are a few things to try:

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

If you never downloaded the version of Mac OS X then jump to step 3 and find a friendly person who did. Ask them to download the Mac OS X installer for you.

Luckily the re-create of Os X isn't locked to their account and so information technology will install on any Mac.

How to get Bone Ten King of beasts, Mountain King of beasts

Prior to June 2021 yous could purchase OS X 10.7 Lion or Mountain Lion from Apple for £19.99 each - Apple would transport you lot a download code. Now Apple has stopped charging for the ageing operating organization versions. Instead you can download the operating systems direct from the company's website.

The operating systems can be downloaded from the following links:

If it's Mac Os X 10.seven King of beasts that you are subsequently, it'southward notwithstanding available for £xix.99 here Usa or here United kingdom. Apple will send you a download code to utilise on the Mac App Shop, and so you volition need to exist running Snowfall Leopard to install information technology.

If it's Bone 10 10.8 Mount Panthera leo that you can still buy it for £19.99 here Usa or here UK.

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

Whether your Mac volition actually run these operating systems is some other question nosotros address here: Which versions of macOS can my Mac run? Notation that merely Macs that predate 2012 will run Lion.

How to go Os X Snow 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 Store. Since for a number of years after Snow Leopard arrived all versions of Mac OS X arrived via the Mac App Store, those who never installed Snow Leopard had a problem: without Snow Leopard they couldn't update.

Until 2021 Apple however sold a boxed version of Mac Os Ten 10.half-dozen Snow Leopard here for £19.99 (at its launch in 2009 it toll £25). If you purchased Snow Leopard this fashion you lot were sent a physical box containing an optical disc - so you will need a CD/DVD drive to install it (which you lot will probably have if the Mac is that former).

Apple has now removed the ability to buy Snowfall Leopard. Withal, this isn't a big problem because those people who were previously locked out of updates can now download the Lion or Mountain Lion update, as explained above.

Get Snow Leopard

How to get OS X Leopard or earlier

If the old version of the OS you are subsequently predates Snowfall Leopard and you have a developer account y'all might be able to get it from developer.apple tree.com/downloads. If y'all search inside the OS X category you should see downloads for all versions of Os X, at least from version ten.3 to x.half dozen.

You may be able to access the Developer section of the website, just y'all volition merely exist able to admission certain software downloads if your Apple tree ID is associated with a paid Apple Developer Program.

If you oasis't signed up as a Apple tree Programmer, observe out what that entails here. Information technology costs £79 ($99) a yr to join the Apple Developer Program and you have to sign a not disclosure agreement.

Y'all could also endeavor looking on Amazon or eBay to encounter if anyone is selling onetime versions of the Mac operating system. For example there'southward a Full Install of OS 10 Lion available for £8.50 on Amazon here.

If information technology's Tiger you lot are after, then information technology volition toll a petty more. There was a copy of Tiger on Amazon for £89.99 simply information technology's currently unavailable.

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