There are a few reasons why you might want to download and install former versions of macOS or Mac Os X. Peradventure you are relying on software y'all have discovered doesn't work properly in the latest version. Or maybe you merely don't similar the new version of macOS that y'all have installed.

Some other scenario is that you are a developer and you demand to be running multiple versions of macOS and Mac OS 10 so that you can be certain that your software runs correctly on them. Either way, you have questions and we have answers.

In this article we will cover how to get old versions of macOS including Big Sur, Catalina, Mojave, El Capitan, Sierra, Yosemite and even old versions of Mac Os Ten. We explain how to get hold of the relevant installer files and then that y'all can install the software on your Mac.

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

If you are looking for a manner to revert to the previous version of macOS, nosotros accept a more specific commodity virtually downgrading from Monterey to Big Sur and other versions, although nosotros do comprehend the method hither as well. We likewise have a guide to downgrading from the macOS beta.

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

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

Where can I download old macOS?

Before you can install an older version of macOS or Mac Bone 10 you will need to become concur of the installer for the version of macOS y'all want to install. Luckily information technology is possible to gets concur of these files - as long as you know where to go on the Mac App Shop.

We have the necessary links to the Mac App Store beneath. We will evidence you a fashion to get the following macOS installers:

  • macOS Big Sur
  • macOS Catalina
  • macOS Mojave
  • macOS Loftier Sierra
  • macOS Sierra
  • Bone X El Capitan
  • Bone X Yosemite
  • OS X Mavericks
  • OS X Mountain King of beasts
  • Os X King of beasts

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

You won't exist able to get the Mac OS 10 Snow Leopard download this style, but we'll look at that later. In fact, nosotros tell you how to get copies of Leopard, Lion and Mount Lion too!

Nosotros accept a listing of which Macs run which versions of macOS & Mac Bone X.

How to download macOS Big Sur

Yous tin can download the installer for Big Sur from the Mac App Store - equally long as you know where to find information technology - searching the Mac App Store will not work.

  • Click on this link which to open the Mac App Store on the Large Sur page. (Utilize Safari and brand sure the Mac App Store app is closed first or it might not 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 the Mac App Store on the Big Sur page.
  2. Click on Become.
  3. Software Update will open up with the words "Finding Update". Somewhen a message "Are you sure you want to download macOS Big Sur" will appear. It might look like 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. In one case the installer has downloaded practice not click Install. If yous install it the installer volition automatically be deleted.
  5. You lot should be able to find the Install macOS Large Sur app in your Applications folder, you'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

Yous can too download the installer for Catalina from the Mac App Store - every bit long as yous know the magic link.

  • Click on this link which volition open the Mac App Shop on the Catalina page. (Use Safari and brand certain the Mac App Shop app is closed start).

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 Store on the Catalina page.
  2. Click on Get.
  3. Software Update will open with the words "Finding Update". Eventually a message "Are you sure you want to download macOS Catalina" will announced. Information technology might look like an update rather than the full version, but you'll come across 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 non click Install. If you install it the installer will automatically be deleted.
  5. You should exist able to observe the Install macOS Catalina app in your Applications folder, yous'll demand this for the next steps, which nosotros 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 every bit above, for this link to work y'all need to be running Safari and yous need to close the Mac App Store app beginning. If the Mac App Store app is open up 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 High Sierra

Information technology is too possible to download Loftier Sierra via this link. (Employ Safari, close the Mac App Store app first).

Follow the steps in the section higher up to download High Sierra.

How to download Sierra, El Capitan or Yosemite

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

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

Nosotros've said higher up that in our experience normally the reason the in a higher place links don't work is if yous are browsing in something other than Safari, or if you have already got the Mac App Store open. Nonetheless, if you are still finding that the link isn't working you lot could try the culling methods below.

Another issue is if the link takes y'all to the correct folio in the Mac App Store, only you see an Update not found error bulletin when yous try to download it. This is an event we are aware of that others have encountered, although we haven't. In that instance nosotros suggest y'all try to download the installer via that link using an older Mac.

You may also come across issues if y'all are trying to download an older version of macOS that your Mac cannot back up. Commonly when Apple introduces a new Mac it will non be able to run the version of macOS that shipped before the 1 installed on that Mac. The older macOS might not back up certain components in that Mac, for example.

Find out more about 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 yous are running an older version of macOS - or someone yous know is - you should be able to hands find older versions of macOS and even Mac Bone X in the Mac App Store. How easy they are to find will exist 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 (not that anyone has had to pay for a Mac OS X update for years).

Withal, when Apple tree introduced Mojave the Mac App Shop changed, and these installers tin can no longer be searched for or found in the purchased section of the store. (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'southward running an older version of macOS, log into the Mac App Shop 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 Store for you. We run through this method in the section below.

As above, once the installer has downloaded don't install it! If you practice then the installer will be deleted. You'll detect the installer in your Applications binder from which y'all can re-create on to your Mac - or create a bootable installer.

We've heard that it may exist possible to download the installer via Terminal, yet we were unable to get that method to work.

You lot may also find updates to old version of macOS on Apple's website hither, however these are just signal updates, rather than the full version, so information technology won't be much help if you are trying to go the total download.

The ane affair you really mustn't practise is become to a torrent site and download a re-create of the OS X you want. Merely because Apple gives away its software for free, don't think it's 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 Bone 10

If you take access to a Mac running Os X Yosemite or older it is possible to see former versions of Mac Os 10 in the Mac App Store. Yosemite, Mavericks and Mountain Lion tin can all be seen here.

It'south worth noting that you'll only see old versions of Mac Bone X that you've downloaded under Purchased - if you never downloaded it (or if it was never on the Mac App Shop), that version volition not be in your Purchased section. Another reason why the version of Mac Os Ten 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 X from the Mac App Store (this only works if you lot've downloaded it in the past and it won't work if you take already installed Mojave or later):

  1. Open the Mac App Shop (choose Store > Sign In if yous need to log in).
  2. Click Purchased.
  3. Roll downwards to observe the copy of Bone X or macOS you want.
  4. Click Install.

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

Yous 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 information technology tin can be installed on a Mac - including one currently running an earlier operating system here: How to install old Mac OS X versions.

Can't observe Mac OS X in Purchased?

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

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

If you never downloaded the version of Mac Bone Ten so jump to pace three and discover a friendly person who did. Ask them to download the Mac Bone X installer for you.

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

How to get OS Ten Lion, Mount Lion

Prior to June 2021 you lot could purchase OS X 10.7 Panthera leo or Mountain Lion from Apple for £19.99 each - Apple would send you lot a download code. Now Apple has stopped charging for the ageing operating system versions. Instead you lot tin download the operating systems straight from the company's website.

The operating systems can be downloaded from the following links:

If it'due south Mac OS X 10.7 Lion that you are after, it'south still available for £19.99 hither U.s.a. or here United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland. Apple will ship yous a download lawmaking to utilize on the Mac App Store, so y'all will need to be running Snow Leopard to install it.

If it'due south Bone Ten ten.viii Mountain Lion that y'all tin can still purchase it for £19.99 hither US or hither UK.

Nosotros have more data about getting the free installers for OS X Lion and Mountain Lion from Apple in Apple tree offers free downloads of OS X Lion and Mountain Lion.

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

How to get Os X 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 Store. 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 Snowfall Leopard had a problem: without Snow Leopard they couldn't update.

Until 2021 Apple tree notwithstanding sold a boxed version of Mac OS X 10.vi Snow Leopard here for £19.99 (at its launch in 2009 it price £25). If you purchased Snow Leopard this fashion you lot were sent a concrete box containing an optical disc - and so you will need a CD/DVD bulldoze to install it (which you will probably have if the Mac is that onetime).

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

Get Snow Leopard

How to get Bone 10 Leopard or earlier

If the old version of the OS y'all are subsequently predates Snow Leopard and you have a developer account you might exist able to go it from developer.apple.com/downloads. If you lot search within the OS X category you should see downloads for all versions of OS X, at least from version 10.3 to 10.6.

You may be able to admission the Programmer section of the website, just yous volition only be able to admission sure software downloads if your Apple tree ID is associated with a paid Apple Developer Plan.

If you haven't signed up as a Apple Developer, find out what that entails here. It costs £79 ($99) a twelvemonth to join the Apple tree Developer Programme and you take to sign a non disclosure agreement.

You lot could also endeavor looking on Amazon or eBay to see if anyone is selling erstwhile versions of the Mac operating system. For instance in that location's a Total Install of OS X Lion available for £8.50 on Amazon here.

If information technology's Tiger y'all are later, then it will cost a little 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