At that place are a few reasons why you might want to download and install old versions of macOS or Mac Bone 10. Possibly you are relying on software you have discovered doesn't work properly in the latest version. Or maybe you just don't like the new version of macOS that you have 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 you lot tin can be sure that your software runs correctly on them. Either manner, you have questions and nosotros have answers.

In this article nosotros will cover how to get onetime versions of macOS including Big Sur, Catalina, Mojave, El Capitan, Sierra, Yosemite and even sometime versions of Mac Bone X. We explain how to become hold of the relevant installer files so that you can install the software on your Mac.

We accept a divide article that explains how to install quondam versions of macOS for when y'all get to that stage of the process.

If y'all are looking for a way to revert to the previous version of macOS, we have a more specific commodity virtually downgrading from Monterey to Big Sur and other versions, although we practise cover the method here too. We too have a guide to downgrading from the macOS beta.

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

You also might want to get the installer for a version of macOS in society to make a bootable installer for installing macOS on multiple Macs (we also expect at that scenario separately).

Where can I download one-time macOS?

Earlier y'all 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 - every bit long every bit you know where to go on the Mac App Store.

Nosotros have the necessary links to the Mac App Shop below. We volition show yous a way to get the post-obit macOS installers:

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

*Note that nosotros have discovered that the links we give below will only work if yous are surfing in Safari, so we suggest you lot switch to Apple's browser before moving on. You lot 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 X Snowfall Leopard download this style, but nosotros'll look at that later. In fact, we tell you how to get copies of Leopard, Lion and Mountain Lion as well!

We accept a list of which Macs run which versions of macOS & Mac Os 10.

How to download macOS Large Sur

You tin download the installer for Big Sur from the Mac App Shop - as long equally you lot know where to find 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. (Use Safari and make sure the Mac App Store app is closed offset 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 Large Sur page.
  2. Click on Get.
  3. Software Update will open with the words "Finding Update". Eventually a message "Are you certain you lot want to download macOS Large Sur" volition appear. It might expect like an update rather than the full version, but y'all'll encounter from the size of the download (around 6GB) that this is the complete installer for Large Sur.
  4. Once the installer has downloaded do not click Install. If you install it the installer will automatically be deleted.
  5. You lot should be able to find the Install macOS Big Sur app in your Applications folder, you'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 Catalina

Y'all can besides download the installer for Catalina from the Mac App Store - as long as you know the magic link.

  • Click on this link which will open the Mac App Store on the Catalina page. (Apply Safari and brand certain the Mac App Store app is airtight commencement).

Catalina Mac App Store

As to a higher place, follow these steps to download Catalina (or whatsoever 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 volition open with the words "Finding Update". Eventually a bulletin "Are you sure y'all desire to download macOS Catalina" volition appear. It might look like an update rather than the full version, but y'all'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 not click Install. If you install information technology the installer volition automatically be deleted.
  5. You should exist able to notice the Install macOS Catalina app in your Applications binder, you'll need this for the adjacent 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. Notation that as above, for this link to piece of work you lot need to exist running Safari and you demand to close the Mac App Store app first. If the Mac App Shop 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 higher up to download it.

Download Mojave

How to download High Sierra

It is also possible to download Loftier Sierra via this link. (Utilise Safari, shut the Mac App Shop app start).

Follow the steps in the department above 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 demand to locate the pkg installer inside 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 piece of work is if yous are browsing in something other than Safari, or if you have already got the Mac App Store open. However, if you are still finding that the link isn't working yous could try the culling methods below.

Some other issue is if the link takes yous to the correct folio in the Mac App Shop, but you see an Update non found error bulletin when yous attempt to download information technology. This is an issue we are aware of that others have encountered, although we haven't. In that instance nosotros suggest you endeavor to download the installer via that link using an older Mac.

Y'all may also meet problems if yous are trying to download an older version of macOS that your Mac cannot support. Usually when Apple introduces a new Mac it volition non 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.

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

Other ways to get old macOS versions

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

Prior to macOS Mojave'south 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 OS X update for years).

However, when Apple tree introduced Mojave the Mac App Store inverse, and these installers can no longer exist searched for or found in the purchased section of the store. (Although nosotros do have redirect links in the section above to each of the relevant pages on the Mac App Store.)

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 countersign and download the Mojave installer on that Mac. Alternatively enquire 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 information technology! If y'all do and so the installer volition be deleted. Y'all'll find the installer in your Applications folder from which you 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 Final, however we were unable to go that method to piece of work.

You may too find updates to former version of macOS on Apple tree's website here, withal these are just point updates, rather than the full version, so it won't be much help if yous are trying to get the full download.

The i matter you really mustn't exercise is get to a torrent site and download a copy of the Bone X you lot want. Just considering Apple gives away its software for free, don't retrieve information technology's fine to just choice up a copy. Pirated copies of Apple software could take been adapted to allow hackers access to the software and your Mac.

Download Mac Bone 10

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

Information technology's worth noting that you'll only see old versions of Mac OS 10 that you've downloaded under Purchased - if you never downloaded information technology (or if it was never on the Mac App Store), that version will not be in your Purchased department. Some other reason why the version of Mac OS X might exist missing is if your motorcar shipped with that version installed. We'll look at that scenario afterwards.

Hither is how to get an older version of Mac Bone 10 from the Mac App Store (this just works if y'all've downloaded it in the by and information technology won't work if you have already installed Mojave or later):

  1. Open up the Mac App Store (cull Shop > Sign In if you lot need to log in).
  2. Click Purchased.
  3. Coil down to find the re-create of OS X or macOS y'all want.
  4. Click Install.

Clicking Install won't actually install the software, but information technology will download the installer application 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 10 or macOS. We will explain how it can exist installed on a Mac - including one currently running an earlier operating system here: How to install sometime Mac OS X versions.

Tin't find Mac Bone 10 in Purchased?

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

  1. Log out of the App Store then log in again.
  2. If it'due south a possibility that yous downloaded it while logged in to a different Apple ID (peradventure a work-related one), log in using that ID.
  3. Alternatively, find someone who has downloaded that version of the Mac operating arrangement and ask them to download the installation file for you.

If you lot never downloaded the version of Mac OS X then spring to pace 3 and detect a friendly person who did. Ask them to download the Mac Os X installer for yous.

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

How to get Bone X King of beasts, Mountain Lion

Prior to June 2021 you could purchase Os 10 x.seven Lion or Mountain Lion from Apple tree for £19.99 each - Apple would ship you a download code. Now Apple tree 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 tin exist downloaded from the following links:

If it'south Mac OS X 10.7 Lion that you are after, information technology'due south withal available for £19.99 here U.s. or hither UK. Apple will send you lot a download code to utilize on the Mac App Store, so you volition need to be running Snow Leopard to install information technology.

If information technology'south Bone 10 ten.8 Mount Lion that you lot can even so purchase it for £19.99 here US or here UK.

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

Whether your Mac will actually run these operating systems is another question we address here: Which versions of macOS tin can my Mac run? Note that just 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 you won't accept admission to the Mac App Store. Since for a number of years afterward Snow Leopard arrived all versions of Mac Bone Ten 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 tree still sold a boxed version of Mac Os Ten 10.half dozen Snow Leopard here for £19.99 (at its launch in 2009 it price £25). If y'all purchased Snow Leopard this way y'all were sent a physical box containing an optical disc - so y'all volition demand a CD/DVD bulldoze to install it (which you volition probably take if the Mac is that former).

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

Get Snow Leopard

How to become OS Ten Leopard or earlier

If the old version of the OS yous are after predates Snowfall Leopard and yous have a developer account you might exist able to get it from developer.apple.com/downloads. If you search inside the OS X category you should see downloads for all versions of OS X, at least from version 10.three to ten.6.

You may exist able to access the Developer section of the website, but y'all volition only be able to access sure software downloads if your Apple ID is associated with a paid Apple tree Programmer Program.

If you haven't signed upward every bit a Apple Developer, discover out what that entails here. It costs £79 ($99) a year to join the Apple Developer Program and yous have to sign a non disclosure agreement.

You lot could besides effort looking on Amazon or eBay to encounter if anyone is selling erstwhile versions of the Mac operating system. For example there'due south a Full Install of Os X Lion available for £8.50 on Amazon here.

If it'south Tiger you lot are after, then information technology volition cost a little more than. At that place was a copy of Tiger on Amazon for £89.99 merely it'due south currently unavailable.

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