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

Another scenario is that you are a developer and you need to be running multiple versions of macOS and Mac Os 10 and then that you can exist sure that your software runs correctly on them. Either way, you take questions and nosotros have answers.

In this commodity we will cover how to get quondam versions of macOS including Big Sur, Catalina, Mojave, El Capitan, Sierra, Yosemite and even former versions of Mac Bone X. We explain how to get concord of the relevant installer files so that yous tin install the software on your Mac.

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

If you are looking for a way to revert to the previous version of macOS, we accept a more specific commodity nigh downgrading from Monterey to Large Sur and other versions, although we do encompass the method hither too. Nosotros besides have a guide to downgrading from the macOS beta.

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

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

Where can I download old macOS?

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

We have the necessary links to the Mac App Store below. We volition show yous a style to get the following macOS installers:

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

*Notation that we have discovered that the links we give below volition just work if you are surfing in Safari, so we suggest you switch to Apple's browser before moving on. You should also close the Mac App Shop app if you accept that open or the link may not work*

You won't be able to get the Mac Os Ten Snow Leopard download this mode, but nosotros'll await at that later. In fact, we tell you how to become copies of Leopard, Lion and Mount King of beasts too!

We take a list of which Macs run which versions of macOS & Mac Os X.

How to download macOS Large Sur

You tin can download the installer for Large Sur from the Mac App Store - as long every bit you know where to find it - searching the Mac App Shop will not work.

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

Follow these steps to download Large 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 folio.
  2. Click on Get.
  3. Software Update volition open with the words "Finding Update". Eventually a bulletin "Are you sure you lot want to download macOS Big Sur" will appear. It might expect like an update rather than the full version, merely you'll see from the size of the download (around 6GB) that this is the consummate installer for Big Sur.
  4. Once the installer has downloaded do not click Install. If you install it the installer will automatically be deleted.
  5. You should be able to discover 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

Yous tin can also download the installer for Catalina from the Mac App Store - equally long as you lot know the magic link.

  • Click on this link which will open up the Mac App Shop on the Catalina page. (Employ Safari and make certain the Mac App Shop app is airtight start).

Catalina Mac App Store

As higher up, 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 message "Are y'all sure you want to download macOS Catalina" will appear. It might look like an update rather than the total version, but you'll see from the size of the download (around 6GB) that this is the consummate installer for Catalina. Download Catalina
  4. Once the installer has downloaded exercise not click Install. If you install information technology the installer will automatically be deleted.
  5. Y'all should exist able to notice the Install macOS Catalina 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 Mojave

It is also possible to admission the Mojave installer via this link to the Mac App Store. Note that equally above, for this link to work y'all need to be running Safari and you need to close the Mac App Store app commencement. If the Mac App Store app is open up this redirect will not piece of 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 also 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 in one case information technology does y'all need to locate the pkg installer inside the disk image.

  • Y'all can Sierra via this link.
  • El Capitan can be downloaded from this link.
  • Yosemite is available here.

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

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

Another outcome is if the link takes yous to the right page in the Mac App Store, but you see an Update non found error bulletin when y'all try to download it. This is an issue we are aware of that others have encountered, although nosotros haven't. In that case we suggest you lot try to download the installer via that link using an older Mac.

You may also encounter problems if you are trying to download an older version of macOS that your Mac cannot support. Commonly when Apple introduces a new Mac information technology 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 most what version of macOS your Mac supports here: 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 yous know is - you should be able to easily notice older versions of macOS and even Mac OS X in the Mac App Store. How easy they are to find will 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 found via the Purchased tab (not that anyone has had to pay for a Mac OS X update for years).

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

If y'all happen to accept 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 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 discover the installer in your Applications folder from which yous can copy on to your Mac - or create a bootable installer.

We've heard that information technology may be possible to download the installer via Last, however we were unable to get that method to work.

You may also find updates to old version of macOS on Apple'southward website here, however these are merely indicate updates, rather than the total version, so it won't be much help if you are trying to get the total download.

The one thing you really mustn't do is become to a torrent site and download a copy of the Os X y'all want. Only considering Apple tree gives away its software for gratis, don't think it's fine to but choice up a copy. Pirated copies of Apple tree software could have been adjusted to allow hackers access to the software and your Mac.

Download Mac OS Ten

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

Information technology's worth noting that you'll only run across old versions of Mac Os X that you've downloaded under Purchased - if y'all never downloaded it (or if it was never on the Mac App Store), that version volition not exist in your Purchased department. Some other reason why the version of Mac Bone X might exist 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 Bone X from the Mac App Store (this only works if you've downloaded information technology in the by and it won't work if you accept already installed Mojave or later on):

  1. Open up the Mac App Store (choose Shop > Sign In if you need to log in).
  2. Click Purchased.
  3. Scroll down to find the re-create of OS 10 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 binder.

You lot won't be able to only 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 it tin can be installed on a Mac - including one currently running an earlier operating system here: How to install old Mac Os X versions.

Tin't detect Mac OS X in Purchased?

If you know yous have previously downloaded the version of macOS you are after, just you aren't seeing it in the Purchased section, in that location are a few things to attempt:

  1. Log out of the App Store then log in again.
  2. If it's a possibility that you downloaded it while logged in to a different Apple ID (maybe a work-related 1), log in using that ID.
  3. Alternatively, discover 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 OS 10 then jump to footstep 3 and find a friendly person who did. Inquire them to download the Mac Os 10 installer for you.

Luckily the copy of Bone X isn't locked to their account so it will install on whatsoever Mac.

How to get Os X Lion, Mountain King of beasts

Prior to June 2021 you could buy Os 10 10.7 Lion or Mountain King of beasts from Apple for £19.99 each - Apple would send y'all a download code. At present Apple tree has stopped charging for the ageing operating organisation versions. Instead you tin can download the operating systems directly from the company'due south website.

The operating systems can be downloaded from the following links:

  • DMG for Mac Bone X ten.seven Lion (4.72GB)
  • DMG for Mac Bone X 10.viii Mountain Lion (4.45GB)

If it's Mac Bone Ten 10.7 Lion that you are after, it'due south still available for £xix.99 here Us or hither UK. Apple will send you a download lawmaking to use on the Mac App Shop, so you lot will need to exist running Snowfall Leopard to install information technology.

If it'southward Bone X 10.8 Mountain Lion that you can even so buy it for £19.99 here United states of america or hither UK.

Nosotros have more than data almost getting the complimentary installers for Bone X Lion and Mount Lion from Apple tree in Apple offers free downloads of OS X Lion and Mountain Lion.

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

How to go OS Ten 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 Shop. Since for a number of years after Snow Leopard arrived all versions of Mac Os 10 arrived via the Mac App Store, those who never installed Snow Leopard had a problem: without Snowfall Leopard they couldn't update.

Until 2021 Apple still sold a boxed version of Mac Bone X 10.half-dozen Snow Leopard here for £nineteen.99 (at its launch in 2009 it cost £25). If yous purchased Snow Leopard this style you were sent a physical box containing an optical disc - so you will need a CD/DVD drive to install it (which yous will probably have if the Mac is that one-time).

Apple tree has at present removed the ability to purchase Snow Leopard. However, this isn't a large trouble because those people who were previously locked out of updates can now download the Lion or Mount 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 after predates Snow Leopard and you accept a programmer account you might exist able to get information technology from developer.apple.com/downloads. If you search within the Bone X category you should see downloads for all versions of OS X, at least from version 10.3 to 10.six.

Y'all may exist able to admission the Developer department of the website, only you will only be able to access certain software downloads if your Apple ID is associated with a paid Apple tree Developer Programme.

If you lot haven't signed up equally a Apple Developer, discover out what that entails here. It costs £79 ($99) a twelvemonth to join the Apple Programmer Program and you have to sign a not disclosure agreement.

You could also try looking on Amazon or eBay to run into if anyone is selling former versions of the Mac operating arrangement. For instance at that place's a Full Install of OS X King of beasts bachelor for £viii.fifty on Amazon here.

If information technology'south Tiger you are afterward, then it will cost a footling more. In that location 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