There are a few reasons why you might want to download and install old versions of macOS or Mac Os 10. Mayhap y'all are relying on software you accept discovered doesn't work properly in the latest version. Or perchance you lot just don't like the new version of macOS that you have installed.

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

In this article we will cover how to become old versions of macOS including Large Sur, Catalina, Mojave, El Capitan, Sierra, Yosemite and even old versions of Mac Os 10. We explicate how to get concord of the relevant installer files and so that you can install the software on your Mac.

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

If you are looking for a way to revert to the previous version of macOS, we have a more than specific article virtually downgrading from Monterey to Big Sur and other versions, although we practise cover the method here likewise. 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'south not possible.

You lot also might desire to get the installer for a version of macOS in gild to make a bootable installer for installing macOS on multiple Macs (we besides wait at that scenario separately).

Where can I download former macOS?

Before you can install an older version of macOS or Mac OS Ten you volition need to get agree of the installer for the version of macOS yous want to install. Luckily information technology is possible to gets concord of these files - as long as you know where to become on the Mac App Store.

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

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

*Note that nosotros take discovered that the links we requite below will only piece of 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 Store app if y'all have that open or the link may not work*

You won't exist able to get the Mac Bone X Snowfall Leopard download this way, merely nosotros'll look at that later. In fact, nosotros tell you how to get copies of Leopard, King of beasts and Mountain Lion too!

We have a list of which Macs run which versions of macOS & Mac Bone X.

How to download macOS Big Sur

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

  • Click on this link which to open up the Mac App Store on the Big Sur page. (Use Safari and brand sure the Mac App Store app is airtight first or it might not piece of 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 volition open up with the words "Finding Update". Eventually a message "Are y'all sure you want to download macOS Big Sur" will appear. Information technology might wait similar an update rather than the total version, just y'all'll come across from the size of the download (around 6GB) that this is the complete installer for Large Sur.
  4. Once the installer has downloaded do non click Install. If yous install it the installer volition automatically exist deleted.
  5. You lot should exist able to observe the Install macOS Big Sur app in your Applications folder, you lot'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 Catalina

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

  • Click on this link which volition open the Mac App Store on the Catalina page. (Use Safari and make sure the Mac App Shop app is closed first).

Catalina Mac App Store

Equally 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 Shop on the Catalina page.
  2. Click on Get.
  3. Software Update will open with the words "Finding Update". Eventually a message "Are yous sure you want to download macOS Catalina" will appear. It might look like an update rather than the total version, simply you'll run into from the size of the download (around 6GB) that this is the consummate installer for Catalina. Download Catalina
  4. Once the installer has downloaded do non click Install. If you install it the installer will automatically exist deleted.
  5. Y'all should exist able to find the Install macOS Catalina app in your Applications binder, you'll need 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

Information technology is too possible to admission the Mojave installer via this link to the Mac App Store. Note that equally above, for this link to piece of work you need to be running Safari and y'all need to close the Mac App Store app first. If the Mac App Store app is open up this redirect volition not work.

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

Follow the steps in the section higher up to download information technology.

Download Mojave

How to download Loftier 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 once information technology does you demand to locate the pkg installer inside the deejay image.

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

We've said above that in our experience normally the reason the higher up links don't piece of work is if you 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 you could endeavour the alternative methods below.

Another consequence is if the link takes you to the correct page in the Mac App Store, simply you see an Update not found mistake message when yous endeavour to download it. This is an issue we are enlightened of that others have encountered, although we haven't. In that case we suggest you attempt to download the installer via that link using an older Mac.

You may also encounter 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 volition not be able to run the version of macOS that shipped before the ane installed on that Mac. The older macOS might non support certain components in that Mac, for case.

Find out more about 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 you know is - you should be able to easily find older versions of macOS and fifty-fifty Mac Os 10 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 constitute via the Purchased tab (not 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 be searched for or found in the purchased section of the shop. (Although we do have redirect links in the section in a higher place to each of the relevant pages on the Mac App Store.)

If you happen to have admission to a Mac that'due south running an older version of macOS, log into the Mac App Store 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 Shop for you. We run through this method in the section below.

Equally to a higher place, once the installer has downloaded don't install it! If yous do and then the installer will be deleted. Y'all'll notice the installer in your Applications folder from which you lot can copy on to your Mac - or create a bootable installer.

Nosotros've heard that it may be possible to download the installer via Terminal, notwithstanding nosotros were unable to go that method to work.

You may also discover updates to one-time version of macOS on Apple's website here, still these are just point updates, rather than the total version, so it won't be much help if y'all are trying to go the full download.

The 1 thing you lot actually mustn't exercise is go to a torrent site and download a re-create of the OS X you want. Only considering Apple gives away its software for gratuitous, don't call back it'southward fine to but pick up a copy. Pirated copies of Apple software could have been adjusted to let hackers access to the software and your Mac.

Download Mac OS X

If y'all have access to a Mac running OS 10 Yosemite or older it is possible to see sometime versions of Mac Bone Ten in the Mac App Store. Yosemite, Mavericks and Mountain Panthera leo tin all be seen hither.

It's worth noting that you lot'll only meet 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 Store), that version will not be in your Purchased department. Another reason why the version of Mac Bone X might be missing is if your machine shipped with that version installed. We'll await at that scenario afterward.

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

  1. Open the Mac App Shop (choose Store > Sign In if y'all need to log in).
  2. Click Purchased.
  3. Whorl downwardly to find the copy of Bone X or macOS y'all want.
  4. Click Install.

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

Y'all won't exist able to but install this older version of the operating system direct onto a Mac running a newer version of Os X or macOS. Nosotros volition explicate how it tin can exist installed on a Mac - including ane currently running an earlier operating organization here: How to install onetime Mac Bone X versions.

Can't detect Mac OS X in Purchased?

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

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

If you never downloaded the version of Mac OS X and so leap to footstep 3 and find a friendly person who did. Enquire them to download the Mac Bone 10 installer for y'all.

Luckily the re-create of Bone X isn't locked to their account so it volition install on any Mac.

How to get OS X King of beasts, Mountain Panthera leo

Prior to June 2021 you could purchase Os X ten.vii Panthera leo or Mountain King of beasts from Apple tree for £19.99 each - Apple tree would send you a download code. At present Apple has stopped charging for the ageing operating system versions. Instead you can download the operating systems directly from the company's website.

The operating systems tin be downloaded from the following links:

If it'due south Mac OS Ten 10.seven Panthera leo that yous are after, information technology's yet available for £xix.99 hither The states or here Great britain. Apple tree will ship you a download code to apply on the Mac App Store, so you volition need to be running Snowfall Leopard to install it.

If it'southward Os Ten 10.8 Mountain Panthera leo that y'all tin still buy information technology for £19.99 hither US or here UK.

We have more information nigh getting the complimentary installers for Os X Lion and Mountain King of beasts from Apple tree in Apple offers free downloads of Bone Ten King of beasts and Mountain King of beasts.

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

How to get Bone X Snow Leopard

If your Mac has a version of macOS installed that is older than Snow Leopard you won't have admission to the Mac App Store. Since for a number of years after Snow Leopard arrived all versions of Mac OS Ten 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 tree all the same sold a boxed version of Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard hither for £xix.99 (at its launch in 2009 it cost £25). If yous purchased Snow Leopard this way you were sent a physical box containing an optical disc - then you will demand a CD/DVD drive to install it (which you will probably have if the Mac is that one-time).

Apple has now removed the ability to purchase Snow Leopard. Even so, this isn't a big problem because those people who were previously locked out of updates tin at present download the Panthera leo or Mount Panthera leo update, as explained in a higher place.

Get Snow Leopard

How to get OS X Leopard or earlier

If the erstwhile version of the OS you are subsequently predates Snow Leopard and you take a developer account you might be able to get information technology from developer.apple.com/downloads. If y'all search within the OS X category you should come across downloads for all versions of OS X, at to the lowest degree from version 10.3 to ten.6.

You may be able to admission the Programmer department of the website, only y'all will only be able to access certain software downloads if your Apple ID is associated with a paid Apple tree Programmer Program.

If you haven't signed up as a Apple Developer, notice out what that entails hither. It costs £79 ($99) a yr to join the Apple Developer Program and yous have to sign a non disclosure understanding.

You could also endeavour looking on Amazon or eBay to see if anyone is selling old versions of the Mac operating organization. For case there's a Full Install of Os X Lion available for £8.l on Amazon here.

If it's Tiger you are later, then information technology will toll a little more. There was a re-create 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