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

Another scenario is that y'all are a developer and you need to be running multiple versions of macOS and Mac Os X so that you tin can be sure that your software runs correctly on them. Either manner, you accept questions and we have answers.

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

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

If you lot are looking for a way to revert to the previous version of macOS, we have a more than specific article most downgrading from Monterey to Big Sur and other versions, although we do cover the method hither too. We too take 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 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 as well look at that scenario separately).

Where can I download old macOS?

Before you lot tin install an older version of macOS or Mac OS X you will need to become concord of the installer for the version of macOS you desire to install. Luckily information technology is possible to gets concord of these files - every bit long as you know where to become on the Mac App Store.

We take the necessary links to the Mac App Shop below. We will evidence you lot a fashion to get the following macOS installers:

  • macOS Big Sur
  • macOS Catalina
  • macOS Mojave
  • macOS Loftier Sierra
  • macOS Sierra
  • Bone Ten El Capitan
  • Bone X Yosemite
  • OS 10 Mavericks
  • OS 10 Mountain Lion
  • Os Ten Panthera leo

*Notation that we have discovered that the links we give beneath will simply work if you are surfing in Safari, and then we suggest you switch to Apple'south browser before moving on. You should also close the Mac App Store app if you accept that open or the link may not work*

Yous won't be able to get the Mac Os Ten Snow Leopard download this style, but we'll wait at that later. In fact, nosotros tell you how to go copies of Leopard, Lion and Mountain Lion besides!

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

How to download macOS Big Sur

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

  • Click on this link which to open the Mac App Shop on the Big Sur page. (Employ Safari and brand certain the Mac App Store app is closed showtime 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 Big Sur folio.
  2. Click on Go.
  3. Software Update will open up with the words "Finding Update". Eventually a bulletin "Are you certain you want to download macOS Large Sur" will appear. Information technology might look like an update rather than the full version, but you'll see from the size of the download (around 6GB) that this is the complete installer for Big Sur.
  4. Once the installer has downloaded do not click Install. If you install information technology the installer will automatically exist deleted.
  5. You should be able to observe the Install macOS Large Sur app in your Applications binder, you lot'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 Catalina

You lot can also download the installer for Catalina from the Mac App Store - as long every bit y'all know the magic link.

  • Click on this link which will open the Mac App Store on the Catalina page. (Utilise Safari and make sure the Mac App Store app is closed outset).

Catalina Mac App Store

Equally in a higher place, 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 bulletin "Are you sure you lot want to download macOS Catalina" will announced. It might look like an update rather than the full version, but you lot'll see 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 yous install it the installer will automatically be deleted.
  5. You should be able to find the Install macOS Catalina app in your Applications folder, y'all'll demand this for the next steps, which we outline here: How to downgrade macOS, install an older version on your Mac.

How to download macOS Mojave

Information technology is as well possible to access the Mojave installer via this link to the Mac App Store. Annotation that every bit higher up, for this link to work you need to be running Safari and you need to close the Mac App Store app first. 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 besides possible to download Loftier Sierra via this link. (Use Safari, close the Mac App Store app first).

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 - yous need to download them in Safari. A disk image named InstallOS.dmg will download and in one case it does you need to locate the pkg installer within the disk paradigm.

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

We've said to a higher place that in our experience normally the reason the above links don't work is if you are browsing in something other than Safari, or if you have already got the Mac App Store open. Nevertheless, if y'all are all the same finding that the link isn't working you could try the culling methods below.

Another consequence is if the link takes yous to the correct page in the Mac App Store, but you run into an Update not institute fault message when y'all try to download it. This is an upshot we are aware of that others have encountered, although we haven't. In that case we propose you try to download the installer via that link using an older Mac.

You lot may as well run into bug if you are trying to download an older version of macOS that your Mac cannot support. Usually when Apple introduces a new Mac it volition not be able to run the version of macOS that shipped earlier the i installed on that Mac. The older macOS might not support certain components in that Mac, for case.

Find out more near 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 even Mac Bone X in the Mac App Store. How piece of cake they are to notice volition exist determined by the version of macOS running on that Mac.

Prior to macOS Mojave's inflow 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 Bone X update for years).

However, when Apple introduced Mojave the Mac App Store changed, and these installers can no longer exist searched for or found in the purchased section of the store. (Although we exercise take redirect links in the section above to each of the relevant pages on the Mac App Shop.)

If y'all happen to accept access to a Mac that'due south running an older version of macOS, log into the Mac App Store with your password and download the Mojave installer on that Mac. Alternatively enquire a friend to download a re-create of the installer from the Mac App Store for you. Nosotros 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 exist deleted. You lot'll find the installer in your Applications folder from which you 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, still we were unable to become that method to work.

You may likewise find updates to old version of macOS on Apple tree'southward website here, however these are just signal updates, rather than the full version, so it won't exist much help if you lot are trying to get the full download.

The one thing you really mustn't do is go to a torrent site and download a re-create of the Bone X y'all desire. Just because Apple tree gives away its software for complimentary, don't think information technology'due south fine to merely pick up a copy. Pirated copies of Apple software could have been adjusted to allow hackers access to the software and your Mac.

Download Mac OS X

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

It's worth noting that yous'll only see old versions of Mac OS X that you've downloaded nether Purchased - if yous never downloaded it (or if it was never on the Mac App Shop), that version will non exist in your Purchased section. Another reason why the version of Mac Os X might be missing is if your machine shipped with that version installed. We'll look at that scenario later on.

Here is how to become an older version of Mac Bone X from the Mac App Store (this only works if yous've downloaded information technology in the past and information technology won't piece of work if yous have already installed Mojave or later):

  1. Open up the Mac App Store (choose Store > Sign In if you need to log in).
  2. Click Purchased.
  3. Ringlet downward to find the copy of Os X or macOS you desire.
  4. Click Install.

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

You 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. Nosotros will explicate how information technology can be installed on a Mac - including i currently running an earlier operating system here: How to install old Mac OS X versions.

Tin't find Mac OS Ten in Purchased?

If y'all know you lot have previously downloaded the version of macOS you are afterwards, but yous aren't seeing it in the Purchased section, there 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 unlike 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 organization and enquire them to download the installation file for you.

If you never downloaded the version of Mac OS Ten then spring to stride 3 and notice a friendly person who did. Ask them to download the Mac OS 10 installer for you lot.

Luckily the copy of Bone Ten isn't locked to their account so information technology will install on whatsoever Mac.

How to get Os X Lion, Mountain Lion

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

The operating systems can be downloaded from the following links:

If it's Mac OS X 10.vii Lion that you are after, information technology'south withal bachelor for £19.99 here U.s.a. or here United kingdom. Apple tree will transport you a download code to utilize on the Mac App Shop, so you will need to exist running Snowfall Leopard to install it.

If information technology's Os Ten 10.8 Mount King of beasts that you can nonetheless buy it for £nineteen.99 here Us or hither UK.

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

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

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 have access to the Mac App Store. Since for a number of years later on Snow Leopard arrived all versions of Mac Os Ten arrived via the Mac App Store, those who never installed Snowfall Leopard had a trouble: without Snow Leopard they couldn't update.

Until 2021 Apple still sold a boxed version of Mac Bone Ten ten.6 Snow Leopard here for £xix.99 (at its launch in 2009 it cost £25). If you purchased Snow Leopard this way y'all were sent a concrete box containing an optical disc - so y'all will need a CD/DVD drive to install it (which yous will probably have if the Mac is that former).

Apple has now removed the power to buy Snow Leopard. Yet, this isn't a big problem considering those people who were previously locked out of updates can now download the Lion or Mountain Lion update, every bit explained above.

Get Snow Leopard

How to get OS X Leopard or earlier

If the former version of the OS you are after predates Snow Leopard and you have a developer account you lot might exist able to get it from developer.apple tree.com/downloads. If you search inside the Bone 10 category you should see downloads for all versions of Os Ten, at least from version 10.3 to x.6.

You may be able to access the Developer section of the website, but yous volition only be able to access certain software downloads if your Apple tree ID is associated with a paid Apple Developer Program.

If you haven't signed up as a Apple Programmer, notice out what that entails here. It costs £79 ($99) a year to join the Apple tree Developer Program and you have to sign a non disclosure agreement.

You lot could also endeavour looking on Amazon or eBay to see if anyone is selling old versions of the Mac operating organisation. For case there's a Full Install of Os X Lion bachelor for £8.50 on Amazon hither.

If information technology's Tiger you are after, then it will toll a little more. There was a copy of Tiger on Amazon for £89.99 but information technology's currently unavailable.

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