There are a few reasons why you might want to download and install quondam versions of macOS or Mac Os X. Maybe you are relying on software you lot have discovered doesn't piece of work properly in the latest version. Or possibly you merely don't like the new version of macOS that you lot accept installed.

Some other scenario is that yous are a programmer and y'all need to be running multiple versions of macOS and Mac OS Ten and then that you tin can be sure that your software runs correctly on them. Either way, y'all accept questions and we have answers.

In this article we will cover how to become former versions of macOS including Large Sur, Catalina, Mojave, El Capitan, Sierra, Yosemite and fifty-fifty quondam versions of Mac Os X. We explain how to go concord of the relevant installer files and so that you tin install the software on your Mac.

We have a separate article that explains how to install sometime versions of macOS for when y'all get to that stage of the process.

If you are looking for a way to revert to the previous version of macOS, we accept a more specific article about downgrading from Monterey to Big Sur and other versions, although we do comprehend the method here too. We also have a guide to downgrading from the macOS beta.

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

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

Where tin I download old macOS?

Before you tin install an older version of macOS or Mac Bone X you will need to become hold of the installer for the version of macOS you want to install. Luckily it is possible to gets hold of these files - as long as y'all know where to keep the Mac App Shop.

Nosotros have the necessary links to the Mac App Store below. We will evidence you a manner to get the post-obit 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 Mountain Lion
  • OS X Lion

*Annotation that nosotros have discovered that the links we give below will just work if you are surfing in Safari, so we suggest you switch to Apple's browser before moving on. Y'all should also shut the Mac App Store app if yous have that open or the link may non work*

You won't be able to get the Mac OS X Snow Leopard download this mode, but we'll await at that later. In fact, we tell you how to go copies of Leopard, Lion and Mountain Panthera leo too!

We have a list of which Macs run which versions of macOS & Mac OS Ten.

How to download macOS Big Sur

You tin download the installer for Large Sur from the Mac App Store - as long as y'all know where to find it - searching the Mac App Shop will not work.

  • Click on this link which to open up the Mac App Store on the Big Sur folio. (Apply Safari and brand certain the Mac App Store app is closed kickoff 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 page.
  2. Click on Get.
  3. Software Update volition open with the words "Finding Update". Eventually a message "Are y'all certain you want to download macOS Large Sur" will appear. It might look like an update rather than the full version, simply you'll meet from the size of the download (effectually 6GB) that this is the consummate installer for Big Sur.
  4. Once the installer has downloaded practice not click Install. If you install it the installer will automatically be deleted.
  5. You should be able to find the Install macOS Big Sur app in your Applications binder, yous'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

You tin also download the installer for Catalina from the Mac App Store - as 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 Store app is closed first).

Catalina Mac App Store

Every bit above, follow these steps to download Catalina (or any other version of macOS) from the Mac App Shop:

  1. Click this link to open the Mac App Store on the Catalina page.
  2. Click on Go.
  3. Software Update will open with the words "Finding Update". Eventually a bulletin "Are yous certain you lot want to download macOS Catalina" volition announced. It might look like an update rather than the full version, but you'll run across from the size of the download (effectually 6GB) that this is the consummate installer for Catalina. Download Catalina
  4. Once the installer has downloaded do non click Install. If you lot install it the installer volition automatically be deleted.
  5. You should exist able to find the Install macOS Catalina 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 Mojave

Information technology is also possible to access the Mojave installer via this link to the Mac App Shop. Note that as above, for this link to work yous demand to be running Safari and you need to close the Mac App Store app first. If the Mac App Shop app is open 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 in a higher place to download information technology.

Download Mojave

How to download High Sierra

It is as well possible to download Loftier Sierra via this link. (Utilize 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 - you need to download them in Safari. A disk image named InstallOS.dmg will download and in one case it does y'all need to locate the pkg installer inside the disk paradigm.

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

We've said higher up that in our experience ordinarily the reason the in a higher place links don't piece of work is if you are browsing in something other than Safari, or if you take already got the Mac App Store open. However, if you lot are yet finding that the link isn't working you lot could try the alternative methods beneath.

Another effect is if the link takes you to the correct page in the Mac App Store, simply you see an Update not plant error message when yous endeavor to download it. This is an effect we are aware of that others have encountered, although nosotros oasis't. In that example nosotros propose y'all endeavour 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. Unremarkably when Apple tree introduces a new Mac it will not be able to run the version of macOS that shipped before the one installed on that Mac. The older macOS might not back up certain components in that Mac, for example.

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

Other means to go old macOS versions

If y'all are running an older version of macOS - or someone you lot know is - you should be able to easily find older versions of macOS and even Mac Os X in the Mac App Store. How easy they are to notice will 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 plant via the Purchased tab (not that anyone has had to pay for a Mac Os X update for years).

Even so, when Apple tree introduced Mojave the Mac App Store changed, and these installers can no longer exist searched for or found in the purchased section of the shop. (Although we exercise 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'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 ask a friend to download a copy of the installer from the Mac App Shop for you. Nosotros run through this method in the department below.

As above, once the installer has downloaded don't install information technology! If yous do then the installer will be deleted. Yous'll find the installer in your Applications binder 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, however we were unable to get that method to work.

You may too find updates to sometime version of macOS on Apple's website here, however these are just point updates, rather than the full version, and then it won't be much help if you are trying to get the full download.

The one thing y'all really mustn't do is get to a torrent site and download a copy of the OS X you want. Just because Apple gives abroad its software for free, don't recollect it's fine to merely pick upward a copy. Pirated copies of Apple software could accept been adjusted to allow hackers admission to the software and your Mac.

Download Mac Os 10

If you have access to a Mac running OS 10 Yosemite or older it is possible to see old versions of Mac OS Ten in the Mac App Store. Yosemite, Mavericks and Mountain Lion can all exist seen hither.

Information technology'southward worth noting that yous'll merely meet old versions of Mac Os Ten that you lot've downloaded under Purchased - if you lot never downloaded it (or if it was never on the Mac App Store), that version will not exist in your Purchased section. Some other 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.

Here is how to get an older version of Mac Os X from the Mac App Store (this only works if y'all've downloaded it in the past and it won't work if you have already installed Mojave or afterward):

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

Clicking Install won't really install the software, merely it will download the installer application 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 10 or macOS. We volition explain how it can exist installed on a Mac - including one currently running an earlier operating arrangement here: How to install quondam Mac Os Ten versions.

Tin't notice Mac OS X in Purchased?

If you lot know you have previously downloaded the version of macOS yous are later, but y'all aren't seeing information technology 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's a possibility that you lot downloaded information technology while logged in to a different Apple ID (maybe a piece of work-related one), log in using that ID.
  3. Alternatively, find someone who has downloaded that version of the Mac operating system and ask them to download the installation file for you.

If y'all never downloaded the version of Mac Bone Ten then spring to footstep 3 and find a friendly person who did. Ask them to download the Mac OS Ten installer for you.

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

How to get Bone X Lion, Mountain King of beasts

Prior to June 2021 you could buy OS X ten.7 Lion or Mount Panthera leo from Apple tree for £19.99 each - Apple would send you a download code. Now Apple has stopped charging for the ageing operating organisation versions. Instead you can download the operating systems direct from the company's website.

The operating systems can be downloaded from the post-obit links:

If it'southward Mac OS 10 ten.7 Panthera leo that yous are later, information technology's withal available for £19.99 hither US or hither U.k.. Apple will send you lot a download code to use on the Mac App Shop, and so you will need to be running Snowfall Leopard to install it.

If it's Bone X 10.8 Mountain Lion that you can still buy it for £nineteen.99 here US or hither United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland.

We have more information virtually getting the free installers for OS X Lion and Mountain Lion from Apple in Apple offers complimentary downloads of OS X Lion and Mountain Lion.

Whether your Mac will actually run these operating systems is some other question we accost hither: Which versions of macOS can my Mac run? Notation 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 access to the Mac App Store. Since for a number of years afterwards Snowfall Leopard arrived all versions of Mac OS 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 still sold a boxed version of Mac Bone Ten x.6 Snowfall Leopard here for £19.99 (at its launch in 2009 it toll £25). If yous purchased Snow Leopard this way you were sent a physical box containing an optical disc - so you lot will demand a CD/DVD drive to install information technology (which you will probably take if the Mac is that former).

Apple has at present 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 now download the Panthera leo or Mountain Lion update, as explained to a higher place.

Get Snow Leopard

How to get OS X Leopard or earlier

If the old version of the Bone you are after predates Snow Leopard and you have a developer account you lot might exist able to go it from programmer.apple.com/downloads. If you lot search inside the OS X category you should see downloads for all versions of Bone X, at least from version 10.three to 10.6.

You may be able to access the Developer section of the website, just you will simply exist able to access certain software downloads if your Apple ID is associated with a paid Apple Developer Programme.

If you oasis't signed up every bit a Apple Developer, discover out what that entails hither. It costs £79 ($99) a year to join the Apple Developer Program and you take to sign a non disclosure agreement.

Y'all could also try looking on Amazon or eBay to encounter if anyone is selling old versions of the Mac operating system. For example there's a Full Install of Bone X Lion available for £8.l on Amazon here.

If it's Tiger you are later, then information technology will cost a little more. In that location was a copy of Tiger on Amazon for £89.99 merely it's currently unavailable.

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