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

Another scenario is that you are a programmer and yous need to be running multiple versions of macOS and Mac Bone 10 so that y'all can be sure that your software runs correctly on them. Either fashion, yous have questions and we have answers.

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

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

If you are looking for a way to revert to the previous version of macOS, we have a more specific article about downgrading from Monterey to Big Sur and other versions, although we practice embrace the method here besides. We also 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 not possible.

Y'all likewise might want to get the installer for a version of macOS in order to make a bootable installer for installing macOS on multiple Macs (nosotros also wait at that scenario separately).

Where tin I download old macOS?

Before you tin can install an older version of macOS or Mac Os 10 y'all will need to get concord of the installer for the version of macOS yous desire to install. Luckily it is possible to gets agree of these files - as long equally y'all know where to go on the Mac App Shop.

We accept the necessary links to the Mac App Store below. We will evidence y'all a style to become the following macOS installers:

  • macOS Big Sur
  • macOS Catalina
  • macOS Mojave
  • macOS High Sierra
  • macOS Sierra
  • OS X El Capitan
  • OS Ten Yosemite
  • Bone Ten Mavericks
  • Os X Mountain King of beasts
  • Os X Lion

*Note that we have discovered that the links we requite below volition only work if you are surfing in Safari, and then nosotros suggest you switch to Apple's browser before moving on. You lot should likewise shut the Mac App Store app if yous have that open up or the link may not work*

Y'all won't be able to get the Mac OS X Snowfall Leopard download this way, only we'll look at that later. In fact, we tell you how to get copies of Leopard, King of beasts and Mountain Lion too!

We accept 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 Big Sur from the Mac App Store - every bit long as you know where to find it - searching the Mac App Store volition not piece of work.

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

Follow these steps to download Large Sur (or any other version of macOS) from the Mac App Store:

  1. Click this link to open the Mac App Store on the Big Sur page.
  2. Click on Get.
  3. Software Update volition open up with the words "Finding Update". Eventually a message "Are you sure you want to download macOS Big Sur" will appear. It might look like an update rather than the full version, but y'all'll see 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 will automatically be deleted.
  5. You lot should exist able to find the Install macOS Large Sur app in your Applications binder, 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 also download the installer for Catalina from the Mac App Shop - as long every bit y'all know the magic link.

  • Click on this link which will open the Mac App Store on the Catalina folio. (Utilise Safari and make certain the Mac App Store app is closed first).

Catalina Mac App Store

As higher up, 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 Shop on the Catalina page.
  2. Click on Get.
  3. Software Update volition open with the words "Finding Update". Eventually a bulletin "Are y'all sure you want to download macOS Catalina" will appear. It might look like an update rather than the full version, but you'll see from the size of the download (effectually 6GB) that this is the complete installer for Catalina. Download Catalina
  4. In one case the installer has downloaded practice not click Install. If y'all install it the installer volition automatically exist deleted.
  5. You should exist able to find the Install macOS Catalina app in your Applications folder, yous'll demand 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 Mojave

It is also possible to access the Mojave installer via this link to the Mac App Store. Note that equally above, for this link to work you lot demand to be running Safari and you need to shut the Mac App Store app beginning. If the Mac App Store app is open this redirect will not work.

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

Follow the steps in the section above to download information technology.

Download Mojave

How to download High Sierra

It is too possible to download High Sierra via this link. (Use Safari, close the Mac App Store app first).

Follow the steps in the department to a higher place to download Loftier Sierra.

How to download Sierra, El Capitan or Yosemite

Apple tree provides dmg files of these older macOS versions - you need to download them in Safari. A disk image named InstallOS.dmg volition download and once information technology does y'all need to locate the pkg installer within the disk image.

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

Nosotros've said above that in our experience commonly the reason the in a higher place links don't piece of work is if yous are browsing in something other than Safari, or if you take already got the Mac App Shop open up. However, if you are still finding that the link isn't working you could try the alternative methods below.

Another issue is if the link takes you to the right page in the Mac App Shop, simply you run across an Update not constitute error bulletin when you try to download information technology. This is an issue we are aware of that others have encountered, although nosotros oasis't. In that instance we advise yous endeavour to download the installer via that link using an older Mac.

You may also run into issues if you are trying to download an older version of macOS that your Mac cannot support. Usually when Apple 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 support certain components in that Mac, for example.

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

Other ways to get quondam 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 OS X in the Mac App Shop. How like shooting fish in a barrel they are to find volition be adamant 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 OS Ten update for years).

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

If you lot happen to take access 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.

Equally in a higher place, one time the installer has downloaded don't install it! If you do then the installer will be deleted. You'll find the installer in your Applications folder from which y'all tin copy on to your Mac - or create a bootable installer.

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

You may also find updates to old version of macOS on Apple tree'southward website hither, withal these are simply signal updates, rather than the full version, so it won't be much assist if you are trying to get the full download.

The one thing you really mustn't do is become to a torrent site and download a copy of the Os X you want. Only because Apple gives abroad its software for costless, don't recall it's fine to just pick upward a copy. Pirated copies of Apple tree software could have been adapted to allow hackers access to the software and your Mac.

Download Mac Os X

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

Information technology'southward worth noting that you'll only see old versions of Mac Os 10 that you lot've downloaded under Purchased - if you never downloaded information technology (or if it was never on the Mac App Store), that version will non be in your Purchased department. Another reason why the version of Mac Os X might be missing is if your auto shipped with that version installed. We'll look at that scenario later.

Here is how to become an older version of Mac OS 10 from the Mac App Store (this only works if y'all've downloaded information technology in the past and it won't piece of work if y'all have already installed Mojave or later):

  1. Open the Mac App Store (choose Shop > Sign In if yous need to log in).
  2. Click Purchased.
  3. Scroll downwardly to detect the re-create of Bone X or macOS you want.
  4. Click Install.

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

You won't be able to merely install this older version of the operating organization directly onto a Mac running a newer version of OS Ten or macOS. We will explicate how it can be installed on a Mac - including one currently running an earlier operating system here: How to install old Mac OS X versions.

Can't find Mac Bone X in Purchased?

If you know you have previously downloaded the version of macOS yous are after, only you lot aren't seeing information technology in the Purchased department, at that place are a few things to try:

  1. Log out of the App Store and then log in again.
  2. If it'south a possibility that you downloaded information technology while logged in to a different Apple tree ID (possibly a 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 you never downloaded the version of Mac Os 10 and then jump to step three and find a friendly person who did. Ask them to download the Mac Os X installer for yous.

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

How to get OS X King of beasts, Mount Lion

Prior to June 2021 you could buy Os Ten x.7 Lion or Mountain Lion from Apple for £19.99 each - Apple tree would ship you a download code. Now Apple has stopped charging for the ageing operating system versions. Instead you can download the operating systems direct from the company's website.

The operating systems can be downloaded from the following links:

If information technology'southward Mac Bone 10 ten.vii King of beasts that yous are later on, it'due south still bachelor for £xix.99 here United states of america or hither United kingdom. Apple tree will send you a download code to use on the Mac App Store, so you will need to be running Snow Leopard to install information technology.

If it'due south OS X x.eight Mountain Lion that yous tin still buy it for £nineteen.99 here US or here UK.

We have more than information virtually getting the gratis installers for OS Ten Lion and Mountain Lion from Apple in Apple tree offers free downloads of Os Ten Lion and Mount Panthera leo.

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

How to get OS X Snow Leopard

If your Mac has a version of macOS installed that is older than Snow Leopard you lot won't accept access to the Mac App Shop. Since for a number of years afterwards Snow Leopard arrived all versions of Mac Os Ten 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 tree still sold a boxed version of Mac OS X 10.vi Snowfall Leopard here for £19.99 (at its launch in 2009 information technology cost £25). If you lot purchased Snow Leopard this fashion you were sent a physical box containing an optical disc - and so y'all volition need a CD/DVD drive to install information technology (which you will probably have if the Mac is that old).

Apple has now removed the ability to buy Snow Leopard. However, this isn't a big problem because those people who were previously locked out of updates can now download the Lion or Mount King of beasts update, as explained above.

Get Snow Leopard

How to get OS Ten Leopard or earlier

If the old version of the Bone y'all are afterward predates Snowfall Leopard and yous have a developer business relationship y'all might exist able to become it from developer.apple tree.com/downloads. If you search within the OS X category you should meet downloads for all versions of OS Ten, at least from version 10.iii to x.6.

You may be able to access the Developer department of the website, but you lot will only exist able to access certain software downloads if your Apple ID is associated with a paid Apple tree Developer Program.

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

You could also try looking on Amazon or eBay to see if anyone is selling old versions of the Mac operating organisation. For instance there's a Full Install of Os 10 King of beasts available for £8.50 on Amazon here.

If information technology's Tiger yous are after, then information technology volition cost a lilliputian more. There was a copy of Tiger on Amazon for £89.99 but information technology'south currently unavailable.

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