At that place are a few reasons why you might want to download and install old versions of macOS or Mac Os 10. Perhaps you are relying on software you lot accept discovered doesn't work properly in the latest version. Or peradventure you simply don't like the new version of macOS that you lot have installed.

Another scenario is that you are a developer and you lot demand to be running multiple versions of macOS and Mac OS X and so that you can be sure that your software runs correctly on them. Either way, you accept questions and we have answers.

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

We have a split article that explains how to install one-time versions of macOS for when you lot become to that stage of the process.

If you are looking for a manner to revert to the previous version of macOS, we take a more specific article most downgrading from Monterey to Big Sur and other versions, although we practise embrace the method hither too. We also take a guide to downgrading from the macOS beta.

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

You also might desire to get the installer for a version of macOS in social club to make a bootable installer for installing macOS on multiple Macs (nosotros also look at that scenario separately).

Where can I download old macOS?

Earlier you can install an older version of macOS or Mac OS X y'all will need to get hold of the installer for the version of macOS you want to install. Luckily it is possible to gets hold of these files - every bit long as y'all know where to continue the Mac App Store.

We have the necessary links to the Mac App Shop below. We volition show yous a style to go the post-obit macOS installers:

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

*Annotation that we have discovered that the links we requite beneath volition merely work if yous are surfing in Safari, and then nosotros suggest you switch to Apple's browser before moving on. Yous should likewise close the Mac App Store app if you have that open or the link may not work*

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

Nosotros accept a list of which Macs run which versions of macOS & Mac Bone X.

How to download macOS Large Sur

You tin can download the installer for Large Sur from the Mac App Store - as long as yous know where to observe it - searching the Mac App Store will non piece of work.

  • Click on this link which to open the Mac App Store on the Big Sur page. (Use Safari and make certain the Mac App Shop app is closed first 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 up the Mac App Store on the Big Sur page.
  2. Click on Get.
  3. Software Update will open with the words "Finding Update". Somewhen a message "Are you sure y'all want to download macOS Big Sur" will appear. Information technology might look like an update rather than the full version, simply 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 be deleted.
  5. You should be able to find the Install macOS Big Sur app in your Applications binder, you'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 Catalina

Y'all tin also download the installer for Catalina from the Mac App Store - as long every bit you know the magic link.

  • Click on this link which will open the Mac App Store on the Catalina folio. (Employ 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". Somewhen a message "Are you sure y'all desire to download macOS Catalina" will appear. It might expect like an update rather than the total version, merely you'll come 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 install it the installer volition automatically be deleted.
  5. You should exist able to detect 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 admission the Mojave installer via this link to the Mac App Shop. Notation that as above, for this link to work you demand to be running Safari and you need to close the Mac App Store app outset. If the Mac App Store app is open this redirect volition not work.

  • Click on this link to open up the Mac App Shop 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 Store app first).

Follow the steps in the section higher up 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 volition download and one time it does you need to locate the pkg installer within the disk image.

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

We've said higher up that in our experience commonly 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. Even so, if you are yet finding that the link isn't working yous could try the alternative methods beneath.

Another upshot is if the link takes you to the correct page in the Mac App Store, only you see an Update not found fault message when you try to download it. This is an issue we are aware of that others have encountered, although we haven't. In that case nosotros suggest y'all endeavor to download the installer via that link using an older Mac.

Y'all may as well come across issues if you are trying to download an older version of macOS that your Mac cannot support. Normally when Apple introduces a new Mac information technology will not exist able to run the version of macOS that shipped before the 1 installed on that Mac. The older macOS might non support sure components in that Mac, for case.

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

Other means to get erstwhile macOS versions

If you are running an older version of macOS - or someone yous know is - you should be able to hands find older versions of macOS and fifty-fifty Mac OS Ten in the Mac App Store. How like shooting fish in a barrel they are to find will 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 exist searched for or found via the Purchased tab (not that anyone has had to pay for a Mac OS X update for years).

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

If y'all 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 lot. Nosotros run through this method in the section below.

As above, in one case the installer has downloaded don't install information technology! If you lot do then the installer volition exist deleted. Yous'll find the installer in your Applications folder from which you lot can copy on to your Mac - or create a bootable installer.

We've heard that it may exist possible to download the installer via Terminal, however nosotros were unable to get that method to work.

Y'all may besides find updates to old version of macOS on Apple'southward website here, however these are only point updates, rather than the total version, so it won't exist much aid if you are trying to get the full download.

The one matter y'all actually mustn't do is go to a torrent site and download a re-create of the OS X you lot want. Just because Apple gives away its software for complimentary, don't think it's fine to just pick up a copy. Pirated copies of Apple tree software could have been adjusted to let 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 can all be seen here.

It'due south worth noting that y'all'll only see old versions of Mac OS Ten that you've downloaded nether Purchased - if yous never downloaded it (or if it was never on the Mac App Store), that version will not 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 await at that scenario after.

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

  1. Open the Mac App Shop (cull Store > Sign In if you need to log in).
  2. Click Purchased.
  3. Scroll down to find the re-create of Os Ten or macOS y'all want.
  4. Click Install.

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

Yous won't exist able to simply install this older version of the operating organization straight onto a Mac running a newer version of Os 10 or macOS. Nosotros will explain how it can be installed on a Mac - including i currently running an earlier operating arrangement here: How to install onetime Mac Os Ten versions.

Can't discover Mac OS X in Purchased?

If y'all know yous accept previously downloaded the version of macOS you are subsequently, but you aren't seeing it in the Purchased department, there are a few things to endeavour:

  1. Log out of the App Shop and then log in once again.
  2. If information technology's a possibility that you downloaded it while logged in to a different Apple ID (peradventure a piece of work-related one), log in using that ID.
  3. Alternatively, find someone who has downloaded that version of the Mac operating organization and ask them to download the installation file for yous.

If y'all never downloaded the version of Mac Bone X then jump to step 3 and notice a friendly person who did. Ask them to download the Mac OS X installer for you.

Luckily the copy of Os 10 isn't locked to their account then it will install on any Mac.

How to get Os Ten Lion, Mountain Lion

Prior to June 2021 yous could buy OS X 10.7 King of beasts or Mountain Panthera leo from Apple for £nineteen.99 each - Apple would send you a download code. Now Apple has stopped charging for the ageing operating system versions. Instead you can download the operating systems directly from the visitor'due south website.

The operating systems can be downloaded from the following links:

If it'southward Mac Os X 10.seven Lion that yous are afterward, information technology'due south still bachelor for £xix.99 here US or here UK. Apple will send y'all a download code to use on the Mac App Shop, and so y'all will need to be running Snowfall Leopard to install it.

If information technology's Bone Ten 10.viii Mountain Lion that you can still buy it for £19.99 here Usa or here Uk.

Nosotros have more information well-nigh getting the gratuitous installers for OS X King of beasts and Mount King of beasts from Apple in Apple offers gratuitous downloads of OS 10 Lion and Mountain King of beasts.

Whether your Mac will actually run these operating systems is another question we address here: Which versions of macOS tin can my Mac run? Notation that only Macs that predate 2012 will run Panthera leo.

How to go OS 10 Snow Leopard

If your Mac has a version of macOS installed that is older than Snow Leopard yous won't accept access to the Mac App Store. Since for a number of years later on Snow Leopard arrived all versions of Mac Os X arrived via the Mac App Store, those who never installed Snow Leopard had a problem: without Snow Leopard they couldn't update.

Until 2021 Apple still sold a boxed version of Mac Os 10 10.6 Snow Leopard here for £19.99 (at its launch in 2009 information technology cost £25). If you purchased Snow Leopard this way y'all were sent a concrete box containing an optical disc - and so you will need a CD/DVD drive to install it (which you volition probably have if the Mac is that old).

Apple has now removed the ability to buy Snow Leopard. Withal, 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 to a higher place.

Get Snow Leopard

How to get OS X Leopard or before

If the quondam version of the Os yous are afterward predates Snowfall Leopard and you lot accept a developer account y'all might exist able to go it from developer.apple.com/downloads. If y'all search within the Bone X category you lot should encounter downloads for all versions of OS X, at least from version x.3 to x.6.

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

If yous haven't signed upward equally a Apple tree Programmer, find out what that entails hither. It costs £79 ($99) a year to join the Apple Developer Plan and you have 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 Ten Lion available for £eight.50 on Amazon here.

If it's Tiger y'all are after, then it volition cost a piffling 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