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

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

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

We have a carve up commodity that explains how to install old versions of macOS for when you lot go 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 commodity about downgrading from Monterey to Big Sur and other versions, although we practice comprehend the method hither also. We also have a guide to downgrading from the macOS beta.

Still, if you lot were hoping to run older versions of macOS on M1 Macs that'due south non possible.

Y'all 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 also look at that scenario separately).

Where can I download old macOS?

Before you can install an older version of macOS or Mac OS X you will need to get hold of the installer for the version of macOS you want to install. Luckily it is possible to gets agree of these files - as long equally you know where to proceed the Mac App Store.

We have the necessary links to the Mac App Store beneath. We volition show you a mode to get the following macOS installers:

  • macOS Large Sur
  • macOS Catalina
  • macOS Mojave
  • macOS High Sierra
  • macOS Sierra
  • OS 10 El Capitan
  • OS 10 Yosemite
  • Os Ten Mavericks
  • OS 10 Mountain Lion
  • OS Ten Lion

*Note that we have discovered that the links we give below will simply work if you are surfing in Safari, then we advise you switch to Apple tree'south browser earlier moving on. You should besides close the Mac App Store app if you have that open or the link may not piece of work*

You lot won't exist able to become the Mac Bone X Snow Leopard download this way, but we'll wait at that after. In fact, nosotros tell you how to get copies of Leopard, Lion and Mountain Lion too!

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

How to download macOS Big Sur

You can download the installer for Big Sur from the Mac App Store - equally long as you know where to notice it - searching the Mac App Store will non work.

  • Click on this link which to open the Mac App Store on the Large Sur page. (Use Safari and make sure the Mac App Store app is closed showtime or it might not piece of work).

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

  1. Click this link to open the Mac App Store on the Big Sur folio.
  2. Click on Go.
  3. Software Update volition open with the words "Finding Update". Eventually a message "Are you lot sure you want to download macOS Large Sur" volition appear. It might wait similar an update rather than the total version, but you'll see from the size of the download (around 6GB) that this is the consummate installer for Big Sur.
  4. Once the installer has downloaded practice not click Install. If y'all 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, y'all'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 can besides download the installer for Catalina from the Mac App Shop - as long as you know the magic link.

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

Catalina Mac App Store

As above, follow these steps to download Catalina (or whatever 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 up with the words "Finding Update". Eventually a bulletin "Are you lot sure you want to download macOS Catalina" will announced. It might look like an update rather than the full version, only you'll see from the size of the download (around 6GB) that this is the complete installer for Catalina. Download Catalina
  4. In one case the installer has downloaded practise not click Install. If you install it the installer will automatically be deleted.
  5. You should be 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

It is also possible to access the Mojave installer via this link to the Mac App Store. Note that as above, for this link to work you demand to exist running Safari and yous demand to close the Mac App Store app offset. If the Mac App Shop app is open up 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 to a higher place to download it.

Download Mojave

How to download High Sierra

It is also possible to download High Sierra via this link. (Utilize Safari, close the Mac App Shop app first).

Follow the steps in the section to a higher place to download Loftier 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 prototype named InstallOS.dmg will download and once it does you need to locate the pkg installer inside the deejay prototype.

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

We've said above that in our experience unremarkably the reason the above links don't work is if yous are browsing in something other than Safari, or if y'all have already got the Mac App Store open. Still, if you are all the same finding that the link isn't working you could endeavor the alternative methods below.

Another issue is if the link takes y'all to the right folio in the Mac App Store, but y'all see an Update not plant fault message when you try to download information technology. This is an event nosotros are aware of that others accept encountered, although we haven't. In that case we suggest you lot try to download the installer via that link using an older Mac.

You may besides encounter issues if you are trying to download an older version of macOS that your Mac cannot support. Normally when Apple introduces a new Mac it will 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 instance.

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

Other ways to go sometime macOS versions

If you are running an older version of macOS - or someone yous know is - you should exist able to easily find older versions of macOS and even Mac Os 10 in the Mac App Shop. How easy they are to discover will be determined past 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 found via the Purchased tab (not that anyone has had to pay for a Mac OS X update for years).

Still, when Apple introduced Mojave the Mac App Store changed, and these installers tin no longer be searched for or establish 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 Store.)

If you happen to accept admission 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 department below.

As higher up, once the installer has downloaded don't install it! If y'all exercise and so the installer will be deleted. You'll find the installer in your Applications folder from which y'all can copy on to your Mac - or create a bootable installer.

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

You may also observe updates to old version of macOS on Apple tree'due south website here, even so these are just point updates, rather than the total version, so information technology won't exist much aid if you are trying to go the full download.

The one thing you really mustn't exercise is go to a torrent site and download a copy of the OS X yous want. Just because Apple gives away its software for free, don't think it's fine to just option 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 10

If yous have access to a Mac running OS X Yosemite or older it is possible to come across old versions of Mac Os X in the Mac App Shop. Yosemite, Mavericks and Mountain King of beasts can all be seen here.

Information technology's worth noting that y'all'll only see old versions of Mac Os X that you've downloaded under Purchased - if you never downloaded it (or if information technology was never on the Mac App Store), that version volition non be 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 afterward.

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

  1. Open up the Mac App Shop (choose Store > Sign In if you lot demand to log in).
  2. Click Purchased.
  3. Scroll down to notice the re-create of Os X or macOS you want.
  4. Click Install.

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

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. We will explain how it tin can exist installed on a Mac - including one currently running an earlier operating system hither: How to install old Mac OS X versions.

Can't detect Mac OS Ten in Purchased?

If y'all know you have previously downloaded the version of macOS you are subsequently, merely you aren't seeing it 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 downloaded it while logged in to a different Apple ID (perhaps a work-related ane), log in using that ID.
  3. Alternatively, find someone who has downloaded that version of the Mac operating organisation and ask them to download the installation file for you.

If you never downloaded the version of Mac Bone 10 then leap to pace three and find a friendly person who did. Enquire them to download the Mac OS X installer for you.

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

How to get Bone Ten Lion, Mountain Lion

Prior to June 2021 yous could purchase Os X x.7 King of beasts or Mount Lion from Apple for £19.99 each - Apple would send you a download lawmaking. Now Apple has stopped charging for the ageing operating arrangement versions. Instead you tin download the operating systems directly from the visitor's website.

The operating systems can be downloaded from the following links:

If it's Mac Bone Ten ten.7 Panthera leo that you are after, it'southward however available for £19.99 here U.s. or hither UK. Apple will ship yous a download code to use on the Mac App Shop, and so you will need to exist running Snow Leopard to install information technology.

If information technology'due south Os X 10.eight Mountain Lion that you can yet buy it for £19.99 here US or here United kingdom.

We have more information about getting the gratis installers for Bone Ten Lion and Mount Lion from Apple in Apple offers free downloads of Bone X Lion and Mountain King of beasts.

Whether your Mac volition actually 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 will run Lion.

How to get Os X Snow Leopard

If your Mac has a version of macOS installed that is older than Snowfall Leopard you won't have access to the Mac App Store. Since for a number of years after 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 notwithstanding sold a boxed version of Mac Os Ten 10.vi Snow Leopard here for £nineteen.99 (at its launch in 2009 information technology cost £25). If you purchased Snow Leopard this manner you were sent a physical box containing an optical disc - so you volition need a CD/DVD drive to install it (which you will probably have if the Mac is that old).

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

Get Snow Leopard

How to go OS 10 Leopard or earlier

If the old version of the Os you lot are after predates Snow Leopard and you lot have a developer business relationship you might be able to get information technology from developer.apple.com/downloads. If you search within the OS X category you should meet downloads for all versions of OS X, at least from version 10.3 to x.6.

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

If you haven't signed up equally a Apple Developer, find out what that entails hither. It costs £79 ($99) a twelvemonth to join the Apple Developer Plan and you have to sign a non disclosure agreement.

You could also attempt looking on Amazon or eBay to see if anyone is selling old versions of the Mac operating system. For example there's a Full Install of Os X Lion available for £viii.50 on Amazon hither.

If information technology'due south Tiger you are afterward, then it will cost a little more than. 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