There are a few reasons why you might want to download and install one-time versions of macOS or Mac Bone 10. Perhaps you are relying on software yous have discovered doesn't piece of work properly in the latest version. Or maybe you just don't similar the new version of macOS that you take installed.

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

In this commodity we will comprehend how to get old versions of macOS including Big Sur, Catalina, Mojave, El Capitan, Sierra, Yosemite and even old versions of Mac OS 10. Nosotros explicate how to go hold of the relevant installer files so that you can install the software on your Mac.

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

If you are looking for a way to revert to the previous version of macOS, we have a more than specific article almost downgrading from Monterey to Big Sur and other versions, although we practice cover 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'southward non possible.

You lot also might desire to get the installer for a version of macOS in order to brand a bootable installer for installing macOS on multiple Macs (nosotros as well wait at that scenario separately).

Where tin can I download old macOS?

Before yous can install an older version of macOS or Mac OS X yous will need to become concord 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 you know where to go on the Mac App Store.

We have the necessary links to the Mac App Store below. We will show y'all a mode to get the following macOS installers:

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

*Note that nosotros have discovered that the links we requite below will only work if you are surfing in Safari, and then we suggest you switch to Apple'due south browser before moving on. Yous should also close the Mac App Shop app if you lot take that open up or the link may not work*

You won't be able to get the Mac Os X Snow Leopard download this way, just we'll look at that later. In fact, we tell yous how to get copies of Leopard, Lion and Mountain King of beasts too!

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

How to download macOS Large Sur

Y'all can download the installer for Big Sur from the Mac App Store - as long every bit you know where to find information technology - searching the Mac App Shop volition not work.

  • Click on this link which to open the Mac App Store on the Big Sur page. (Apply Safari and make certain the Mac App Shop app is closed first or it might non work).

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

  1. Click this link to open the Mac App Store on the Big Sur page.
  2. Click on Get.
  3. Software Update will open with the words "Finding Update". Eventually a message "Are you lot certain you want to download macOS Large Sur" volition appear. Information technology might look like an update rather than the full version, merely you'll run into from the size of the download (around 6GB) that this is the complete installer for Big Sur.
  4. Once the installer has downloaded practice not click Install. If you install it the installer volition automatically be deleted.
  5. You should be able to discover the Install macOS Large Sur 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 Catalina

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

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

Catalina Mac App Store

Equally 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". Somewhen a message "Are yous sure y'all want to download macOS Catalina" volition appear. It might wait like an update rather than the total version, simply you'll see from the size of the download (around 6GB) that this is the complete installer for Catalina. Download Catalina
  4. Once the installer has downloaded practice non 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 Shop. Note that as above, for this link to piece of work you need to be running Safari and you need to close the Mac App Store app showtime. If the Mac App Store 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 department higher up to download information technology.

Download Mojave

How to download High Sierra

Information technology is also possible to download High Sierra via this link. (Apply 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 demand to download them in Safari. A disk paradigm named InstallOS.dmg will download and one time it does you lot demand to locate the pkg installer inside the deejay epitome.

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

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

Another upshot is if the link takes you to the correct folio in the Mac App Store, but you lot see an Update not establish mistake message when you endeavor to download it. This is an upshot nosotros are aware of that others have encountered, although we haven't. In that case we suggest you try to download the installer via that link using an older Mac.

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

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

Other means to get old macOS versions

If y'all are running an older version of macOS - or someone you know is - you should be able to easily discover older versions of macOS and even Mac OS X in the Mac App Store. How easy they are to detect 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).

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

If you happen to take access to a Mac that'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 re-create of the installer from the Mac App Store for yous. We run through this method in the section below.

Equally above, once the installer has downloaded don't install it! If you lot do then the installer will be deleted. You lot'll discover the installer in your Applications binder from which you can re-create on to your Mac - or create a bootable installer.

We'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 discover updates to old version of macOS on Apple'southward website here, however these are only indicate updates, rather than the full version, so information technology won't be much assistance if you lot are trying to get the full download.

The one matter you really mustn't do is get to a torrent site and download a re-create of the OS 10 you lot want. Just considering Apple gives away its software for free, don't think it's fine to just choice 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 you take access to a Mac running Bone 10 Yosemite or older it is possible to come across old versions of Mac OS Ten in the Mac App Store. Yosemite, Mavericks and Mountain Lion tin can all be seen here.

It's worth noting that you'll merely see sometime versions of Mac Bone Ten that y'all've downloaded nether Purchased - if y'all never downloaded it (or if it was never on the Mac App Shop), that version will not be in your Purchased section. Some other reason why the version of Mac Os X might be missing is if your motorcar shipped with that version installed. We'll look at that scenario subsequently.

Here is how to get an older version of Mac Bone X from the Mac App Shop (this only works if you've downloaded it in the past and it won't work if y'all 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. Ringlet down to find the copy of Os 10 or macOS yous 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 system directly onto a Mac running a newer version of Os X or macOS. We will explain how it can be installed on a Mac - including i currently running an earlier operating system here: How to install sometime Mac Os X versions.

Tin can't find Mac OS X in Purchased?

If you know you have previously downloaded the version of macOS you are afterwards, but you aren't seeing information technology in the Purchased section, there are a few things to try:

  1. Log out of the App Shop then log in again.
  2. If it'due south a possibility that you downloaded it while logged in to a different Apple ID (perchance a piece of work-related one), log in using that ID.
  3. Alternatively, notice someone who has downloaded that version of the Mac operating system and ask them to download the installation file for you.

If you lot never downloaded the version of Mac OS X then jump to footstep 3 and observe a friendly person who did. Enquire them to download the Mac OS X installer for you.

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

How to get OS X Lion, Mountain Lion

Prior to June 2021 you could purchase Bone 10 ten.7 Lion or Mountain Lion from Apple tree for £19.99 each - Apple would ship y'all a download code. Now Apple has stopped charging for the ageing operating arrangement versions. Instead you can download the operating systems directly from the company's website.

The operating systems can be downloaded from the following links:

If it's Mac OS X 10.7 Lion that yous are later, information technology'southward withal available for £xix.99 here US or hither United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland. Apple volition send yous a download code to utilize on the Mac App Store, so you will need to be running Snow Leopard to install it.

If it'south Bone X 10.8 Mount Lion that yous tin can still purchase information technology for £xix.99 hither United states or here UK.

We take more than information well-nigh getting the free installers for Os X Lion and Mountain Panthera leo from Apple tree in Apple offers free downloads of Bone X Lion and Mountain Lion.

Whether your Mac will actually run these operating systems is another question we address here: Which versions of macOS can my Mac run? Notation that only Macs that predate 2012 will 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 after Snowfall Leopard arrived all versions of Mac OS X arrived via the Mac App Store, those who never installed Snow Leopard had a trouble: without Snow Leopard they couldn't update.

Until 2021 Apple nonetheless sold a boxed version of Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard here for £xix.99 (at its launch in 2009 it price £25). If y'all purchased Snowfall Leopard this style you were sent a concrete box containing an optical disc - so y'all will need a CD/DVD drive to install it (which you volition probably take if the Mac is that quondam).

Apple has now removed the ability to purchase 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 in a higher place.

Get Snow Leopard

How to go OS X Leopard or earlier

If the quondam version of the OS you are later on predates Snow Leopard and you have a developer account you might be able to get information technology from developer.apple.com/downloads. If you search inside the Os X category you lot should see downloads for all versions of Os X, at least from version 10.3 to x.half dozen.

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

If yous haven't signed up as a Apple Programmer, find out what that entails here. It costs £79 ($99) a yr to bring together the Apple Programmer Program and you lot have to sign a non 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 example there's a Total Install of Os X Lion available for £8.50 on Amazon here.

If information technology's Tiger you are after, then information technology will cost a little more. There was a re-create of Tiger on Amazon for £89.99 but it'due south currently unavailable.

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