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

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

In this article 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 X. We explicate how to go hold of the relevant installer files and so that you can install the software on your Mac.

We have a divide article that explains how to install old versions of macOS for when you 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 commodity about downgrading from Monterey to Big Sur and other versions, although nosotros do embrace the method hither also. We also have a guide to downgrading from the macOS beta.

However, if y'all were hoping to run older versions of macOS on M1 Macs that'southward non possible.

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

Where can I download old macOS?

Before you can install an older version of macOS or Mac OS X you volition demand to become hold of the installer for the version of macOS you desire to install. Luckily it is possible to gets hold of these files - as long every bit yous know where to go on the Mac App Store.

We have the necessary links to the Mac App Store below. Nosotros will bear witness you a way to become the following macOS installers:

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

*Note that we have discovered that the links nosotros give below volition only work if you are surfing in Safari, so we advise you switch to Apple tree'south browser before moving on. You should also close the Mac App Store app if you accept that open or the link may not work*

You won't be able to get the Mac Os X Snow Leopard download this mode, just we'll look at that subsequently. In fact, nosotros tell you how to go copies of Leopard, Lion and Mount Lion too!

We have a list of which Macs run which versions of macOS & Mac Os 10.

How to download macOS Big Sur

You can download the installer for Large Sur from the Mac App Store - as long every bit you know where to detect information technology - searching the Mac App Store volition not work.

  • Click on this link which to open up the Mac App Store on the Big Sur page. (Use Safari and make sure the Mac App Store app is closed starting time or it might not piece of 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 up 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 sure you desire to download macOS Large Sur" will appear. It might look like an update rather than the full version, simply y'all'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 exercise not click Install. If you install it the installer will automatically be deleted.
  5. You should be able to find the Install macOS Large Sur app in your Applications folder, you lot'll demand this for the adjacent steps, which nosotros outline here: How to downgrade macOS, install an older version on your Mac.

How to download macOS Catalina

Yous can besides download the installer for Catalina from the Mac App Shop - equally long every bit you know the magic link.

  • Click on this link which will open the Mac App Store on the Catalina page. (Use Safari and make sure the Mac App Shop app is closed starting time).

Catalina Mac App Store

Every bit in a higher place, follow these steps to download Catalina (or whatever other version of macOS) from the Mac App Shop:

  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 message "Are you certain yous want to download macOS Catalina" will appear. It might wait 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 Catalina. Download Catalina
  4. Once the installer has downloaded do not click Install. If you lot install it the installer will automatically exist deleted.
  5. You lot should be able to find the Install macOS Catalina app in your Applications folder, you'll need this for the side by side steps, which we outline hither: How to downgrade macOS, install an older version on your Mac.

How to download macOS Mojave

It is also possible to admission the Mojave installer via this link to the Mac App Shop. Note that as above, for this link to work you need to be running Safari and you lot need to close the Mac App Store app commencement. If the Mac App Store app is open up 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 in a higher place to download it.

Download Mojave

How to download High Sierra

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

Follow the steps in the section 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 information technology does you need to locate the pkg installer inside the disk image.

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

We've said above that in our feel usually 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 y'all accept already got the Mac App Store open. Withal, if you are however finding that the link isn't working y'all could attempt the culling methods below.

Another issue is if the link takes you to the correct folio in the Mac App Store, only y'all encounter an Update not found error bulletin when you try to download it. This is an issue we are aware of that others accept encountered, although we haven't. In that example we suggest you lot endeavor to download the installer via that link using an older Mac.

You may also see 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 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 case.

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

Other ways to get one-time macOS versions

If you lot are running an older version of macOS - or someone you know is - y'all should be able to easily find older versions of macOS and even Mac OS Ten in the Mac App Shop. How easy they are to find will be determined by the version of macOS running on that Mac.

Prior to macOS Mojave'south arrival 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 X update for years).

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

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 section below.

Every bit to a higher place, one time the installer has downloaded don't install it! If you practice then the installer will be deleted. You'll find the installer in your Applications binder from which y'all can re-create on to your Mac - or create a bootable installer.

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

You may also discover updates to old version of macOS on Apple's website here, however these are just point updates, rather than the total version, so information technology won't be much help if you are trying to get the full download.

The ane thing you really mustn't do is go to a torrent site and download a re-create of the Bone X you want. Only because Apple gives away its software for costless, don't think it's fine to only pick upwards a copy. Pirated copies of Apple tree software could take been adjusted to let hackers admission to the software and your Mac.

Download Mac OS X

If yous have access to a Mac running OS X Yosemite or older information technology is possible to run across old versions of Mac OS X in the Mac App Store. Yosemite, Mavericks and Mount Lion can all be seen here.

It'due south worth noting that y'all'll only see sometime versions of Mac Os 10 that you've downloaded nether Purchased - if you 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 Bone X might exist missing is if your auto shipped with that version installed. We'll wait at that scenario later.

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

  1. Open up the Mac App Store (choose Store > Sign In if you need to log in).
  2. Click Purchased.
  3. Roll down to find the re-create of Os Ten or macOS you desire.
  4. Click Install.

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

Yous won't be able to simply install this older version of the operating organisation direct onto a Mac running a newer version of OS X or macOS. Nosotros volition explain how it tin can be installed on a Mac - including one currently running an before operating organization here: How to install old Mac Bone X versions.

Tin can't find Mac Os X in Purchased?

If you know you have previously downloaded the version of macOS you lot are after, only you lot aren't seeing it in the Purchased section, there are a few things to endeavour:

  1. Log out of the App Store so log in again.
  2. If information technology's a possibility that you lot 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 system and ask them to download the installation file for y'all.

If yous never downloaded the version of Mac Bone X and then jump to stride 3 and detect a friendly person who did. Ask them to download the Mac Os X installer for you lot.

Luckily the copy of OS X isn't locked to their business relationship so it volition install on any Mac.

How to go OS 10 Lion, Mountain Panthera leo

Prior to June 2021 you could buy OS X 10.7 Lion or Mount King of beasts from Apple for £19.99 each - Apple would send yous a download code. Now Apple has stopped charging for the ageing operating organisation versions. Instead you can download the operating systems directly from the company'due south website.

The operating systems can be downloaded from the following links:

If it's Mac OS X 10.7 Lion that you lot are later, it's notwithstanding available for £nineteen.99 here US or here UK. Apple tree will send y'all a download code to use on the Mac App Store, so you will need to be running Snow Leopard to install it.

If it's OS X x.viii Mountain Lion that you can still buy it for £19.99 here US or here UK.

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

Whether your Mac will actually run these operating systems is some other question we address here: Which versions of macOS can my Mac run? Note that only Macs that predate 2012 will run Lion.

How to become OS Ten 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 Snow Leopard arrived all versions of Mac Os X arrived via the Mac App Shop, those who never installed Snow Leopard had a problem: without Snow Leopard they couldn't update.

Until 2021 Apple tree nonetheless sold a boxed version of Mac Bone X 10.6 Snow Leopard hither for £xix.99 (at its launch in 2009 it price £25). If you purchased Snow Leopard this way you were sent a physical box containing an optical disc - then you will need a CD/DVD bulldoze to install it (which yous will probably accept if the Mac is that old).

Apple tree 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 Lion update, as explained above.

Get Snow Leopard

How to get OS 10 Leopard or earlier

If the old version of the OS you are afterwards predates Snow Leopard and you have a programmer account you lot might be able to get it from developer.apple.com/downloads. If you search within the OS X category you should see downloads for all versions of Bone X, at to the lowest degree from version 10.three to x.6.

You may be able to access the Developer section of the website, simply you lot 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 as a Apple Programmer, discover out what that entails here. Information technology costs £79 ($99) a year to bring together the Apple tree Developer Program and you have to sign a non disclosure agreement.

You lot could also endeavour looking on Amazon or eBay to run into if anyone is selling erstwhile versions of the Mac operating system. For instance there's a Full Install of Os X Lion available for £8.50 on Amazon here.

If it's Tiger y'all are after, then it will toll a little more. At that place was a re-create of Tiger on Amazon for £89.99 only it's currently unavailable.

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