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

Another scenario is that you are a developer and you need to exist running multiple versions of macOS and Mac Bone 10 so that you tin can be sure that your software runs correctly on them. Either style, you have questions and nosotros accept answers.

In this article we volition cover how to become erstwhile versions of macOS including Big Sur, Catalina, Mojave, El Capitan, Sierra, Yosemite and even onetime versions of Mac OS Ten. We explain how to get 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 onetime versions of macOS for when yous get to that stage of the process.

If y'all are looking for a way to revert to the previous version of macOS, we have a more specific article about downgrading from Monterey to Large Sur and other versions, although we do cover the method here as well. Nosotros too accept a guide to downgrading from the macOS beta.

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

You also might want to become the installer for a version of macOS in guild to make a bootable installer for installing macOS on multiple Macs (nosotros as well look at that scenario separately).

Where can I download old macOS?

Before you can install an older version of macOS or Mac Bone X you will need to become hold of the installer for the version of macOS y'all want to install. Luckily it is possible to gets hold of these files - as long as you know where to become on the Mac App Store.

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

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

*Note that nosotros have discovered that the links nosotros give below volition only work if you are surfing in Safari, so we suggest you switch to Apple's browser before moving on. You should as well close the Mac App Store app if yous take that open or the link may non work*

Yous won't be able to become the Mac Bone 10 Snowfall Leopard download this style, simply we'll expect at that later. In fact, we tell you how to get copies of Leopard, Lion and Mount King of beasts also!

We have 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 Shop - as long as you know where to notice it - searching the Mac App Shop will not work.

  • Click on this link which to open the Mac App Store on the Big Sur folio. (Use Safari and make certain the Mac App Store app is closed showtime 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 Shop on the Big Sur folio.
  2. Click on Become.
  3. Software Update will open with the words "Finding Update". Eventually a message "Are y'all sure you desire to download macOS Big Sur" will appear. It might await like an update rather than the full version, only you'll run into from the size of the download (around 6GB) that this is the complete installer for Big Sur.
  4. In one case the installer has downloaded do not click Install. If y'all install it the installer will automatically be deleted.
  5. You lot should exist able to notice the Install macOS Big Sur app in your Applications binder, yous'll need this for the next steps, which nosotros outline here: How to downgrade macOS, install an older version on your Mac.

How to download macOS Catalina

You tin can besides 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 up the Mac App Store on the Catalina folio. (Use Safari and make sure the Mac App Store app is closed kickoff).

Catalina Mac App Store

Every bit above, 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 will open with the words "Finding Update". Eventually a bulletin "Are you sure you want to download macOS Catalina" will appear. It might await similar an update rather than the total version, just you'll come across from the size of the download (around 6GB) that this is the consummate installer for Catalina. Download Catalina
  4. Once the installer has downloaded do not click Install. If you install it the installer will automatically be deleted.
  5. Yous should exist 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 admission the Mojave installer via this link to the Mac App Store. Note that every bit higher up, for this link to work y'all demand to be running Safari and you need to close the Mac App Store app offset. If the Mac App Store app is open up this redirect volition not work.

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

Follow the steps in the section higher up to download it.

Download Mojave

How to download Loftier Sierra

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

Follow the steps in the department above to download High Sierra.

How to download Sierra, El Capitan or Yosemite

Apple tree provides dmg files of these older macOS versions - you demand to download them in Safari. A deejay image named InstallOS.dmg will download and in one case it does y'all need to locate the pkg installer inside the disk image.

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

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

Some other issue is if the link takes yous to the correct folio in the Mac App Store, simply you encounter an Update not found error message when you try to download information technology. This is an issue nosotros are aware of that others have encountered, although nosotros oasis't. In that case nosotros suggest you lot endeavor to download the installer via that link using an older Mac.

You may also come across issues if yous are trying to download an older version of macOS that your Mac cannot support. Ordinarily when Apple introduces a new Mac it will non be able to run the version of macOS that shipped before the one installed on that Mac. The older macOS might not back up certain components in that Mac, for example.

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

Other means to go onetime macOS versions

If y'all are running an older version of macOS - or someone you know is - you lot should be able to easily find older versions of macOS and fifty-fifty Mac Bone X in the Mac App Store. How easy they are to notice will exist 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 (non that anyone has had to pay for a Mac OS 10 update for years).

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

If you lot happen to have access to a Mac that'southward running an older version of macOS, log into the Mac App Shop 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. We run through this method in the section below.

As above, in one case the installer has downloaded don't install it! If you lot do then the installer will be deleted. You'll observe the installer in your Applications folder from which you tin re-create on to your Mac - or create a bootable installer.

Nosotros've heard that it may be possible to download the installer via Terminal, however we were unable to become that method to piece of work.

You may also notice updates to old version of macOS on Apple'south website here, however these are just signal updates, rather than the full version, so it won't exist much assist if you lot are trying to get the full download.

The ane matter you really mustn't exercise is go to a torrent site and download a copy of the OS X you want. Just because Apple gives away its software for gratuitous, don't call back it's fine to just pick upwardly a copy. Pirated copies of Apple software could have been adjusted to allow hackers admission to the software and your Mac.

Download Mac OS X

If you lot have access to a Mac running Bone Ten Yosemite or older it is possible to come across onetime versions of Mac Os X in the Mac App Store. Yosemite, Mavericks and Mountain Lion tin all be seen here.

Information technology's worth noting that you'll simply encounter former versions of Mac Os X that you've downloaded under Purchased - if you never downloaded it (or if it was never on the Mac App Store), that version will non be in your Purchased section. Another reason why the version of Mac OS Ten might be missing is if your auto shipped with that version installed. We'll look at that scenario later on.

Here is how to get an older version of Mac Bone 10 from the Mac App Store (this only works if you lot've downloaded it in the by and it won't work if you have already installed Mojave or later):

  1. Open the Mac App Store (choose Store > Sign In if you need to log in).
  2. Click Purchased.
  3. Scroll down to detect the copy of Os X or macOS you want.
  4. Click Install.

Clicking Install won't actually install the software, just information technology volition download the installer awarding to your Applications binder.

You won't be able to simply install this older version of the operating organisation directly onto a Mac running a newer version of OS X or macOS. We will explicate how it can be installed on a Mac - including one currently running an earlier operating arrangement hither: How to install one-time Mac Bone X versions.

Can't find Mac OS Ten in Purchased?

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

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

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

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

How to get OS X Lion, Mountain Lion

Prior to June 2021 y'all could purchase OS X 10.seven Lion or Mountain Lion from Apple for £19.99 each - Apple would send you a download code. Now Apple has stopped charging for the ageing operating system versions. Instead y'all can download the operating systems directly from the visitor's website.

The operating systems can be downloaded from the following links:

If information technology's Mac OS X x.7 Lion that you are after, it'southward still available for £19.99 hither US or here U.k.. Apple tree will send you a download code to use on the Mac App Store, then you will need to be running Snow Leopard to install it.

If information technology's Bone X 10.viii Mountain Lion that you lot tin can all the same buy it for £19.99 here US or hither UK.

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

Whether your Mac will actually run these operating systems is another question nosotros address hither: Which versions of macOS can my Mac run? Note that simply Macs that predate 2012 will run Lion.

How to go Os X Snow 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 Shop. Since for a number of years afterwards Snow Leopard arrived all versions of Mac Bone X arrived via the Mac App Store, those who never installed Snowfall Leopard had a trouble: without Snow Leopard they couldn't update.

Until 2021 Apple however sold a boxed version of Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard hither for £19.99 (at its launch in 2009 it cost £25). If you purchased Snow Leopard this fashion you were sent a physical box containing an optical disc - then you volition demand a CD/DVD drive to install information technology (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 considering those people who were previously locked out of updates can now download the Lion or Mountain Lion update, equally explained above.

Get Snow Leopard

How to go OS X Leopard or earlier

If the quondam version of the OS you are after predates Snow Leopard and you have a programmer account you might be able to go information technology from developer.apple tree.com/downloads. If you search within the Os Ten category you should see downloads for all versions of Os X, at least from version 10.iii to 10.6.

You may be able to access the Developer section of the website, but yous volition just be able to access certain software downloads if your Apple tree ID is associated with a paid Apple Programmer Program.

If yous haven't signed up equally a Apple tree Developer, find out what that entails hither. Information technology costs £79 ($99) a year to join the Apple tree Developer Program and you have to sign a non disclosure agreement.

Yous could as well try looking on Amazon or eBay to see if anyone is selling old versions of the Mac operating system. For example there'due south a Full Install of Os X Lion bachelor for £8.l on Amazon here.

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

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