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

Another scenario is that you are a programmer and you need to exist running multiple versions of macOS and Mac OS X then that you can be sure that your software runs correctly on them. Either style, you lot have questions and we have answers.

In this commodity nosotros will cover how to become erstwhile versions of macOS including Large Sur, Catalina, Mojave, El Capitan, Sierra, Yosemite and even old versions of Mac Bone 10. Nosotros explain how to get hold of the relevant installer files so that you can install the software on your Mac.

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

If you lot are looking for a way to revert to the previous version of macOS, we have a more specific article well-nigh downgrading from Monterey to Large Sur and other versions, although nosotros do cover the method here too. Nosotros also have 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 too might desire to become the installer for a version of macOS in social club to brand a bootable installer for installing macOS on multiple Macs (nosotros also look at that scenario separately).

Where tin can I download sometime macOS?

Before you lot 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 information technology is possible to gets hold of these files - as long every bit yous know where to get on the Mac App Store.

We have the necessary links to the Mac App Shop beneath. We will prove you a way to get the following macOS installers:

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

*Notation that we take discovered that the links nosotros give below volition merely work if you are surfing in Safari, and so we propose you switch to Apple's browser before moving on. Yous should too close the Mac App Store app if you take that open up or the link may not work*

You won't be able to get the Mac OS 10 Snow Leopard download this way, but we'll look at that later. In fact, we tell you lot how to get copies of Leopard, Panthera leo and Mountain Panthera leo too!

We take a list of which Macs run which versions of macOS & Mac OS 10.

How to download macOS Big Sur

Yous can download the installer for Big Sur from the Mac App Store - every bit long as you lot know where to find it - searching the Mac App Shop volition not piece of work.

  • Click on this link which to open the Mac App Store on the Large Sur page. (Use Safari and make certain the Mac App Store app is airtight get-go 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 will open with the words "Finding Update". Eventually a message "Are yous sure yous desire to download macOS Big Sur" will announced. It might wait like 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. One time the installer has downloaded do not click Install. If you install information technology the installer will automatically exist deleted.
  5. You should exist able to find the Install macOS Big 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 - every bit long equally you know the magic link.

  • Click on this link which will open the Mac App Store on the Catalina folio. (Apply Safari and make sure the Mac App Store app is closed first).

Catalina Mac App Store

As in a higher place, 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 volition open up with the words "Finding Update". Eventually a message "Are yous certain you desire to download macOS Catalina" will appear. It might await like an update rather than the total version, only you'll meet from the size of the download (around 6GB) that this is the complete installer for Catalina. Download Catalina
  4. One time the installer has downloaded practise non click Install. If y'all install it the installer volition automatically be deleted.
  5. You should be able to find the Install macOS Catalina app in your Applications binder, 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 need to be running Safari and you need to close the Mac App Store app get-go. If the Mac App Store app is open up this redirect will non work.

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

Follow the steps in the section above to download it.

Download Mojave

How to download High Sierra

It is also possible to download Loftier 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 epitome named InstallOS.dmg will download and once it does you demand to locate the pkg installer inside the deejay paradigm.

  • You tin can Sierra via this link.
  • El Capitan tin can be downloaded from this link.
  • Yosemite is available here.

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

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

Another result is if the link takes you lot to the right folio in the Mac App Store, simply y'all run into an Update not found error message when you try to download information technology. This is an outcome we are aware of that others have encountered, although we haven't. In that case we suggest y'all attempt to download the installer via that link using an older Mac.

You lot may as well come across bug if you are trying to download an older version of macOS that your Mac cannot back up. Unremarkably when Apple introduces a new Mac it will non be able to run the version of macOS that shipped before the i 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 become sometime macOS versions

If yous are running an older version of macOS - or someone you know is - you lot should be able to easily detect older versions of macOS and even Mac Bone 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 10 update for years).

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

If you happen to have admission 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 Store for you lot. We run through this method in the section below.

Every bit above, in one case the installer has downloaded don't install it! If yous do then the installer will be deleted. You lot'll notice the installer in your Applications folder from which you can copy on to your Mac - or create a bootable installer.

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

You may as well observe updates to onetime version of macOS on Apple's website hither, all the same these are just point updates, rather than the full version, so it won't be much aid if you are trying to get the full download.

The one thing you really mustn't do is go to a torrent site and download a re-create of the Os X y'all want. Just because Apple tree gives away its software for free, don't think it's fine to just option up a copy. Pirated copies of Apple software could accept been adjusted to allow hackers access to the software and your Mac.

Download Mac OS X

If you lot accept admission to a Mac running OS X Yosemite or older it is possible to meet quondam versions of Mac OS X in the Mac App Store. Yosemite, Mavericks and Mount Lion tin can all be seen here.

It's worth noting that you'll merely come across erstwhile versions of Mac OS 10 that yous've downloaded nether Purchased - if you never downloaded it (or if it was never on the Mac App Store), that version will not be in your Purchased section. Another reason why the version of Mac OS 10 might be missing is if your machine shipped with that version installed. Nosotros'll await at that scenario later.

Here is how to become an older version of Mac OS X from the Mac App Store (this only works if you lot've downloaded it in the past and it won't work if y'all 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. Coil down to find the copy of OS 10 or macOS y'all want.
  4. Click Install.

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

Y'all won't be able to simply install this older version of the operating system directly onto a Mac running a newer version of Bone X or macOS. We will explicate how it tin can be installed on a Mac - including 1 currently running an earlier operating system here: How to install old Mac Bone Ten versions.

Can't find Mac OS X in Purchased?

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

  1. Log out of the App Store then log in again.
  2. If it'south a possibility that you downloaded it while logged in to a dissimilar Apple ID (maybe a work-related one), log in using that ID.
  3. Alternatively, find someone who has downloaded that version of the Mac operating system and enquire them to download the installation file for yous.

If you never downloaded the version of Mac OS X and so spring to step 3 and observe a friendly person who did. Ask them to download the Mac Bone 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 buy Bone Ten 10.7 Lion or Mount Lion from Apple for £19.99 each - Apple tree would send you lot a download code. Now Apple tree has stopped charging for the ageing operating organization versions. Instead yous tin can download the operating systems directly from the company'southward website.

The operating systems can be downloaded from the following links:

  • DMG for Mac Os X x.7 Lion (iv.72GB)
  • DMG for Mac OS X ten.8 Mountain Panthera leo (four.45GB)

If it's Mac Os X 10.vii Lion that y'all are after, it's nevertheless available for £19.99 here The states or here UK. Apple tree volition send you a download code to use on the Mac App Store, and then you lot will need to be running Snowfall Leopard to install information technology.

If it's OS 10 10.8 Mountain Lion that you tin still buy it for £19.99 here US or here Uk.

Nosotros take more information about getting the free installers for OS Ten Lion and Mountain King of beasts from Apple in Apple offers gratis downloads of Os X King of beasts and Mountain Panthera leo.

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

How to get OS Ten Snow Leopard

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

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

Apple tree has now removed the ability to buy Snow Leopard. Nevertheless, this isn't a big trouble because those people who were previously locked out of updates tin now download the Lion or Mount Panthera leo update, equally explained above.

Get Snow Leopard

How to get OS X Leopard or earlier

If the quondam version of the OS you are after predates Snow Leopard and you lot have a developer account y'all might be able to get it from developer.apple.com/downloads. If yous search within the OS Ten category you should see downloads for all versions of OS 10, at least from version ten.three to 10.vi.

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

If yous haven't signed upward as a Apple tree Programmer, discover out what that entails here. It costs £79 ($99) a yr to join the Apple tree Programmer Program and you have to sign a non disclosure understanding.

You could also endeavour looking on Amazon or eBay to run into if anyone is selling old versions of the Mac operating system. For example at that place'southward a Total Install of OS 10 Lion available for £8.50 on Amazon hither.

If information technology's Tiger yous are after, then it will cost a little more. In that location was a re-create of Tiger on Amazon for £89.99 merely information technology'southward currently unavailable.

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