At that place are a few reasons why y'all might want to download and install former versions of macOS or Mac Bone X. Perchance you lot are relying on software you have discovered doesn't work properly in the latest version. Or peradventure you merely don't like the new version of macOS that yous have installed.

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

In this commodity nosotros will encompass how to get erstwhile versions of macOS including Big Sur, Catalina, Mojave, El Capitan, Sierra, Yosemite and even quondam versions of Mac OS X. We explain how to go hold of the relevant installer files then that you tin install the software on your Mac.

We have a separate commodity that explains how to install old versions of macOS for when y'all get to that stage of the process.

If you are looking for a way to revert to the previous version of macOS, we take a more specific article about downgrading from Monterey to Big Sur and other versions, although nosotros practice cover the method here too. We also have a guide to downgrading from the macOS beta.

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

You also might desire to get the installer for a version of macOS in lodge to make a bootable installer for installing macOS on multiple Macs (we also expect at that scenario separately).

Where can I download erstwhile macOS?

Earlier yous 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 lot want to install. Luckily information technology is possible to gets hold of these files - as long as you know where to go on the Mac App Shop.

Nosotros have the necessary links to the Mac App Store below. Nosotros will show you a way to go the following macOS installers:

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

*Annotation that we have discovered that the links we give beneath will only piece of work if you lot are surfing in Safari, then we suggest you switch to Apple'south browser earlier moving on. You should too close the Mac App Store app if you have that open up or the link may non work*

Yous won't be able to get the Mac OS X Snow Leopard download this way, but nosotros'll wait at that later. In fact, we tell you how to get copies of Leopard, Lion and Mountain Lion likewise!

We have a listing of which Macs run which versions of macOS & Mac Bone X.

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 discover information technology - searching the Mac App Shop volition not work.

  • Click on this link which to open the Mac App Store on the Large Sur page. (Apply Safari and brand sure the Mac App Store app is airtight first or it might non work).

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

  1. Click this link to open up the Mac App Shop on the Big Sur page.
  2. Click on Get.
  3. Software Update will open with the words "Finding Update". Eventually a message "Are you sure you desire to download macOS Large Sur" will appear. It might expect like an update rather than the full version, simply you'll come across from the size of the download (around 6GB) that this is the complete installer for Large Sur.
  4. Once the installer has downloaded exercise not click Install. If y'all install it the installer volition automatically be deleted.
  5. You should be able to observe the Install macOS Big Sur app in your Applications folder, you lot'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

You lot can too download the installer for Catalina from the Mac App Shop - as long equally 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 Store app is airtight kickoff).

Catalina Mac App Store

As 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 message "Are you sure you desire to download macOS Catalina" volition appear. It might look similar an update rather than the full version, but 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 do not click Install. If y'all install it the installer will automatically be deleted.
  5. You should be able to detect the Install macOS Catalina app in your Applications binder, y'all'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 too possible to access the Mojave installer via this link to the Mac App Store. Annotation that as above, for this link to work you need to be running Safari and you need to close the Mac App Shop app first. If the Mac App Shop app is open up this redirect volition not work.

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

Follow the steps in the section above to download it.

Download Mojave

How to download Loftier Sierra

It is also possible to download Loftier Sierra via this link. (Employ Safari, close the Mac App Shop 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 deejay epitome named InstallOS.dmg will download and once information technology does you lot demand to locate the pkg installer inside the deejay image.

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

We've said above that in our experience usually the reason the above 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. However, if yous are still finding that the link isn't working you could try the culling methods below.

Some other issue is if the link takes you to the correct page in the Mac App Store, but y'all see an Update not found fault message when you try to download it. This is an issue nosotros are aware of that others have encountered, although we haven't. In that case nosotros propose you effort to download the installer via that link using an older Mac.

You may too 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 will not be able to run the version of macOS that shipped before the one installed on that Mac. The older macOS might not support certain components in that Mac, for example.

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

Other ways to become one-time macOS versions

If you are running an older version of macOS - or someone you lot know is - you should be able to easily find older versions of macOS and even Mac OS X in the Mac App Shop. How piece of cake they are to observe volition be determined by 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 Bone X update for years).

Even so, 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 do have redirect links in the section in a higher place to each of the relevant pages on the Mac App Store.)

If y'all happen to take admission 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 Store for you. Nosotros run through this method in the section beneath.

Every bit above, once the installer has downloaded don't install information technology! If you do so the installer will exist deleted. You'll detect the installer in your Applications binder from which you 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 Terminal, yet nosotros were unable to go that method to work.

You lot may besides find updates to old version of macOS on Apple'southward website here, however these are only bespeak updates, rather than the total version, and so information technology won't be much aid if you lot are trying to get the full download.

The ane thing you really mustn't practice is go to a torrent site and download a copy of the OS X you desire. Just because Apple gives abroad its software for free, don't think it's fine to only pick up a copy. Pirated copies of Apple software could have been adapted to allow hackers access to the software and your Mac.

Download Mac Bone 10

If yous have access to a Mac running Bone X Yosemite or older it is possible to see erstwhile versions of Mac OS X in the Mac App Store. Yosemite, Mavericks and Mountain Lion can all be seen hither.

It's worth noting that yous'll only see old versions of Mac Bone 10 that you've downloaded nether Purchased - if you never downloaded it (or if information technology 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 10 might be missing is if your automobile shipped with that version installed. Nosotros'll look at that scenario later.

Here is how to go an older version of Mac OS 10 from the Mac App Store (this simply works if you lot've downloaded it in the past and it won't piece of work if you have already installed Mojave or subsequently):

  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 re-create of OS X or macOS you want.
  4. Click Install.

Clicking Install won't actually install the software, only it will download the installer application to your Applications folder.

You won't be able to simply install this older version of the operating system direct onto a Mac running a newer version of Bone X or macOS. We will explain how it tin can be installed on a Mac - including 1 currently running an before operating organization here: How to install old Mac Os X versions.

Can't notice Mac Os X in Purchased?

If y'all know you accept 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 endeavor:

  1. Log out of the App Store and so log in again.
  2. If information technology's a possibility that you downloaded information technology while logged in to a different Apple ID (perhaps a work-related ane), log in using that ID.
  3. Alternatively, detect someone who has downloaded that version of the Mac operating system and ask them to download the installation file for you.

If you never downloaded the version of Mac Os X then spring to footstep 3 and find 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 account so information technology will install on whatever Mac.

How to get OS 10 Lion, Mountain Lion

Prior to June 2021 you could purchase OS X ten.seven King of beasts or Mountain Lion from Apple for £19.99 each - Apple would transport you a download code. Now Apple tree has stopped charging for the ageing operating system versions. Instead you can download the operating systems directly from the company's website.

The operating systems tin exist downloaded from the following links:

If information technology'south Mac Os X 10.7 King of beasts that you are afterward, information technology's yet available for £xix.99 hither US or here Uk. Apple tree will send yous a download code to use on the Mac App Store, so you will need to be running Snow Leopard to install information technology.

If it's Os X ten.8 Mountain Lion that you can notwithstanding purchase it for £19.99 here Us or here UK.

We have more data about getting the free installers for OS X Lion and Mountain Panthera leo from Apple tree in Apple offers free downloads of Os 10 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 merely 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 Snowfall Leopard yous won't have access to the Mac App Store. Since for a number of years after Snow Leopard arrived all versions of Mac OS 10 arrived via the Mac App Store, those who never installed Snow Leopard had a problem: without Snow Leopard they couldn't update.

Until 2021 Apple still sold a boxed version of Mac OS X 10.vi Snow Leopard here for £19.99 (at its launch in 2009 it cost £25). If you purchased Snowfall Leopard this way yous were sent a physical box containing an optical disc - so you lot will need a CD/DVD bulldoze to install it (which you lot will probably take if the Mac is that old).

Apple tree has at present removed the power to purchase Snow Leopard. However, this isn't a large trouble considering those people who were previously locked out of updates can now download the Lion or Mountain King of beasts update, as explained to a higher place.

Get Snow Leopard

How to go OS X Leopard or earlier

If the old version of the OS y'all are after predates Snowfall Leopard and y'all take a developer account you might be able to go it from developer.apple.com/downloads. If you lot search within the Os X category yous should encounter downloads for all versions of Bone X, at least from version 10.3 to 10.6.

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

If y'all haven't signed up every bit a Apple Developer, find out what that entails here. It costs £79 ($99) a year to join the Apple Developer Programme and you take to sign a not disclosure agreement.

You could also try looking on Amazon or eBay to see if anyone is selling quondam versions of the Mac operating system. For instance there's a Full Install of Bone X Lion available for £eight.50 on Amazon here.

If information technology's Tiger you are after, then it will toll a little more than. 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