There are a number of explanation why you may wish to obtain and set up an previous model of macOS or Mac OS X. Maybe you’re counting on software program you’ve found doesn’t work correctly within the newest model. Or perhaps you simply don’t like the brand new model of macOS that you’ve put in. Both manner, you’ve questions and we have now solutions.
On this article, we are going to cowl learn how to get previous variations of macOS, together with Monterey, Large Sur, Catalina, Mojave, El Capitan, Sierra, Yosemite, and even previous variations of Mac OS X. We clarify learn how to pay money for the related installer recordsdata so that you could set up the software program in your Mac.
In case you are searching for a solution to revert to the earlier model of macOS, we have now a more specific article about downgrading. And keep in mind, if you happen to have been hoping to run Catalina, Mohave, or a model of macOS older than Large Sur on an M1- or M2-series Mac, that’s not attainable.
You additionally may wish to get the installer for a model of macOS with a purpose to make a bootable installer for installing macOS on multiple Macs. And we have now a separate article that explains how to install old versions of macOS once you get to that stage of the method.
The place can I obtain older variations of macOS?
Earlier than you may set up an older model of macOS or Mac OS X you have to to pay money for the installer for the model of macOS you wish to set up. Fortunately it’s attainable to get ahold of those recordsdata, so long as you understand the place to go on the Mac App Retailer. If you happen to’re not sure of your Mac’s compatability, try our checklist of which Macs run which versions of macOS & Mac OS X.
Now we have the mandatory hyperlinks to the Mac App Retailer under. We are going to present you a solution to get the next macOS installers:
- macOS Monterey (12)
- macOS Large Sur (11)
- macOS Catalina (10.15)
- macOS Mojave (10.14)
- macOS Excessive Sierra (10.13)
- macOS Sierra (10.12)
- OS X 10.11 El Capitan
- OS X 10.10 Yosemite
- OS X 10.9 Mavericks
- OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion
- OS X 10.7 Lion
*Observe that we have now found that the hyperlinks we give under will solely work in case you are utilizing Safari, so we recommend you turn to Apple’s browser earlier than shifting on. You also needs to shut the Mac App Retailer app when you’ve got that open or the hyperlink could not work*
The best way to obtain an older model of macOS for an M-Sequence Mac
Appl started transitioning away from Apple silicon with the discharge of macOS Large Sur in 2020, so any model of macOS prior that that gained’t run on an M1 Mac or later.
The best way to obtain macOS Monterey
Foundry
Apple solely changed Monterey with macOS 13 Ventura in October 2022, however you may nonetheless obtain the installer for Monterey from the Mac App Retailer. Comply with these steps to obtain macOS Monterey (or different variations of macOS under) from the Mac App Retailer:
- Follow the Mac App Store hyperlink via Safari to open the Mac App Retailer on the Monterey web page.
- Click on “Get”.
- Software program Replace will open with the phrases “Discovering Replace”. Ultimately a message “Are you positive you wish to obtain macOS Monterey” will seem. It’d appear like an replace relatively than the total model, however you’ll see from the dimensions of the obtain (round 6GB) that that is the whole installer for Monterey.
- As soon as the installer has downloaded don’t click on “Set up”. If you happen to do, the installer will robotically be deleted (plus it gained’t set up in case you are already working Ventura).
- You must have the ability to discover the “Set up macOS Monterey” app in your Purposes folder, which you need to use to to downgrade and install an older version of macOS.
The best way to obtain macOS Large Sur
The best way to obtain an older model of macOS for an Intel Mac
Whereas the above variations of macOS will work with newer Intel-based Macs, the next variations are particularly made for Macs with Intel chips.
The best way to obtain macOS Catalina
Observe that when you’ve got a M1 or M2 Mac you will notice a message that your Mac is just not appropriate with it. All variations of macOS previous to Large Sur require an Intel Mac.
- Follow the Mac App Store link utilizing Safari to open the Catalina itemizing.
- Comply with the directions within the Monterey part above.
The best way to obtain macOS Mojave
The best way to obtain Excessive Sierra
The best way to obtain Sierra, El Capitan, or Yosemite
Apple supplies dmg recordsdata of those older macOS variations, however it’s essential to obtain them in Safari. A disk picture named InstallOS.dmg will obtain and as soon as it does it’s essential to find the pkg installer contained in the disk picture.
If the Mac App Retailer hyperlinks above aren’t working
We’ve mentioned above that in our expertise often the rationale the above hyperlinks don’t work is in case you are looking in one thing aside from Safari, or if you already have the Mac App Retailer open. Nevertheless, in case you are nonetheless discovering that the hyperlink isn’t working you might attempt the choice strategies under.
One other subject is that if the hyperlink takes you to the right web page within the Mac App Retailer, however you see an Replace not discovered error message once you attempt to obtain it. This is a matter we’re conscious of that others have encountered, though we haven’t. In that case, we recommend you attempt to obtain the installer by way of that hyperlink utilizing an older Mac.
You may additionally encounter points in case you are making an attempt to obtain an older model of macOS that your Mac can’t help. Often, when Apple introduces a brand new Mac it will be unable to run the model of macOS that shipped earlier than the one put in on that Mac. The older macOS won’t help sure parts in that Mac, for instance.
Different methods to grow old macOS variations
In case you are working an older model of macOS – or somebody you understand is – you need to have the ability to simply discover older variations of macOS and even Mac OS X within the Mac App Retailer. How simple they’re to seek out will likely be decided by the model of macOS working on that Mac.
Previous to macOS Mojave’s arrival in 2018, the installers for the older macOS variations may very well be looked for or discovered by way of the Bought tab (not that anybody has needed to pay for a Mac OS X replace for years).
Nevertheless, when Apple launched Mojave the Mac App Retailer modified, and these installers can now not be looked for or discovered within the bought part of the shop. (Though we do have redirect hyperlinks within the part above to every of the related pages on the Mac App Retailer.)
If you happen to occur to have entry to a Mac that’s working an older model of macOS, log into the Mac App Retailer together with your password and obtain the Mojave installer on that Mac. Alternatively, ask a good friend to obtain a duplicate of the installer from the Mac App Retailer for you. We run via this methodology within the part under.
As above, as soon as the installer has downloaded don’t set up it! If you happen to do then the installer will likely be deleted. You’ll discover the installer in your Purposes folder from which you’ll be able to copy it onto your Mac or create a bootable installer.
You may additionally discover updates to an older model of macOS on Apple’s website. Nevertheless these are simply level updates, relatively than the total model, so it gained’t be a lot assist in case you are making an attempt to get the total obtain.
The one factor you actually mustn’t do is go to a torrent web site and obtain a duplicate of the OS X you need. Simply because Apple provides away its software program free of charge, don’t suppose it’s fantastic to only decide up a duplicate. Pirated copies of Apple software program might have been adjusted to permit hackers entry to the software program and your Mac.
The best way to obtain previous Mac OS X variations
You probably have entry to a Mac working OS X Yosemite or older it’s attainable to see previous variations of Mac OS X within the Mac App Retailer. Yosemite, Mavericks, and Mountain Lion can all be seen right here.
It’s value noting that you just’ll solely see previous variations of Mac OS X that you just’ve downloaded below Bought – if you happen to by no means downloaded it (or if it was by no means on the Mac App Retailer), that model won’t be in your Bought part. Another excuse why the model of Mac OS X could be lacking is that if your machine shipped with that model put in. We’ll have a look at that state of affairs later.
Right here is learn how to get an older model of Mac OS X from the Mac App Retailer (this solely works if you happen to’ve downloaded it previously and it gained’t work when you’ve got already put in Mojave or later):
- Open the Mac App Retailer (select Retailer > Signal In if it’s essential to log in).
- Click on Bought.
- Scroll down to seek out the copy of OS X or macOS you need.
- Click on Set up.
Clicking Set up gained’t really set up the software program, however it would obtain the installer utility to your Purposes folder.
You gained’t have the ability to merely set up this older model of the working system instantly onto a Mac working a more moderen model of OS X or macOS. We are going to clarify how it may be put in on a Mac – together with one at present working an earlier working system right here:
How to install old Mac OS X versions.
If you happen to can’t discover a model of Mac OS X in your bought objects
If you understand you’ve beforehand downloaded the model of macOS you’re after, however you aren’t seeing it within the Bought part, there are some things to attempt:
- Sign off of the App Retailer then log in once more.
- If it’s a chance that you just downloaded it whereas logged in to a distinct Apple ID (maybe a work-related one), log in utilizing that ID.
- Alternatively, discover somebody who has downloaded that model of the Mac working system and ask them to obtain the set up file for you.
If you happen to by no means downloaded the model of Mac OS X then leap to step 3 and discover a pleasant one who did. Ask them to obtain the Mac OS X installer for you.
Fortunately the copy of OS X isn’t locked to their account so it would set up on any Mac.
The best way to get OS X Lion and Mountain Lion
Previous to June 2021, you might buy OS X 10.7 Lion or Mountain Lion from Apple for $19.99/£19.99 every – Apple would ship you a obtain code. Now Apple has stopped charging for the getting old working system variations. As an alternative, you may download the operating systems directly from the corporate’s web site.
The working techniques could be downloaded from the next hyperlinks:
Whether or not your Mac will really run these working techniques is one other query we deal with right here:
Which versions of macOS can my Mac run? Observe that solely Macs that predate 2012 will run Lion.
The best way to get OS X Snow Leopard
In case your Mac has a model of macOS put in that’s older than Snow Leopard you gained’t have entry to the Mac App Retailer. For a lot of years after Snow Leopard arrived all variations of Mac OS X arrived by way of the Mac App Retailer, those that by no means put in Snow Leopard had an issue: with out Snow Leopard, they couldn’t replace.
Till 2021 Apple nonetheless offered a boxed model of Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard for $19.99/£19.99 (at its launch in 2009 it value $25/£25). If you happen to bought Snow Leopard this fashion you have been despatched a bodily field containing an optical disc – so you have to a CD/DVD drive to put in it (which you’ll in all probability have if the Mac is that previous).
Apple has now eliminated the power to purchase Snow Leopard. Nevertheless, this isn’t an enormous downside as a result of these individuals who have been beforehand locked out of updates can now obtain the Lion or Mountain Lion replace, as defined above.
The best way to get OS X Leopard or earlier
If the previous model of the OS you’re after predates Snow Leopard and you’ve got a developer account you may have the ability to get it from
developer.apple.com/downloads. If you happen to search inside the OS X class you need to see downloads for all variations of OS X, no less than from model 10.3 to 10.6.
You might be able to entry the Developer part of the web site, however you’ll solely have the ability to entry sure software program downloads in case your Apple ID is related to a paid Apple Developer Program. It prices $99/£79 a yr to hitch the Apple Developer Program and it’s important to signal a nondisclosure settlement.
You possibly can additionally attempt trying on Amazon or eBay to see if anybody is promoting previous variations of the Mac working system.
