There are just a few the explanation why you would possibly wish to obtain and set up an previous model of macOS or Mac OS X. Maybe you’re counting on software program you will have found doesn’t work correctly within the newest model. Or possibly you simply don’t like the brand new model of macOS that you’ve got put in. Both method, you will have questions and we’ve got solutions.
On this article, we’ll cowl get previous variations of macOS, together with Monterey, Huge Sur, Catalina, Mojave, El Capitan, Sierra, Yosemite, and even previous variations of Mac OS X. We clarify pay money for the related installer recordsdata so to set up the software program in your Mac.
If you’re searching for a solution to revert to the earlier model of macOS, we’ve got a extra particular article about downgrading. And keep in mind, for those who had been hoping to run Catalina, Mohave, or a model of macOS older than Huge Sur on an M1- or M2-series Mac, that’s not attainable.
You additionally would possibly wish to get the installer for a model of macOS in an effort to make a bootable installer for putting in macOS on a number of Macs. And we’ve got a separate article that explains set up previous variations of macOS whenever you get to that stage of the method.
The place can I obtain older variations of macOS?
Earlier than you possibly can 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 already know the place to go on the Mac App Retailer. For those who’re not sure of your Mac’s compatability, take a look at our listing of which Macs run which variations of macOS & Mac OS X.
We’ve got the required 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 Huge 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
*Be aware that we’ve got 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 transferring on. You must also shut the Mac App Retailer app when you have that open or the hyperlink might 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 Huge Sur in 2020, so any model of macOS prior that that received’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 possibly can nonetheless obtain the installer for Monterey from the Mac App Retailer. Observe these steps to obtain macOS Monterey (or different variations of macOS under) from the Mac App Retailer:
- Observe the Mac App Retailer hyperlink by means of 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 certain you wish to obtain macOS Monterey” will seem. It’d seem like an replace reasonably than the complete 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”. For those who do, the installer will mechanically be deleted (plus it received’t set up in case you are already operating Ventura).
- You must be capable of discover the “Set up macOS Monterey” app in your Functions folder, which you should utilize to to downgrade and set up an older model of macOS.
The best way to obtain macOS Huge 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
Be aware that when you have a M1 or M2 Mac you will note a message that your Mac will not be appropriate with it. All variations of macOS previous to Huge Sur require an Intel Mac.
- Observe the Mac App Retailer hyperlink utilizing Safari to open the Catalina itemizing.
- Observe 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 offers dmg recordsdata of those older macOS variations, however you have to obtain them in Safari. A disk picture named InstallOS.dmg will obtain and as soon as it does you have to find the pkg installer contained in the disk picture.
If the Mac App Retailer hyperlinks above aren’t working
We’ve stated above that in our expertise often the rationale the above hyperlinks don’t work is in case you are looking in one thing apart from Safari, or if you already have the Mac App Retailer open. Nonetheless, in case you are nonetheless discovering that the hyperlink isn’t working you might strive the choice strategies under.
One other concern is that if the hyperlink takes you to the proper web page within the Mac App Retailer, however you see an Replace not discovered error message whenever 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 attempting to obtain an older model of macOS that your Mac can not assist. 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 assist sure parts in that Mac, for instance.
Different methods to become old macOS variations
If you’re operating an older model of macOS – or somebody you already know is – it’s best to be capable of simply discover older variations of macOS and even Mac OS X within the Mac App Retailer. How straightforward they’re to seek out will likely be decided by the model of macOS operating on that Mac.
Previous to macOS Mojave’s arrival in 2018, the installers for the older macOS variations might 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).
Nonetheless, when Apple launched Mojave the Mac App Retailer modified, and these installers can 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.)
For those who occur to have entry to a Mac that’s operating 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 pal to obtain a duplicate of the installer from the Mac App Retailer for you. We run by means of this methodology within the part under.
As above, as soon as the installer has downloaded don’t set up it! For those who do then the installer will likely be deleted. You’ll discover the installer in your Functions folder from which you’ll copy it onto your Mac or create a bootable installer.
You may additionally discover updates to an older model of macOS on Apple’s web site. Nonetheless these are simply level updates, reasonably than the complete model, so it received’t be a lot assist in case you are attempting to get the complete 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 offers away its software program free of charge, don’t assume it’s high-quality to only decide up a duplicate. Pirated copies of Apple software program may 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 operating 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 price noting that you simply’ll solely see previous variations of Mac OS X that you simply’ve downloaded beneath Bought – for those who 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. One more reason why the model of Mac OS X is likely to be lacking is that if your machine shipped with that model put in. We’ll take a look at that state of affairs later.
Right here is get an older model of Mac OS X from the Mac App Retailer (this solely works for those who’ve downloaded it prior to now and it received’t work when you have already put in Mojave or later):
- Open the Mac App Retailer (select Retailer > Signal In if you have 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 received’t really set up the software program, however it would obtain the installer software to your Functions folder.
You received’t be capable of merely set up this older model of the working system straight onto a Mac operating a more recent model of OS X or macOS. We are going to clarify how it may be put in on a Mac – together with one presently operating an earlier working system right here:
The best way to set up previous Mac OS X variations.
For those who can’t discover a model of Mac OS X in your bought gadgets
If you already know you will have beforehand downloaded the model of macOS you might be after, however you aren’t seeing it within the Bought part, there are some things to strive:
- Sign off of the App Retailer then log in once more.
- If it’s a risk that you simply downloaded it whereas logged in to a special 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.
For those who by no means downloaded the model of Mac OS X then leap to step 3 and discover a pleasant one that 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 growing old working system variations. As an alternative, you possibly can obtain the working methods straight from the corporate’s web site.
The working methods may be downloaded from the next hyperlinks:
Whether or not your Mac will really run these working methods is one other query we tackle right here:
Which variations of macOS can my Mac run? Be aware 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 received’t have entry to the Mac App Retailer. For quite 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 bought a boxed model of Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard for $19.99/£19.99 (at its launch in 2009 it price $25/£25). For those who bought Snow Leopard this manner you had been despatched a bodily field containing an optical disc – so you have to a CD/DVD drive to put in it (which you’ll most likely have if the Mac is that previous).
Apple has now eliminated the flexibility to purchase Snow Leopard. Nonetheless, this isn’t an enormous drawback as a result of these individuals who had 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 might be after predates Snow Leopard and you’ve got a developer account you would possibly be capable of get it from
developer.apple.com/downloads. For those who search inside the OS X class it’s best to see downloads for all variations of OS X, at the least from model 10.3 to 10.6.
You might be able to entry the Developer part of the web site, however you’ll solely be capable of entry sure software program downloads in case your Apple ID is related to a paid Apple Developer Program. It prices $99/£79 a 12 months to hitch the Apple Developer Program and it’s a must to signal a nondisclosure settlement.
You could possibly additionally strive wanting on Amazon or eBay to see if anybody is promoting previous variations of the Mac working system.
