There are a couple of the explanation why you may need to obtain and set up an outdated model of macOS or Mac OS X. Maybe you’re counting on software program you might have found doesn’t work correctly within the newest model.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 got put in. Both manner, you might have questions and we’ve got solutions.
On this article, we are going to cowl how one can get outdated variations of macOS, together with Monterey, Massive Sur, Catalina, Mojave, El Capitan, Sierra, Yosemite, and even outdated variations of Mac OS X. We clarify how one can pay money for the related installer recordsdata so as to set up the software program in your Mac.
If you’re in search of a option to revert to the earlier model of macOS, we’ve got a extra particular article about downgrading. And bear in mind, if you happen to had been hoping to run Catalina, Mohave, or a model of macOS older than Massive Sur on an M1- or M2-series Mac, that’s not potential.
You additionally may need to get the installer for a model of macOS so as to make a bootable installer for putting in macOS on a number of Macs. And we’ve got a separate article that explains how one can set up outdated variations of macOS whenever you get to that stage of the method.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 will have to pay money for the installer for the model of macOS you need to set up. Fortunately it’s potential to get ahold of those recordsdata, so long as you recognize the place to go on the Mac App Retailer. When you’re uncertain of your Mac’s compatability, take a look at our checklist of which Macs run which variations of macOS & Mac OS X.
We now have the required hyperlinks to the Mac App Retailer beneath. We are going to present you a option to get the next macOS installers:
- macOS Monterey (12)
- macOS Massive 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
*Notice that we’ve got found that the hyperlinks we give beneath will solely work if you’re utilizing Safari, so we recommend you turn to Apple’s browser earlier than transferring on. You also needs to shut the Mac App Retailer app if in case you have that open or the hyperlink might not work*
The 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 Massive Sur in 2020, so any model of macOS prior that that gained’t run on an M1 Mac or later.
The 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 beneath) from the Mac App Retailer:
- Comply with the Mac App Retailer 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”. Finally a message “Are you certain you need to obtain macOS Monterey” will seem. It’d appear like an replace reasonably than the complete model, however you’ll see from the scale 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”. When you do, the installer will routinely be deleted (plus it gained’t set up if you’re already operating Ventura).
- It’s best to have the ability to discover the “Set up macOS Monterey” app in your Purposes folder, which you should utilize to to downgrade and set up an older model of macOS.
The way to obtain macOS Massive Sur
The 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 way to obtain macOS Catalina
Notice that if in case you have a M1 or M2 Mac you will notice a message that your Mac isn’t suitable with it. All variations of macOS previous to Massive Sur require an Intel Mac.
- Comply with the Mac App Retailer hyperlink utilizing Safari to open the Catalina itemizing.
- Comply with the directions within the Monterey part above.
The way to obtain macOS Mojave
The way to obtain Excessive Sierra
The way to obtain Sierra, El Capitan, or Yosemite
Apple supplies dmg recordsdata of those older macOS variations, however you must obtain them in Safari. A disk picture named InstallOS.dmg will obtain and as soon as it does you must 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 normally the rationale the above hyperlinks don’t work is if you’re shopping in one thing apart from Safari, or if you already have the Mac App Retailer open. Nevertheless, if you’re nonetheless discovering that the hyperlink isn’t working you can attempt the choice strategies beneath.
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 through that hyperlink utilizing an older Mac.
You may additionally encounter points if you’re making an attempt to obtain an older model of macOS that your Mac can not assist. Normally, 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 older macOS variations
If you’re operating an older model of macOS – or somebody you recognize 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 straightforward they’re to search out can 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 may very well be looked for or discovered through 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 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.)
When you occur to have entry to a Mac that’s operating an older model of macOS, log into the Mac App Retailer along with your password and obtain the Mojave installer on that Mac. Alternatively, ask a buddy to obtain a replica of the installer from the Mac App Retailer for you. We run via this technique within the part beneath.
As above, as soon as the installer has downloaded don’t set up it! When you do then the installer can be deleted. You’ll discover the installer in your Purposes 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. Nevertheless these are simply level updates, reasonably than the complete model, so it gained’t be a lot assist if you’re making an attempt to get the complete obtain.
The one factor you actually mustn’t do is go to a torrent website and obtain a replica of the OS X you need. Simply because Apple provides away its software program without spending a dime, don’t assume it’s advantageous to only decide up a replica. Pirated copies of Apple software program might have been adjusted to permit hackers entry to the software program and your Mac.
The way to obtain outdated Mac OS X variations
In case you have entry to a Mac operating OS X Yosemite or older it’s potential to see outdated 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 outdated variations of Mac OS X that you just’ve downloaded beneath 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 is perhaps lacking is that if your machine shipped with that model put in. We’ll have a look at that situation later.
Right here is how one can get an older model of Mac OS X from the Mac App Retailer (this solely works if you happen to’ve downloaded it prior to now and it gained’t work if in case you have already put in Mojave or later):
- Open the Mac App Retailer (select Retailer > Signal In if you must log in).
- Click on Bought.
- Scroll down to search out the copy of OS X or macOS you need.
- Click on Set up.
Clicking Set up gained’t truly set up the software program, however it should obtain the installer software 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 operating 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 presently operating an earlier working system right here:
The way to set up outdated Mac OS X variations.
When you can’t discover a model of Mac OS X in your bought gadgets
If you recognize you might have 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:
- Log 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 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.
When you 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 should set up on any Mac.
The way to get OS X Lion and Mountain Lion
Previous to June 2021, you can 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 may obtain the working methods instantly from the corporate’s web site.
The working methods could be downloaded from the next hyperlinks:
Whether or not your Mac will truly run these working methods is one other query we tackle right here:
Which variations of macOS can my Mac run? Notice that solely Macs that predate 2012 will run Lion.
The 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 numerous years after Snow Leopard arrived all variations of Mac OS X arrived through 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 price $25/£25). When you bought Snow Leopard this manner you had been despatched a bodily field containing an optical disc – so you will have a CD/DVD drive to put in it (which you’ll in all probability have if the Mac is that outdated).
Apple has now eliminated the flexibility to purchase Snow Leopard. Nevertheless, this isn’t a giant downside 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 way to get OS X Leopard or earlier
If the outdated 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. When you search throughout 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 could possibly 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 you must signal a nondisclosure settlement.
You would additionally attempt wanting on Amazon or eBay to see if anybody is promoting outdated variations of the Mac working system.
