There are just a few the reason 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 could have found doesn’t work correctly within the newest model. Maybe your Mac has run slowly ever because you up to date. Or possibly you simply don’t like the brand new model of macOS that you’ve put in. Both approach, you could have questions and we’ve got solutions.
On this article, we’ll cowl how one can get previous variations of macOS, together with Ventura, Monterey, Huge Sur, Catalina, Mojave, El Capitan, Sierra, Yosemite, and even previous variations of Mac OS X. We clarify how one can pay money for the related installer information so that you could set up the software program in your Mac.
Simply be aware: in case you had been hoping to run Catalina, Mojave, or a model of macOS older than Huge Sur on an M1 or later Mac, that’s not attainable.
If you’re on the lookout for a approach to return to the earlier model of macOS, we’ve got an article about reverting a macOS replace.
You additionally may wish to get the installer for a model of macOS to make a bootable installer for putting in macOS on a number of Macs. We’ve got a separate article that explains how one can downgrade macOS once you get to that stage of the method.
The place to grow old variations of macOS
Earlier than you possibly can 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 wish to set up. Fortunately it’s attainable to get ahold of those information, so long as you realize the place to go on the Mac App Retailer. In the event you’re uncertain of your Mac’s compatibility, try our record of which Macs run which variations of macOS & Mac OS X.
It’s attainable to obtain older variations of macOS from the Mac App Retailer. Click on on the hyperlinks to obtain the installers for the next macOS variations:
*Notice that we’ve got found that the hyperlinks we give under will solely work if you’re 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 have that open or the hyperlink could not work*
Older verisons of macOS aren’t availbale on the Mac App Retailer, however Apple does present dmg information of them. You might want 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.
We focus on this course of in additional element under.
The best way to obtain an older model of macOS for an M-Sequence Mac
Apple started transitioning away from Apple silicon with the discharge of macOS Huge Sur in 2020, so any model of macOS earlier than that gained’t run on an M1 Mac or later.
If in case you have a M1 or later Mac you will note a message that your Mac shouldn’t be suitable with variations of macOS that predate Apple’s transfer to its personal silicon. All variations of macOS previous to Huge Sur require an Intel Mac.
The best way to obtain macOS Sonoma, Ventura, Monterey, Huge Sur, Catalina, Mojave and Excessive Sierra
You’ll be able to obtain the installers for a lot of variations of macOS from the Mac App Retailer. Observe these steps to obtain the model of macOS that you really want from the Mac App Retailer. Use Safari and shut the Mac App Retailer app when you have that open earlier than you start.
- Observe the Mac App Retailer hyperlink above to the software program you require. Use Safari and the Mac App Retailer will open on the web page for the macOS model you require.
- Click on on Get.
- Software program Replace will open with the phrases “Finding Update”. Ultimately a message “Are you sure you want to download macOS [name]” will seem. It’d appear like an replace quite than the total model, however you’ll see from the dimensions of the obtain (round 6GB) that that is the entire installer for macOS.
- As soon as the installer has downloaded don’t click on “Install”. In the event you do, the installer will mechanically be deleted (plus it gained’t set up if you’re already operating one thing newer).
- You must be capable of discover the “Install macOS [name]” app in your Functions folder, which you should utilize to downgrade macOS to an older model (see our separate tutorial).
The best way to obtain Sierra, El Capitan, Yosemite, Mountain Lion and Lion
Apple gives dmg information of those older macOS variations, however it’s essential to obtain them utilizing 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.
Previous to June 2021, you may 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 older working system variations. As a substitute, you possibly can obtain the working programs immediately from the corporate together with these different variations.
We noticed a warning concerning the connection not being non-public when making an attempt to obtain these, this message is showing as a result of it’s not an https connection, most likely as a result of these information predate that commonplace, however do train warning right here. The hyperlinks come from this Apple web page so needs to be safe.
What to do if the Mac App Retailer hyperlinks above aren’t working
We’ve mentioned above that in our expertise normally the rationale the above hyperlinks don’t work is if you’re searching in one thing aside from Safari, or if you already have the Mac App Retailer open. Nonetheless, if you’re nonetheless discovering that the hyperlink isn’t working you may strive the choice strategies under.
One other problem 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 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 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 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
If you’re operating an older model of macOS – or somebody you realize is – it is 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 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).
Nonetheless, 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.)
In the event 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. As soon as the installer has downloaded don’t set up it! In the event you do the installer can be deleted. You’ll discover the installer in your Functions 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 web site. Nonetheless these are simply level updates, quite than the total model, so it gained’t be a lot assist if you’re 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 replica of the macOS you need. Simply because Apple provides away its software program at no cost, don’t suppose it’s high quality to only decide up a replica. 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 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 quite a lot of 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 value $25/£25). In the event you bought Snow Leopard this fashion 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 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 downside as a result of these individuals who had been beforehand locked out of updates can now obtain the Lion or Mountain Lion replace through the hyperlinks supplied 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 may be capable of get it from
developer.apple.com/downloads. In the event you search throughout the OS X class it is best to see downloads for all variations of OS X, a minimum of from model 10.3 to 10.6.
You could possibly 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 affix the Apple Developer Program and it’s a must to signal a nondisclosure settlement.
You can additionally strive wanting on Amazon or eBay to see if anybody is promoting previous variations of the Mac working system or maybe a Mac operating one.