Abstract created by Good Solutions AI
In abstract:
- Macworld explains the best way to obtain older macOS variations from Apple’s Mac App Retailer and direct hyperlinks for compatibility wants.
- Customers should use Safari browser, click on ‘Get’ as a substitute of ‘Set up’, and perceive {hardware} limitations like M1 Macs requiring Huge Sur or later.
- Apple now affords beforehand paid variations like Lion and Mountain Lion without cost, whereas newer variations seem in Software program Replace. Detailed directions are supplied beneath.
There are a couple of the reason why you may need to obtain and set up an outdated model of macOS or Mac OS X. Maybe you’re counting on software program you’ve got found doesn’t work correctly within the newest model.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 manner, you’ve got questions and now we have solutions.
On this article, we are going to cowl the best way to get outdated variations of macOS, together with Sequoia, Sonoma, Ventura, Monterey, Huge Sur, Catalina, Mojave, El Capitan, Sierra, Yosemite, and even outdated variations of Mac OS X. We clarify the best way to pay money for the related installer recordsdata to be able to set up the software program in your Mac.
Simply be aware: in the event 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 potential.
In case you are in search of a manner to return to the earlier model of macOS, now we have an article about reverting a macOS replace.
You additionally may need to get the installer for a model of macOS to make a bootable installer for putting in macOS on a number of Macs. Now we have a separate article that explains the best way to downgrade macOS while you get to that stage of the method.
The place to grow old variations of macOS
Earlier than you may set up an older model of macOS or Mac OS X you’ll need 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 understand the place to go on the Mac App Retailer. Should you’re not sure of your Mac’s compatibility, try our checklist of which Macs run which variations of macOS & Mac OS X.
It’s potential 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:
*Be aware that now we have found that the hyperlinks we give beneath will solely work in case you are utilizing Safari, so we advise you turn to Apple’s browser earlier than shifting on. You must also shut the Mac App Retailer app if in case you have that open or the hyperlink could not work*
Foundry
Older variations of macOS aren’t obtainable on the Mac App Retailer, however Apple does present dmg recordsdata of them. You’ll want to obtain them in Safari. A disk picture named InstallOS.dmg will obtain and as soon as it does it is advisable find the pkg installer contained in the disk picture.
We talk about this course of in additional element beneath.
The right way to obtain macOS Sonoma, Ventura, Monterey, Huge Sur, Catalina, Mojave and Excessive Sierra
Foundry
You possibly can 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 if in case 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 “Discovering Replace”. Finally a message “Are you positive you need to obtain macOS [name]” will seem. It’d appear like an replace quite than the complete model, however you’ll see from the scale of the obtain (round 6GB) that that is the whole installer for macOS.
- As soon as the installer has downloaded don’t click on “Set up”. Should you do, the installer will robotically be deleted (plus it gained’t set up in case you are already working one thing newer).
- It’s best to be capable to discover the “Set up macOS [name]” app in your Functions folder, which you should utilize to downgrade macOS to an older model (see our separate tutorial).
The right way to obtain Sierra, El Capitan, Yosemite, Mountain Lion and Lion
Apple offers dmg recordsdata of those older macOS variations, however it is advisable obtain them utilizing Safari. A disk picture named InstallOS.dmg will obtain and as soon as it does it is advisable find the pkg installer contained in the disk picture.
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 older working system variations. As an alternative, you may obtain the working programs straight from the corporate together with these different variations.
Now we have seen a warning concerning the connection not being personal when attempting to obtain these, this message is showing as a result of it’s not an https connection, in all probability as a result of these recordsdata predate that customary, however do train warning right here. The hyperlinks come from this Apple web page so must be safe.
The right way to get Mac OS X Server
Apple discontinued macOS Server in April 2022. The final model was macOS Server 12 Monterey (model 5.12). Apple has revealed a help doc by which is explains that regardless of being discontinued “Present macOS Server prospects can proceed to obtain and use the app with macOS Monterey.”
macOS Server 12, 5.12 was obtainable on the Mac App Retailer right here, however Apple eliminated it. If in case you have beforehand downloaded it you could possibly get it once more.
Mac OS X server 3.2.2 is listed on the Mac App Retailer right here. It prices $19.99/£19.99.
What to do if the Mac App Retailer hyperlinks above aren’t working
We’ve mentioned above that in our expertise normally the explanation 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 beneath.
One other difficulty 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 while 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 advise you attempt to obtain the installer through that hyperlink utilizing an older Mac.
You might also encounter points in case you are attempting to obtain an older model of macOS that your Mac can’t help. Often, when Apple introduces a brand new Mac it won’t be able to run the model of macOS that shipped earlier than the one put in on that Mac. The older macOS may not help sure elements in that Mac, for instance.
What to do if the macOS model gained’t set up in your Mac
There are a couple of the reason why this might occur. Most definitely your Mac doesn’t help this model of macOS. Both as a result of it’s too outdated, or as a result of it’s too new.
Confirm Compatibility: Guarantee your Mac really helps the model you are attempting to put in.
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. As an illustration, macOS Tahoe requires an M-series chip or an Intel-based Mac with a T2 Safety Chip (usually fashions from 2019 or later). Older variations like macOS 15 Sequoia help some Intel Macs from 2018. If in case you have a M1 or later Mac you will note a message that your Mac just isn’t 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.
Too outdated? There’s a technique to set up variations of macOS onto Macs that aren’t new sufficient to help them. To try this requires using the OpenCore Legacy Patcher. We clarify how to try this right here: The right way to set up macOS Sequoia on an unsupported Mac.
Too new? In case your Mac is simply too new to run the outdated model of macOS you’re after, you’re in all probability out of luck. We advocate searching for a second hand Mac succesful to working the model you need.
| macOS Model | Supported Macs | Apple Silicon Assist |
|---|---|---|
| Sequoia | Most Macs 2018+ | Sure |
| Sonoma | Most Macs 2018+ | Sure |
| Ventura | 2017–2021 | Sure |
| Huge Sur | 2013–2020 | Partial |
| Catalina & Older | Older Intel Macs | No |
We clarify which Macs help which macOS model in our macOS compatibility information.
Different methods to grow old macOS variations
In case you are working an older model of macOS – or somebody you understand is – it’s best to be capable to simply discover older variations of macOS and even Mac OS X within the Mac App Retailer. How straightforward they’re to seek out will probably 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 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 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.)
Should you occur to have entry to a Mac that’s working 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! Should you do the installer will probably 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 might also discover updates to an older model of macOS on Apple’s web site. Nevertheless these are simply level updates, quite than the complete model, so it gained’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 website and obtain a replica of the macOS you need. Simply because Apple offers away its software program without cost, don’t suppose it’s high-quality to simply 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 right 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 variety 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 bought 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). Should you bought Snow Leopard this manner you had been despatched a bodily field containing an optical disc – so you’ll need 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 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 right 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 be capable to get it from
developer.apple.com/downloads. Should you search inside the OS X class it’s best to see downloads for all variations of OS X, not less than from model 10.3 to 10.6.
You could possibly entry the Developer part of the web site, however you’ll solely be capable to entry sure software program downloads in case your Apple ID is related to the Apple Developer Program, which prices $99 to affix. Be part of the Apple Developer Program right here.
You could possibly additionally attempt trying on Amazon or eBay to see if anybody is promoting outdated variations of the Mac working system or maybe a Mac working one.
