\n
<\/span>At a Glance (TL;DR)<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n\n- Get the installer from Apple only. Use the App Store (for newer macOS), Apple\u2019s direct .dmg links (for older releases), or Terminal\u2019s softwareupdate on Catalina+.<\/li>\n
- Build a bootable USB the easy way with Disk Drill\u2019s macOS Installer tool (graphical) or the Apple\u2011supported createinstallmedia (Terminal).<\/li>\n
- Boot and install (Apple\u00a0silicon: hold Power<\/kbd> \u2192 Options<\/kbd>; Intel: hold \u2325 Option<\/kbd>). If your T2 Mac won\u2019t boot from USB, enable \u201cAllow booting from external media.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n⚠️ Important constraints<\/b>: You can\u2019t install a macOS version older than what your Mac originally shipped with, and an incompatible installer simply won\u2019t complete.\n<\/div>\n
<\/span>Why You Might Need an Older macOS<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\nLegacy app support, testing, or running lab\/dev environments often requires Ventura\/Monterey\/Big\u00a0Sur or earlier (Mojave\/High\u00a0Sierra\/Sierra\/El\u00a0Capitan\/Lion). Apple distributes those installers\u2014some via the App Store, others as browser\u2011downloaded disk images (.dmg).<\/p>\n
<\/span>What You\u2019ll Need<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n\n- A compatible Mac (Apple silicon or Intel).<\/li>\n
- Stable internet (Recovery\/firmware data may be fetched during install).<\/li>\n
- A USB flash drive (\u226516\u00a0GB; 32\u00a0GB recommended) if you\u2019ll create a bootable installer.<\/li>\n
- Disk Drill for Mac<\/a> (free to download; includes free macOS Installer tool and optional data\u2011recovery extras).<\/li>\n
- Optionally, a full backup or byte\u2011to\u2011byte image before you change OS versions. (Disk Drill offers a free byte\u2011to\u2011byte backup module<\/a>.)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/span>Step\u00a01. Choose the macOS Version and Confirm Compatibility<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n\n- Check the realistic floor\/ceiling for your Mac<\/b>. You generally cannot install an OS older than what your Mac originally shipped with; if you try, the installer will fail or the Mac will refuse to boot it.<\/li>\n
- Apple silicon (M\u2011series) Macs require macOS\u00a011 Big\u00a0Sur or newer<\/b>; Intel\u2011only releases (10.x) won\u2019t run natively. When a macOS build is incompatible, installation fails (often with a prohibited symbol).<\/li>\n
- Decide where you\u2019ll install<\/b>: internal disk, an external drive, or a VM (VMs on Apple silicon must match architecture; running Intel\u2011only macOS in a virtual machine on Apple silicon is not supported by normal virtualization).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
<\/span>Step\u00a02. Download the Official Installer From Apple<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\nApple provides multiple first\u2011party ways to get macOS installers. The easiest way to find the right, official download is to start inside Disk Drill and jump straight to the correct Apple page.<\/p>\n
<\/span>A) Disk Drill (Recommended): Jump to the Right Apple Download in Two Clicks<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n\n- Open Disk Drill<\/b> \u2192 Extra Tools<\/b> \u2192 macOS Installer<\/b>.<\/li>\n
- Click the Add macOS Installer\u2026<\/b> button at the bottom.<\/li>\n
- In the context menu:\n
\n- Current Release of macOS<\/b> \u2014 Click entry displaying current macOS name to go directly to the App Store page for today\u2019s macOS release and download it from Apple.<\/li>\n
- Download Older Version<\/b> \u2014 Hover to expand a curated list of older macOS versions (starting from Sierra). Click the version you need to be taken to Apple\u2019s official download page for that release.<\/li>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
![\"install](\"\/help\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/install-old-versions-of-macos-with-disk-drill-step-01.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
⁉️ What this does<\/b>: Disk Drill doesn\u2019t host or modify installers; it routes you to Apple\u2019s official App\u00a0Store pages, so you always get authentic, signed installers. Once the download finishes, the Install\u00a0[macOS\u00a0Name].app<\/b> will appear in \/Applications<\/b> (or Apple will guide you through Software Update for newer releases).<\/p>\n\n💡 Pro tip<\/b>: If you plan to make a USB installer, quit the installer when it auto\u2011launches so it stays intact in \/Applications.\n<\/div>\n<\/span>B) App\u00a0Store & Apple\u2019s Direct Links (Manual Path)<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\nYou can also open Apple\u2019s App\u00a0Store \u201cGet\u201d pages for newer macOS releases (e.g., Sonoma, Ventura, Monterey, Big\u00a0Sur, Catalina, Mojave, High\u00a0Sierra). The App\u00a0Store will download Install\u00a0[macOS\u00a0Name].app to \/Applications<\/b>. For older releases (e.g., Sierra, El\u00a0Capitan, Yosemite, Mountain\u00a0Lion, Lion), Apple provides .dmg downloads; open the .dmg and run the .pkg to place the installer app into \/Applications<\/b>.<\/p>\n\n
<\/span>Why You Might Need an Older macOS<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\nLegacy app support, testing, or running lab\/dev environments often requires Ventura\/Monterey\/Big\u00a0Sur or earlier (Mojave\/High\u00a0Sierra\/Sierra\/El\u00a0Capitan\/Lion). Apple distributes those installers\u2014some via the App Store, others as browser\u2011downloaded disk images (.dmg).<\/p>\n
<\/span>What You\u2019ll Need<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n\n- A compatible Mac (Apple silicon or Intel).<\/li>\n
- Stable internet (Recovery\/firmware data may be fetched during install).<\/li>\n
- A USB flash drive (\u226516\u00a0GB; 32\u00a0GB recommended) if you\u2019ll create a bootable installer.<\/li>\n
- Disk Drill for Mac<\/a> (free to download; includes free macOS Installer tool and optional data\u2011recovery extras).<\/li>\n
- Optionally, a full backup or byte\u2011to\u2011byte image before you change OS versions. (Disk Drill offers a free byte\u2011to\u2011byte backup module<\/a>.)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/span>Step\u00a01. Choose the macOS Version and Confirm Compatibility<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n\n- Check the realistic floor\/ceiling for your Mac<\/b>. You generally cannot install an OS older than what your Mac originally shipped with; if you try, the installer will fail or the Mac will refuse to boot it.<\/li>\n
- Apple silicon (M\u2011series) Macs require macOS\u00a011 Big\u00a0Sur or newer<\/b>; Intel\u2011only releases (10.x) won\u2019t run natively. When a macOS build is incompatible, installation fails (often with a prohibited symbol).<\/li>\n
- Decide where you\u2019ll install<\/b>: internal disk, an external drive, or a VM (VMs on Apple silicon must match architecture; running Intel\u2011only macOS in a virtual machine on Apple silicon is not supported by normal virtualization).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
<\/span>Step\u00a02. Download the Official Installer From Apple<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\nApple provides multiple first\u2011party ways to get macOS installers. The easiest way to find the right, official download is to start inside Disk Drill and jump straight to the correct Apple page.<\/p>\n
<\/span>A) Disk Drill (Recommended): Jump to the Right Apple Download in Two Clicks<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n\n- Open Disk Drill<\/b> \u2192 Extra Tools<\/b> \u2192 macOS Installer<\/b>.<\/li>\n
- Click the Add macOS Installer\u2026<\/b> button at the bottom.<\/li>\n
- In the context menu:\n
\n- Current Release of macOS<\/b> \u2014 Click entry displaying current macOS name to go directly to the App Store page for today\u2019s macOS release and download it from Apple.<\/li>\n
- Download Older Version<\/b> \u2014 Hover to expand a curated list of older macOS versions (starting from Sierra). Click the version you need to be taken to Apple\u2019s official download page for that release.<\/li>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
<\/p>\n
⁉️ What this does<\/b>: Disk Drill doesn\u2019t host or modify installers; it routes you to Apple\u2019s official App\u00a0Store pages, so you always get authentic, signed installers. Once the download finishes, the Install\u00a0[macOS\u00a0Name].app<\/b> will appear in \/Applications<\/b> (or Apple will guide you through Software Update for newer releases).<\/p>\n\n💡 Pro tip<\/b>: If you plan to make a USB installer, quit the installer when it auto\u2011launches so it stays intact in \/Applications.\n<\/div>\n<\/span>B) App\u00a0Store & Apple\u2019s Direct Links (Manual Path)<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\nYou can also open Apple\u2019s App\u00a0Store \u201cGet\u201d pages for newer macOS releases (e.g., Sonoma, Ventura, Monterey, Big\u00a0Sur, Catalina, Mojave, High\u00a0Sierra). The App\u00a0Store will download Install\u00a0[macOS\u00a0Name].app to \/Applications<\/b>. For older releases (e.g., Sierra, El\u00a0Capitan, Yosemite, Mountain\u00a0Lion, Lion), Apple provides .dmg downloads; open the .dmg and run the .pkg to place the installer app into \/Applications<\/b>.<\/p>\n\n
- \n
- A compatible Mac (Apple silicon or Intel).<\/li>\n
- Stable internet (Recovery\/firmware data may be fetched during install).<\/li>\n
- A USB flash drive (\u226516\u00a0GB; 32\u00a0GB recommended) if you\u2019ll create a bootable installer.<\/li>\n
- Disk Drill for Mac<\/a> (free to download; includes free macOS Installer tool and optional data\u2011recovery extras).<\/li>\n
- Optionally, a full backup or byte\u2011to\u2011byte image before you change OS versions. (Disk Drill offers a free byte\u2011to\u2011byte backup module<\/a>.)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/span>Step\u00a01. Choose the macOS Version and Confirm Compatibility<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n
- \n
- Check the realistic floor\/ceiling for your Mac<\/b>. You generally cannot install an OS older than what your Mac originally shipped with; if you try, the installer will fail or the Mac will refuse to boot it.<\/li>\n
- Apple silicon (M\u2011series) Macs require macOS\u00a011 Big\u00a0Sur or newer<\/b>; Intel\u2011only releases (10.x) won\u2019t run natively. When a macOS build is incompatible, installation fails (often with a prohibited symbol).<\/li>\n
- Decide where you\u2019ll install<\/b>: internal disk, an external drive, or a VM (VMs on Apple silicon must match architecture; running Intel\u2011only macOS in a virtual machine on Apple silicon is not supported by normal virtualization).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
<\/span>Step\u00a02. Download the Official Installer From Apple<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n
Apple provides multiple first\u2011party ways to get macOS installers. The easiest way to find the right, official download is to start inside Disk Drill and jump straight to the correct Apple page.<\/p>\n
<\/span>A) Disk Drill (Recommended): Jump to the Right Apple Download in Two Clicks<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
- \n
- Open Disk Drill<\/b> \u2192 Extra Tools<\/b> \u2192 macOS Installer<\/b>.<\/li>\n
- Click the Add macOS Installer\u2026<\/b> button at the bottom.<\/li>\n
- In the context menu:\n
- \n
- Current Release of macOS<\/b> \u2014 Click entry displaying current macOS name to go directly to the App Store page for today\u2019s macOS release and download it from Apple.<\/li>\n
- Download Older Version<\/b> \u2014 Hover to expand a curated list of older macOS versions (starting from Sierra). Click the version you need to be taken to Apple\u2019s official download page for that release.<\/li>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
<\/p>\n⁉️ What this does<\/b>: Disk Drill doesn\u2019t host or modify installers; it routes you to Apple\u2019s official App\u00a0Store pages, so you always get authentic, signed installers. Once the download finishes, the Install\u00a0[macOS\u00a0Name].app<\/b> will appear in \/Applications<\/b> (or Apple will guide you through Software Update for newer releases).<\/p>\n
\n💡 Pro tip<\/b>: If you plan to make a USB installer, quit the installer when it auto\u2011launches so it stays intact in \/Applications.\n<\/div>\n<\/span>B) App\u00a0Store & Apple\u2019s Direct Links (Manual Path)<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
You can also open Apple\u2019s App\u00a0Store \u201cGet\u201d pages for newer macOS releases (e.g., Sonoma, Ventura, Monterey, Big\u00a0Sur, Catalina, Mojave, High\u00a0Sierra). The App\u00a0Store will download Install\u00a0[macOS\u00a0Name].app to \/Applications<\/b>. For older releases (e.g., Sierra, El\u00a0Capitan, Yosemite, Mountain\u00a0Lion, Lion), Apple provides .dmg downloads; open the .dmg and run the .pkg to place the installer app into \/Applications<\/b>.<\/p>\n
\n - Download Older Version<\/b> \u2014 Hover to expand a curated list of older macOS versions (starting from Sierra). Click the version you need to be taken to Apple\u2019s official download page for that release.<\/li>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
- Click the Add macOS Installer\u2026<\/b> button at the bottom.<\/li>\n
- Apple silicon (M\u2011series) Macs require macOS\u00a011 Big\u00a0Sur or newer<\/b>; Intel\u2011only releases (10.x) won\u2019t run natively. When a macOS build is incompatible, installation fails (often with a prohibited symbol).<\/li>\n
- Optionally, a full backup or byte\u2011to\u2011byte image before you change OS versions. (Disk Drill offers a free byte\u2011to\u2011byte backup module<\/a>.)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
![\"macos](\"\/help\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/macos-tahoe-icon.png\"){kind=icon}
macOS Tahoe 26.0<\/td>\n![\"macos](\"\/help\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/macos-sequoia-icon.png\"){kind=icon}
macOS Sequoia 15.7<\/td>\n![\"macos](\"\/help\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/macos-sonoma-icon.png\"){kind=icon}
macOS Sonoma 14.8<\/td>\n![\"macos](\"\/help\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/macos-ventura-icon.png\"){kind=icon}
macOS Ventura 13.7.8<\/td>\n![\"macos](\"\/help\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/macos-monterey-icon.png\"){kind=icon}
macOS Monterey 12.7.4<\/td>\n![\"macos](\"\/help\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/macos-big-sur-icon.png\"){kind=icon}
macOS Big Sur 11.7.10<\/td>\n![\"macos](\"\/help\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/macos-catalina-icon.png\"){kind=icon}
macOS Catalina 10.15.7<\/td>\n![\"macos](\"\/help\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/macos-mojave-icon.png\"){kind=icon}
macOS Mojave 10.14.6<\/td>\n![\"macos](\"\/help\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/macos-high-sierra-icon.png\"){kind=icon}
macOS High Sierra 10.13.6<\/td>\n![\"macos](\"\/help\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/macos-sierra-icon.png\"){kind=icon}
macOS Sierra 10.12<\/td>\n![\"os](\"\/help\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/osx-el-capitan-icon.png\"){kind=icon}
OS X El Capitan 10.11<\/td>\n![\"os](\"\/help\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/osx-yosemite-icon.png\"){kind=icon}
OS X Yosemite 10.10<\/td>\n![\"os](\"\/help\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/osx-mountain-lion-icon.png\"){kind=icon}
OS X Mountain Lion 10.8<\/td>\n![\"os](\"\/help\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/osx-lion-icon.png\"){kind=icon}
OS X Lion 10.7<\/td>\n