Yearly/launch this reply on putting in earlier variations of macOS will want updating. Final replace Nov 2023.
Up to now couple of years – since this reply was first devised – Apple now have an official listing of accessible installers making them a lot simpler to seek out than earlier than.
So, earlier than working proper down this reply, verify right here as a primary step.
One factor that also applies all through: you actually need a Mac to get macOS simply. As all Macs since roughly 2011 can use Web Restoration to at the very least get a workable OS on the Mac, this may typically be the most effective preliminary method, from which you’ll be able to examine additional after you have a primary working Mac.
At all times use Safari when making an attempt to attach with something to do with the Apple KB or the App Retailer.
Accessing an OS your present Mac can not itself run….
The App Retailer is not going to allow you to obtain an OS that’s both too outdated or too new for the Mac you’re downloading to – which is an annoying hurdle.
For Excessive Sierra & later
There are a number of methods to cope with this – all freeware, however with totally different approaches.
TwoCanoes’ MDS ‘Deploy Stick’ [free to use & open source, but without support or automation, which are paid add-ons].
This appears to be nearly foolproof. A two-click resolution.
Replace Nov ’23 – Since V5, MDS now appears to be paid solely. Attempt v4.3 or older from https://twocanoes.com/merchandise/mac/mds/historical past/ & report again in feedback if that also woks as freeware.
Mist from ninxsoft which may obtain & construct official installers.
MDS truly makes use of this as its obtain mechanism. That is the extra ‘uncooked’ model, but additionally appears extra highly effective for those who want extra instruments.
dosdude1 Patchers – Sierra to Catalina.
A set of apps ostensibly for putting in macOS on unsupported {hardware}, however every of which incorporates direct obtain of the related OS, & separate obtain of the firmware replace obligatory for APFS.
As I’ve not but examined alll of those personally, for those who hit a stumbling block, please increase a brand new query and hyperlink again to right here/go away a remark under, so we will add data to this as a ‘grasp listing’.
For Sierra & earlier
There’s a listing of older OS installers – Snow Leopard to Sierra – which might be accessed even utilizing older variations of Safari which don’t assist trendy https hyperlinks.http://maclinks.publicvm.com
It can be accessed with https
https://maclinks.publicvm.com
This hyperlinks to official Apple installers, simply by an ‘simpler’ route for older Macs.
There are additionally directions for every to make bootable installers.
In case you are making an attempt to leap a good distance – say from 10.8 to 10.14 or later, acquired knowledge is to first improve to El Capitan 10.11, then Excessive Sierra 10.13.
This may put together your machine for the lengthy bounce.
Some customers appear to have managed to skip El Capitan, however Excessive Sierra continues to be obligatory, if it or newer has by no means been on the Mac earlier than, because it provides a firmware replace required to learn the newer APFS filesystem.
If it’s essential to create a bootable USB to put in from
First see MDS or Mist, above, you probably have entry to a different Mac.
How do I make a bootable USB OS X installer on a Mac?
How do I create an OS X 10.9 (Mavericks) bootable USB drive utilizing Home windows?
Restoration Choices
If it’s essential to reinstall from Restoration on an Intel-based Mac, & have been beforehand working Excessive Sierra or later, there are actually 3 choices obtainable.
Maintain the suitable key combo on the boot chimes…
- Cmd ⌘ R
reinstall the most recent macOS that was put in in your Mac, with out upgrading to a later model [this relies on your Recovery drive being intact & bootable.] - Decide ⌥ Cmd ⌘ R
improve to the most recent macOS that’s suitable along with your Mac - Shift ⇧ Decide ⌥ Cmd ⌘ R
reinstall the macOS that got here along with your Mac, or the model nearest to it that’s nonetheless obtainable.
Ought to you’ve got entry to an older level launch of any OS, 10.11.0 and so on & want to improve, then you’ll be able to obtain Combo Updaters from Apple that comprise all the pieces essential to go straight to the most recent level launch in a single step, e.g. 10.11.6
Google is nice at discovering these, as the highest hit for those who simply search combo replace 10.11 and so on however listed here are hyperlinks to some
Mavericks 10.9.5
Yosemite 10.10.5
El Capitan 10.11.6
Sierra 10.12.6
Excessive Sierra 10.13.6
Mojave 10.14.6
Catalina 10.15.7
Since Huge Sur, Apple have stopped making combo updaters.
If none of those strategies can be found to you, you’ve got two choices
-
Discover a good friend who can entry the obtain [recommended]
-
Discover a torrent/sharing website [not recommended]
Be aware: You cannot use a Time Machine backup to revert to an OS which is older than the OS of the most recent backup on that Time Machine drive.
Because of this to protect your means to ever restore to an earlier backup & OS along with your Time Machine backup, you need to swap out that Time Machine drive earlier than upgrading the OS. It’s because as soon as the Time Machine drive sees the brand new OS, there is not any going again to the older OS utilizing it. You may nonetheless decide information out from the Time Machine manually, however can not use it to revive to the older OS.
