How do I download El Capitan with Mojave?

[DIY_glenn]

So I’m reinstalling some Macs here. I’ve sold my MBA 2011, formatted my cMP 3.1, and my cMP 5(4).1 is waiting for new parts.
The only operative Mac atm is the other half’s MBA 2012 which has got a clean install to Mojave.
So - how the heck to I now reinstall El Capitan on my cMP 3.1? I can’t find a way to legally download El Capitan from Mojave.

 

[keysofanxiety]

Have you previously downloaded El Cap? If so, it should be in your Purchases tab on the App Store and you can download it from there.

You can also try to search for it on the App Store and download it, though I can't test at the moment to confirm if this will work.

 

[DIY_glenn]

Unfortunately this is not possible with Mojave. The new App Store does not link to the OS downloads. They are separated from App Store, into another update pref pane, kinda like “Windows Updates”.

Apple has created a special link which will open it in App Store on High Sierra or older, but not Mojave. I could open an El Capitan app from an iTunes link, but it cannot be downloaded in Mojave.

I ended up with my only alternative - find someone who had uploaded it to Google Drive.

 

[DeltaMac]

Have you previously downloaded El Cap? If so, it should be in your Purchases tab on the App Store and you can download it from there.

You can also try to search for it on the App Store and download it, though I can't test at the moment to confirm if this will work.

I have purchased, or downloaded, all OS X and macOS systems, and can go on my backup system, running Sierra, and immediately download those older system installers --- at least those that will boot on my older Mac. None are available through the Mojave App Store. I can get an El Capitan information page, and the "Get" button takes me to the Software Update pref pane, where I see "Update not found. The requested versions of macOS is not available."
If I try the same to download Sierra, it doesn't even open an info page in the App Store, and simply shows "Cannot Connect to App Store"
There doesn't even appear to be a simple way to download High Sierra --- other than a python script that someone has posted that gives download access to High Sierra, particularly the 2018 MBPro version.

Bottom line --- can anyone say that there is ANY way to use your previous history in the Mojave App Store to download ANY OS X or macOS system installer, including older systems that STILL will boot your existing Macs?

 

[DIY_glenn]

You’re seeing the same as I’ve seen.
I’m pretty sure this is where Apple has drawn the line. So now we got pre- and post-Mojave Mac’s.

The official page for downloading El Capitan (link to App Store) says to use High Sierra or older.

I could create it with Diskmaker X on Mojave, but had to be downloaded through the Google Drive URL I found.

I suggest you download the “Install OS X” Apps on a system that has access, then zip them and store safely.
I don’t think Apple will be looking back any more.
This is probably also a sign that we’ll see some new potent desktop hardware in a few weeks.