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How to download old OS versions purchased through App store?

dukebound85

dukebound85

macrumors Core
Original poster
Jul 17, 2005
19,218
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5045 feet above sea level
How does one get the mac installer files that were downloaded form the mac app store but no longer there? Does Apple maintain a dedicated repository?

These do not show up in in my purchase tabs but would be beneficial to have
 
Exactly which OS versions are you looking for?

Here's my list of "How to upgrade ..." URLs. Each one has a description and a link of where to get the OS version.

"How to upgrade to macOS Mojave"
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT210190

"How to upgrade to macOS High Sierra"
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208969

"How to upgrade to macOS Sierra"
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208202

"How to upgrade to OS X El Capitan"
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT206886
.. must be using High Sierra or earlier to DL from App Store.


I don't have any URLs for OS versions before El Capitan.
 
The latest my older mbp supports is el Capitan. When I go to that link, it says it’s unavailable in the app store

there is not recovery partition. Am I out of luck getting this through official channels?
 
dukebound85 said:
The latest my older mbp supports is el Capitan. When I go to that link, it says it’s unavailable in the app store
Click to expand...
Which OS version were you using at the time?

It shows up for me from a Snow Leopard OS. When I click "Get" it won't let me download because El Cap won't run on the machine (max is Lion).

I also checked on a machine that will run El Cap (and later), and it gave me the same alert. It was running Mtn Lion at the time, so maybe there's something wrong on the App Store, or maybe Apple just doesn't offer it any more.

If El Cap is the max for your machine, you should probably contact Apple and ask them.

I assume you don't have Internet Recovery, either, as that might be a pathway.
 
chown33 said:
Does the El Capitan one actually download when requested?
For me, the App Store app shows the page with a "Get" action, but it refuses to download it.
Click to expand...

Yes - you are correct - El Cap shows as available - and when I click "GET" it says download not available :(
 
The best way to ensure that you have Mac OS installers that will run in the future is to download and archive them yourself.

In my archives, I have OS installers going all the way back to 10.4 or 10.3...
 
chown33 said:
Which OS version were you using at the time?

It shows up for me from a Snow Leopard OS. When I click "Get" it won't let me download because El Cap won't run on the machine (max is Lion).

I also checked on a machine that will run El Cap (and later), and it gave me the same alert. It was running Mtn Lion at the time, so maybe there's something wrong on the App Store, or maybe Apple just doesn't offer it any more.

If El Cap is the max for your machine, you should probably contact Apple and ask them.

I assume you don't have Internet Recovery, either, as that might be a pathway.
Click to expand...
I did have a 10.8 installer file I had fortunately saved.

with that, the App Store did show each of the OS X versions I had downloaded over the years under my purchased tab and was able to download allof them.

I wish the new App Store also showed these under purchased but am glad it’s still there on older os app stores
 
Fishrrman said:
The best way to ensure that you have Mac OS installers that will run in the future is to download and archive them yourself.

In my archives, I have OS installers going all the way back to 10.4 or 10.3...
Click to expand...

I would agree with you, but you may have installers that won't work because their Apple certificates have expired. Some expire today (24th) and won't work tomorrow. You need to check the usability of all old macOS installers.
 
"I would agree with you, but you may have installers that won't work because their Apple certificates have expired. Some expire today (24th) and won't work tomorrow. You need to check the usability of all old macOS installers."

A workaround -might- be "setting the Mac's clock back"...
 
I can't seem to get High Sierra. It says it is not available.
Anyone can send me a copy of the latest High Sierra for my archive?

Much appreciated!
 
yukari said:
I can't seem to get High Sierra. It says it is not available.
Anyone can send me a copy of the latest High Sierra for my archive?
Click to expand...

For High Sierra use https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208969 or https://apps.apple.com/app/id1246284741?mt=12. But it won't work on Catalina. You need to do it on Mojave or older. And it takes few goes on the link for Safari to open up the App Store which then takes you to System Update to do the download. This version works when I use it to create virtual machine. You must do the new download. Old downloads will fail to install (certificate issues).

For Sierra, use https://apps.apple.com/app/id1127487414?mt=12 (whilst running in an El Capitan VM) to get Install.dmg, run this, creates Install Mac OS Sierra.app. This installs correctly.
 
@dukebound85 it depends on what machine/os you are on.
I try to explain me better.
If you are on a machine that doesn't support the OS, app store will not let you download the installer.
For instance I'm on a cMP2009 and until yesterday I couldn't install High Sierra, because my machine was with the original firmware. Yesterday I've upgraded it and was able to install High Sierra. I've tried today to use the links that @bogdanf gave you and I'm able to download up to Mojave, just because I've got the firmware update. For instance, Catalina link is not working for me (because my macpro is not supported).
Being that said, I've downloaded and backed up all the OSs upto Mojave, so if you need anyone, I can send you. Just PM me (and then you need to use the Patcher to install them on an unsopported machine).
Cheers
 
I have found that Mojave, High Sierra, & Sierra give installer corrupt errors since the certificate expiration on 24 Oct.

What command will set the date back to before 24 Oct 2019 with Terminal in the Utilities menu when booted from a USB Installer?
 
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