Impossible to get a MacOS installer?

[blipstutter]

Has Apple really made it next to impossible to get a fricken MacOS installer file?

I've tried Mojave, High Sierra, Big Sur, all off the App Store... no luck, I won't list the errors, but from googling I can see I'm not the only one getting them. It's a project to even find the older OS app store pages in the first place, and then it was a project to get the mini file, but then it hangs on intializing the larger download and won't connect.

That's without mentioning the constant App Store errors, the two step sign on codes, and loop of passwords. Plus the App Store won't let us pick where we want to download to, and there's no direct links using Safari now so you're stuck.

Apple Support told me I'm out of luck, but Big Sur wouldn't be an issue but they removed all direct download links. It's been an issue. I've tried Dosguys patchers, and those error out. I've tried TwoCanoes MDS from their own site, but that wouldn't open and gives a "digital signature is invalid" and warning the app may have been tampered with. I've tried the Terminal commands.

I've tried my old High Sierra installer, but I get an error that it's damaged.

I need a fresh install on a USB drive after a hard drive crash, and DIY data recovery.... Apple really has made it impossible.

What the hell are people doing that need a fresh install?

 

[joevt]

Try these instructions for getting an installer (High Sierra to Monterey):
https://dortania.github.io/OpenCore-Legacy-Patcher/INSTALLER.html#downloading

 

[Amethyst1]

I've tried my old High Sierra installer, but I get an error that it's damaged.

This is probably because the installer's certificate has expired. You can try to set the system's date back to 2017 before running the installer. After booting from the installer drive, fire up Terminal and enter date 1101080817 to set the date and time to 1st of November 2017 8:08 AM. Close Terminal and try to run the installer. If it installs fine, the date and time will automatically be corrected once the system connects to the internet.

 

[Fishrrman]

It sure helps that if you tell us WHICH Mac you have, WHAT YEAR it was made, and WHICH OS installer you'd like.

Try this page:

How to Download macOS Sequoia, Sonoma, Ventura, Monterey, Big Sur, Catalina & Mojave Full Installers

How to download macOS Monterey, Big Sur, Catalina, Mojave, High Sierra, Sierra, El Capitan, Yosemite, Mavericks, Mountain Lion & Lion 7 ways!

mrmacintosh.com

 

[blipstutter]

This is probably because the installer's certificate has expired.

Going to try this, you may have really saved me.

 

[blipstutter]

It sure helps that if you tell us WHICH Mac you have, WHAT YEAR it was made, and WHICH OS installer you'd like.

Try this page:

How to Download macOS Sequoia, Sonoma, Ventura, Monterey, Big Sur, Catalina & Mojave Full Installers

How to download macOS Monterey, Big Sur, Catalina, Mojave, High Sierra, Sierra, El Capitan, Yosemite, Mavericks, Mountain Lion & Lion 7 ways!

mrmacintosh.com

2015 macbook pro, trying to download any of Mojave, High Sierra or Big Sur.

The instructions on that link that I've tried didn't work or are geared for people on newer systems to begin with.... but I will give the rest a shot, including the clearer instructions on how to use installinstallmacos.py off Github. Edit. "Command not Found" when running that.

 

[blipstutter]

Try these instructions for getting an installer (High Sierra to Monterey):
https://dortania.github.io/OpenCore-Legacy-Patcher/INSTALLER.html#downloading

Thanks. What's missing are instructions for how to install and run the script, the instructions assume you know how to run it. Am I supposed to have developer tool installed? Not exactly intuitive for someone just trying to do what involved just pushing a download button.

 

[iObama]

Mr. Macintosh provides direct links to installers from Apple:

Here's the one for Monterey 12.0.1: http://swcdn.apple.com/content/down...7jhqfzzjt1bjp1nhwl4p4zx7/InstallAssistant.pkg

Here's the one for Big Sur 11.6.1: http://swcdn.apple.com/content/down...leko1s3jwaqdlh2b3uzyrlfv/InstallAssistant.pkg

It doesn't matter what specific machine you have, these will work with all compatible Big Sur/Monterey machines.

 

[blipstutter]

Mr. Macintosh provides direct links to installers from Apple:

View attachment 1879657

Here's the one for Monterey 12.0.1: http://swcdn.apple.com/content/down...7jhqfzzjt1bjp1nhwl4p4zx7/InstallAssistant.pkg

Here's the one for Big Sur 11.6.1: http://swcdn.apple.com/content/down...leko1s3jwaqdlh2b3uzyrlfv/InstallAssistant.pkg

It doesn't matter what specific machine you have, these will work with all compatible Big Sur/Monterey machines.

This is great. I missed these links. Was there a direct link for Mojave, I don't see it?
(I did say I'd be happy with Big Sur, big file and all.Thank you, that's the direct link of my dreams).

 

[iObama]

This is great. I missed these links. Was there a direct link for Mojave, I don't see it?
(I did say I'd be happy with Big Sur, big file and all.Thank you, that's the direct link of my dreams).

I'm not seeing one for Mojave either. Outside of using the installinstallmacos.py script (I'm a Mac Admin at work), the only way I've found to download it is via the App Store.

I have a feeling the direct download link will work better for you in terms of file size. May take a while though

 

[joevt]

Thanks. What's missing are instructions for how to install and run the script, the instructions assume you know how to run it. Am I supposed to have developer tool installed? Not exactly intuitive for someone just trying to do what involved just pushing a download button.

The instructions include a command

[ ! -d ~/macOS-installer/ ] && mkdir ~/macOS-installer; cd ~/macOS-installer; [ ! -f ~/macOS-installer/installinstallmacos.py ] && curl -O https://raw.githubusercontent.com/munki/macadmin-scripts/main/installinstallmacos.py ; sudo python installinstallmacos.py

Which basically says:
If a directory named macOS-installer doesn't exist in your home folder, then make the directory. Change the current directory to that directory. If a file named installinstallmacos.py (a python script) doesn't exist in that directory then download it from the specified url. Execute that python script using python with elevated privileges.

mkdir -p ~/macOS-installer
cd ~/macOS-installer
curl -O https://raw.githubusercontent.com/munki/macadmin-scripts/main/installinstallmacos.py
sudo python installinstallmacos.py

The script will download the installer that you select and create a disk image containing that installer.

Create a partition where the installer will be placed. 16 GB should be enough.

Mount the disk image and execute the command that will place the installer in the partition you created.

Then boot from that partition (hold Option key at boot and select the Install partition).

 

[CoastalOR]

These links have worked for me:

How to download and install macOS - Apple Support

Download and install current or previous versions of the Mac operating system on compatible Mac computers.

support.apple.com

Make sure you use Safari and not Firefox.