How to download old macOS versions purchased from the App store

chscag

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Very informative thread at MacRumors regarding downloading the installers for older versions of macOS. Especially note the remarks about macOS Certificate expiration. Even if you are able to find the installer you're looking for, the Apple certificate for that installer may have expired.

How to download old OS versions purchased through App store? | MacRumors Forums

There is one USB Lion installer that Apple used to supply with some kit, a custom thin white device, and it could be bought separately. The one I sometimes use at work surprisingly wasn't affected by the certificate expiring.
 
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I tried the Mojave installer that I have and it told me the it was damaged and couldn't be used. So I trashed it, emptied the Trash and downloaded it again from the App Store using the link in the article.

When I tried to install it, it told me it was damaged and couldn't be used. Downloading again at the moment.
 
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chscag

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I tried the Mojave installer that I have and it told me the it was damaged and couldn't be used. So I trashed it, emptied the Trash and downloaded it again from the App Store using the link in the article.

When I tried to install it, it told me it was damaged and couldn't be used. Downloading again at the moment.

Let us know if you have success, but it sounds like Apple may have expired the certificate for Mojave.
 
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Second download doesn't work either.

Let us know if you have success, but it sounds like Apple may have expired the certificate for Mojave.
The Apple Insider article says that new downloads should be good until 2029.
 
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chscag

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Second download doesn't work either.


The Apple Insider article says that new downloads should be good until 2029.

I'll look into that a bit later today. I did read an article where it said that it could be downloaded with a new certificate. 10 years sounds like a stretch though.
 
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Resetting the date back a year made it work.
 
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MBAmtloin

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i tried to reinstall El Captain (all 6GB) from my external HD which i have performed in the past,
and Sunday i received a message stating i could not.
same with Sierra.....
I am using mountain lIon on a ssd drive.
i think we cannot upgrade anymore which I dont mind but if someone needed the newer OSX might be stranded.
 
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Your MBA is capable of going upto 10.13, High Sierra. It's to do with the Security Certificates of the installers expiring. Try setting the date year back to 2018 in Sys Prefs and see if that works. It did for me.
 
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MBAmtloin

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Your MBA is capable of going upto 10.13, High Sierra. It's to do with the Security Certificates of the installers expiring. Try setting the date year back to 2018 in Sys Prefs and see if that works. It did for me.

thank you for the tip, I decided to stick with mountain lion for good, that OSX works incredible with everything i have and produce.
kinda weird how the OSX upgrades i have stored will not work all of the sudden.
 
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MBAmtloin

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Thank you Mighty Glen!
that might help if i decide to upgrade, or i can switch to linux.
 

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