Can I just download the Mac OS directly somewhere? Software update doesn't work (even in safe mode), terminal doesn't work, app store doesn't work. I have a 2017 iMac running Catalina.

I need help upgrading an i7 Intel Macbook Pro 2019 (16") from High Sierra (10.13.4) to Big Sur (11.1.0) for someone.

Because of a specific software program version I can't get around I can only run Big Sur but don't know how to safely upgrade to that version. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

(Also, how should I use TimeMachine to help facilitate a backup should it be unsuccessful and I have to roll back?)

I’m wondering if there are any links out there with links to older versions of MacOS where I can download?

I looked in the Wiki but it says the latest version is Monterey… and there are no links to anything

EDIT: Thank you everyone for the assistance btw! I am aware of OCLP and have gotten most from there. I just haven’t been able to find Snow Leopard, Mavericks, or Tahoe and that’s something I should have specified in the OP so my apologies for that

I am trying to compile a master recovery drive in case I ever need to install any of these (I do tech repairs and support so it’s helpful to have just in case)

When trying to download various versions of macOS (including older ones), I noticed, that it did not always work as expected. So i took some notes and put together this guide for reference.

Via App Store links or Apple direct download links

You can download High Sierra, Mojave and Catalina, Big Sur and Monterey via App Store links:

• How to upgrade to macOS Monterey - Apple Support

  • App store link: Get macOS Monterey

  • App store link: Get macOS Big Sur

• How to upgrade to macOS Catalina - Apple Support

  • App store link: Get macOS Catalina

• How to upgrade to macOS Mojave - Apple Support

  • App store link: Get macOS Mojave

• How to upgrade to macOS High Sierra - Apple Support

  • App store link: Get macOS High Sierra

For El Capitan and macOS Sierra Apple provides the direct download links instead of the App Store links in its own documentation. The App Store links will only work on High Sierra and below, as Mojave and Catalina will refuse to download these older versions.

• How to upgrade to macOS Sierra - Apple Support

  • App store link: Get macOS Sierra

  • Direct download link: Download macOS Sierra

    • the installer will copy Install macOS Sierra into /Applications

• How to upgrade to OS X El Capitan - Apple Support

  • App store link: Get OS X El Capitan

  • Direct download link: Download OS X El Capitan

    • the installer will copy Install OS X El Capitan into /Applications

• How to upgrade to OS X Yosemite - Apple Support

  • Direct download link: Download OS X Yosemite

    • the installer will copy Install OS X Yosemite into /Applications

• 10.9 Mac OS X Mavericks (authenticity cannot be confirmed, needs date set to 2016 for install)

• 10.8 Mac OS X Mountain Lion Installer - Apple Support

• 10.7 Mac OS X Lion Installer - Apple Support

For even older versions try here:
Legacy macOS: Disk Images | OpenCore Install Guide and How can I download an older version of OS X/macOS? - Ask Different

Some of the problems relating to downloading macOS have been covered in this article: How to download macOS Catalina, Mojave or High Sierra Full Installers

Terminal Command to Download on macOS

If you are unable to download from the App Store, follow Making the installer in macOS, by using the following command in the Terminal (you will need at least 50GB of available disk space):

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

 #      ProductID    Version    Build   Post Date  Title
 2      061-26589    10.14.6   18G103  2019-10-14  macOS Mojave
 3      041-91758    10.13.6    17G66  2019-10-19  macOS High Sierra
12      001-68446    10.15.7    19H15  2020-11-11  macOS Catalina
13      071-78704     11.5.2    20G95  2021-08-18  macOS Big Sur
14      002-66265     12.2.1    21D62  2022-02-10  macOS Monterey

Select the exact version from a list similar to the above. In this example 13 for Big Sur.

Once finished, you’ll find a DMG in your ~/macOS-Installer/ folder containing the macOS Installer, called Install_macOS_11.5.2-20G95.dmg for example. Mount it and you’ll find the installer application.

gibMacOS for downloading macOS Recovery Image or creating a Full Installer (Windows, Linux or macOS)

The gibMacOS python script runs on Windows, Linux or macOS and is used in this Guide: Downloading the Recovery HD image - /r/Hackintosh macOS Internet Install - For example to get the Yosemite Recovery Image run in the Terminal ./gibMacOS.command --recovery -v 10.10 -m 10.10 (replace 10.10 with the version you need: 10.09 to 10.15)

gibMacOS has a script to create the whole installer from the parts downloaded. You can only get the Full Installer of the latest supported OSes by Apple (like High Sierra, Mojave and Catalina).

1. get the gibMacOS script

2. run the script in Terminal ./gibMacOS.command

3. select the appropriate entry

4. let it download and wait (when finished type 'q' to quit)

5. run ./BuildmacOSInstallApp.command

6. drag the appropriate download folder onto the Terminal window (press enter and wait)

7. the "Install macOS {MacOS Version}.app" will be in the same folder

Dosdude1 Patchers

Each GUI App has a macOS downloader included: dosdude1. For a hackintosh, you do not need to use any of the other features. The App downloads the full macOS installer from swcdn.apple.com (checked with my firewall)

• macOS Catalina Patcher (Download macOS Catalina Patcher 1.3.0)

  • Download macOS: Continue > Continue > Download a Copy

• macOS Mojave Patcher (Download macOS Mojave Patcher 1.3.7)

  • Download macOS: Menu > Tools > Download macOS Mojave...

• macOS High Sierra Patcher (Download macOS High Sierra Patcher 2.7.0)

  • Download macOS: Menu > Tools > Download macOS High Sierra...

• Related Links:

  • How to get old versions of macOS: https://support.apple.com/en-ph/HT211683

  • Combo Updates for old versions (not all versions - example): https://support.apple.com/downloads/Lion

  • How to download old Mac OS X and macOS versions https://www.macworld.co.uk/how-to/mac-software/download-old-os-x-3629363/

Update 2022-04: Added Lion, Mountain Lion, Big Sur, Monterey and the Terminal Command for installinstallmacos.py. Added Legacy macOS link for Snow Leopard and older. Updated relevant links and removed expired ones (most links still seem to work).