Tip: How To Download Old macOS Version Installer Using Terminal On Mac

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https://www.redmondpie.com/download-old-macos-version-installer-dmg-iso-file-using-terminal-on-mac-heres-how/

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Nathan Parker

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Just curious: once one gets the installer of the older macOS version one would like to run in the Mac (bare metal or in a VM?) by following the instructions (*) in the article linked in Alex5723’s original entry, what does one do with the installer?

The article does not explain that and, never having downloaded and explicitly used an “installer” myself to update the whole system (always clicking “Install” in “/System Preferences/Software Update”), I wonder which, if any, of the methods described here would be the one to use:

https://www.howtogeek.com/177619/how-to-install-applications-on-a-mac-everything-you-need-to-know/

If not one of those, what then?

(*) Before doing that, better make sure to read the comments below the article itself, with corrections to the procedure as given by the author, as they point out  couple of mistakes he made.

Ex-Windows user (Win. 98, XP, 7); since mid-2017 using also macOS. Presently on Monterey 12.15 & sometimes running also Linux (Mint).

MacBook Pro circa mid-2015, 15" display, with 16GB 1600 GHz DDR3 RAM, 1 TB SSD, a Haswell architecture Intel CPU with 4 Cores and 8 Threads model i7-4870HQ @ 2.50GHz.
Intel Iris Pro GPU with Built-in Bus, VRAM 1.5 GB, Display 2880 x 1800 Retina, 24-Bit color.
macOS Monterey; browsers: Waterfox "Current", Vivaldi and (now and then) Chrome; security apps. Intego AV

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It is much the same as a Windows install.

Download the Installer using the commands in the above link.
The Installer downloads into the Applications folder.
If you want to install on the current machine, you can double click the Installer and it will go through the process you are used to.

You can make a bootable USB drive using the Disk Utility.
Then use terminal commands to put the Installer in the USB drive.
For a clean install you can boot from the USB drive and install.

Here are some links further explaining the process.
From Apple Support.  From MacWorld. From Lifehacker. From imore. From lifewire.

4 users thanked author for this post.

Nathan Parker, Myst, DrBonzo, OscarCP

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