HT206886: How to get macOS Sierra

Learn about How to get macOS Sierra
DesignThinking
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: I am a Mavericks user. Where can I download Yosemite? I DO NOT want El Capitan

I am a Mavericks user. Where can I download Yosemite? I DO NOT want to install El Capitan.

 

Thanks,

 

A.

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Mavericks (10.9.5), null

Posted on Oct 12, 2015 8:21 AM

Close
DesignThinking

Q: I am a Mavericks user. Where can I download Yosemite? I DO NOT want El Capitan

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by babowa,

    babowa babowa Oct 12, 2015 8:26 AM in response to DesignThinking
    Level 7 (32,078 points)
    iPad
    Oct 12, 2015 8:26 AM in response to DesignThinking

    Unless you've downloaded it previously, it is no longer available.

  • by DesignThinking,

    DesignThinking DesignThinking Oct 12, 2015 8:38 AM in response to babowa
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 12, 2015 8:38 AM in response to babowa

    Gah! That's what I feared.

    After decades as a Mac user, I never, ever use the latest operating system. I find this policy maintains my productivity and sanity.

     

    It would be nice if Apple gave its customers a choice over what OS they run... A radical idea, I know.

     

    A.

  • by babowa,Helpful

    babowa babowa Oct 12, 2015 10:13 AM in response to DesignThinking
    Level 7 (32,078 points)
    iPad
    Oct 12, 2015 10:13 AM in response to DesignThinking

    As soon as Apple announced El Capitan was going to come out in fall, I downloaded a Yosemite installer; it is safely tucked away on external hard drives for possible future use. I've also downloaded El Capitan and saved it on an external drive. Having full installers and bootable clones of your system available is the easiest (and sometimes only) way to restore if there is no other way.

  • by DesignThinking,

    DesignThinking DesignThinking Oct 12, 2015 9:30 AM in response to babowa
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 12, 2015 9:30 AM in response to babowa

    You wouldn't know where I could download a copy of Yosemite?

     

    Sadly ironic that the most logically reliable place (i.e. Apple) have chosen to NOT allow downloading of Yosemite.... Such bizarre Apple decision-making is one reason that I never install the latest version on any Mac OS. I rely on my Mac for my livelihood, and spending my time trouble-shooting software is just not feasible.

     

    I've left feedback for Apple on this issue — whatever good that'll do!

     

    Thanks for your help,

     

    A.

  • by Eric Root,Helpful

    Eric Root Eric Root Oct 12, 2015 10:13 AM in response to DesignThinking
    Level 9 (71,941 points)
    iTunes
    Oct 12, 2015 10:13 AM in response to DesignThinking

    If you live near an Apple Store, they might be able to install the OS for you.

  • by babowa,

    babowa babowa Oct 12, 2015 9:44 AM in response to DesignThinking
    Level 7 (32,078 points)
    iPad
    Oct 12, 2015 9:44 AM in response to DesignThinking

    The only legal download is at the app store or - possibly - at an Apple Store; any other place would result in an illegal (pirated) copy and may contain unwanted additions such as malware, adware, etc.

  • by DesignThinking,

    DesignThinking DesignThinking Oct 12, 2015 10:46 AM in response to babowa
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 12, 2015 10:46 AM in response to babowa

    As much as I like Apple, sometimes their lack of flexibility and out-and-out control freakery can be really f***ing annoying!

     

    It's 2015, yet the only sensible option I am left with is to physically hike to the nearest Apple Store clutching my MacBook, in order to get some Apple tech person to install Yosemite. Physically. Like it's the 1990s or something. Just ridiculous!

     

    Why they can't just make the last Yosemite available from their support pages... Just astounds me! The bigger they become, the harder they fail.

     

    Thanks for all the advice and helpful suggestions, but I guess I'll be sticking with Mavericks for the foreseeable future.

     

    A.

  • by babowa,

    babowa babowa Oct 12, 2015 11:17 AM in response to DesignThinking
    Level 7 (32,078 points)
    iPad
    Oct 12, 2015 11:17 AM in response to DesignThinking

    I figured they'd be yanking Yosemite on the day El Capitan was introduced because they did the very same thing with Mavericks when Yosemite was introduced. If you've download the older OS previously or your machine came with it, you can still get it in the app store or through recovery of course. FWIW, if you do decide to go to the Apple store, make sure that a) they use YOUR Apple ID to download it and b) see if the process can be stopped/interrupted after the download and before the actual install begins. If so, you'll find it in your Applications folder and can copy it to a safe place as the installer will self-destruct after the install is finished.