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download 10.12

I can't get my mac to allow me to download 10.12 and the only download I can find online is 10.12.1, and it won't install without 10.12.

MacBook, OS X 10.11

Posted on Oct 21, 2020 7:23 PM

Reply
Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Oct 21, 2020 10:23 PM

In order to install macOS Sierra you need to download the full installer.

From what you wrote you have downloaded an update to macOS Sierra,

updates can only be installed on a previous version of macOS Sierra.


The next thing you need know is that there is no 10.12 available for download.

Apple removes the previous version of the full installer when a new version is released.

When macOS Sierra was first released the full version would have been 10.12, when full

version 10.12.1 was released then 10.12 was removed from the App Store, this was then

replaced by 10.12.2 all the way up to the last full version 10.12.6, which is the full installer

that you need to install macOS Sierra. It is 5.01GBs in size.


Please click on this link,

How to upgrade to macOS Sierra - Apple Support

Go to Section 4 and click on Get macOS Sierra


This downloads InstallOS.dmg to your Downloads folder.


The next section can only be done on a mac that is capable of running Sierra,

a mac that came preinstalled with an OS later than Sierra will refuse to do the next bit.


When downloaded open to get InstallOS.pkg, double-click on

that and an installation window will open, read and follow the prompts,

this does not install Sierra but uses the InstallOS.pkg to create the 

Install macOS Sierra.app which you will find in your Applications folder.


 (If the installation window asks which disk you want to install to, you must pick 

the disk that you are booted to at the time. Not any internal or external disk that 

you want to eventually install Sierra on, that is for later.)


To start the installation of Sierra double click on the Install macOS Sierra.app.


The copy of the install app self deletes after installing Sierra, so make sure you keep a copy of the InstallOS.dmg

if you need it in future, or you could just make a copy of the Install OS X Sierra.app prior to installing and moving it to

an external drive for safe keeping. 


Another thing to know is if your mac can upgrade to macOS Sierra it can upgrade to macOS High Sierra.

If you want to install that instead open your Safari browser and click on the link below,

How to upgrade to macOS High Sierra - Apple Support

Go to Section 4 and click on Get macOS High Sierra,

this will connect you with the App Store High Sierra download page

it should say Get or Download.

This will download Install macOS High Sierra.app directly to your Applications folder.

2 replies
Question marked as Best reply

Oct 21, 2020 10:23 PM in response to Megan1189

In order to install macOS Sierra you need to download the full installer.

From what you wrote you have downloaded an update to macOS Sierra,

updates can only be installed on a previous version of macOS Sierra.


The next thing you need know is that there is no 10.12 available for download.

Apple removes the previous version of the full installer when a new version is released.

When macOS Sierra was first released the full version would have been 10.12, when full

version 10.12.1 was released then 10.12 was removed from the App Store, this was then

replaced by 10.12.2 all the way up to the last full version 10.12.6, which is the full installer

that you need to install macOS Sierra. It is 5.01GBs in size.


Please click on this link,

How to upgrade to macOS Sierra - Apple Support

Go to Section 4 and click on Get macOS Sierra


This downloads InstallOS.dmg to your Downloads folder.


The next section can only be done on a mac that is capable of running Sierra,

a mac that came preinstalled with an OS later than Sierra will refuse to do the next bit.


When downloaded open to get InstallOS.pkg, double-click on

that and an installation window will open, read and follow the prompts,

this does not install Sierra but uses the InstallOS.pkg to create the 

Install macOS Sierra.app which you will find in your Applications folder.


 (If the installation window asks which disk you want to install to, you must pick 

the disk that you are booted to at the time. Not any internal or external disk that 

you want to eventually install Sierra on, that is for later.)


To start the installation of Sierra double click on the Install macOS Sierra.app.


The copy of the install app self deletes after installing Sierra, so make sure you keep a copy of the InstallOS.dmg

if you need it in future, or you could just make a copy of the Install OS X Sierra.app prior to installing and moving it to

an external drive for safe keeping. 


Another thing to know is if your mac can upgrade to macOS Sierra it can upgrade to macOS High Sierra.

If you want to install that instead open your Safari browser and click on the link below,

How to upgrade to macOS High Sierra - Apple Support

Go to Section 4 and click on Get macOS High Sierra,

this will connect you with the App Store High Sierra download page

it should say Get or Download.

This will download Install macOS High Sierra.app directly to your Applications folder.

download 10.12

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