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softwareupdate and old MacOS installers

The softwareupdate command line tool claims there several older MacOS installers available.

foo@bar % softwareupdate --list-full-installers                                
Finding available software

Software Update found the following full installers:
* Title: macOS Monterey, Version: 12.0.1, Size: 12128428704K
* Title: macOS Big Sur, Version: 11.6.1, Size: 12428472512K
* Title: macOS Big Sur, Version: 11.6, Size: 12428553042K
* Title: macOS Big Sur, Version: 11.5.2, Size: 12440916552K
* Title: macOS Catalina, Version: 10.15.7, Size: 8248985973K
* Title: macOS Catalina, Version: 10.15.7, Size: 8248854894K
* Title: macOS Catalina, Version: 10.15.6, Size: 8248781171K
* Title: macOS Mojave, Version: 10.14.6, Size: 6038419486K

However, only Monterey can be downloaded. Catalina 10.15.7 is also listed twice.

foo@bar % softwareupdate --fetch-full-installer --full-installer-version 11.6.1
Scanning for 11.6.1 installer
Install failed with error: Update not found

foo@bar % softwareupdate --fetch-full-installer --full-installer-version 11.6  
Scanning for 11.6 installer
Install failed with error: Update not found

foo@bar % softwareupdate --fetch-full-installer --full-installer-version 11.5.2
Scanning for 11.5.2 installer
Install failed with error: Update not found

foo@bar % softwareupdate --fetch-full-installer --full-installer-version 10.15.7
Scanning for 10.15.7 installer
Install failed with error: Update not found

foo@bar % softwareupdate --fetch-full-installer --full-installer-version 10.15.6
Scanning for 10.15.6 installer
Install failed with error: Update not found

foo@bar % softwareupdate --fetch-full-installer --full-installer-version 10.14.6
Scanning for 10.14.6 installer
Install failed with error: Update not found

Why?

Where can older versions of MacOS actually be found?

Posted on Dec 6, 2021 4:07 PM

Best reply

leroydouglas

Community+ 2024

Level 10

184,542 points

Posted on Dec 8, 2021 10:12 AM

moxievod wrote:

The softwareupdate command line tool claims there several older MacOS installers available.

foo@bar % softwareupdate --fetch-full-installer --full-installer-version 11.6.1

Scanning for 11.6.1 installer

Install failed with error: Update not found

Why?

Where can older versions of MacOS actually be found?

You need to elevate permission using sudo—

sudo softwareupdate --fetch-full-installer --full-installer-version 11.6.1

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Best reply

leroydouglas

Community+ 2024

Level 10

184,542 points

Dec 8, 2021 10:12 AM in response to moxievod

moxievod wrote:

The softwareupdate command line tool claims there several older MacOS installers available.

foo@bar % softwareupdate --fetch-full-installer --full-installer-version 11.6.1

Scanning for 11.6.1 installer

Install failed with error: Update not found

Why?

Where can older versions of MacOS actually be found?

You need to elevate permission using sudo—

sudo softwareupdate --fetch-full-installer --full-installer-version 11.6.1

moxievod Author

Level 1

19 points

Dec 7, 2021 2:13 PM in response to moxievod

I found the support page with links to all available MacOS installers.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211683

The MacOS 10.10 though 10.12 installers downloaded without issue. Unfortunately, the installers for 10.13 though 10.15 require the use of the App Store. Since I'm currently running Big Sur, the App Store helpfully will not allow me to download older installers for MacOS. I have a feeling this is also what is going on with 'softwareupdate'.

I think I may have a workaround however. I'll try creating a VM with MacOS 10.13 and attempt to download the rest of the installers from there.

softwareupdate and old MacOS installers