OS X Mavericks - Finding Installer & Failure to set up on 2012 Mac Mini

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OS X Mavericks - Finding Installer & Failure to set up on 2012 Mac Mini

Hello Apple Community,

I hope you are all doing well today. I have a query regarding the installation of OS X 10.9 Mavericks. I have a 2012 Mac Mini and need to upgrade from the original OS (10.8 Mountain Lion) to 10.9 Mavericks for app compatibility that I require. I am also interested in the last skeuomorphic version of macOS that Apple ever made. Could you please help me try and set up OS X Mavericks as I am unable to find and get the installation of the OS to start. Thank you.

Earlier Mac models

Posted on Feb 7, 2026 10:05 AM

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Answer 1

Limnos

Level 10

429,003 points

Feb 7, 2026 10:43 AM in response to CreativeDigital24

Apple has a gap in its OS versions that it makes available for download. How to download and install macOS - Apple Support

Mavericks is missing and has been for a long time so I presume it is intentional.

As for "skeuomorphic", which version are you trying to imitate? Many versions are only mildly varying and you may find that a version such as High Sierra offers the same capabilities. I, for example, was able to run iTunes 7.5 on High Sierra. Catalina and higher are the ones you want to avoid if you want to run older software.

Note that in order to get High Sierra and higher you will need to download it on a computer that is capable of running the version you desire. I also don't know if this will be an issue but it could be if you try too big a jump it may help to go with an intermediate version such as El Capitan.

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