# Legacy macOS: Offline method

This method allows us to download full installers from Apple, however is limited to 10.10, Yosemite, so older OSes will need to be grabbed via the "Online Method" mentioned below.

To start, go to the following link:

Download your desired version and a .pkg file should be provided.

Depending on what OS you're on, you can run this script and head to Setting up the installer however if you receive this error:

This means we'll need to manually extract the installer.

# Extracting the Installer

To start, grab the InstallMacOSX/InstallOS.dmg and mount it:

Next, let's open up terminal window and make a folder on our desktop to break things. Run one at a time:

cd ~/Desktop
mkdir MacInstall && cd MacInstall

Now we get to the fun part, extracting the installer(Note this may take a few minutes):

  • For El Capitan(10.11) and older:
xar -xf /Volumes/Install\ OS\ X/InstallMacOSX.pkg
  • For Sierra(10.12):
xar -xf /Volumes/Install\ macOS/InstallOS.pkg

Next, run the following(one at a time):

  • Yosemite:
cd InstallMacOSX.pkg
tar xvzf Payload
mv InstallESD.dmg Install\ OS\ X\ Yosemite.app/Contents/SharedSupport/
mv Install\ OS\ X\ Yosemite.app /Applications
  • El Capitan:
cd InstallMacOSX.pkg
tar xvzf Payload
mv InstallESD.dmg Install\ OS\ X\ El\ Capitan.app/Contents/SharedSupport/
mv Install\ OS\ X\ El\ Capitan.app /Applications
  • Sierra:
cd InstallOS.pkg
tar xvzf Payload
mv InstallESD.dmg Install\ macOS\ Sierra.app/Contents/SharedSupport/
mv Install\ macOS\ Sierra.app /Applications

# Once you're finished, you can head to Setting up the installer