This article is written in Australian English and intended for readers in Australia.
Under normal circumstances, macOS Catalina (10.15) can be searched for in the Mac App Store. However, if your Mac is already running macOS Big Sur or later, or if the hardware is incompatible with macOS 10.15, the App Store may show no results.
This article provides direct access to the macOS Catalina full installer, the Catalina ISO file and the Catalina DMG file. It also explains how to create a macOS Catalina bootable USB installer, which can be used for downgrading your Mac or installing Catalina on unsupported models. (To download the newest macOS release, see: macOS Tahoe Download)
Note: If you prefer a faster download, iBoysoft DiskGeeker can fetch the macOS Catalina DMG file at a much quicker speed than the usual methods.
The same tool can also help you create a bootable macOS Catalina USB installer for unsupported Macs without using Terminal, making the process easier to complete.
Create a bootable Catalina installer with iBoysoft DiskGeeker
1. Download, install and launch iBoysoft DiskGeeker on your Mac, then connect a clean USB drive.
2. Choose a volume on the USB drive and click Create boot disk > Continue.
3. Select macOS Catalina, then click Create boot disk > OK to download the Catalina DMG installer first.
4. A confirmation window will appear asking whether you want to proceed with creating a bootable installer.
If you stop here, the downloaded macOS Catalina DMG file will still be saved in the Downloads folder.
macOS Catalina full installer vs DMG vs ISO (Which one should you use)
Before downloading macOS Catalina, it is useful to understand the differences between each available format.
macOS full installer: The official .app installer, typically downloaded from the App Store and only available on Macs that support Catalina.
macOS DMG file: A disk image format commonly used to create bootable installers for compatible Macs.
macOS ISO file: An image format mainly used for virtual machines or for installing macOS on Windows systems or unsupported Macs.
Download macOS Catalina from the Mac App Store
If your Mac is compatible with macOS Catalina, you can download it directly from the App Store using the link below. If the device is unsupported, the App Store will display the message "Update not found".
↓ macOS Catalina download (8.26 GB)
Mac models that support macOS Catalina
- iMac Pro (2017 or later)
- MacBook (2015 or later)
- Mac Pro (Late 2013 or later)
- MacBook Air (Mid 2012 or later)
- MacBook Pro (Mid 2012 or later)
- iMac (Late 2012 or later)
- Mac Mini (Late 2012 or later)
The download process can take several hours. During this time, make sure your Mac remains plugged in and the screen stays on.
After the download completes, the installer will open automatically. If you do not want to install Catalina straight away, choose Install macOS Catalina > Quit Install macOS from the menu bar. You can later find the installer in the Applications folder.
Download macOS Catalina 10.15.7 update
macOS 10.15.7 addresses several issues, including Wi-Fi auto-connection failures, iCloud Drive sync problems, and graphics-related issues on the 27-inch iMac (Retina 5K, 2020) with Radeon Pro 5700 X.
If your Mac is currently running macOS 10.15.6, you can download the 10.15.7 update directly using the link below, which is much smaller than the full installer.
↓ macOS Catalina 10.15.7 update download (2.86 GB)
Download macOS Catalina DMG file
If you are unable to download macOS Catalina from the App Store, or you need it on a Windows computer, you can download the Catalina DMG file using the link below.
↓ macOS Catalina DMG download (10.15.7, 7.21GB, from MediaFire)
Alternatively, you can manually create a DMG file by following: How to Create a macOS Catalina 10.15 DMG File.
The macOS Catalina DMG file is required if you plan to run Catalina on a Windows PC or an unsupported Mac. It is commonly used with virtual machines such as VirtualBox or VMware, and can also be used to create a bootable USB or external drive.
Download macOS Catalina ISO file
Similar to the DMG format, the macOS Catalina ISO file is widely used for creating virtual machines on Windows systems or unsupported Macs, as well as for making bootable USB installers.
↓ macOS Catalina ISO download (10.15.7, 16GB, from Internet Archive)
Create macOS Catalina USB installer
Once you have the Catalina installer, you can proceed to create a macOS Catalina USB installer, for example when downgrading from macOS Sonoma back to Catalina.
The traditional method involves using Terminal commands and can be complicated for less experienced users. As mentioned earlier, iBoysoft DiskGeeker allows you to create a Catalina bootable USB installer with just a few clicks.
Create the installer using Terminal
Preparations:
- A USB drive formatted as Mac OS Extended with more than 32 GB capacity
- An Intel-based Mac (macOS Catalina only runs on Intel processors)
Steps:
- Connect the formatted USB drive to the Intel-based Mac.
- Open Terminal from Launchpad > Other.
- Enter the following command, replacing MyVolume with your USB drive name: sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Catalina.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume
- Enter your administrator password and press Enter.
- Type Y to confirm erasing the USB drive, then press Enter.
- Wait until the process finishes, keeping your Mac connected to power and awake.
To start a Mac from the USB installer, see: How to Boot Mac from a USB.
If the installer does not boot, see: How to fix the USB Catalina installer not bootable.
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Why macOS Catalina cannot be downloaded or installed
There are several reasons why macOS Catalina may fail to download or install.
1. Mac compatibility issues
Mac models released in mid-2012 or earlier do not support macOS Catalina. In such cases, the App Store shows "Update not found". You can instead download the Catalina DMG or ISO files using the links above.
2. Apple Silicon Macs
macOS Catalina was built specifically for Intel-based Macs and is the final macOS version to support Intel only. macOS Big Sur is the first version designed for Apple Silicon Macs.
3. Not enough storage space
If your Mac is low on available storage, downloads may fail or take an unusually long time. Removing unnecessary files can help resolve this issue.
Cleaning up years of accumulated data manually can be time-consuming. iBoysoft DiskGeeker for Mac can help remove junk files such as caches, system logs, user logs and trash within minutes.
Steps:
- Install and open iBoysoft DiskGeeker for Mac.
- Select the found junk files.
- Click "Clean."
4. Unstable internet connection
A weak or unstable network connection can interrupt the download process. Switching to another Wi-Fi network may help.
Installation failures can also be caused by:
- Insufficient free storage
- Unsupported Mac hardware
- Power loss during installation
- Outdated minor versions of macOS
- Running macOS Big Sur or later
FAQs about macOS Catalina download
- QHow do I install Catalina on an old Mac?
-
A
To install macOS Catalina on an unsupported Mac, you need to use OpenCore Legacy Patcher.
1. Download OpenCore Legacy Patcher from its official website.
2. Prepare a USB drive and erase it as Mac OS Extended (Journaled).
3. Use the tool to create a macOS Catalina bootable installer by following the on-screen instructions.
4. Boot the unsupported Mac from the USB drive.
5. When prompted, install OpenCore Legacy Patcher and then run macOS Catalina.
- QHow do I download macOS Catalina?
-
A
If your Mac supports macOS Catalina, you can download it directly from the App Store by searching for it and clicking Get.
IIf your Mac is not compatible, iBoysoft DiskGeeker allows you to download the macOS Catalina DMG file directly and create a Catalina bootable installer.