26

Typically, when users download and/or upgrade to a new version or macOS (previously Mac OS X), via the Mac App Store, that version of the installer appears in the Purchased tab of the App Store app.

Below is an example of how this appears (I've added arrows to highlight the macOS installations):

enter image description here

However, users are reporting that they do not see the macOS Sierra installer in their list of purchased items. Signing out and back into the App Store does not resolve this issue.

Questions

  1. How do users get their previously downloaded macOS Sierra installation to appear in the list?

  2. How can users ensure that macOS Sierra (or later versions of macOS) are available to them when newer versions of macOS are released?

Improve this question

3 Answers 3

Reset to default
8

Contrary to past OS releases where the N-1 installer is removed soon after version N launches, Apple has an article with links to the store and detailed requirements for getting and installing macOS Sierra (even after High Sierra is out).

I would use the help article HT20802 to check for an updated link if the Mac App Store one fails you. As soon as you get Sierra installed, I would make a bootable USB drive for your personal rescue kit - especially if macOS Recovery isn't available for your hardware or typical network situation.

Improve this answer
3
  • +1 I'll be the first to upvote your answer! :) Nice find by the way. So much for anyone who reckons Apple doesn't listen to feedback!
    – Monomeeth ♦
    Oct 18, 2017 at 8:57
  • Oh, I originally asked this question - so that means I can accept your answer too! LOL
    – Monomeeth ♦
    Oct 18, 2017 at 8:58
  • A similar situation update applies now to El Capitan.
    – LаngLаngС
    Oct 21, 2017 at 13:00
31

The download of macOS Sierra is not linked to an Apple ID. In fact, users can download it without having to sign into the Mac App Store.

Another recent change made by Apple is the inclusion of an additional macOS Recovery option. Instead of two, we now have three options:

  • commandR to reinstall the latest macOS that was installed on your Mac, without upgrading to a later version
  • optioncommandR to upgrade to the latest macOS that is compatible with your Mac
  • shiftoptioncommandR to reinstall the macOS that came with your Mac, or the version closest to it that is still available1

1 That third option is a new option only available since 27 March 2017 and requires macOS Sierra 10.12.4.

The result of these changes is that in future, if you need to install a compatible version of macOS that is earlier than the one that is still available, you will need to have a copy of the installer.

In summary, if you wish to have a version of macOS available for possible future installation, it is recommended that you download and store the relevant installer so that it is available to you. You don’t need to install it to do this, you can download it via the Mac App Store and then quit the installer when it launches. You can then make a copy of it for future use.

[Update as at 3 October 2017]

This edit provides an update on how users can access a macOS Sierra installer for Macs that already have macOS High Sierra installed.

As I previously recommended, if you wish to have a version of macOS Sierra available for possible future installation, users needed to download and store the relevant installer so that it was available to them.

After discussion with Apple today (3 October 2017), the following is how things will work if you happen to want to install macOS Sierra on a Mac that already has macOS High Sierra installed (assuming the Mac in question supports a macOS Sierra installation):

  • If your Mac originally shipped with macOS Sierra, then the easiest option is to use the shiftoptioncommandR recovery option to reinstall macOS Sierra
  • If your Mac did not originally ship with macOS Sierra, then the only official options are:
    1. use a copy of the macOS Sierra installer that you've previously downloaded and saved (if you have one), or
    2. take it into an Apple Store where they can install macOS Sierra for you (but how long this would be an option was questionable).

IMPORTANT - If your Mac originally shipped with El Capitan or earlier and also supports a macOS Sierra installation, you cannot use the shiftoptioncommandR recovery option to reinstall the original macOS in the hope you can then upgrade to macOS Sierra. Instead, doing this will only result in the Mac App Store offering macOS High Sierra as the next upgrade option.

In relation to option 1 above, if you can obtain a copy of the macOS Sierra installer through other means (such as from a friend), then this will also work. Obviously, downloading the macOS Sierra installer from dubious sources is not recommended and is at your own risk.

[Update as at 18 October 2017]

Please refer to bmike's answer. Apple has just published a new help article that provides a way for users to install macOS Sierra.

Improve this answer
16
  • Do you have a source for macOS Sierra not being linked to an Apple ID? Also, for the record, I have macOS Sierra in my "purchased" list in the Mac App Store.
    – tubedogg
    Sep 28, 2017 at 23:26
  • Interesting. I haven't come across a single user who has macOS Sierra listed in their Purchased list. Out of curiosity, have you upgraded to macOS High Sierra? If so, I'll upgrade one of the Macs here to see whether that triggers something and adds macOS Sierra to the Purchased list.
    – Monomeeth ♦
    Sep 29, 2017 at 2:46
  • No, I'm still on El Capitan.
    – tubedogg
    Sep 30, 2017 at 17:33
  • @Monomeeth So, whether or not Sierra was "purchased" before, getting the official installer is no longer possible after High Sierra release? (or: How can "users […] download it without having to sign into the Mac App Store") All links lead now to Item not available if not in Recovery. My current understanding: having the installer is now required?
    – LаngLаngС
    Oct 1, 2017 at 11:46
  • @LangLangC I'm not entirely sure I get the gist of your comment, so if I've misunderstood something please let me know. Basically, the reason I asked and answered this question is because I was getting a lot of confused users asking me about it, and I wanted to try and get the info out there about the various Recovery options, including the new additional Recovery option (i.e. the Shift+Option+Command+R option) and that if you didn't want to use a recovery option, you needed to download and store the relevant installer so that it is available to you.
    – Monomeeth ♦
    Oct 2, 2017 at 7:26
2

IMPORTANT:

If you're downgrading from 10.13 to 10.12 on a drive formatted as APFS, then DO NOT downgrade using macOS Sierra (10.12 Installer) disk utility to Erase your disk. Instead you HAVE TO use the Online Recovery tool (or High Sierra (10.13) Disk Utility) to Erase your disk from APFS back to HFS+, then restart and use your macOS Sierra installer from USB.

If you use Sierra to Erase disk, you'll get stuck in a Reboot Loop which is what happened to me.

Improve this answer
2
  • That seems very strange. Any reason for why that might be?
    – LаngLаngС
    Nov 21, 2017 at 21:38
  • 1
    @LangLangC I think Sierra Disk Utility is not able to properly erase and reformat APFS back to HFS+ (even tho the sub-disk was shown HFS+, it still had a parent (uneditable, tried multiple times) named APFS which caused very slow installation and a reboot loop on final stages. however, using Online Recovery Disk Utility I managed to erase the disk without any trace of APFS or even a parent disk, everything went smoothly after that.
    – T. Rex
    Nov 22, 2017 at 0:25

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .