This article is written in Canadian English and intended for readers in Canada.
In general, macOS Catalina (10.15) can be located through the Mac App Store. However, the App Store may return no results if your Mac is running macOS Big Sur or later, or if the hardware does not support macOS 10.15.
This page provides direct access to the macOS Catalina full installer, along with the Catalina ISO and DMG files. It also walks you through creating a macOS Catalina bootable USB installer, which can be used either to downgrade your system or to run Catalina on unsupported Macs. (For the most recent macOS release, see: macOS Tahoe Download)
Note: For faster downloads, iBoysoft DiskGeeker can retrieve the macOS Catalina DMG file at a noticeably higher speed than standard download methods.
The same utility also allows you to create a macOS Catalina bootable USB installer for unsupported Macs without relying on Terminal commands.
Create a bootable Catalina installer using iBoysoft DiskGeeker
1. Download, install and open iBoysoft DiskGeeker on your Mac, then connect a blank USB drive.
2. Select a volume on the USB drive and choose Create boot disk > Continue.
3. Choose macOS Catalina, then click Create boot disk > OK to download the Catalina DMG installer.
4. When prompted, confirm whether you want to continue creating a bootable installer. If you cancel, the macOS Catalina DMG file will still be available in the Downloads folder.
macOS Catalina full installer vs. DMG vs. ISO (Understanding the differences)
Before downloading macOS Catalina, it is useful to understand how each installer format is typically used.
macOS full installer: The official .app installer, commonly downloaded from the App Store and limited to supported Mac models.
macOS DMG file: A disk image format frequently used to create bootable installers for compatible Macs.
macOS ISO file: An image file primarily used for virtual machines or for installing macOS on Windows PCs or unsupported Macs.
Download macOS Catalina from the Mac App Store
If your Mac supports macOS Catalina, you can download it directly from the App Store using the link below. On unsupported Macs, the App Store displays an "Update not found" message.
↓ macOS Catalina download (8.26 GB)
Mac models compatible with macOS Catalina
- iMac Pro (2017 and later)
- MacBook (2015 and later)
- Mac Pro (Late 2013 and later)
- MacBook Air (Mid 2012 and later)
- MacBook Pro (Mid 2012 and later)
- iMac (Late 2012 and later)
- Mac Mini (Late 2012 and later)
The download process may take several hours. During the download, keep your Mac connected to a power source and prevent the display from sleeping.
After the download completes, the installer opens automatically. If you are not ready to install Catalina, select Install macOS Catalina > Quit Install macOS from the menu bar. The installer can later be found in the Applications folder.
Download macOS Catalina 10.15.7 update
macOS 10.15.7 includes fixes for Wi-Fi auto-connection issues, iCloud Drive synchronization problems, and graphics-related issues affecting 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 requires far less time than downloading the full installer.
↓ macOS Catalina 10.15.7 update download (2.86 GB)
Download macOS Catalina DMG file
If you cannot download macOS Catalina from the App Store, or you need the installer for a Windows computer, you can use the link below to download the Catalina DMG file.
↓ 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 want to install Catalina on a Windows PC or an unsupported Mac. It is commonly used with virtual machines such as VirtualBox or VMware, and it can also be used to create a bootable USB or external drive.
Download macOS Catalina ISO file
Like the DMG version, the macOS Catalina ISO file is frequently used for creating virtual machines on Windows PCs or unsupported Macs, as well as for creating macOS Catalina bootable media.
↓ macOS Catalina ISO download (10.15.7, 16GB, from Internet Archive)
Create macOS Catalina USB installer
After obtaining the macOS Catalina installer, you can create a macOS Catalina USB installer if needed, such as when downgrading from macOS Sonoma to Catalina.
Using Terminal to create a bootable installer can be complex and error-prone. As mentioned earlier, iBoysoft DiskGeeker offers a simpler way to create a Catalina bootable USB installer with just a few clicks.
Create the installer using the traditional Terminal method
Preparation:
- A USB drive formatted as Mac OS Extended with at least 32 GB of capacity
- An Intel-based Mac (macOS Catalina only supports Intel processors)
Steps:
- Connect the formatted USB drive to your Intel-based Mac.
- Open Terminal from Launchpad > Other.
- Enter the command below, 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 for the process to complete, keeping your Mac powered on and awake.
To start a Mac using the USB installer, see: How to Boot Mac from a USB.
If the installer fails to boot, see: How to fix the USB Catalina installer not bootable.
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Why macOS Catalina cannot be downloaded or installed
Several factors can prevent macOS Catalina from downloading or installing successfully.
1. Mac compatibility
Mac models released in mid-2012 or earlier do not support macOS Catalina. In this situation, the App Store shows "Update not found". You can instead use the DMG or ISO files provided above.
2. Apple Silicon Macs
macOS Catalina was designed specifically for Intel-based Macs and is the final macOS version for Intel-only systems. macOS Big Sur is the first release to support Apple Silicon Macs.
3. Insufficient storage space
If your Mac is running low on available storage, the Catalina download may fail or proceed very slowly. Removing unnecessary files can help resolve this problem.
Manually cleaning a Mac that has been used for years can take a long time. iBoysoft DiskGeeker for Mac can help remove junk files such as application caches, system logs, user logs and trash in a short amount of time.
Steps:
- Download, install, and launch iBoysoft DiskGeeker.
- Select the junk files from the results.
- Select "Clean."
4. Unstable network connection
An unreliable internet connection can interrupt the download. Checking your network or switching to a different Wi-Fi connection may help.
macOS Catalina installation issues can also occur if:
- There is not enough free storage space
- The Mac hardware is incompatible
- The Mac shuts down during installation
- The current macOS version is outdated
- The Mac is 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 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 OpenCore Legacy Patcher 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, 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 macOS Catalina and selecting Get.
If your Mac does not support Catalina, iBoysoft DiskGeeker allows you to download the macOS Catalina DMG file directly and create a Catalina bootable installer.