How to download MacOS?

[LovingTeddy]

Hello, All:

I have a Mac mini mid-2011 which had bad hard disk. I replaced with a new SSD. I also have a 2013 MacBook Air which runs the MacOS Catalina.

I am trying to figure out a way for me to download MacOS High Sierra for the Mac mini, because macOS High Sierra is the latest supported MacOS.

I could not figure out a way for me to download the macOS High Sierra from Mac App Store. Is there a way for me to download?

Thanks

 

[niteflyr]

Use MacOS recovery.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204904

Use the Command/Option/R key combo.

 

[LovingTeddy]

Use MacOS recovery.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204904

Use the Command/Option/R key combo.

Ok. Thanks

 

[wellander1]

That will probably install lion 10.7 if so then you will have to update the os using the App Store.

 

[Krevnik]

That will probably install lion 10.7 if so then you will have to update the os using the App Store.

Only if launching with “Shift” held down as well. And even then, it’ll install “the closest to original that is still available”, which I’d be surprised if Lion is still on their download servers. (This is outlined in the tech support link)

 

[wellander1]

It is.
Last time I had to reinstall on that same it gave me lion. And that Wes less then two months ago.

 

[ondert]

After getting to Catalina I’ve seen this problem too. Until Mojave, I was able to download all the previous macOS versions I had installed before. On Catalina I couldn’t find that tab to download the previous versions.

 

[LovingTeddy]

It is.
Last time I had to reinstall on that same it gave me lion. And that Wes less then two months ago.

On other note, I went into Apple Store and the store employee did the installation for me. The Store employee suggest me install macOS Sierra instead of macOS High Sierra. He said macOS High Sierra had some issue with screen flickering and it is generally unstable compared with Sierra.

My questions is is macOS High Sierra is that bad... should I upgrade to High Sierra. I believe this High Sierra is the last supported macOS for this particular Mac mini.

 

[Fishrrman]

If "Low" Sierra is working well for you, I wouldn't bother with High Sierra. Let the 2011 be happy with "the low".

Fishrrman's credo:
"Use what works..."

 

[now i see it]

This article has info and links (farther down) that explain how to download older versions of MacOS from Apple

https://iphone.appleinsider.com/articles/19/11/23/how-to-get-an-old-macos-installer-from-apple