Getting a reliable macOS DMG file is the essential first step for system recovery, setting up a virtual machine, or creating a bootable installer for another Mac. However, Apple often restricts access to older versions, and downloading the latest macOS Tahoe can sometimes be slow or blocked by hardware compatibility checks.
This guide provides verified download paths for every major macOS version—from the brand-new macOS Tahoe (26) to older Mac OS versions like Mac OS X Cheetah.
| Your Goal | Recommended Method | Key Advantage |
| Fastest & Easiest | iBoysoft DiskGeeker | One-click Tahoe download + automatic bootable USB creation. |
| Official Standard | App Store Links | 100% official Apple source for compatible Macs. |
| Legacy/Older Macs | Direct DMG Links | Access "hidden" versions for older hardware or VMs. |
Method 1: Get macOS DMG via iBoysoft DiskGeeker (Recommended)
If you are facing errors like "This version of macOS cannot be installed on this computer" while trying to get macOS Tahoe, iBoysoft DiskGeeker provides a streamlined solution to fetch the full installer DMG without hardware restrictions.
Why choose this method?
iBoysoft DiskGeeker bypasses the standard App Store checks, allowing you to download the full macOS Tahoe DMG directly from a user-friendly interface.
Steps to get your DMG:
- Free Download and install iBoysoft DiskGeeker on your Mac.
- Launch the app and click Download Image from the left.
- Choose macOS Tahoe (or any other version like Sequoia or Sonoma).
- Click Get.
- Choose a location to store it and click Save.
Bonus: Once the download is complete, use the built-in "Create boot disk" feature to prepare your installation drive automatically.
Also read: How to Create macOS Bootable USB Installers from DMG
Method 2: Official App Store Links (Latest Versions)
For users with a modern, compatible Mac, Apple provides these direct links to the Mac App Store.
macOS Tahoe 26: [Apple didn't provide an App Store link for macOS Tahoe, but you can download the macOS Tahoe full installer directly.]
macOS Sequoia 15: [Download via App Store]
macOS Sonoma 14: [Download via App Store]
macOS Ventura 13: [Download via App Store]
These links download the macOS installer in the .app format.
Method 3: Direct DMG Links & Safety Verification
For legacy Macs, unsupported Macs (via OpenCore Legacy Patcher), or virtual machines, you may need a direct DMG installer.
macOS DMG download
The following links to download macOS DMG files from the internet, including the latest macOS Tahoe 26, macOS Sequoia ~ macOS Sierra.
macOS Tahoe DMG Download: (Download macOS Tahoe DMG; Download macOS Tahoe ISO)
| macOS Tahoe Public Versions | macOS Tahoe DMG downloads directly | Alternative links |
| 26.0 | macOS Tahoe Download DMG (MediaFire) | macOS Tahoe Download DMG (Google Drive) |
Below are macOS Tahoe beta DMG files:
| macOS Tahoe Beta Versions | macOS Tahoe DMG downloads directly | Alternative links |
| Beta 1 | macOS Tahoe download DMG (MediaFire) | macOS Tahoe download DMG (Google Drive) |
| Beta 2 | macOS Tahoe download DMG (MediaFire) | macOS Tahoe download DMG (Terrabox) |
| Beta 3 | macOS Tahoe download DMG (MediaFire) | macOS Tahoe download DMG (Terrabox) |
macOS Sequoia download DMG (To download the macOS Sequoia ISO or full installer: macOS Sequoia Download)
macOS High Sierra download DMG
Tips: If you can't download the Mac OS DMG file by clicking the link directly, copy and paste the link into a new tab.
OS X DMG download
This section offers DMG files for all old OS X full installers, including OS X El Capitan ~ OS X Lion.
OS X El Capitan download DMG (Learn how to update your Mac to OS X 10.11)
OS X Mountain Lion download DMG
Mac OS X DMG download
If you need to run an old version like Mac OS X Tiger, download its DMG file below.
Mac OS X 10.0 Cheetah download
Help others download Mac OS X DMG files by sharing this article!
Part 4: How to Create a Bootable macOS USB Installer
Once you have your DMG file, follow these steps to prepare your 16GB+ USB flash drive.
Option A: The Automated Way (No Commands Needed)
Using iBoysoft DiskGeeker is the safest way to create a macOS Tahoe bootable USB. The tool handles GUID partitioning and APFS/Mac OS Extended formatting automatically, eliminating the risk of Terminal syntax errors.
Step 1: Download iBoysoft DiskGeeker and open it.
Step 2: Select the external drive used to create the bootable media and click Create boot disk.
Step 3: Choose the desired macOS version.
If you haven't downloaded the DMG file, select it and click Create boot disk.
If you've already downloaded the DMG file, click Create boot disk > Browse Images to upload it.
Step 4: Wait for the boot disk to be complete.
Option B: The Manual Way (Using Terminal)
- Plug it into your Mac and back up its data.
- Double-click to mount the DMG file.
- Add the Install macOS xxx.app installer to the Applications folder.
- Open Disk Utility.
- Click View > Show All Devices.
- Select the top layer of your external drive and click Erase.
- Name your drive MyVolume.
- Choose Mac OS Extended (Journaled) as the format.
- Keep GUID Partition Map as the scheme.
- Click Erase.
- After your drive is erased, open Terminal.
- Type the appropriate command and press Enter.sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Sequoia.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Sonoma.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolumesudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Ventura.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolumesudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Monterey.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolumesudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Big\ Sur.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolumesudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Catalina.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolumesudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Mojave.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolumesudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ High\ Sierra.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolumesudo /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ El\ Capitan.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume --applicationpath /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ El\ Capitan.app
- Input your administrator password and hit Enter.
- Type Y and hit Enter when prompted to confirm that you want to erase the volume.
- When Terminal says that the install media is now available, you can quit Terminal.
If you're also interested in Mac OS ISO files, check out this post: Mac OS ISO Download for Windows PC on VirtualBox or VMware
* If you're trying to create a macOS bootable USB installer on a Windows PC, follow: How to Create macOS Bootable USB Installers on Windows?
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Frequently Asked Questions
- QCan I download macOS Tahoe on an unsupported Mac?
-
A
Yes, you can use iBoysoft DiskGeeker to download the DMG even if the App Store blocks your device. However, to install it, you may need additional tools like OpenCore Legacy Patcher.
- QWhy is the Tahoe DMG so large?
-
A
macOS Tahoe's full installer is approximately 13GB-15GB. Ensure you have at least 35GB of free space on your Mac for the download and extraction process.