Tips on how to downgrade macOS: Step-by-step information to revert to an older model

Abstract created by Sensible Solutions AI

In abstract:

Macworld explains downgrade from macOS Tahoe to Sequoia, requiring full information backup and drive wiping for clear set up.
This course of issues when updates break Mac performance, although it requires particular installers and varies between Intel and Apple silicon Macs.
Important steps embody Time Machine backup, creating bootable installer, accessing Restoration Mode, and reinstalling the older macOS model. Detailed directions are offered beneath.

Upgrading macOS doesn’t at all times go as deliberate. A brand new launch may decelerate your Mac, break important apps, introduce bugs, or just change options you depend on. When you’re wishing you may return to the model you had earlier than, the excellent news is that you would be able to downgrade macOS.

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Whereas reverting a macOS replace is usually simpler than downgrading an iOS replace, it’s not so simple as putting in macOS. It’s a multi-step course of that sometimes requires wipe your Mac’s inside drive, as Apple doesn’t permit putting in an older model of the working system immediately over a more moderen one.

As a result of it’s good to erase your Mac’s inside drive earlier than you may reinstall an older model of the working system, your information have to be backed up first. The precise course of depends upon whether or not you’re utilizing an Apple silicon or Intel Mac, and whether or not you created a backup earlier than upgrading macOS.

On this information, we run by means of the most secure methods to revert to an earlier model of macOS, clarify what works (and what doesn’t), and make it easier to select one of the best methodology to your state of affairs.

Can I downgrade from macOS Tahoe to Sequoia?

Sure, it’s attainable to downgrade from macOS Tahoe (macOS 26) to macOS Sequoia (macOS 15), however the course of is complicated and requires you to fully wipe your Mac’s information and set up the older model of macOS.

You want the next:

A backup: You’ll have to wipe your Mac, so it’s good to have a backup of your information.
The right macOS model: You have to obtain the installer for the model of macOS you need to set up.
An exterior laborious drive: You have to create a bootable installer of macOS.

Observe these steps, which we are going to run by means of in additional element beneath:

Backup your Mac.
Get the installer you need.
Create a bootable installer.
Shut down your Mac and restart in Restoration Mode.
Arrange your Mac utilizing the bootable installer.
Recuperate your backed up information.

Can I downgrade macOS 26.3 to macOS 26.2?

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Apple points a number of level updates all year long and if one thing breaks in your Mac following that replace you could need to return to the earlier model. This might be from macOS 26.3 to macOS 26.2, for instance, however this is applicable to any subsequent replace.

To simply drop again from one model of Tahoe to a different you’ll need entry to the older macOS installer, which isn’t so simple as accessing the installers of the earlier macOS, e.g. macOS Sequoia, which you’ll obtain from the Mac App Retailer.

The best possibility right here is to make use of a Time Machine backup made whilst you had been working the earlier model of macOS Tahoe, e.g. macOS 26.2. You probably have entry to this you should use that to recuperate the older model of Tahoe. You’ll lose any information you’ve added to your Mac because the replace so make a separate backup of that.

We clarify recuperate your Mac from a Time Machine backup individually.

Earlier than you start: Again up your Mac

When you can entry a backup made earlier than you up to date to the model of macOS you need to revert from, you may skip this step.

Backing up your Mac is probably the most crucial step earlier than a downgrade as a result of the method sometimes requires wiping your drive, which erases all native information. When you don’t have already got a again up of your information you’ll need to make one.

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Whereas Apple’s Time Machine backup software program is the usual for many updates, it presents a selected problem for downgrades: should you again up your present (newer) OS, restoring from that backup might merely reinstall the model you are attempting to take away.

To make sure your information is secure and accessible after you come to an older model of macOS, contemplate these methods:

Handbook File Copying: The best manner to make sure information security is to manually copy your most essential information, folders, pictures, and music to an exterior storage drive.
Third-Occasion Cloning Software program: Instruments for backing up a Mac, like ChronoSync, Get Backup Professional, SuperDuper, or Carbon Copy Cloner can create a clone of your drive. These options are sometimes most well-liked for downgrades as a result of they will let you again up your information with out essentially together with the working system.
Cloud Synchronization: Guarantee providers like iCloud, Dropbox, OneDrive, or Google Drive are absolutely synchronized earlier than beginning. Nevertheless, be cautious, you shouldn’t assume each app’s information is within the cloud, as some non-Apple purposes might retailer information solely domestically. See our Finest cloud storage for Mac spherical up for suggestions.
Bootable Backups: Some superior suites, corresponding to Acronis True Picture, supply a “Survival Equipment” that creates a bootable backup drive to assist reinstall an OS and recuperate information concurrently.
Time Machine: Then again, when you’ve got a Time Machine backup from earlier than you upgraded macOS you should use that to recuperate your information.

For extra assist learn: Tips on how to again up a Mac.

Tips on how to downgrade macOS

The steps beneath will make it easier to revert to an older model of macOS. Earlier than you begin it’s good to wipe your Mac and do a clear set up of the macOS you need. We’ll clarify wipe your Mac, get the older model of macOS, and set up it beneath.

Reminder: This may erase your Mac, so do be sure to have a backup of essential information.

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Get the installer

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The primary stage of this methodology is to get the installer for the model of macOS you require, with the prerequisite that your Mac wants to have the ability to run it. See: macOS compatibility–the variations your Mac can run.

We now have hyperlinks to some latest variations of macOS beneath so you may obtain the one you need.

To begin it’s good to seize the installer of whichever model of macOS you need to set up from the Mac App Retailer utilizing the hyperlinks above. In order for you an older model see this text: Tips on how to obtain previous variations of macOS. While you click on the hyperlink above it ought to take you on to the Mac App Retailer, if that doesn’t occur shut the Mac App Retailer whether it is open and be sure to are utilizing Safari.
Click on on Get.
The Software program Replace window will open and you need to see a pop-up overlaying it with the model you need to obtain. Click on on Obtain and ensure that you simply need to obtain the software program (you’ll additionally see a warning that you’re downloading an older model of the OS, ignore it.)
As soon as it’s downloaded DO NOT click on on Open – you don’t need to set up it but.

Create a bootable installer

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You gained’t simply have the ability to set up Sequoia over Tahoe, or any previous model of macOS over a more moderen one. With the intention to set up an older model of macOS in your Mac you need to make a bootable installer that features the set up information.

To make a bootable installer, from which you’ll reinstall the older macOS, you’ll need a reminiscence follow not less than 15GB house however we’d advocate extra. You’ll must reformat that drive and put together it in Disk Utility after which use Terminal to enter the createinstallmedia command for the model of macOS you’re putting in.

Within the case of Sequoia that is:

(NOTE: Earlier than the phrase quantity you want two dashes, however the web site is changing this to an M-dash, we’ve pasted the right textual content additional down the article, it’s also possible to discover it right here: Tips on how to create a bootable installer of macOS).

sudo /Functions/Set up macOS Sequoia.app/Contents/Assets/createinstallmedia –quantity /Volumes/MyVolume

Within the case of Sonoma that is:

sudo /Functions/Set up macOS Sonoma.app/Contents/Assets/createinstallmedia –quantity /Volumes/MyVolume

You have to to switch MyVolume with the title you’ve given to the drive you’re utilizing because the bootable installer.

We advocate that you simply observe the steps outlined on this article: Tips on how to create a bootable installer of macOS to create your bootable installer. You will discover all of the createinstallmedia instructions in that article.

Use the bootable installer to downgrade your Mac

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Now you’ve your bootable installer you need to have the ability to set up the older model of macOS in your Mac utilizing it.

Join the bootable installer to your Mac.
Open System Settings and click on Normal > Startup Disk.
Select the exterior drive together with your installer because the startup disk and click on Restart.
Your Mac will shut down and restart in Restoration mode.
You have to to connect with Wi-Fi as a result of your Mac might want to hook up with the web throughout this course of. Entry Wi-Fi settings from the Wi-Fi menu.
Choose Reinstall macOS from Utilities.
Click on Proceed.

Arrange your Mac

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Now that you’ve wiped your Mac and put in the model of macOS you needed you’ll need to run by means of the set-up course of. See Tips on how to arrange a brand new Mac for assist with that.

You probably have a Time Machine backup from earlier than the replace then go to the subsequent step for assist recovering that backup.

Alternatively, end organising your Mac as new and recuperate the info you backed up utilizing an alternate backup methodology to Time Machine.

Recuperate your Time Machine Again up from earlier than the replace (when you’ve got one)

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You probably have an older Time Machine backup from earlier than you upgraded the downgrade course of is comparatively straightforward. Along with your pre-Tahoe Time Machine backup in hand, you may recuperate your machine from earlier than the replace.

Simply keep in mind that something you’ve finished since then shall be misplaced since you’ll wipe all the pieces in your Mac as a part of the method, so you’ll need to make a non-Time Machine backup of these information. You possibly can then copy again any information you created after you put in the brand new macOS.

As described above, wipe your Mac and set up macOS Sequoia.
Plug your Time Machine disk into your Mac.
Restart your Mac.
On an M1 or later Mac it’s good to press and maintain the ability button till the Choices menu comes up. (For older Intel Macs maintain down Command + R till the Apple brand seems.)
When the choices seem on the display screen, select ‘Restore From Time Machine Backup’ and click on Proceed.
The following display screen will present the phrases Restore from Time Machine, click on Proceed once more.
Subsequent, choose your Restore Supply – this must be your backup drive.
The following display screen reveals all of your backups over time, choose the final one you made previous to updating to the newer model of the Mac working system. (You possibly can see which model of macOS the again up was made in).

Making a bootable installer

Relating to creating the bootable installer you’ll need the next code:

Code required for Sequoia:


sudo /Functions/Set up macOS Sequoia.app/Contents/Assets/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume

Code required for Sonoma:

sudo /Functions/Set up macOS Sonoma.app/Contents/Assets/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume

Troubleshooting downgrade points

This stuff don’t at all times go easily. Listed below are just a few points you may encounter:

Wiping an older Mac

In case your Mac is previous and isn’t working Monterey or later, you’ll need to erase your Mac following the steps in our tutorial on wiping a MacBook or Mac. We advocate that you simply observe that tutorial as there are loads of steps you need to take to make sure that you don’t create extra issues for your self.

What to do if booting from exterior media doesn’t work

In case you are utilizing a Mac with a T2 Chip then it’s good to make sure that you allow booting from exterior media or this is not going to work. To do that it’s good to entry Restoration Mode after which select Startup Safety Utility from the menu. Right here you will notice various choices together with these for Safe Boot and people for Allowed Boot Media. It’s on this second part that you will discover Enable booting from exterior or detachable media. You have to this chosen besides from a bootable drive.

What to do if the previous macOS gained’t set up

If the above doesn’t work you could must fully wipe your Mac earlier than reinstalling macOS from the bootable drive.

We clarify intimately erase a Mac on this article: Tips on how to erase a MacBook or Mac: restore to manufacturing unit settings and we advise that you simply observe that tutorial. You probably have a Mac with T2 chip, or an M-series Mac erasing your Mac may be very easy due to the Erase All Content material And Settings possibility. This setting was discovered within the menu of System Preferences however with the arrival of System Settings it’s now positioned in System Settings > Normal> Switch or Reset.

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Reinstalling an older macOS by way of Restoration mode

Relying on the age of your Mac there could be an choice to recuperate the unique model of macOS it shipped with utilizing macOS Restoration.

You gained’t have the ability to revert to one thing older than the macOS your Mac shipped with.

Observe these steps to reinstall the model of macOS your Mac got here with, or one that’s near that:

Flip off your Mac.
For Intel-powered Macs, restart it whereas holding down Shift + Possibility/Alt + Command + R to enter Web Restoration Mode (be sure to are related to the web).
Select the Reinstall macOS possibility.
Click on Set up.

This might will let you set up the working system that your Mac shipped with. Sadly, once we tried this methodology we had been unable to recuperate an older model of macOS, evidently it really works just for some Macs.

Tricks to keep away from issues and information loss once you downgrade macOS

Reversing an improve carries with it various wrinkles and pitfalls.

Most of those are on account of modifications in file codecs and settings between variations of the OS. So, for instance, should you create a doc or work on a file in a brand new model, whether or not it’s a beta or full launch, of macOS after which try to open it in an older model, it could not work.

To mitigate this, it’s clever to export any paperwork you’ve created or labored on within the newer OS in a regular file format. So, for instance, you may export paperwork as RTF information. That manner, if the native information don’t survive the reverse improve, you’ll have the ability to re-import the RTF information.

Take screenshots of preferences and settings

Everytime you carry out a clear set up of macOS, which is what you’re doing right here, it’s a good suggestion to take screenshots of any customized settings you’ve created in apps or in System Settings (or System Preferences on older Macs). That makes it simpler to re-create them later.

You must also make a remark of consumer account and password particulars for something you’ve arrange whereas working the brand new model of the OS. When you don’t use iCloud or Chrome to synchronise bookmarks, it’s a good suggestion to export these and make a replica.

And except you’re utilizing the migrate information possibility outlined above, you’ll additionally want installers and license codes for apps you utilize. If these are downloads from the Mac App Retailer, you may simply re-download them from the Bought part within the App Retailer. If not, be sure to can obtain them from the seller’s web site. When you don’t use a password supervisor to retailer license codes, be sure to’ve bought a replica of them earlier than you begin.

Synchronize

When you use Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive or every other type of cloud storage, ensure that your information is in sync earlier than you begin the method of reversing an improve. It’s straightforward to neglect that the information that reside in your Dropbox folder, for instance, are native information and that whereas synchronization is frequent, the lack of an web connection will stop it and you may have information in your native folder that haven’t but been copied to the cloud.

Clicking on the cloud service’s brand in your menu bar ought to let you know whether or not synchronization accomplished efficiently and information are updated.

When you use Gmail, iCloud mail or every other IMAP server to your electronic mail, ensure that it’s updated and any drafts you’ve composed lately have been synchronized. When you use a POP3 account you’ll must manually again up the mail database and restore it after you reverse the improve. Or, should you solely have just a few messages it’s good to hold, ahead them to a Gmail account – you may set one up particularly for that goal.

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