macOS Sequoia arrived on Macs in September 2024. Many individuals have put in Sequoia and find it irresistible, whereas others have put in the up to date solely to remorse it later. Maybe you’ve found that an app you depend on not works or is buggy? Possibly you hate one of many new options? Or you might be pissed off that your Mac can’t make the most of all the brand new options. The excellent news is that it’s doable to revert to a earlier macOS model.
One other subject is that typically when Apple updates the Mac working system with new options, customers encounter issues with the most recent model and have to revert again to the earlier macOS. Our recommendation is normally to attend a couple of days or perhaps weeks earlier than putting in a significant replace for that reason (though typically it’s beneficial you put in it straightaway if the replace is important for safety causes.)
Fortunately it’s doable to revert to the earlier model of macOS from earlier than the replace, however, sadly, it isn’t so simple as discovering the older model of the Mac working system and reinstalling it–and it might probably imply you lose a few of your knowledge.
Possibly it’s essential run an older model of the macOS on a Mac you might be utilizing to check apps as a part of your job. We now have a separate article that appears at numerous methods to downgrade to older variations of macOS. You might also wish to have a look at different methods to put in the older model of macOS, corresponding to putting in it on a separate quantity (also called twin booting) or operating it on a separate drive.
Under, we’ll run by the steps to downgrade your Mac from the most recent model of macOS Sequoia to an older one, or from Sequoia to Sonoma. If you wish to downgrade from a beta model of macOS now we have a separate article coping with downgrading from a beta model of macOS.
If it’s iOS you wish to roll again it’s not so easy as a result of Apple stops older variations of iOS being obtainable. Examine find out how to downgrade from iOS 18 to iOS 17.
Easy methods to revert a macOS replace
It’s not at all times a very new model of macOS you wish to revert from. Apple points a number of level updates all year long and if one thing breaks in your Mac following that replace it’s possible you’ll wish to return to the earlier model. This may very well be from Sequoia 15.1 to fifteen.0, or it may very well be from macOS Sonoma 14.7 to 14.6. On the time of writing Sequoia hasn’t been up to date past 15.0, however when it’s it is going to be doable to drop again to the earlier model of Sequoia.
So, if there’s something in an replace to Sequoia that’s inflicting issues for you, you’ll be able to revert to an older model of macOS, however you have to to wipe your Mac to take action. The strategy will probably be decided by whether or not of not you have already got a backup (and the way previous that backup is).
With a backup from earlier than your replace: You probably have a backup, all it’s essential do is wipe your Mac after which recuperate your backup with the older model of the backup from earlier than your replace to the brand new macOS.
With out a backup: For those who don’t have already got a backup, you have to to backup the information in your Mac as a result of the method entails wiping your Mac after which doing a clear set up of the macOS you need. On your backup you need to use a backup instrument apart from Time Machine*.
You’ll discover extra particulars on find out how to use each of those strategies to revert to an older model of macOS under.
*Why you shouldn’t use Time Machine for this backup: Apple’s Time Machine isn’t any good right here as a result of when it backs up your Mac it would again up the present model of macOS as effectively, and once you recuperate your Mac from the backup you’ll recuperate that model too. You possibly can use a instrument like Carbon Copy Cloner (which has a free 30-day trial or prices £52/$49.99), and doesn’t make you again up the working system. Try our suggestions right here: Finest backup software program for Macs. We even have recommendation about Easy methods to again up a Mac.
Easy methods to downgrade from Sequoia to Sonoma
Likelihood is you arrived on this text as a result of you’ve gotten up to date to Sequoia and remorse it. The method is simply the identical as if you’re reverting from a minor replace to macOS.
With a backup from earlier than your replace: You probably have a Time Machine backup from earlier than the replace, you’ll be able to revert to that, however you’ll lose any new knowledge, so be sure you again up (however not with Time Machine, as defined above).
With out a backup: For those who don’t have a backup you have to to make one after which recuperate your knowledge to your Mac after wiping your Mac and doing a clear set up of macOS Sonoma.
We’ll have a look at the varied choices and how one can downgrade from macOS Sequoia to Sonoma under.
Possibility 1: Downgrade macOS utilizing a Time Machine backup
You probably have an older Time Machine backup from earlier than you upgraded the downgrade course of is quite a bit simpler. Along with your pre-Sequoia Time Machine backup in hand, you’ll be able to recuperate your machine from earlier than the replace after which copy again any recordsdata you created after you put in Sequoia.
That is our most well-liked technique as a result of Time Machine backs up your settings and apps in order that once you recuperate from that backup the whole lot is strictly the best way you might be used to it being, which will be comforting. So long as you’ve gotten previous backups you need to have the ability to return to a date earlier than your improve and recuperate that model of your Mac. Simply keep in mind that something you’ve gotten completed since then will probably be misplaced since you’ll wipe the whole lot in your Mac as a part of the method, so you have to to make a non-Time Machine backup of these recordsdata.
Right here’s find out how to recuperate the previous model of macOS utilizing Time Machine:
- Plug your Time Machine disk into your Mac.
- Restart your Mac.
- You probably have an Intel Mac maintain down Command + R till the Apple brand seems. You probably have an M1 or later Mac it’s essential press and maintain the facility button till the Choices menu comes up.
- When the choices seem on the display screen, select ‘Restore From Time Machine Backup’ and click on Proceed.
- The subsequent display screen will present the phrases Restore from Time Machine, click on Proceed once more.
- Subsequent, choose your Restore Supply – this ought to be your backup drive.
- The subsequent display screen reveals all of your backups over time, decide 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).
Upon getting restored the older model of macOS out of your Time Machine backup, you’ll be able to recuperate the recordsdata you created since out of your non-Time Machine backup.
However what if you happen to don’t have a Time Machine backup?…
Possibility 2: Wipe your Mac and do a clear set up of the older macOS
Word that this technique will erase your Mac, so do be sure you have a backup of necessary recordsdata.
For those who don’t have a Time Machine backup from earlier than you up to date your Mac, all will not be misplaced. You possibly can set up an older model of macOS in your Mac, however you have to to wipe your Mac first. Wiping your Mac means you’ll lose your knowledge if you happen to don’t again it up. Keep in mind backing it up with Time Machine received’t be helpful right here as you’ll recuperate Sequoia alongside along with your knowledge. Check out our suggestions in: Finest backup software program for Macs. We even have recommendation about Easy methods to again up a Mac.
Get the installer
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The primary stage of this technique 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 current variations of macOS under so you’ll be able to obtain the one you need.
- To begin it’s essential seize the installer of whichever model of macOS you wish to set up from the Mac App Retailer utilizing the hyperlinks above. If you’d like an older model see this text: Easy methods to obtain previous variations of macOS. Once 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 you are utilizing Safari.
- Click on on Get.
- The Software program Replace window from System Preferences will open and you need to see a pop-up overlaying it with the model you wish to obtain. Click on on Obtain and make sure that you just wish 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 wish to set up it but.
Create a bootable installer
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You received’t simply have the ability to set up Sonoma over Sequoia, or any previous model of macOS over a more moderen one. To be able to set up an older model of macOS in your Mac it’s a must to make a bootable installer that features the set up recordsdata.
To make a bootable installer, from which you’ll reinstall the older macOS, you have to a reminiscence follow a minimum of 15GB house however we’d suggest extra. You’ll have to 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 might be putting in.
Within the case of Sonoma that is:
sudo /Purposes/Set up macOS Sonoma.app/Contents/Sources/createinstallmedia –quantity /Volumes/MyVolume
You have to to exchange MyVolume with the identify you’ve gotten given to the drive you might be utilizing because the bootable installer.
We suggest that you just observe the steps outlined on this article: Easy methods to create a bootable installer of macOS to create your bootable installer. You will see that all of the createinstallmedia instructions in that article.
Use the bootable installer to downgrade your Mac
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Now you’ve gotten 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 along 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 connect 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 as new and recuperate your backed-up recordsdata
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Now that you’ve got wiped your Mac and put in the model of macOS you needed you have to to run by the set-up course of. See Easy methods to arrange a brand new Mac for assist with that.
As soon as your Mac is up and operating you’ll be able to recuperate the information you backed up.
Easy methods to repair issues downgrading a Mac
This stuff don’t at all times go easily. Listed here are a couple of points you may encounter:
Wiping an older Mac
In case your Mac is previous than the previous couple of Intel Macs, otherwise you aren’t operating Monterey, you have to to erase your Mac following the steps in our tutorial on wiping a MacBook or Mac. We suggest that you just observe that tutorial as there are a variety 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
If you’re utilizing a Mac with a T2 Chip then it’s essential be sure that you allow booting from exterior media or this won’t work. To do that it’s essential entry Restoration Mode after which select Startup Safety Utility from the menu. Right here you will notice quite a lot of choices together with these for Safe Boot and people for Allowed Boot Media. It’s on this second part that you will see Enable booting from exterior or detachable media. You have to this chosen as well from a bootable drive.
What to do if the previous macOS received’t set up
If the above doesn’t work it’s possible you’ll have to utterly wipe your Mac earlier than reinstalling macOS from the bootable drive.
We clarify intimately find out how to erase a Mac on this article: Easy methods to erase a MacBook or Mac: restore to manufacturing unit settings and we advise that you just observe that tutorial. You probably have a Mac with T2 chip, or an M-series Mac erasing your Mac could be very easy because of the Erase All Content material And Settings choice. 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.
Reinstalling an older macOS by way of Restoration mode
Relying on the age of your Mac there is perhaps an choice to recuperate the unique model of macOS it shipped with utilizing macOS Restoration.
You received’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.
- Restart it whereas holding down Shift + Possibility/Alt + Command + R to enter Web Restoration Mode (be sure you are linked to the web).
- Select the Reinstall macOS choice.
- Click on Set up.
This could will let you set up the working system that your Mac shipped with. Sadly, after we tried this technique we have been unable to recuperate an older model of macOS, plainly it really works just for some Macs.
Easy methods to keep away from issues once you downgrade macOS
Reversing an improve carries with it quite a lot of wrinkles and pitfalls.
Most of those are resulting from modifications in file codecs and settings between variations of the OS. So, for instance, if you happen to 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 might not work.
To mitigate this, it’s sensible to export any paperwork you’ve created or labored on within the newer OS in a typical file format. So, for instance, if you happen to use Scrivener or Ulysses, export paperwork as RTF recordsdata. That means, if the native recordsdata don’t survive the reverse improve, you’ll have the ability to re-import the RTF recordsdata.
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). That makes it simpler to re-create them later.
You also needs to make an observation of consumer account and password particulars for something you’ve arrange whereas operating the brand new model of the OS. For those who don’t use iCloud or Chrome to synchronise bookmarks, it’s a good suggestion to export these and make a replica.
And until you’re utilizing the migrate knowledge choice outlined above, you’ll additionally want installers and license codes for apps you utilize. If these are downloads from the Mac App Retailer, you’ll be able to simply re-download them from the Bought part within the App Retailer. If not, be sure you can obtain them from the seller’s web site. For those who don’t use a password supervisor to retailer license codes, be sure you’ve bought a replica of them earlier than you begin.
Synchronize
For those who use Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive or another type of cloud storage, ensure your knowledge is in sync earlier than you begin the method of reversing an improve. It’s simple to neglect that the recordsdata that stay in your Dropbox folder, for instance, are native recordsdata and that whereas synchronization is frequent, the lack of an web connection will forestall it and you could possibly have recordsdata 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 inform you whether or not synchronization accomplished efficiently and recordsdata are updated.
For those who use Gmail, iCloud mail or another IMAP server in your e-mail, ensure it’s updated and any drafts you’ve composed lately have been synchronized. For those who use a POP3 account you’ll must manually again up the mail database and restore it after you reverse the improve. Or, if you happen to solely have a couple of messages it’s essential preserve, ahead them to a Gmail account – you could possibly set one up particularly for that objective.