macOS Sequoia arrived on Macs in September 2024. Many individuals have put in Sequoia and like it, whereas others have put in the up to date solely to remorse it later. Maybe you’ve found that an app you depend on now not works or is buggy? Possibly you hate one of many new options? Or you might be annoyed that your Mac can’t reap the benefits of all the brand new options. The excellent news is that it’s attainable to revert to a earlier macOS model.
One other situation is that generally when Apple updates the Mac working system with new options, customers encounter issues with the most recent model and must 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 because of this (though generally it’s advisable you put in it straightaway if the replace is important for safety causes.)
Fortunately it’s attainable 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 could possibly imply you lose a few of your knowledge.
Possibly it’s essential to run an older model of the macOS on a Mac you might be utilizing to check apps as a part of your job. We have now a separate article that appears at varied methods to downgrade to older variations of macOS. You might also need to take a look at different methods to put in the older model of macOS, resembling putting in it on a separate quantity (also called twin booting) or operating it on a separate drive.
Under, we’ll run by way of 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 we’ve got a separate article coping with downgrading from a beta model of macOS.
If it’s iOS you need to roll again it’s not so easy as a result of Apple stops older variations of iOS being obtainable. Examine how you can downgrade from iOS 18 to iOS 17.
The way to revert a macOS replace
It’s not at all times a very new model of macOS you need to revert from. 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 Sequoia 15.1 to fifteen.0, or it might 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 will probably be attainable 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 possibly can revert to an older model of macOS, however you will have to wipe your Mac to take action. The strategy might be decided by whether or not of not you have already got a backup (and the way outdated that backup is).
With a backup from earlier than your replace: In case you have a backup, all it’s essential to do is wipe your Mac after which get well your backup with the older model of the backup from earlier than your replace to the brand new macOS.
With out a backup: In the event you don’t have already got a backup, you will have 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. To your backup you must use a backup instrument aside from Time Machine*.
You’ll discover extra particulars on how you can 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 should again up the present model of macOS as nicely, and while you get well your Mac from the backup you’ll get well that model too. You might 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: Greatest backup software program for Macs. We even have recommendation about The way to again up a Mac.
The way to downgrade from Sequoia to Sonoma
Likelihood is you arrived on this text as a result of you may have up to date to Sequoia and remorse it. The method is simply the identical as in case you are reverting from a minor replace to macOS.
With a backup from earlier than your replace: In case you have a Time Machine backup from earlier than the replace, you possibly can 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: In the event you don’t have a backup you will have to make one after which get well your knowledge to your Mac after wiping your Mac and doing a clear set up of macOS Sonoma.
We’ll take 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
In case you 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 possibly can get well 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 while you get well 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 may have outdated backups you must be capable of return to a date earlier than your improve and get well that model of your Mac. Simply do not forget that something you may have finished since then might be misplaced since you’ll wipe the whole lot in your Mac as a part of the method, so you will have to make a non-Time Machine backup of these recordsdata.
Right here’s how you can get well the outdated model of macOS utilizing Time Machine:
- Plug your Time Machine disk into your Mac.
- Restart your Mac.
- In case you have an Intel Mac maintain down Command + R till the Apple brand seems. In case you have an M1 or later Mac it’s essential to press and maintain the ability 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).
After getting restored the older model of macOS out of your Time Machine backup, you possibly can get well the recordsdata you created since out of your non-Time Machine backup.
However what for those who don’t have a Time Machine backup?…
Possibility 2: Wipe your Mac and do a clear set up of the older macOS
Be aware that this technique will erase your Mac, so do be sure you have a backup of necessary recordsdata.
In the event you don’t have a Time Machine backup from earlier than you up to date your Mac, all is just not misplaced. You possibly can set up an older model of macOS in your Mac, however you will have to wipe your Mac first. Wiping your Mac means you’ll lose your knowledge for those who don’t again it up. Bear in mind backing it up with Time Machine gained’t be helpful right here as you’ll get well Sequoia alongside along with your knowledge. Check out our suggestions in: Greatest backup software program for Macs. We even have recommendation about The way 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 have now hyperlinks to some current variations of macOS under so you possibly can obtain the one you need.
- To start out it’s essential 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: The way to obtain outdated variations of macOS. If 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 must see a pop-up overlaying it with the model you need to obtain. Click on on Obtain and make sure that you just 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 be capable of set up Sonoma over Sequoia, or any outdated model of macOS over a more recent one. To be able to set up an older model of macOS in your Mac you must make a bootable installer that features the set up recordsdata.
To make a bootable installer, from which you’ll reinstall the older macOS, you will have a reminiscence persist with at the least 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 might be putting in.
Within the case of Sonoma that is:
sudo /Functions/Set up macOS Sonoma.app/Contents/Assets/createinstallmedia –quantity /Volumes/MyVolume
You will want to interchange MyVolume with the identify you may have given to the drive you might be utilizing because the bootable installer.
We advocate that you just observe the steps outlined on this article: The way 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 may have your bootable installer you must be capable of 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 will want 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 get well your backed-up recordsdata
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Now that you’ve wiped your Mac and put in the model of macOS you wished you will have to run by way of the set-up course of. See The way to arrange a brand new Mac for assist with that.
As soon as your Mac is up and operating you possibly can get well the information you backed up.
The way to repair issues downgrading a Mac
This stuff don’t at all times go easily. Listed below are a couple of points you would possibly encounter:
Wiping an older Mac
In case your Mac is outdated than the previous couple of Intel Macs, otherwise you aren’t operating Monterey, you will have to erase your Mac following the steps in our tutorial on wiping a MacBook or Mac. We advocate that you just observe that tutorial as there are a whole lot of steps you must 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 to be sure that you allow booting from exterior media or this is not going to work. To do that it’s essential to entry Restoration Mode after which select Startup Safety Utility from the menu. Right here you will note a variety of choices together with these for Safe Boot and people for Allowed Boot Media. It’s on this second part that you can find Permit booting from exterior or detachable media. You will want this chosen besides from a bootable drive.
What to do if the outdated macOS gained’t set up
If the above doesn’t work you could must utterly wipe your Mac earlier than reinstalling macOS from the bootable drive.
We clarify intimately how you can erase a Mac on this article: The way to erase a MacBook or Mac: restore to manufacturing facility settings and we advise that you just observe that tutorial. In case you 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 situated in System Settings > Normal> Switch or Reset.
Reinstalling an older macOS by way of Restoration mode
Relying on the age of your Mac there could be an choice to get well the unique model of macOS it shipped with utilizing macOS Restoration.
You gained’t be capable of revert to one thing older than the macOS your Mac shipped with.
Comply with 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 related to the web).
- Select the Reinstall macOS choice.
- Click on Set up.
This might help you set up the working system that your Mac shipped with. Sadly, once we tried this technique we have been unable to get well an older model of macOS, plainly it really works just for some Macs.
The way to keep away from issues while you downgrade macOS
Reversing an improve carries with it a variety of wrinkles and pitfalls.
Most of those are resulting from modifications in file codecs and settings between variations of the OS. So, for instance, for those who 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 attempt to open it in an older model, it could 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, for those who use Scrivener or Ulysses, export paperwork as RTF recordsdata. That manner, if the native recordsdata don’t survive the reverse improve, you’ll be capable of 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 a remark of person account and password particulars for something you’ve arrange whereas operating the brand new model of the OS. In the event 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 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 possibly can 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. In the event you don’t use a password supervisor to retailer license codes, be sure you’ve bought a replica of them earlier than you begin.
Synchronize
In the event you use Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive or every other type of cloud storage, be sure that your knowledge is in sync earlier than you begin the method of reversing an improve. It’s straightforward to neglect that the recordsdata that dwell 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 may 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.
In the event you use Gmail, iCloud mail or every other IMAP server to your e-mail, be sure that it’s updated and any drafts you’ve composed lately have been synchronized. In the event you use a POP3 account you’ll need to manually again up the mail database and restore it after you reverse the improve. Or, for those who solely have a couple of messages it’s essential to maintain, ahead them to a Gmail account – you may set one up particularly for that goal.