Question

macOS downgrade - this is how it works

Answer 1

macOS downgrade with a boot stick
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This guide explains how to downgrade your Mac to an earlier version of macOS..

Image: <span> Nanain / Shutterstock.com </span>

If you would like to downgrade your Mac to an earlier version of macOS, for example to be able to use older programs again, you can do this with the help of a boot stick. How to create such a stick, install the older macOS version and then drag your data back to the Mac, you will learn in this guide.

macOS downgrade with a boot stick

Before you can reset the Mac, you must first create a boot stick for the macOS version from which you can boot later. For this you need a USB stick with at least 8GB free space.

Warning: In the course of these instructions you will erase your entire hard drive. Make sure to back up your Mac so that you can drag the files back to the Mac later! How to create a backup of your Mac, read here.

1st step:

First, download the macOS version from the App Store . The app store pages for the individual versions can be found under the following links: macOS Big Sur macOS Catalina macOS Mojave macOS High Sierra

2nd step:

If you click on “ Load ” in the App Store, the “ Software update” area will open in the system settings. Confirm by clicking on " Download ". After the download , do not click on "Open", just close the system settings .

3rd step:

Connect the USB stick to your Mac.

4th step:

Open Terminal by searching for it using, for example, Spotlight search.

5th step:

Enter the appropriate command for the version of macOS you want. Replace “ MyVolume ” with the name of the USB stick you are using.

macOS version	command
Big Sur:	sudo / Applications / Install \ macOS \ Big \ Sur.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume / Volumes / MyVolume
Catalina:	sudo / Applications / Install \ macOS \ Catalina.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume / Volumes / MyVolume
Mojave:	sudo / Applications / Install \ macOS \ Mojave.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume / Volumes / MyVolume
High Sierra:	sudo / Applications / Install \ macOS \ High \ Sierra.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume / Volumes / MyVolume
El Capitan:	sudo / Applications / Install \ OS \ X \ El \ Capitan.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume / Volumes / MyVolume --applicationpath / Applications / Install \ OS \ X \ El \ Capitan.app

macOS version	command
Big Sur:	sudo / Applications / Install \ macOS \ Big \ Sur.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume / Volumes / MyVolume
Catalina:	sudo / Applications / Install \ macOS \ Catalina.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume / Volumes / MyVolume
Mojave:	sudo / Applications / Install \ macOS \ Mojave.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume / Volumes / MyVolume
High Sierra:	sudo / Applications / Install \ macOS \ High \ Sierra.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume / Volumes / MyVolume
El Capitan:	sudo /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ El\ Capitan.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume --applicationpath /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ El\ Capitan.app

Execute the command with [Enter] . If necessary, enter your password and press [Enter] again to confirm your entry.

The boot stick is now set up. Before proceeding, you should double check that you have backed up all your important data. You should also make sure that you can connect your Mac to the internet. So have either a LAN connection or your WLAN password ready..

6th step:

Turn off your Mac. Restart it and immediately after the Mac turns on, hold down the [cmd] + [R] keys . This will start your Mac into recovery mode .

7th step:

With some macOS versions you now have to select your WLAN and enter the WLAN password or connect a LAN cable so that the recovery mode can start.

8th step:

A window will now appear in the recovery mode in which you can make various settings. Here click on " Disk Utility " and then on " Continue ".

9th step:

Now you need to erase your Mac's hard drive. To do this, select the hard drive in the sidebar and then click on " Erase " at the top .

10th step:

Assign a name to the hard disk and select the format to which your hard disk should be formatted. If you are installing macOS High Sierra or newer, you can choose " APFS " as the format . For older versions you should use “ Mac OS Journaled ” or “ HFS + ”. Finally click on " Delete ".

11th step:

Your Mac's hard drive will now be completely erased. Now click on the apple symbol at the top left and then on " Restart ". Make sure that the boot stick is connected to your Mac.

12th step:

As soon as the screen of your Mac turns on, hold down the [alt] or [option] key. You will now see all drives from which the Mac can start. Use the arrow keys to select the USB stick and press [Enter] .

13th step:

Now the installation wizard for the macOS version that you saved on the boot stick opens. Follow the instructions given to you in the installation process. You may be asked for an Internet connection - in this case, select your WLAN and enter the password or connect a LAN cable. Run the installation through to the end, which should land you on the home screen of your newly installed Mac.

14th step:

If you have created a Time Machine backup, you can now reload it. To do this, restart the Mac again and hold down [cmd] + [R] during startup . If necessary, set up your WLAN or connect the Mac to the Internet using a LAN cable .

15th step:

Click Restore From Time Machine Backup, then click Continue twice .

16th step:

Connect your backup media to the Mac. Select this and click on “ Continue ”. Click on the most recent backup and then click on " Continue ". Confirm with “ Next ”.

17th step:

The backup will now be transferred to your Mac. When it is finished, the Mac will restart and all your data should now also be available on the older macOS version.

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