How to Easily Downgrade macOS Without Losing Your Data

If you need to revert to a previous macOS version after an update, concerns about data loss might arise. Downgrading your operating system becomes important when new versions interfere with critical software or fail to perform as expected. Fortunately, it is possible to downgrade macOS without losing data. This article provides a detailed guide on methods to revert to an older macOS version and maintain data preservation.

When Should I Downgrade the macOS Version?

Every macOS update typically brings important improvements, such as upgraded security features, better performance, and new functionalities that aim to elevate user experience. These updates keep your system modern. However, transitioning to a new macOS version does not always go smoothly. Issues might prompt users to consider downgrading.

Here are several common problems that might necessitate a downgrade:

• Some applications, exceptionally specialized software, may not yet support the latest macOS version. This can disrupt your workflow or critical tasks.
• Newer operating systems, particularly those in their early release phases, can run slower on older hardware and lead to decreased efficiency.
• Early versions of new macOS releases might contain bugs that can cause the system to crash or behave unpredictably.
• Sometimes, the new features and design changes may not appeal to all users, who prefer to revert to a more familiar interface.

In each of these scenarios, downgrading the macOS version could restore the functionality and reliability that you expect from the system, confirming that your equipment meets your needs without compromise.

Does Downgrading macOS Delete Everything on My Mac?

A common concern when downgrading macOS is whether the process erases all data on your Mac. The answer is that it does not have to. Typically, downgrading macOS does not delete your files, but it requires erasing the system drive as part of the installation process, which means you could lose your applications, system settings, and potentially any data stored on the same drive if not backed up properly.

Here’s what you need to know about the impact of downgrading on your data:

• Downgrading usually involves installing an older macOS version from scratch and wiping the current system partition.
• Your personal files, like documents, photos, and videos, are safe if they are on a separate partition or external storage. However, anything saved on the system partition is at risk unless backed up.
• You will lose all installed applications and system preferences that were set up after the initial installation of your current macOS version.

These implications highlight the need to prepare adequately for a downgrade so you do not lose valuable information. The next section guides you through specific methods to downgrade your macOS version without risking data loss.

How Do You Downgrade the macOS Version without Losing Data?

This section provides a guide on safely downgrading your macOS and maintaining data preservation with several tested methods. Whether you need to downgrade from macOS Sequoia to Sonoma or an earlier version, these procedures will help you maintain data integrity and system functionality. We’ll examine different techniques, each suited to varying technical capabilities.

Note: Regardless of the method you choose to downgrade macOS, we strongly recommend creating a backup of your important files to prevent any potential data loss. A backup guarantees that your critical data remains safe and accessible, even if something goes wrong with the downgrade process.

Method 1: Restore Previous macOS from Time Machine Backup

Restoring a previous version of macOS from a Time Machine backup is reliable if you have system files included in your backup. This approach allows you to revert your Mac to an earlier state with all applications, settings, and files intact, as long as the backup occurred before upgrading to a newer macOS version.

Verify that the macOS version you wish to restore is compatible with your Mac’s processor. For instance, Macs with M-series chips can only roll back to macOS Big Sur or later, as earlier versions do not support ARM architecture.

If you plan to restore directly from Recovery Mode, you must use a Time Capsule for the backup. Attempts to restore from a regular external drive in Recovery Mode often result in an error requiring macOS reinstallation, followed by file and settings restoration via Migration Assistant.

Steps to restore macOS from Time Machine Backup:

1. Confirm that your Mac is connected to the network where your Time Capsule is accessible.
2. Restart your Mac and immediately hold down Command (⌘) + R until the Apple logo appears to boot into macOS Recovery.
3. In the macOS Utilities menu, select “Restore From Time Machine Backup.”

4. Choose your Time Capsule from the list of available drives.

5. Browse through the available backups and select the one that contains the macOS version you want to revert to. Make sure this backup is complete and includes all necessary system files.

6. Follow the on-screen instructions to begin the restoration. This will erase the current system and replace it with the contents of the selected backup.

7. Once the restoration is completed, your Mac will restart. If everything was successful, it should boot into the chosen older macOS version with all your applications and settings as they were at the backup time.

This method is one of the safest and most simple ways to downgrade your macOS without losing data, provided you have prepared appropriately with a suitable backup.

Method 2: Rollback to Factory Preinstalled macOS

Rolling back to the factory-preinstalled macOS version is an effective way to downgrade if newer updates have not met your expectations. This method restores the macOS version that originally came with your Mac, using Internet Recovery to access the installation.

You cannot use this method to roll back if your Mac currently runs the same macOS version as it did at the factory setting. Sometimes, the Internet Recovery might not display the factory-installed version. In such cases, you must use a bootable installer to perform the rollback.

Guide on how to rollback using Internet Recovery:

1. Restart your Mac and immediately hold down Option-Command (⌘)-R until you see the spinning globe. This will load Internet Recovery, which fetches the original macOS version available when your Mac was first activated.
2. If you are not already connected via Ethernet, connect to a Wi-Fi network. Internet Recovery requires an internet connection to download the macOS installation files.
3. Once the macOS Utilities window appears, select “Reinstall macOS.” This should present you with the version of macOS originally installed on your Mac.

4. Double-check that the displayed version is the correct, original MacOS version. If it is not, you may need to reinstall via a bootable installer.

5. Follow the on-screen instructions to begin the reinstallation process. This will erase your current system, so install the older macOS version.

6. Allow the process to complete without interruption. Depending on your internet speed and the size of the macOS installation files, this may take some time.

7. Once the installation is complete, your Mac will restart. If successful, it should boot into the factory-preinstalled macOS version.

This method restores your Mac to its original operating system, maintaining compatibility with previously supported applications and reinstating prior performance standards. If Internet Recovery does not show the correct version, use a bootable USB installer for the downgrade, which we will discuss next.

Method 3: Downgrade with USB Installer

A USB installer provides a reliable method to downgrade macOS, especially when other rollback options, like Internet Recovery, do not offer the desired macOS version. This method involves creating a bootable USB drive with an older macOS installer. It’s particularly useful for Macs with T2 or M1-M3 chips, where you must first enable booting from external media in the security settings.

Before you proceed, check that your Mac allows booting from USB devices. For Macs with T2 or M1-M3 chips, you must temporarily disable the secure boot feature. Restart your Mac and hold down Command (⌘) + R to enter Recovery Mode. Navigate to the Startup Security Utility and choose the option that allows booting from external media.

Guide to create and use a USB Installer for macOS downgrade:

1. First, download the macOS installer for the version you wish to install. You can find this in the App Store or on Apple’s website.

2. Connect a USB drive with at least 16 GB of space. Open Disk Utility (found in Applications > Utilities), select your USB drive in the sidebar, and click ‘Erase’. Choose Mac OS Extended (Journaled) as the format and GUID Partition Map as the scheme.

3. Open Terminal (also in Utilities) and use the `createinstallmedia` command specific to your downloaded macOS version. You can use the commands from the official Apple guide, for example:

sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Monterey.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia — volume /Volumes/MyVolume

Replace `/Applications/Install\ macOS\ Monterey.app` with the path to your downloaded installer.

4. Connect the USB drive to your Mac and restart it. Then, hold down the Option key until the boot menu appears. Select the USB drive named ‘Install macOS.’

5. Before installation, use Disk Utility from the Utilities menu in the installer to erase the current system partition. This prepares your system for a clean installation.

6. Exit Disk Utility and select ‘Install macOS.’ Choose your now-empty drive as the installation destination.

7. Follow the prompts to complete the installation.

8. Once the installation is complete and your Mac boots from the newly installed macOS, re-enable any security settings you adjusted before the installation, particularly on T2 or M1-M3 Mac models.

In addition to creating installation media using Terminal, you can use Disk Drill with its free feature to create installation media quickly and easily with just a few clicks:

1. Download and install Disk Drill on your Mac.

2. Open the application and navigate to the “macOS Installer” section in the left sidebar.

3. Disk Drill will automatically find existing installers on your Mac. If this doesn’t happen, click “Add macOS installer…” and select the installer manually.

4. Choose the flash drive from the list that you want to use as the installation media, then click “Create macOS installer.”

5. Wait for the operation to finish, and your bootable media will be ready. You can then follow steps 5–9 from the previous instruction to downgrade the system.

How to Recover Lost Data While Downgrading the macOS Version

Even with careful planning and execution, data loss can occur during macOS downgrades. Unexpected errors or backup oversights can result in lost files. This section describes effective methods to recover lost data during macOS downgrades.

Method 1: Restore Files with Time Machine Backup

Time Machine, Apple’s built-in backup feature, offers a simple solution to recover files that may have been lost during a macOS downgrade. If you routinely back up your Mac with Time Machine, you can restore individual files or your entire system to a previous state.

How to restore files with Time Machine:

1. Click the Time Machine icon in the menu bar and select ‘Browse Time Machine Backups.’ If the icon isn’t visible, open System Preferences, go to Time Machine settings, and check ‘Show Time Machine in the menu bar.’

2. Use the timeline on the edge of the screen or the up and down arrows to navigate through your backups and find the point before you initiate the downgrade of macOS.

3. Browse the folders and find the files or folders you need to recover. Press the Space bar to preview them.

4. Select the files and click ‘Restore’. Time Machine will copy these files to their original or a new location, which you can specify if desired.

5. Once the restoration process is complete, click the close button on the Time Machine window to exit.

Method 2: Use Disk Drill for File Recovery

Disk Drill is a third-party software that can recover lost files from macOS systems. This method proves useful for restoring files that did not back up and were lost due to reinstalling an older macOS version. However, Disk Drill is limited on Macs equipped with T2 or M1-M3 chips. The encryption on these chips during system reinstallation generally prevents the recovery of deleted files.

How to recover lost files with Disk Drill:

1. Visit the Disk Drill website, download the macOS version of the software, and install it on your Mac. Install this software on a drive different from where your data was lost to avoid overwriting recoverable files.

2. Open Disk Drill once installed and choose the drive where you lost your data. Disk Drill will list all connected storage devices, so make sure to select the correct one.

3. Click the “Search for lost data” button next to the selected drive to start scanning for recoverable files.

4. Once the scan is complete, Disk Drill will display a list of files that it can potentially recover. You can filter these results by file type or search for specific filenames to quickly find what you need.

5. Select the files you wish to recover.

6. Choose a location to save them. As with the installation, save these files to a different drive to avoid overwriting any data during recovery.

7. Select the files and output folder, then click the “Next” button to start the retrieval process. Monitor the progress and wait for the process to finish.

Why You Should Not Use New Versions of macOS Before Their Official Presentation?

Adopting new macOS versions like Sequoia before their official release can seem appealing due to the promise of new features and improvements. However, these versions, often released as beta for testing, come with risks that can affect the performance of your Mac.

Risks to use unofficial macOS versions:

• Pre-release versions of macOS may include bugs and glitches that cause system crashes or data loss. These versions remain in the testing phase and may lack stability for everyday use.
• New operating systems might not fully support existing software or hardware, which can cause application failures and disrupt your workflow.
• Beta versions may have unresolved security issues that could expose your system to threats or breaches.
• Apple typically does not provide full customer support for macOS versions that are still in beta. You may find it difficult to get help with issues arising from these early releases.

Opt for a macOS version after its official release to get a more reliable, stable, and secure operating system. Apple fixes many issues in the final release, making it a safer choice for productivity and data security.

Conclusion

This article details the steps and considerations for downgrading macOS while protecting your data. It outlines specific methods and tools to help you navigate the downgrade process. The article also examines the risks of using macOS versions before their full release and concludes that the risks may outweigh the benefits of early access to new features.

FAQ

What does it mean to downgrade macOS?

Downgrading macOS means reverting your computer’s operating system to an earlier version than the current one.

How long does it typically take to downgrade macOS?

The time to downgrade macOS varies based on your computer’s hardware, the version you choose, and your installation method. The process typically lasts from 30 minutes to a few hours.

Will my apps and settings remain unchanged after downgrading?

No, many apps and system settings will revert to the defaults of the older macOS version. You may need to reinstall some applications and reconfigure your settings after the downgrade. Additionally, applications that were installed after the older version was released may not be compatible.

What macOS versions can I downgrade to?

You can typically downgrade to any version of macOS that was previously installed on your Mac or to any later version that is still compatible with your Mac’s hardware. However, due to the hardware limitations of newer Macs with T2 or M1-M3 chips, you may not be able to install macOS versions released before these chips were introduced. Always verify that the version you intend to install supports your hardware.