When it comes to keeping your device safe, it’s always a very good idea to ensure you’re using the right operating system. And for a lot of people, MacOS Sequoia is the best option. But there are situations when you can’t really use the latest version of the operating system. In fact, a downgrade could be the better option. It does bring the question, why would you downgrade from MacOS Sequoia and how can you do that? We will cover both situations in this article.
Why should you downgrade from MacOS Sequoia?
You might think that having the latest operating system is a great idea. But realistically, if you have an older system, you might not have the right amount of resources and that will be quite problematic. A downgrade will allow you to focus on reliability and it delivers app stability. It can also enhance the overall performance, and yes, you will have access to the tools you know, which might not be available in the new version.
Is there anything you need to do before the downgrade?
Using a Mac cleanup tool before the downgrade is a great idea. The thing is, you want to remove any temporary files, maybe even dangerous files like malware, if there is some on your device. That’s the thing, you never know what kind of issues could be there. So it definitely makes a lot of sense to perform this cleanup before the downgrade.
For a lot of people, downgrading is an excellent solution and one that can bring in front exceptional results. You want an effective and comprehensive way to ensure that your operating system gets downgraded without a hassle. In the end, that’s the thing to pursue, and it will only make things better if you do such a thing.
Downgrading from MacOS Sequoia to Sonoma using Time Machine
Generally, a good way to downgrade from MacOS Sequoia to Sonoma is to use the Time Machine feature. Here’s how to do it:
- First, you want to connect the backup disk to your Mac.
- After that, you can restart your device in Recovery mode, you can hold down the power button for your Mac and then enter the startup options.
- Here from Options, you want to press Continue.
- That will enter the Utilities window, and here you choose to restore from the Time Machine backup. Then you can press Continue 2 more times.
- Pick the desired Time Machine disk, and then make sure that you identify the backup you want to restore from. All you have to do is to press Restore, and you will be good to go.
The Time Machine approach is the best one because it’s quick and easy to do. The downside however is that for a lot of people this might not be available. If you want to use this method, it entails that you already have a backup ready. And for most people, that won’t always be the case. But no worries, even if you don’t have a Time Machine backup, you have other options.
Internet recovery
That’s the thing, if you have an older Mac that’s Intel based, you can use the Internet Recovery mode. That can help you downgrade the OS to the original that you had. Granted, this method is not foolproof and it can have some errors.
What you need to do is shut down the device, hold Shift+Option+Command+R+Power button. After that, you will need to release when the Apple logo shows, and you will also be able to select the Wi-Fi network. From there, you choose to reinstall MacOS and that’s it.
Uninstalling with a bootable installer
Another thing that you can do is to try and download Sonoma. That will ensure you create a bootable installer for it, and you can reinstall.
- You want to go to the App Store, download Sonoma and then you connect the USB and name it Sonoma Installer
- From the Terminal, you want to add this command “sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Sonoma.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia –volume /Volumes/Sonoma Installer” and then press Return
- You will be asked for your admin password, write it there, and quit the Terminal
- Lastly, now that you have the installer, you can enter the Startup Disk option from the main Apple menu/System Settings/General and shut down your Mac, then boot into recovery mode. From the Disk Utility, you choose Erase, exit the Disk Utility and then reinstall Sonoma.
It’s a very good idea to downgrade from Sequoia sometimes, and if you need to do so, these are the steps to pursue. Always avoid any rush and focus on finding the best option that fits your needs. In the end, downgrading from Sequoia could give you a great performance boost, while also avoiding any rush and saving time!
