Did you have too many problems, errors and failures after upgrading your Apple Mac to macOS 10.15? Then it is worth downgrading from macOS Catalina to macOS Mojave. You can find the instructions here so that nothing goes wrong. However, if you have a bootable backup of your Mojave or High Sierra system with you before the Catalina upgrade Carbon Copy Cloner, superduper! or SmartBackup have made, this post is not for you. Then you can simply upload this backup to your Mac and use the Apple computer as before without long instructions;)
Tip: With the app “AnyMacOS” you can easily create a bootable USB stick and the app will even download the appropriate macOS image (from macOS High Sierra) for you.
Chapter in this post:
- 1 Update January 17.01.2020th, XNUMX: New Macs do not allow a downgrade
- 2 First of all: important step for newer Mac models with T2 chip!
- 3 Step 1: Back up the Mac
- 4 Step 2: Create a bootable stick / hard drive with macOS 10.14 Mojave
- 5 Step 3: delete macOS 10.15 Catalina
- 6 Step 4: Reinstall macOS Mojave
- 7 Step 5: Re-equip Apple Mac or install Time Machine Backup
- 8 Similar posts
Update January 17.01.2020th, XNUMX: New Macs do not allow a downgrade
I got an interesting tip from a reader who has a new MacBook Pro 16 inch. He's tried downgrading it to Mojave and also noticed the T2 chip issue, but the Mac keeps throwing an error message. Apple Support then confirmed that new Macs that were already shipped with macOS Catalina AND came out after the release of Catalina can no longer be downgraded to Mojave. However, if you are currently buying an iMac model from 2019 that was already available BEFORE Catalina, the downgrade should work. With the MBP 16-inch, however, there is no way to "drive" with Mojave.
First of all: important step for newer Mac models with T2 chip!
If you are using a MacBook Pro, MacBook Air or Mac mini from 2018 or 2019, you will need an extra step when downgrading from Catalina to Mojave. Because inside is the T2 security chip, which makes it necessary that you allow a system to be booted from external data carriers before (!) The downgrade. If you are not sure whether your Mac, iMac or MacBook has a T2 chip, look in the system or at Apple in the device details. If available, you proceed as follows:
- Turns the Mac off and then back on or off. restart it
- Stop right after turning it on cmd + R (or command + R or ⌘ + R) pressed
- Release after booting; now you are in Recovery Mode / Recovery mode arrived (you can also recognize it by the fact that the window "macOS utilities" is displayed)
- Click on the item in the menu bar Utilities and then choose Startup security utility (first point) and give your Administrator login a
- Activate the option "Allow starting from external media" below
- Activated in the upper paragraph “Medium Security”
Step 1: Back up the Mac
Since the downgrade process described below will completely remove all your data, files, programs, emails, music, photos, etc. from the hard drive, you have to make a backup now at the latest. It is up to you whether you push everything manually to an external hard drive or use one of the backup programs mentioned above. It is important that nothing is lost for you and that you can transfer everything to the Mojave system that is available after the downgrade. Alternatively, you can also use cloud storage to and from which you can copy your data. The only important thing is that everything else is definitely deleted after the downgrade!
Step 2: Create a bootable stick / hard drive with macOS 10.14 Mojave
The best way to create a bootable USB stick with macOS Mojave or an SSD with the macOS installer of the 10.14 version is to use it the instructions linked here. You will not only find that in it Port-Command for the procedure but also the app alternatives Install Disk Creator and DiskMakerXwith which you can create the boot stick or the bootable hard drive using a program with a user interface. You can get the Mojave installer, which you also need for this step, here: https://apps.apple.com/de/app/macos-mojave/id1398502828.
Step 3: delete macOS 10.15 Catalina
Before you can reinstall Mojave, you have to delete Catalina from your Apple Mac. As a reminder: Make sure beforehand that you can boot from an external medium later and that your data is backed up. Also create the boot medium beforehand according to the instructions linked above. All done? Then it continues with these sub-steps:
- Make sure the Mac connected to the internet is (WLAN or Ethernet LAN)
- Turns on the Apple computer or restart it
- Stop right after turning it on cmd + R (or command + R or ⌘ + R) pressed
- Release after booting; now you are in Recovery Mode / Recovery mode arrived (you can also recognize it by the fact that the window "macOS utilities" is displayed)
- Select the point in the "macOS Utilities" window Disk Utility and click on the "Continue" button
- Selects the hard drive, from which your system is started, and click on the "Delete" button in the toolbar above the selection
- Give one Namur for the volume to be erased / formatted
- If you want to prepare your hard drive for an older operating system (up to 10.12 Sierra) when deleting or formatting, then select the HFS+ file system (it may be that in the “Format” selection only “Mac OS Extended (upper/lower case), Journaled)” appears, but that's the appropriate choice); if you want to install a newer one (from 10.13 High Sierra), choose APFS off (is no APFS displayed? Here's the solution!)
- If the "Format" menu can be used, select the GUID partition table (or something like that, the main thing is GUID)
- Click on the "Delete" button
Step 4: reinstall macOS Mojave
So if you have decided on macOS 10.14 Mojave as a new installation, you should have selected APFS as the file system when formatting the hard disk. Before I get to the installation instructions, here is a note for everyone whose Mac came with Mojave as the factory operating system: When you turn it on, you just need to press Shift + Alt + Command + R to reinstall Mojave. Thanks to Shift + Option + cmd + R (alternative names), the factory macOS is downloaded and installed again. If your Mac is older than Mojave, here are the instructions for installing it:
- To be on the safe side, double-check that a Internet connection consists
- Now close your Mojave Boot stick or the boot hard drive with Mojave Installer
- Restart or restart your Mac via the Apple menu. turns it on
- Hold the option or alt key pressed
- Now you can Select start medium
- Choose from the list your stick or your hard drive
- Now the Installation process from macOS Mojave
- Click on "Next" or others Confirmationsthat are needed
- Let that Complete the installation process (cmd + L shows the progress and remaining time)
- Enjoy a fresh Mac;)
Step 5: Re-equip Apple Mac or install Time Machine Backup
If you have an earlier Time Machine backup from Mojave (not Catalina!), You should upload it now to apply your favorite settings directly. Alternatively, you have to set everything up again by hand. In addition, you can then copy your previously saved files, programs, photos, music, etc. back to the hard drive. For the mentioned Time Machine Backup you proceed as follows:
- Again sets the Internet connection for sure
- Select the again in the apple menu restart from
- Now stop again cmd + R to get into recovery mode
- Here you can find the first point in the “macOS Utilities” window Restore from Time Machine backup choose…
- ... and then the "Continue" button click
- Subsequently agrees to the information displayed
- Then select the Backup source from
- Continue and then choose the latest macOS Mojave backup from
- Click again on "Continue" or "Next"
- Wait for the process to complete and then use your restored Mojave system
Source: iMore
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Jens has been running the blog since 2012. He acts as Sir Apfelot for his readers and helps them with technical problems. In his spare time he rides electric unicycles, takes photos (preferably with the iPhone, of course), climbs around in the Hessian mountains or hikes with the family. His articles deal with Apple products, news from the world of drones or solutions to current bugs.
Great guide. But maybe two things should be mentioned:
1. the whole process of the downgrade takes some time, many hours more than the quick click on the update ;-)
2. Without an existing backup at a time before the update, the project is extremely time-consuming - it is possible to manually extract even the photo and iTunes data from a Catalina backup, but the albums and playlists are then lost. Without a Mojave backup, there is also no chance of restoring older or local mailboxes
Hello Thomas! Thank you for your feedback signal. Do you know if you can use the Mojave Migration Assistant to transfer data from a Catalina installation? That would make the downgrade a lot easier, but since I haven't installed Catalina yet, I can't try it out. Maybe someone has some information about it or can test it?
Hi Jens,
I can not imagine that. So far, it has never gone from a higher to a lower operating system.
I would fear that too. But I think it would be nice to be pleasantly surprised. : D
Updates are always easy. Downgrades are an art;)
Great instructions, but I have one more note: in principle, you can skip step 3 and do it together with step 4.
- connect the boot stick
- start with old
- select the stick as the start medium
– select Disk Utility in the “macOS Utilities” window
- Select and format the hard disk
- Quit disk utility
– In “macOS Utilities” select “Reinstall OS X”
- Start installation
Best regards, Uwe
Yes, that's right! That makes it a little easier. : D Thanks for the hint.
Hello everyone, the day before yesterday I installed Catalina on my iMac Late 2012. Programs are running but I have a problem signing into iCloud. First came the message that I should complete the registration of the iCloud, then the two factor code should be entered on the iPhone. But the code never arrived on the iPhone. I then generated a code on the iPhone, but it was considered invalid. Then I read on the Internet that I should log out of iCloud and then log back in again. And that's exactly what doesn't work. I enter my Apple ID and password and the Mac just loads without going any further. The Apple hotline couldn't help me either. Now the question is, should one dare to downgrade? Sounds like a lot of work to me. I still have a time machine backup from Mojava.
Hi Mike! If you've already tried everything else, like restarting, etc., all you have to do is downgrade or wait for a bug fix. If you are also dependent on using the iCloud, importing the backup is all the more urgent. Ultimately, however, you have to decide whether you want to do it or not. If you made a mistake, my tips would have been to restart or turn iCloud off and on. If both of these do not help or work, unfortunately I don't have any advice.
Hello sir appleot. I've tried a lot now. Restarting, starting up in safe mode, etc. I just signed the iMac out of “Find my iPhone” (or whatever it's called recently). There was hope for a moment that I should type in the two-factor password, which also appeared on the iPhone this time, but then it just keeps rolling. Maybe I'll wait for the next Buckfix. But apparently nobody else has the problem, at least I can't find anything on Google.
Too bad ... would have been nice if we could have solved it, but currently it looks like Apple has to deliver something so that you can get further. :-(
Hi, the iCloud is now running on the iMac. So far so good. Now pinch them on my iPhone and iPad. I am now supposed to constantly update my Apple ID settings, which I do. After a minute, the same request comes back. The problem now is that my Homekit devices can no longer be operated because the iCloud keychain should be activated. I can't activate the switch, it immediately jumps back to "off". I'll contact Apple Support later.
Hi mike! Have you ever restarted all your devices? With the iPad and iPhone I would also try a reset (with an encrypted backup). It doesn't take forever and usually solves a number of problems ...
Hi Sir Apfelot, I have contacted Apple Support. The solution is as follows: you have to log out of “Where is” (formerly find my iPhone) first, then log out of iCloud. Now press the following combo: Volume up, down and then hold the power button for about 10 seconds until the apple appears on the screen. The iPad/iPhone will reboot. It helped with my iPad. The iCloud keychain is reactivated and Homekit or the Home app works again. Unfortunately, that didn't quite work on the iPhone. The iCloud keychain is now also activated, but my Homekit devices are missing in the Home app. For example, if I want to add my Eve thermometer, the error message comes up that it has already been added. The Hue lights are also missing. If I open the Hue app, the lamps can be controlled normally via the iPhone. It is to despair.
Hi Mike! Ok, at least half a success. Maybe the iPhone will adjust itself again if it is reset. This is again “harder” than rebooting.
Hi!
What if I have a brand new iMac with Catalina installed, but I want to install Mojave due to program incompatibilities (Lightroom!)? I have a TimeMachine backup of a MacBook pro and also a completely new iMac with Mojave. Many greetings Opi-Wahn
Hello grandpa madness! The best thing to do is to create a bootable USB stick with Mojave. You can get Mojave itself via the link in this article here, And here you can read how to make the bootable USB stick. Then you boot from the stick, flatten the disk in the new Mac and install Mojave on it.
So, HomeKit works again. Unfortunately I had to delete my room and re-integrate the devices. With five devices this is still manageable. So I'll wait for the next big updates.
Hello Sir Apfelot
Since the Catalina update, I can't sync purchased songs / music videos to my iPod nano.
What can I do ? if there is anything.
Hello Meini! What's wrong? ITunes no longer exists, but when you plug in iPod nano, it should appear as a device in the Finder window. Then you click on it and the synchronization dialog should appear.
Hello everyone involved,
thanks for the help in this block!
Had Catalina installed and it was a mess, but thanks to the tip from “Sir Apfelot” (install Catalina twice in a row) the Mac is running again.
I now have a strange phenomenon on my iMac: “One” FusionDrive is installed, but several are displayed:
If I open: About this Mac, 3 HDD are displayed under Hard disks. And under hardware hard disks even 4 hard disks with a total capacity of 4TB. But there are no green men walking around my house!
How do I get this back in order?
iMac 13.2, memory 32GB,
Model name: iMac
Model identification: iMac13,2
I would be very grateful for help!
Hello Jeraro! You may see 4 "volumes" in Disk Utility, but there are only 3 disks. This is probably because you have an additional partition or APFS volume on a hard drive. Normally there shouldn't be any difference. Another tip: You copied your Mac's serial number here in your comment. You should never do that. Such numbers are then often used to sell "fake iMacs" on eBay that do not exist. The sellers steal the serial number from forums or something and then pretend they have the Mac. The buyer then uses the number to check the hardware equipment and warranty, and you think the other person actually has the Mac. LG! Jens
Now that I have Catalina on my Mac Book I can apparently buy a new scanner! I have an Epson Wf3620 and I have run out of time and energy.
Hello Rubi! I would like to refer you to this article about VueScan: https://www.sir-apfelot.de/macos-catalina-vuescan-hilft-wenn-der-scanner-nicht-mehr-laeuft-27185/
Maybe it knows your scanner and you know how to work with it.
Hello, thanks for the very detailed description.
Unfortunately, I already fail to load Mojave from the store.
The system settings always open and I get the message that I have downloaded the latest update. The download does not start.
How do you get around this?
Hello Sven! So the normal procedure is to go to the Apple Support page: https://support.apple.com/de-de/macos/mojave
Then scroll down and click “Get macOS Mojave in the App Store”. The link will send you to the software update, which will check for Mojave. The “Download” option should appear here. Is it at this point where it breaks off for you? If so, look in your programs folder to see if the Mojave installer is already there. Otherwise I don't know what it could be.
Thanks for the feedback
The Mojave installer is not in the programs. But even after further attempts, he keeps pointing out that the Mac is up to date with macOS Catalina and probably refuses to load an older version.
Then I will probably have to reset to the delivery state and then try to update from Mavericks to Mojave.
I immediately made the jump back from Catalina to El Capitan when nothing worked after the update. The new formatting of the hard drive prevented that I could import the backup directly from the Time Machine. Unfortunately I couldn't get a copy of El Capitan to create a boot medium. After some research I found out that the Time Machine from 10.7 on is also suitable for booting. That probably saved me hours of creating a boot medium and it worked perfectly.
Regarding step 3: there was no way to select HFS for the formed disk. I was only able to do this by booting from my Time Machine. It's also called "OS X Extended (Journaled)".
Hello Thomas! Thanks for your comment. I didn't even know about booting the Time Machine. : D You always learn something new ... ;-)
I have the new Macbook Pro 16 inch. It comes with Catalina and I gave Apple direct support for 2 hours. It just doesn't work, in the end he always downloads the current Catalina from the WiFi.
Supposedly, you can only downgrade a Mac to Mojave if the Mac also had Mojave or lower installed as its "boot operating system".
Does anyone have any idea how he came up with Mojave with the current devices?
An interesting idea. : D I would try it with an external hard drive. Format it on APFS and then load the Mojave as an installer and try to install it on the external disk. If he refuses, then there really seems to be something to what the Apple people are saying.
Unfortunately, an external SSD cannot be formatted to APFS.
I can't sign that like that. For me, a Sandisk SSD on my MacBook Pro 2017 could be formatted as APFS as normal. Maybe you don't get the option like I did already described here in a post have.
It depends on the Macbook Pro
My attempt by means of Paralles a Mojave to my Catalina on a 16 inch MBP
installing it resulted in a reduced screen and the exclusion of all 32 bit programs.
A MACOS that can do APFS, I was able to format the SSD in APFS. It worked. But then to create the “external boot stick/SSD”. Then the error message “APFS disks may not be used as bootable install media. An error occurred erasing the disk.”
Ah ok. We talked past each other. I thought you mean the SSDs basically cannot be formatted in APFS. Because of the message: You may have to use Mac OS Journaled.
Hello Sir Apfelot,
Unfortunately, the options listed in the start security program are not shown for me. I can only activate / deactivate or change one firmware password ...
I have another addition here: after buying an iPhone11 with the corresponding registration in iTunes, I was asked to upgrade my Mojave to Catalina, as otherwise it would not be possible to transfer the image from the old iPhone ...
I then up-graded and found that my iPhone works now - but neither Adobe Creative Suite CS6 nor the LEGO software for the EV3 robot ...
I came across your site because of the downgrade now to be considered - but the necessary rework is grueling. Does the Catalina image database or the iTunes DB hacked by Catalina still work on Mojave? The posting by Thomas Kemmer from October 16.10. speaks more of downgrade without explicit backup or with backup on image.
Hello experts, I have the following question:
I used the migration assistant to beam my data and programs from an old 17-inch Macbook Pro from 2011 with High Sierra as the operating system to a new 16-inch book with Catalina. That went practically completely smoothly, except for the contacts. I don't see them in the address book, not even groups. So I re-imported them from a backup (generated from the address book app on the old Macbook). I was asked if I would like to replace my current contacts - which I see as written but not. I said yes, but then I still don't see the contacts. What am I doing wrong? This problem did not exist with the calendar app, since I can see all entries on the new MB without any problems.
Thanks in advance for your advice and Merry Christmas!
Hello DRZ! Sorry for the late reply. I don't know about the problem with the contacts. We'd have to do a little troubleshooting. Can you create a contact manually and then see it? Or does this not work either? If it doesn't work, I'd say one of the files macOS uses to store contacts is corrupt. You would have to look under Library > Application Support > AddressBook and possibly rename the entire “AddressBook” folder to “AddressBook-old”. Then the Mac would actually have to recreate everything.
Hello back, thanks for the tip, but - magic? - the contacts were suddenly there after restarting the computer. Happy New Year.
I can only do that refer to this article. ;-) And of course a happy new year too!
Hi all,
I get the error message shortly after downloading Mojave 10.14.2:
This version of the program “macOS Installation” is too old and cannot be opened with this version of macOS!!!
The message can only be acknowledged with “Exit”. When I try to open the “install macOS Mojave.app with DiskMakerX” link, the following message appears:
“Sorry, your macOS Install app may be incomplete. Delete your install application, then download it again from the App Store.”
Best Regards
Hello PKL! I would try to load the installer from the terminal. That should actually work. A Instructions on how to download old macOS versions via the terminal can be found here.
Moin, thanks for the help!
I then completely killed the partition and installed High Sierra (delivery standard) over the Internet!
From there, Mojave can be downloaded directly from the AppStore! I then had problems with my user account to log in to iCloud, but I was able to delete and create a new user ...
Now everything is running again ...
Catalina downgrade to Mojave with iMac 2017
Hi Sir Apfelot,
I come from the Windows and Linux world - I've been using Apple since Christmas ... with an iMac 2017. After the initial start-up, it immediately updated to Catalina and Thunderbird does not work properly here, so I want to go back to Mojave. Boot stick is ready, T2 does not exist, relevant data is in the iCloud. Now to my questions: Should I remove the entire system and all services from the iCloud or simply leave them so that everything is available again under Mojave?
My 2nd question is about erasing the hard drive: according to the hard drive utility:
Internal
Macintosh HD
Macintosh HD data
Image files
macOS Base System
Which of them do I delete, all or just one or two?
Thank you very much in advance
Carlos
Hello Carlos! In principle, you don't have to remove iCloud. The Mac won't change that - even if you downgrade to Mojave. But of course, solving it doesn't hurt either.
Regarding the two volumes “Macintosh HD” and “Macintosh HD Data”: For Mojave, I would merge both volumes back into one (using Disk Utility). However, you have to be sure that there really isn't any relevant data there that you don't have somewhere else. If necessary, make a backup of the Macintosh HD data, because the other volume only contains system data that you can reinstall at any time.
Regarding “Image File” and “macOS Base System”: I assume this applies to the two volumes above. If you merge these, you format the disk with APFS and GUID partition table anyway, so that Mojave feels comfortable on it.
I hope this answers your questions. LG! Jens
Hello Sir Apfelot
After upgrading to Catalina, my external (Apple) DVD player (Superdrive) no longer works: The Finder does not display it. Is there a solution?
Many thanks for your support! - Christian.
Hello Christian! I think the Superdrive has not been shown in the Finder for ages. You can actually only see it when there is a CD in it and you then open a Finder window. Then the CD should appear in the left bar. The way it used to be that it appears on the desk even without an inserted medium, is no longer the case these days. : D
You're right! I'm not throwing the Superdrive away because of you ... thank you very much! Greetings, Christian.
No way! The thing still works fine under macOS Catalina! : D
Thank you very much for the great instructions. Even I managed it! ;-)))
Hi Sir Apfelot, thanks for the great instructions. Thought I had the open heart surgery successfully done. My Mac turns off while it is starting up and remains dead. What could I have forgotten or did wrong?
Hello Rudi! In that case I would start, hold down CMD + R and then install the system again over it. If it gets stuck while booting, there is sure to be some important file up its sleeve.
Thanks for the instructions, everything worked great and I am (highly) satisfied with the Mac. Now it has added value again.
A little tip: Choose a fast and secure USB stick or something similar for the bootable removable medium.
gruß
Dear Sir Apfelot,
tried to delete Catalina. The Mac crashed and can no longer start.
there is only a black screen saying in 6 languages: “Your computer has restarted due to a problem”
Then he tries to restart, but only manages a 20th bar, then he gives up.
I'm afraid he's dead now.
If there is any help, please let me know.
Thank you very much
Regine
Hello Regina! I don't know exactly how you tried to delete Catalina, but I would recommend starting the Mac with the CMD + R keys held down. Then you come into a recovery mode and can reinstall the system over it. That should help first!
Hi,
I did it, now I'm actually back in the utility, but it doesn't recognize the mouse or keyboard. Do you have another tip?
Thank you very much
Regine
Hello Regine! (sorry for Regina) I assume you have a wireless mouse and keyboard? Then it would be a long press on the right side of the keyboard until it flashes. I'm not sure about the mouse. I think switch it off and on at the bottom and then look in the apple menu> system settings> bluetooth to see if they appear.
One more remark / suggestion:
I created the stick with Install Disk Creator and somehow assumed that the program would also overwrite the file system on the stick. This is not the case! So you first have to format the stick in accordance with Apple (Mac OS Extended / GUID).
If the stick is formatted differently, it still looks as if you could boot from it, but in step 4.6 or 4.7 ("Select your stick or your hard drive from the list" ...) it connects to the Internet and wants to - But you only notice that after an eternity - then install Catalina again. (At first I thought the Mojave installer wanted to download something from the network.)
Jens, maybe you can chop it up somewhere up there. Otherwise: Thank you for the great instructions :-)
Hello Marvin! Thank you for your hint. I'll include that in the article so that future readers don't fall into this "trap". Thank you! LG, Jens
Hi Sir Apfelot. Thank you for the guide on how to downgrade from Catalina to Mojave. Unfortunately I had the option «Exclude system files and programs» activated in Time Machine under Mojave. So I still shy away from the complex downgrade.
If I delete the iMac completely and use the Mojave installer to rebuild the old system ... Can I still access existing Mojave backups from Time Machine? I am concerned with the old iTunes folders under Mojave - can I still get them out of Time Machine after restarting with Mojave?
Have tried in vain to find out where the new music app under Catalina saves the metadata and covers? Because if I copy the entire music folder from the iMac to my laptop, the new songs will no longer be found there by the Music app or my playlists will not be updated either (just as I put them together on the iMac). Very annoying - even after adding up over 6 hours (!!!) of phone with Apple support and a 1-hour visit to the Apple Store, I couldn't be helped, or most supporters didn't even understand my question; - )
Thought I would ask you some questions. You seem to have a lot of Mac knowledge :-)
Kind regards Kuno
Hello Kuno! Thank you for your trust that I can do more than a 6 hour phone call with Apple Support. : D I do my best. If you have a Time Machine backup, I would choose the following procedure: Freshly install Mojave on a second hard drive and then restore the user account from Time Machine with the migration assistant. With that you should have all the data back. Also the music data. According to the Apple support website, all the data for the music app is in Catalina in the folder / Users / Music /
I can't check it because I'm just streaming.
Thanks for the prompt reply. Good idea.
So install Mojave on the 2nd hard drive (in APFS format?) And then start the iMac from this hard drive, that works? (Maybe stupid question from me, but I've never done anything like that.)
Well, I also had an older laptop that I could use to go back from Catalina to Mojave, it would probably be easier than using a second hard drive, wouldn't it ...?
Beautiful evening
Kuno
Hello Kuno! Exactly. 2. Format hard drive to APFS and then Mojave on it. Then hold down the ALT key while restarting. Then comes the selection of the volumes and you choose the 2nd hard disk. Actually, the Mac should ask you during the installation whether it should take over data from the Time Machine. If everything on the 2nd hard drive (external) is running properly, format the internal one and use a program like Smart Backup to copy everything from the external to the internal hard drive. Then just set the internal drive as the startup disk under System Preferences > Startup Disk and the Mac should run “as before”. :D Theoretically... have a nice evening too!
Thank you for the quick support and tips. Since I have a lot of music files and a lot of photos, I have to approach such endeavors carefully so as not to overlook any trap. As I have read, the downgrade does not seem to have been problem-free for certain users either.
But using an external hard drive as a test, so to speak, is an interesting solution.
Kind regards from Zurich
Kuno
Hello Kuno! If I had problems with the system, I would always make a backup of the entire disk first and then work on it. You never know what's going to happen. For this reason it is better to test with an external hard drive. I would do the same with a downgrade. LG, Jens
Regarding the Macbook Pro 2019: unfortunately a backup from TM from an IMac does not work on the Macbook pro: - / It would be good if someone could share a TM backup from a pure OS Mojave from his Macbook pro 2019 somewhere :-)
Hello desperate! No one has a TM backup of an empty installation. That would be an installer. : D You can always download old macOS installers here: https://www.sir-apfelot.de/mit-dem-terminal-alte-macos-installer-dateien-laden-27091/
Hi Sir Apple Lot,
First of all, kudos for this wonderful tutorial. Written in great detail and easy to understand.
A little question about the mailboxes:
I upgraded from El Capitan to Catalina and found that the mailboxes were not taken over. (They are still available in the Library / Mail / V7 folder, but can no longer be imported).
Now, if I downgrade from Catalina to Mojave, will I be able to import the mailboxes without any problems?
Greetings from the quarantine in Vienna!
Hi Max! You would have to try whether Mail recognizes the mailboxes if they are in the "V7" folder. It may be that the folder name “V6” was still popular with Mojave. If you copy the folder over and then rename it "V6" and then start Apple Mail, you'll quickly know if he can use it that way. If they show up then everything is fine and if not we'll have to see if you can export them in .mbox format with a Catalina install first. This then also imports Apple Mail under Mojave.
Alternatively, if you have an IMAP mailbox, you can simply create a new one and the Mac will then get the latest status from the cloud. I hope some of this helps you. LG back from quarantine in North Hesse! ;-)
Hi,
I just tried this with HighSierra on a Mac Mini from 2018, but I always get the error message that the hard drive (in my case the USB stick with the installation file) cannot be verified. Do you have a solution for that?
Best regards,
Lukas
Hello Lukas! Yes, I had already written instructions for this, which you can find here: https://www.sir-apfelot.de/os-x-cant-be-verified-und-error-occured-while-preparing-the-installation-26722/
I keep my fingers crossed that it will help! LG, Jens
Hello Sir Apfellot, thank you very much for the instructions. The downgrade worked well. I then set up the mail accounts and the mails reappeared. But now I have the problem that the search function does not show anything when I enter something. Do you have a solution for that?
Hello Christian! So either wait a few hours until he has created the index or force the index to be rebuilt. I have described how to do this here: https://www.sir-apfelot.de/spotlight-suche-findet-nichts-spotlight-index-neu-erstellen-23554/
Hello Sir Apfelot,
I have now successfully downgraded 4 Macs to Mojave according to your instructions. Thanks for that! One more question: Should you afterwards set the Mac back to its original values in the startup security utility "High security" and "Prohibit starting from external media"?
Hello Eckart! That is actually a matter of taste. I usually choose low security for my Macs that I have around at home, because when you wear out the internal hard drive, you are happy to be able to start from an external backup. If the Mac is often on the go and there is a potential risk of it being lost or stolen, then maybe I would take the high security level.
Big frustration! new Macbook 16 ″ and no Mojave. practically the worse system is imposed on you as a musician. On a tip, I install Mojave through Parallels.
It's a shame that you now have to resort to other solutions. This was not pointed out at the time of purchase!
Hello, how do I download OS X Mojave??? The link leads to Apple and there is always a window with the note "Connecting to the iTunes Store is being established", then a window opens "Start application" and he opens the Music app. and then I get the message "Item not available". changing the country/region didn't help either.
Hello Steve! Yes, unfortunately Apple pulled the plug a few days ago and you can no longer charge Mojave. Sorry : /
Hello Sir Apfelot,
great description. My case is a little different and I thought that would be the normal case, but after a long research I can't find anything about it.
Made a Time Machine backup before upgrading Mojave to Catalina. After I had to realize after the upgrade that some important programs in Catalina were not allowed to start, I simply rolled back to my Mojave backup, waited a few hours and everything was fine again. Later I have to realize that the Macbook Pro (2013 Retina 13″) no longer has any free memory. So that “Macintosh HD – Data” partition from Catalina is still there and blocks 95 GB. Apparently Mojave can't use them because: after a few minutes of waiting in the system optimization for memory (which is offered by the popup), everything is added up and a total of 140 GB (256 GB SSD internally installed) are occupied. The 95 GB of the Catalina partition (...data) is suspiciously close to the value of the lost GB.
Do you think I can simply merge the "data" back into Mojave with the Maintosh HD? I somehow don't dare. Thank you for your assessment in advance.
Hello Phil! I think I would delete the “Macintosh HD Data” first and then merge them. Otherwise you have the problem that your data is all duplicate. But you still have your Time Machine backup in case something goes wrong, right?
First of all, thank you very much for the super express help :) It took a while, didn't want to risk anything, it took my Macbook the last few days. Finally the time has come.
Short report: Simply delete “Macintosh HD – Data” with “Disk Utility”, done. The Macintosh HD then has its full size again, and the expected +95GB are free again. Funnily enough, the Macintosh HD data is automatically recreated by the Mojave after a few seconds. The free storage space is retained, so be it, it will fit again now. The annoying popup (low disk space) that comes every 5 minutes has definitely disappeared. The new Macintosh HD data is empty and readying the storage space. I'll see what happens over the next few months. The data backup was not needed, everything was as expected.
Vorgeschichte:
The backup mentioned is too old (from October). So I wanted to create a new one. That always stopped after a minute without an error message. I am sure, however, that there was simply not enough free space to create another one with Time Machine (I do the backups manually, the Time Machine automatic is deactivated). To be on the safe side it was said: old school backup of the individual files and folders in the Finder. If someone wants to do that too, don't forget these folders:
- Documents
- Downloads (if needed)
- Export emails with Apple Mail as .mbox (I archive locally on the Macbook)
– Photos: either copy the entire media library (in the “Pictures” folder) or export the individual jpgs with the Photos app (I did both to be on the safe side). May not be necessary for icloud users, I also save pictures locally
- Writing desk
LG Phil
Hello Phil! Thank you for your feedback signal. Nice that the warning is gone now and you have “full capacity” again. :D
Hello, you are writing new iMacs that already have Catalina on it and cannot be downgraded. Since I bought a new iMac with Catalina on it (7 days ago) I wanted to install a virtual El Capitan on Parallels, because I still have a lot of 32-bit programs from the older Mac and then run them over El Capitan (also have the last backup via Time Machine, but Parallels would probably also run this via migration). However, the problem is that an error message also appears when installing after booting Parallels. Is there a solution for new Macs via Parallels to get an earlier MacOS on it as a virtual environment? vg, Burkhard
Hello Burkhard! Unfortunately, I can't try that because I don't have a new Mac. But if you write that there are error messages, it sounds like it doesn't work. What exactly do the reports mean? And when do they appear?
Hallo,
During the installation, after the installation is 50% advanced and has already rebooted, the error message appears that the installation cannot be continued because the package cannot be accessed. A restart or reinstallation leads to a login loop that remains unsuccessful.
According to Parallels, it should actually be possible. Didn't find anything on the net that indicates this problem. What I can possibly still try is to install a virtual environment on the old Mac and copy the virtual environment, which is a package under Parallels, onto the new Mac. Whether this can then be carried out is then still questionable, but it also worked in the old Windows environment.
Hello Burkhard! Thanks for the description. I don't think I can contribute anything helpful. But maybe other readers still have tips.
I couldn't initially downgrade a Mac mini that came with Catalina to Mojave either. I had already done, but the thing still refused. I then connected the Mac mini to another computer with Mojave using Target mode (hold down the “T” key when starting up) and cloned it from there using the Carbon Copy Cloner. That worked!
Hello DM! Thanks for the hint. This is actually a smart idea. : D
I received a MacBook Air 2020 with Catalina. Now I would like to downgrade to Mojave. I made the start security settings and then deleted the disk.
When starting from the USB stick, everything works up to the point where it reports that: Bless-Tool cannot select the start volume.
What could be the problem? How do I get further?
Hello Sven! Unfortunately, I've never heard of the Bless Tool. I think there was a problem with playing a Mac on a system older than the one it came with. Maybe you can start the installer and first install the system on an external hard drive. I think that was the trick.
Hallo,
I followed the instructions and got to booting the MOJAVE install file.
The loading bar ultimately shows 100% and then nothing more happens.
Do you have any idea what the problem may be?
I have an older MacbookPro.
Greetings Bert
Hello Bert! Unfortunately, I have no idea what the problem could be, but give it a try with a bootable USB stick that you have with you anyMacOS can create. I think the software will download all installers from High Sierra for you. Mojave should be there too.
Hey Jens,
with a little patience I have now installed Mojave.
Now I want to downgrade to Sierra.
I am following your description to delete the OS.
You describe in point 8 that "If you want to prepare your hard drive for an older operating system (up to 10.12 Sierra) when deleting or formatting, then select the HFS+ file system".
Only AFPS options are suggested to me?
Can I only install Sierra with HFS +?
Is it possible to install Sierra with AFPS formatting?
I think you need to select "GUID Partition Map" for "Scheme" first and then use "Mac OS Extended (Case Sensitive, Journaled)" for "Format". The HFS+ name is no longer used in Disk Utility. That's a bit confusing and I'll have to correct that in the article. That should fit Sierra. APFS is only available from High Sierra – i.e. a version according to your “desired macOS”. ;-)
Hey Jens,
with the help of Apple support, I was also able to overcome this hurdle.
Instead of the key combination alt + R, you need the key combination shift + alt + cmd + R to get into the corresponding recovery mode. There you have the option to select “macOS extended journaled” (corresponds to HFS+).
Thanks for the guidance.
Greetings Bert
Hello Bert! Thanks to you for the addition. It's nice that it worked out after all. LG, Jens