Despite macOS Sequoia having some great new features and improvements, not everyone loves it. Some Mac users have reported encountering various problems after upgrading, including application crashes, slower system response times, and overheating devices.
If you’re looking to switch back to a more stable version, you’ve come to the right place. In this blog post, we’ll share 3 simple methods on how to downgrade macOS Sequoia to Sonoma. Let’s dive in now!
Before You Begin to Downgrade macOS Sequoia
Before discussing how to downgrade from Sequoia to Sonoma, ensure that you have a complete backup of your important files, applications, and settings. It’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your valuable data. To do this, you can use Time Machine or any other backup method you prefer. If something goes wrong, 4DDiG Mac data recovery can help you get back lost files in an eye of blink.
With its high success rate and simplicity, 4DDiG has become one of the best data recovery software on the market. This user-friendly tool is suitable for all data loss scenarios, such as system downgrades, formatting errors, hardware failures, and more. Here is how to recover lost data with the help of 4DDiG Mac data recovery:
Step 1: Install and launch the 4DDiG Mac Data Recovery tool on your Mac. On the main interface, locate the disk where your data was lost. Hover over it, and a Scan button will appear. Click on it to proceed.
Step 2: 4DDiG will immediately scan the selected disk and categorize recoverable files by file type or directory path. Once the lost files are found, you can pause or stop the scan at any time.
Step 3: To ensure integrity, 4DDiG allows you to preview selected files before recovery. If everything is fine, simply click on the “Recover” button. It’s important not to save the files back onto the same disk.
Now, you should be good to go. Let’s take a look at how to downgrade to Sonoma from Sequoia!
3 Proven Ways to Downgrade from Sequoia to Sonoma
Option A: Use a Time Machine Backup
|
Time |
20-25 mins |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Tools | A Time Machine backup drive |
| Drawback |
Only works when there is an available backup |
It’s pretty easy to downgrade macOS Sequoia if you created a backup of your Mac using Time Machine beforehand. This method is not only easy to use but also ensures that you don’t lose any data during the downgrade process. All you have to do is start the Mac in recovery mode and restore from the backup. To do so:
Step 1: First things first, connect your Time Machine backup drive to the Mac. Next, reboot your Mac.
Step 2: If you’re using an Intel Mac, immediately hold down Command + R until the Apple logo appears. For an Apple silicon Mac, press and hold the power button until you see “Loading startup options.”
Step 3: Choose “Restore from Time Machine Backup” from the list and click “Continue.”
Step 4: Select your Time Machine backup drive, then click “Continue.” Now, choose the most recent backup from before you upgraded to macOS Sequoia. It should say it was made with macOS 14.
Step 5: Finally, follow the on-screen instructions to downgrade macOS sequoia.
Option B: Use the Reinstall macOS feature
| Time | 15-20 mins |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| What you need | An intel-based Mac |
| Drawback | Downgrade to Sonoma is not guaranteed |
Thankfully, Apple implemented a feature that allows users to restore their Mac to the operating system it shipped with. It’s important to note that this method only works on Intel-based Macs. Here is a guide how to downgrade from Sequoia to Sonoma:
Step 1: Begin by rebooting your Mac. Hold down Shift + Option + Command + R immediately after you hear the startup sound.
Step 2: Once you’ve booted into Recovery Mode, choose “Reinstall macOS” and click on “Continue.”
Step 3: You will be prompted to erase your Mac’s startup disk. After formatting, follow the on-screen instructions to reinstall the version of macOS that originally came with your Mac.
Option C: Use a Bootable Installer
| Time | 25-30 mins |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| Tools | An empty USB Drive and Terminal |
| Drawback | Not suitable for computer novices |
Still wondering how to downgrade macOS Sequoia to Sonoma? You can download an older version of macOS from the App Store and install it on a USB drive to downgrade your system. However, this method also has its limitations. If you’re not familiar with Terminal and disk formatting, we strongly recommend seeking guidance from professionals. Here is how you do it:
Step 1: Open the App Store on your Mac. Next, search for “macOS Sonoma” and download it. Keep in mind that don’t run the installer.
Step 2: Insert an empty USB drive (at least 32GB) into your Mac. Name it “Sonoma Installer” or something equally memorable.
Step 3: Navigate to “Applications” > “Utilities” > “Terminal.” In Terminal, type the following command and press the Returnkey .
sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Ventura.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia –volume /Volumes/Sonoma Installer
Note: Replace Sonoma Installer with the actual name of your USB drive. (in my case it’s Sonoma Installer)
Step 4: After creating the bootable installer, open the Settings app. Go to General > Startup Disk. Choose this USB drive to start up your Mac.
Step 5: Some articles may suggest erasing your Mac’s SSD. However, if you have sufficient space on your Macintosh HD, there’s no need to do so. You can partition your hard drive into two sections and install macOS Sonoma on the second partition.
Step 6: Restart your Mac and boot into Recovery mode using the previous method. You should see the “Install macOS Sonoma” option in the menu. Select it and let the process complete.
Why Not Install macOS Sonoma on an External Hard Drive?
When you look through the Apple Support Community, you might find that another way to downgrade macOS Sequoia is to install Sonoma on a spare external hard drive. Well, that’s indeed a solution, but we don’t recommend it. This is because you will noticeably experience a significant drop in system performance. Compared to the SSD used in your MacBook, external hard drives generally have slower read and write speeds. The performance difference between them is akin to that between a Honda Corolla and a Porsche 911. So, if you need to use macOS Ventura regularly, it’s better to install it on your Mac’s internal SSD for the optimal performance.
Conclusion
Now that you’ve managed to downgrade from macOS Sequoia to Sonoma. Remember that there is a risk of data loss or system crashes during the downgrade process. Therefore, it’s crucial to back up your personal files in advance. If you forget to back up or your backup is lost, give 4DDiG Mac data recovery a shot.
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