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Help w/going back to Mojave

My MBP is running slower and some apps are not working at all...even though the apps are 64bit. I'v read: Revert your Mac to a previous macOS version - Apple Support but I've added apps since installing Catalina and do not want them over written. Is there a way to go back to Mojave without over writing? Thx

MacBook Pro 13", 10.15

Posted on Nov 29, 2019 11:07 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Nov 29, 2019 12:24 PM

The source volume's contents will be erased and replaced with the contents of its Time Machine backup, but the backup won't be erased—not right away, that is.


That means after you restore the Mojave system, the apps and files you added since installing Catalina can be selectively restored from a more recent backup.


Caveat: if you want to restore those apps and files, you must obviously create that more recent TM backup prior to restoring the older system. It is conceivable doing so will require Time Machine to reclaim the space occupied by older backups—possibly eliminating the Mojave system you wish to restore. Without knowing the capacity of your TM backup device, I cannot provide assurance that won't happen.


In an overabundance of caution consider obtaining an additional backup device and adding it to Time Machine, which will back up to both, or as many as you wish. One and only one backup isn't a robust backup strategy anyway.

4 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Nov 29, 2019 12:24 PM in response to brokenback5

The source volume's contents will be erased and replaced with the contents of its Time Machine backup, but the backup won't be erased—not right away, that is.


That means after you restore the Mojave system, the apps and files you added since installing Catalina can be selectively restored from a more recent backup.


Caveat: if you want to restore those apps and files, you must obviously create that more recent TM backup prior to restoring the older system. It is conceivable doing so will require Time Machine to reclaim the space occupied by older backups—possibly eliminating the Mojave system you wish to restore. Without knowing the capacity of your TM backup device, I cannot provide assurance that won't happen.


In an overabundance of caution consider obtaining an additional backup device and adding it to Time Machine, which will back up to both, or as many as you wish. One and only one backup isn't a robust backup strategy anyway.

Nov 29, 2019 11:47 AM in response to brokenback5

brokenback5 wrote:

My MBP is running slower and some apps are not working at all...even though the apps are 64bit. I'v read: Revert your Mac to a previous macOS version - Apple Support but I've added apps since installing Catalina and do not want them over written. Is there a way to go back to Mojave without over writing? Thx



No not directly. You can re-down load the apps your concerned about but don't mention by name. If these app are full of data you don't want to part with, then same applies, have a current back up.


Time machine creates recursive backups—enabling you to restore a specific file or the entire drive— from a certain point in time. Use Time Machine to restore deleted files or older files - Apple Support https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT209152


You can follow the steps fall back to Mojave from your backups. This will erase/delete/wipe out all data on the drive.



consider 3-2-1 Backup Strategy: three copies of your data, two different methods, and one offsite.


Boot clone https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-10081

How to use Time Machine to back up or restore your Mac: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201250

Use DiskUtility Restore feature https://support.apple.com/guide/disk-utility/restore-a-disk-dskutl14062/mac


Help w/going back to Mojave

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