Downgrading New MacBook OS

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Level 1

8 points

Downgrading New MacBook OS

I've just ordered a new MacBook Pro (16") to replace a 2013 MacBook Air running Catalina OS that I regularly back up using Time Machine mapped to a network-attached storage (NAS) drive. I run a set of audio engineering apps that haven't yet been updated by their developers to be compatible with Big Sur.

If I configure the new MacBook using Time Machine backup, will it automatically downgrade the OS to Catalina or am I stuck with Big Sur (as shipped)? I'm hoping I can start with Catalina and, when the app updates are available, go to Big Sur then.

Thanks for any guidance this community can provide.

MacBook Pro with Touch Bar

Posted on Nov 22, 2020 7:51 AM

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Answer 1

Key-Man Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 22, 2020 8:49 AM in response to BobTheFisherman

Hmmm...now I’m conflicted! I was hoping that rahulon12’s answer about configuring from a Catalina-based backup would work. In effect, this means that any apps not compatible with Big Sur will be useless on my new device — or at least may not work properly until the developers update them.

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Answer 2

rahulon12

Level 2

343 points

Nov 22, 2020 8:07 AM in response to Key-Man

As long as your Time Machine backup was created on Catalina, you can use it to downgrade to Catalina.

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Answer 3

Key-Man Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 22, 2020 8:11 AM in response to rahulon12

That’s what I’ve hoped. Yes, the backups have all been on Catalina. I just didn’t want to get off on the wrong foot with a virgin MacBook!

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Answer 4

Key-Man Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 22, 2020 8:58 AM in response to BobTheFisherman

Waves Audio (www.wavesaudio.com) produces a series of plug-ins that work with Avid ProTools (an audio engineering application). Waves recently emailed its users a heads-up to the 11/12/20 Big Sur release and cautioned NOT to upgrade to Big Sur yet, pending development of Waves’ own upgrades.

So I’ve held off and am running Catalina, but am concerned that, if I migrate the Waves apps over to the new MacBook shipped with Big Sur, I’ll set myself up for problems.

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Answer 5

Nov 22, 2020 9:02 AM in response to Key-Man

Key-Man wrote:

So I’ve held off and am running Catalina, but am concerned that, if I migrate the Waves apps over to the new MacBook shipped with Big Sur, I’ll set myself up for problems.

Well that's a given considering the makers of Wave apps have stated that their apps will not work with Big Sur. If you want to use their apps and their apps won't work with Big Sur then how to proceed seems obvious.

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Answer 6

Nov 22, 2020 8:44 AM in response to Key-Man

It has never been possible to downgrade a Mac to an OS version older than the OS that the computer shipped with.

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Answer 7

Nov 22, 2020 8:53 AM in response to Key-Man

What app that worked on Catalina are you expecting to not work on Big Sur?

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Downgrading New MacBook OS

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