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Installing Sierra 10.12 to Big Sur External Drive - "This version cannot be installed on this computer."

I'm running Big Sur 11.0.1 on a 2019 iMac trying to install Sierra on an external Drive. I formatted the drive APFS, downloaded the installer from Apple but when the package is executed, a message indicating "a program will be run to determine if the software can be installed." Ok, run that then "This version cannot be installed on this computer." I don't want to install it on this computer, I'm installing on an external drive. How do I get past this?

Posted on Dec 9, 2020 9:04 AM

Best reply

Luis Sequeira1

Level 9

64,670 points

Posted on Dec 9, 2020 9:07 AM

A 2019 mac cannot run Sierra.

As a general rule macs can’t run OS versions older than what was current when that model was released.

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Installing Sierra 10.12 to Big Sur External Drive - "This version cannot be installed on this computer."

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