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MACOS - Catalina - Not able to download installer

After facing wifi issue in Big Sur update, decided to go with MAC OS Catalina. Followed How to create a bootable installer for macOS - Apple Support this link but not able to download catalina.app installer.



Please help.

Posted on Dec 17, 2020 12:23 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Dec 17, 2020 3:02 AM

Ok yeah sorry. Regarding Big Sur have you updated to the latest version 11.1

some bugs are supposed to be resolved, perhaps WiFi.


To go back to Catalina you need to make a full back up of your mac.

When you have downloaded Install macOS Catalina.app you then need to make a

bootable USB (16GB stick or larger)) installer.

How to create a bootable installer for macOS – Apple Support


Having created the bootable USB installer, insert it directly to your mac

restart the mac while pressing and holding the option/ alt key

after a couple of minutes you will see the Startup Manager

select the USB press Return.

From the Utilities panel, open Disk Utility, click View in the menubar

select Show All Devices.

Highlight the Disk in the left hand column, not any of the indented Volumes.

Click Erase

Give the Disk a name

Format: APFS

Scheme: GUID Partition Map

Click Erase

When Done quit Disk Utility.


Select Install OS press Continue the installer should start

follow the prompts.


When done you can then restore your personal info from the back up you made earlier.

Do not restore any items from System folders or Library folders as this will put Big Sur

back on your mac.

Do not restore apps as you will restore Big Sur versions which will not work on Catalina.

So only your personal data.


Any files that were created or edited in Big Sur versions of apps may not be backwards

compatible with the Catalina version of those apps.

7 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Dec 17, 2020 3:02 AM in response to pbc_apple

Ok yeah sorry. Regarding Big Sur have you updated to the latest version 11.1

some bugs are supposed to be resolved, perhaps WiFi.


To go back to Catalina you need to make a full back up of your mac.

When you have downloaded Install macOS Catalina.app you then need to make a

bootable USB (16GB stick or larger)) installer.

How to create a bootable installer for macOS – Apple Support


Having created the bootable USB installer, insert it directly to your mac

restart the mac while pressing and holding the option/ alt key

after a couple of minutes you will see the Startup Manager

select the USB press Return.

From the Utilities panel, open Disk Utility, click View in the menubar

select Show All Devices.

Highlight the Disk in the left hand column, not any of the indented Volumes.

Click Erase

Give the Disk a name

Format: APFS

Scheme: GUID Partition Map

Click Erase

When Done quit Disk Utility.


Select Install OS press Continue the installer should start

follow the prompts.


When done you can then restore your personal info from the back up you made earlier.

Do not restore any items from System folders or Library folders as this will put Big Sur

back on your mac.

Do not restore apps as you will restore Big Sur versions which will not work on Catalina.

So only your personal data.


Any files that were created or edited in Big Sur versions of apps may not be backwards

compatible with the Catalina version of those apps.

Dec 17, 2020 12:59 AM in response to pbc_apple

If you were facing a WiFi issue downloading Big Sur what makes you think it will be any better with Catalina.

Whenever downloading from Apples Servers it is best to use cabled connection to you router.

Do not use the mac while it is downloading and do no use any devices that share the same internet connection.

If you can only use WiFi then move your mac as close to the router as possible.


Download Catalina from this link, remember to use your Safari browser.

How to get old versions of macOS – Apple Support


Go to Check Compatibility to see if your mac qualifies for the OS upgrade you want.


Then go to the Download OS section and click on macOS Catalina.


Before upgrading make a full back up of your Mac.


Check that third party apps you use have updates available for the new OS.

https://roaringapps.com

Check that your printers/ scanners etc have updated drivers and software available for the new OS.


Connect your mac to your router via cable rather than rely on WiFi.

Do not use your mac while it is downloading

and do not use any other devices that share the same internet connection.


If the App Store says ‘Open’ then it is detecting a previous download of the install app

go to the Applications folder locate Install macOS Catalina.app.

Move it to the Trash, empty the Trash.

Restart, click on the link again, the App Store should say ‘Get' or 'Download'.


If you are considering upgrading to Catalina or Big Sur be warned they do not support 32bit apps.

Your Mac is probably running 32bit apps and these will need to be updated to 64bit apps,

some updates may be free, some may be paid. Use this app to discover which apps you have

are 32bit, https://www.stclairsoft.com/Go64/ then contact the developers of the software to see

if they are providing 64bit updates or alternatives.

Jan 8, 2021 6:13 AM in response to Eau Rouge

Hi

I am running Big Sur, but I have an older Mac mini I need to get on Catalina, but I can't seem to be able to download what I need from the site. When I press the link to get Catalina it is opening App Store and I can press "Get" then the system update is opening and says Update cannot be found?


I tried creating a Big Sur bootable installer but that does not seem to work on the old Mac mini 2012 - any ideas?

MACOS - Catalina - Not able to download installer

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