Has anyone done this successfully? I made it as far as creating the external booting volume but I get stuck when I go to run the catalina installer -- it can't find the right disk to install on and therefore won't let me go forward. Any ideas?
iMac Line (2012 and Later)
Hey there!
Good question. So it sounds like you created a bootable installer with Catalina, booted up from it, but when choosing a destination disk to install it to, nothing appears?
Did you already erase the main/internal hard drive? (Which is mandatory in this situation).
And if so, in Disk Utility, can you select View > Show All Devices, and day what shows under “Internal” from top to bottom and if any volumes are even greyed out/locked/uncounted?
Likewise, if you did have a Time Machine backup, you could restore from a backup that was done with Catalina, (Also erases the drive first), but I’m assuming since resorting to a bootable installed that’s not the case?
Cheers, hello to help out if I can.
Hey there!
Good question. So it sounds like you created a bootable installer with Catalina, booted up from it, but when choosing a destination disk to install it to, nothing appears?
Did you already erase the main/internal hard drive? (Which is mandatory in this situation).
And if so, in Disk Utility, can you select View > Show All Devices, and day what shows under “Internal” from top to bottom and if any volumes are even greyed out/locked/uncounted?
Likewise, if you did have a Time Machine backup, you could restore from a backup that was done with Catalina, (Also erases the drive first), but I’m assuming since resorting to a bootable installed that’s not the case?
Cheers, hello to help out if I can.
Another thing to add is, if you have trouble erasing/reinstalling Catalina from the bootable installer, (Unless M1 MAC, doesn’t sound like it).......
If you startup your Mac holding Shift Option Command R, erase the main disk, then go to Reinstall the OS, this would reinstall the OS that came stock with your Mac, so that’s also an option, (as long as you’ve had Sierra or later at some point I believe).
At that point, once the original OS is installed, just download Catalina and install it here:
How to get older versions of Mac OS:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211683
Likewise, if you’ve already erased the disk, and restarted, it’ll most likely boot to the original OS recovery mode despite the startup command, same thing, Reinstall the original OS, and upgrade to Catalina afterwards.
Erase an Intel based Mac:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211683
However, I believe bootable installers work great for downgrading, so you should be good just following the first steps said previously, just throwing all the options out there in case you run into any troubles, cheers.
Hi, yes this is exactly the situation! Thanks so much for responding to both of my issues lol.
I haven't erased anything yet cause I wasn't sure it would work but I can go ahead and do that to my computer today and see if it will work.
DiZoE - excellent work
Thanks, I’ve been there many times, as you, forgive the typos, auto correct, a blessing and a curse! Hope this helps @smm246!
If they follow - 100% work
Sounds good, good luck!
Downgrading big sur back to catalina
