Trying to revert to Mojave from Monterey

Question

Trying to revert to Mojave from Monterey

I have a 2018 MacBook Pro that came with Mojave. I backed up to Time Machine while still in Mojave (extended journaled).

I upgraded to Monterey 2 days ago not realizing that my 32-bit vsts and such would not work on it.

I’m trying to revert back to Mojave with all of my apps, files, and settings by restoring from Time Machine. It sat in “preparing to restore” for a while, so I’ve tried restarting the restore from Time Machine process. Now it has been sitting in “preparing to restore” for a couple of hours now.

I have been reading alot of conflicting info and guides from Apple and other sources, so now I am not sure what to do. Some guides say perform a fresh install then restore files from TM backup, or just restore everything, including reverting back to Mojave from TM backup, or create bootable drive and then use migration assistant, or don’t use migration assistant because that’ll make a mess, etc… Now I have completely confused myself.

I am just hoping to get back to Mojave from Monterey with all of my apps, settings, and files, ect. - Is it possible to return everything back with settings and preferences? I run music programs like Ableton and Arturia and know how finicky some of these can be - like how many times or how many devices you can download onto.

Sorry so long - trying to provide as much info as possible. Hoping somebody can help by explaining like I’m 5, because yes I might really be that stupid.

It is currently still saying “Preparing to restore”

MacBook Pro 15″, macOS 12.2

Posted on Feb 10, 2022 1:54 PM

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Answer 1

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PRP_53

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95,195 points

Feb 10, 2022 4:56 PM in response to studiodummies

The below will WIPE ALL DATA and there is No Recovery - Period.

To perform this action will require booting from a Bootable Installer.

This will have to be performed from a Qualifying Computer to run the version of macOS to be made on the Bootable Installer. Example : Bootable Installer of Mojave would have to be done on a computer that Qualifies to run Mojave.

Once that is done read on for preparing the Destination computer

>> Only works on Intel Based Apple Computers.

Extra Special Notation regarding the Touch ID equipped Apple Computer.

About Startup Security Utility and Must Enable from Recovery Mode the ability to boot from External Drive Before Attempting

1 - Shutdown computer and disconnect all external drive Except the newly created Bootable Installer.

2- Restart and immediately hold the OPTION key until the Startup Manager appears and choose the USB Drive.

3 - It will present options >> Disk Utilities >> View >> View ALL attached Drives.

4 - Choose the Upper Most Drive ( not the volumes indented and list below ).

5 - The drive normally is called Apple Media or Apple SSD - that is the drive to Erase and format as APFS with the GUID Partition Map. This applies to macOS 10.14 Mojave and above.

6 - Once that is done >> backup out of Disk Utilities and choose install macOS.

7 - Follow the prompts and it may automatically reboot several time.

8 - Upon a final reboot - Setup Assist will present with the newer version of macOS.