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How to retrograde Catalina back to High Sierra

I have an iMac from 2012 running Catalina and I want to be able to use this imac as a second monitor for my new MacBook Air M1. Unfortunately... although the hardware supports it, Apple removed the ability to use it. Apparently this is no longer possible in OS later than High Sierra.


As Apple does not appear to be going to re-install the feature, I want to downgrade the iMac 27" to be able to use the beautiful monitor.


So please inform me the steps I need to downgrade.



Posted on Feb 20, 2022 3:51 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Feb 20, 2022 3:56 AM

Target display mode will not work with Macs introduced after 2019 Use your iMac as a display with target display mode - Apple Support

If you don't use the iMac sell it and buy a decent stand alone display.

4 replies

Feb 20, 2022 7:22 AM in response to Tjay53

Since reading compression doesn't seem to be a strong suit of yours I've bolded some pertinent information for you from the link I posted.

iMac models introduced in 2011, 2012, 2013, and mid 2014

To use any of these iMac models as an external display:

  • The iMac used as a display must have macOS High Sierra or earlier installed.
  • The other Mac that you're connecting it to must have been introduced in 2019 or earlier and have macOS Catalina or earlier installed.
  • The cable connecting the two Mac computers must be a Thunderbolt  or Thunderbolt 2  cable.


Good luck with your issue.


Feb 20, 2022 7:50 AM in response to Tjay53

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 High Sierra would have to be done on a computer that Qualifies to run High Sierra


Understand this will WIPE ALL DATA and there is No Recovery - Period.


Once that is done read on for preparing the Destination computer 


>> Only works on Intel Based Apple Computers.


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 - Formatting for macOS 10.13 High Sierra and below requires HFS Journaled with the GUID Partition Map


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.

How to retrograde Catalina back to High Sierra

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