Apple Intelligence is now available on iPhone, iPad, and Mac!

📢 Newsroom Update

Apple unveils the new iMac with M4, supercharged by Apple Intelligence and available in fresh colors. Learn more >

📢 Newsroom Update

Apple introduces M4 Pro and M4 Max. Learn more >

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

How to downgrade MacOS in iMac?

Is there any OS downloadable version compatible with a late 2009 iMac? I tried restoring factory settings to my old computer, and now can't install an OS.


[Re-Titled by Moderator]


iMac, macOS 10.13

Posted on Jul 5, 2022 1:39 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jul 5, 2022 2:50 PM

A Late 2009 iMac can run up to macOS 10.13 High Sierra.


Apple has downloadable installers for macOS from 10.7 Lion through Big Sur OS 11 here:


How to get old versions of macOS - Apple Support


First, see if the recovery partition survived the wipe, noting the boot options listed here:


About macOS Recovery on Intel-based Mac computers - Apple Support


If there is no recovery option due to the wipe (seldom a good idea with Macs) then you still hav ethe option of creating a bootable installer from a flash drive:


How to create a bootable installer for macOS - Apple Support








6 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jul 5, 2022 2:50 PM in response to GammaMary

A Late 2009 iMac can run up to macOS 10.13 High Sierra.


Apple has downloadable installers for macOS from 10.7 Lion through Big Sur OS 11 here:


How to get old versions of macOS - Apple Support


First, see if the recovery partition survived the wipe, noting the boot options listed here:


About macOS Recovery on Intel-based Mac computers - Apple Support


If there is no recovery option due to the wipe (seldom a good idea with Macs) then you still hav ethe option of creating a bootable installer from a flash drive:


How to create a bootable installer for macOS - Apple Support








Jul 5, 2022 4:00 PM in response to Mal-S

Thanks. Unfortunately, when I erased the HD in Disk Utilities, something went wrong, so there is no current OS on the machine (?). I downloaded High Sierra onto a USB and I thought I had started the installation but I get a message that says “Could not create a pre lot volume for AFPS install”


Also, it appears there is no startup disk. Is there Anything I need to do about that?

How to downgrade MacOS in iMac?

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.