Ventura not compatible with new M3 Macbook Pro?!

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Level 1

4 points

Ventura not compatible with new M3 Macbook Pro?!

I have a brand new 14" Macbook Pro M3 Max and I'd like to downgrade the OS to Ventura (it shipped with Sonoma). I have to do this a lot because the audio software I use in my job is usually slow to update compatibility. So I have experience doing this previously with quite a few models of Mac computers.

Typically, it is annoying but possible. Download the installer of the previous macOS from the App Store and create and installer USB stick using the instructions here:

Create a bootable installer - Apple Support

However, after I boot this macbook with the USB stick I am met with the message that 'Ventura is not compatible with this computer.' What gives? It is listed as compatible here:

macOS Ventura is compatible with these computers - Apple Support

Has anyone else tried this??

Do I really have to return this and buy refurbished? Am I missing something?

MacBook Pro (M3 Max, 2023)

Posted on Dec 3, 2023 3:34 PM

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Answer 1

dialabrain

Level 10

122,735 points

Dec 3, 2023 8:55 PM in response to tophboogie

tophboogie wrote:

However, after I boot this macbook with the USB stick I am met with the message that 'Ventura is not compatible with this computer.' What gives? It is listed as compatible here:

macOS Ventura is compatible with these computers - Apple Support

Just to clarify, the only 2023 MacBook Pros listed on the page have M2 CPUs.

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Answer 2

dialabrain

Level 10

122,735 points

Dec 8, 2023 9:39 PM in response to tophboogie

tophboogie wrote:

However, after I boot this macbook with the USB stick I am met with the message that 'Ventura is not compatible with this computer.' What gives? It is listed as compatible here:

macOS Ventura is compatible with these computers - Apple Support

M2 MBPs are compatible. M3 MBPs are not.

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Answer 3

BobHarris

Level 9

53,459 points

Dec 3, 2023 3:46 PM in response to tophboogie

The general rule is that the macOS version that ships with a newly introduced Mac, is the oldest macOS version that will run on that Mac.

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Answer 4

Feb 14, 2024 9:07 PM in response to tophboogie

I bought macbook pro m3 base variant and it was shipped with ventura by default.

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Answer 5

tophboogie Author

Level 1

4 points

Dec 3, 2023 3:57 PM in response to BobHarris

Thanks for your reply - I have heard that general rule but for years I have been doing it without any issue. It's also a bit annoying because the reports were that the first few batches of these computers to go out were shipping with Ventura! Most people were annoyed by this, ha.

https://appleinsider.com/articles/23/11/07/some-new-macbook-pros-are-stuck-on-macos-ventura----but-theres-a-fix

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Answer 6

tophboogie Author

Level 1

4 points

Dec 3, 2023 3:56 PM in response to Niel

Ah I see, thank you for your reply.

So if I return this Max model and buy the M3 (not pro or max) I will be able to run Ventura on that machine?

Is there a workaround for installing the drivers on Ventura? I'm fairly savvy if you point me in the right direction.

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Answer 7

etresoft

Level 8

47,102 points

Dec 3, 2023 6:22 PM in response to tophboogie

tophboogie wrote:

I have heard that general rule but for years I have been doing it without any issue.

It sounds like you've been extremely lucky.

It's also a bit annoying because the reports were that the first few batches of these computers to go out were shipping with Ventura!

That's also typical. Brand new models usually have a custom version of the current software. It may even have the same version number, like 13.6.2, but it's different. You have to look at the build number to see. The next update, whatever that is, will include support for that model.

So if I return this Max model and buy the M3 (not pro or max) I will be able to run Ventura on that machine?

No way to tell.

Is there a workaround for installing the drivers on Ventura? I'm fairly savvy if you point me in the right direction.

No. The system software is stored on a separate, read-only, cryptographically verified volume snapshot. You wouldn't be able to change it unless you had access to Apple's own top-secret encryption keys.

I recommend making better software choices. Sonoma was released six months ago. The changes between Ventura and Sonoma were not that great.

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