How to downgrade OSX from macOS Sierra and/or El Capitan?

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Level 1

21 points

How to downgrade OSX from macOS Sierra and/or El Capitan?

Hi everyone,

I have a old Macbook Pro Late 2011 13" with 8gb RAM and a 2.4 i5 proc. I would like to install macOS Sierra, at the moment I have Mavericks installed. I always do clean installs.

I wanted to know, if I install macOS Sierra, and I figure I don't like it or it's slowing down my mac a lot, can I downgrade back to Mavericks ? If yes how please ? Using the install USB key I have created to install macOS Sierra ? Using a Time Machine+Time Capsule ?

Is it possible to downgrade from El Capitan too if I decide to install El Capitan instead of macOS Sierra ?

Thanks for your help !

MacBook Pro (13-inch Late 2011), OS X Mavericks (10.9.4)

Posted on Sep 22, 2016 4:22 AM

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Answer 1

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,329 points

Sep 23, 2016 4:28 AM in response to smashr

Since you have installed Mavericks on your 2011 MBP, it should be available in your App store account.

Use these guidelines for installing and older OSX:

https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-1948

https://support.apple.com/kb/PH21950?locale=en_US&viewlocale=en_US

Ciao.

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Answer 2

dwb

Level 7

33,316 points

Sep 23, 2016 4:28 AM in response to smashr

The quick and easy answer is yes, you can always revert to an older OS if you back up the computer before you upgrade. What I'd do is this: backup with TimeMachine to an external drive before you download and install Sierra. (You should always do this even if you know you are going to love the new OS on your computer. Bad things can happen when you upgrade even though they usually don't.) Disconnect the backup drive and turn if off.

Now upgrade and see how you like it. By the way, give it a day or two to settle in. A new OS upgrade often feels slow at first because Spotlight has to reindex the drive and changes make you work slower too sometimes.

If you decide you don't like it reboot into recovery mode. Connect the backup drive. Erase the hard drive and then restore from the backup. Note: this isn't the only way to do it but it is probably the easiest way for non-tech people to do it. The one drawback is the potential to lose some work you might have done in the new OS. So if you did some school work or added some recipes you'll want to back those up to a flash drive before you restore and then copy them back afterwards.

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Answer 3

smashr Author

Level 1

21 points

Sep 23, 2016 4:28 AM in response to OGELTHORPE

Thanks both of you for your help however I would like to ask you another question.

What if I create a bootable USB to install macOS Sierra from. I also have one bootable USB that I kept from when I installed Mavericks.

Can I downgrade using the bootable USB of Mavericks after installing Sierra ? If I do that, will I end up with a Mavericks OS but a Recovery HD that's going to be from Sierra ? The bootable USB i'm referring to is the one created using this process: Create a bootable installer for OS X - Apple Support

Thanks a lot !

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Answer 4

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,329 points

Sep 23, 2016 4:52 AM in response to smashr

I have made USB installers for all OSXs from Lion to El Capitan so that I am not dependent upon Internet access or the Apple servers being available. I encourage you to make a Sierra installer for those reasons (I will be doing the same).

You can use your Mavericks installer, but you will first have to erase the HDD (or volume) that has Sierra on it.

Ciao.

Addendum: Remember, erasing a HDD deletes all data off of it so have a backup on hand.

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Answer 5

smashr Author

Level 1

21 points

Sep 23, 2016 5:31 AM in response to OGELTHORPE

OGELTHORPE wrote:

You can use your Mavericks installer, but you will first have to erase the HDD (or volume) that has Sierra on it.

Thanks for getting back to me, however, if you revert back using the Mavericks installer, how is it going to affect the Recovery HD on the mac, since this recovery HD helps you restore the currently installed OS when you use it, won't using the Mavericks installer to revert back cause me to have a: "Mavericks OS" partition + "Sierra" Recovery HD ?

Thanks !

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Answer 6

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,329 points

Sep 23, 2016 8:12 AM in response to smashr

When you erase the disk/volume, the prior OSX and the recovery partition is deleted. The installer will install presumably Mavericks OSX, and a replacement recovery partition. There will be no Sierra recovery partition.

Ciao.

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