sweenex Author

Level 1

32 points

Mojave Downgrade to High Sierra…

Hi!

I Installed Mojave but I would like to downgrade as some apps constantly quit.

The problem is that I didn't backup nor use Time Machine before I installed Mojave.

I would like to go back to High Sierra, how would I do that without using Time Machine nor a back up?

Nope! I don't have an external drive either to use to downgrade.

How on earth can I go back to High Sierra?

Thank you.

MacBook Pro with Retina display, macOS High Sierra (10.13), Mac early 2013

Posted on Jun 29, 2018 10:58 PM

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29 replies

sweenex Author

Level 1

32 points

Jul 10, 2018 3:57 PM in response to Encryptor5000

Im in step 6.

I dragged and dropped the folder backup user name into the second window, then after it was done(about 15BG) I clicked the back arrow on both finder window and went to application folder in both. BUT it looks like both windows have the default applications. here is a picture. DO I need to restart my Mac perhaps? I think I'm doing this wrong, but I think I got it now. in the first window I needed to go to the actual backup application then open that folder then drag and drop any application(except the ones graded out) that I want to the second window, I think thats right?

sweenex Author

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Jul 10, 2018 5:50 PM in response to Encryptor5000

It looks like all went well.

Now I need to delete the temp account.

I won't need the temporary home folder for the temporary account correct?

Also I need to delete the partition to gain back the 125GB, I will follow the steps you have given.

sweenex Author

Level 1

32 points

Jul 11, 2018 3:34 PM in response to Encryptor5000

Thank you so so much, I appreciate your time, I couldn't done it without you. 🙂 and sorry for all the questions, I didn't wanted to make any mistakes. This was driving me crazy but finally all is done.

But lesson learned. I could have avoided this by just backing up my Mac before I went to Beta. Usually Apple's betas are stable but this beta made some Apps quit unexpectedly and most of my daily safari extension did not work/incomparable(due to the new privacy with Mojave) Most likely I will just use High Sierra, I may not upgrade to Mojave.

I deleted the temp administrator including the home folder successfully. the only thing that was left was the name of the temporary account under devices in the finder window, but I just went to "sharing" in system preference and I just changed the old temporary name to my new name. I hope thats correct?

I also successfully deleted the backup partition, but I had a panic for a second, when it started it, it said "MacOS could't be downloaded" and the screen was all black for a min (thought I did something wrong) but then it gave me an option to start, and then it started normally 🙂 So I think everything was successfully done. it looks like I got back the 125BG so now its back to 250BG.

I really don't know how to thank you. I really appreciate your time Encryptor5000 🙂

Thank you so much, you have been so helpful. If I could return a favour just let me know.

sweenex Author

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Jun 30, 2018 9:18 PM in response to Lanny

Thank you, and I don't usually post here. I thought it was the right place.

sweenex Author

Level 1

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Jul 4, 2018 10:25 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Thank you. Can you please elaborate more on this “You can save about 20GB by excluding backing up MacOS itself, which you don't want anyway.”

Thanks

sweenex Author

Level 1

32 points

Jul 8, 2018 10:57 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Thank you

sweenex Author

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Jul 8, 2018 11:29 PM in response to sweenex

sweenex Author

Level 1

32 points

Jul 8, 2018 11:29 PM in response to sweenex

…Encryptor5000Just to be clear I'm not creating a bootable installer, I will follow your last instructions.

sweenex Author

Level 1

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Jul 9, 2018 10:58 AM in response to Encryptor5000

Ok I'm on step 12

i think there is a problem!

it says the selected source can't be migrated, it says Mac requires an upgrade...

what should I do now?

Please let me know.

sweenex Author

Level 1

32 points

Jul 9, 2018 11:19 AM in response to sweenex

Today I will be around from 7PM onwards I know this is the time you usually reply. I will reply back right away, I just want to get it over with, hopefully you are around this time. Thank you.

sweenex Author

Level 1

32 points

Jul 10, 2018 3:12 PM in response to Encryptor5000

Thank you!

Ok will do that a right now

After I'm done. How would I get back the other 125BG from the back up?

Please let me know. Thank you.

Jul 11, 2018 2:44 PM in response to sweenex

You probably don't need the temporary administrator's home folder, but if you delete it, you'll irreversibly lose everything that you saved to that user account.

Jun 30, 2018 7:00 AM in response to sweenex

Hi sweenex,

Because you haven't made a backup before installing the macOS Mojave Beta (whether you installed the developer beta or the public beta), you'll need to purchase an external drive that is the same size as or larger than the amount of used space on your Mac. To check how much space you've used on your Mac, go to one of these places:

Apple menu, then click About this Mac. When the product window appears, select Storage.
Disk Utility, which is located in /Applications/Utilities. When Disk Utility is open, select your startup disk (usually named Macintosh HD) to see how much space has been used on your Mac.

Note: If your used space on your Mac is less than half of the total amount of space on your drive, you might not need to buy an external drive. Please let me know if this is the case.

Once you've purchased your external drive, follow these steps to safely retain your data while reverting back to macOS High Sierra:

Open Disk Utility and click on the View button, then select Show All Devices. Then, select the top level of your external drive and click Erase. Format as follows:
1. Name: Whatever you want, but don't leave it as Untitled
2. Format: Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
3. Scheme: GUID Partition Table or GUID Partition Map
Make a Time Machine backup. To do so, open System Preferences and select Time Machine. Check the box next to "Back Up Automatically", which will prompt you to select your external drive. Wait for the first backup to be finished before continuing.
When the first backup has been successfully made, eject your external drive. Then, restart your Mac while holding down Option-Command-R. This will boot Recovery Mode over the Internet, which will offer to install the latest version of macOS released to the public: High Sierra.
When the main Utilities window appears, select Disk Utility and continue. Do not connect your external drive.
Click on View, then select Show All Devices. Select the top level of your internal drive, then click Erase. Format as follows:
1. Name: Whatever you want, but the default is Macintosh HD
2. Format: Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
3. Scheme: GUID Partition Table or GUID Partition Map
4. WARNING: This step destroys all of the data on your Mac. If you question whether the first Time Machine backup was made successfully, stop here and make a new backup by restarting your Mac normally.
Click Erase. When the erasure is complete, quit Disk Utility.
The main Utilities window should reappear. Select Install macOS, and verify that it wants to install macOS High Sierra. Progress through the installer until the installation has started. Then, wait for it to complete.
When Setup Assistant appears, progress through the Assistant until you're prompted to transfer data. Connect your external drive and select "From another Mac, Time Machine backup, or startup disk". You'll be guided through the data restoration process.
If everything is successful, you should either end up at the login window or at the desktop screen.

Hope this helps!

Jul 1, 2018 7:19 PM in response to Encryptor5000

Your procedure looks good on a quick read.

I suggest you avoid encryption for any of this -- it just makes this more complicated. Encrypt it later if you need to.

Disk Utility has a Volume-View and a Device-View. Volume-View is for people who have no business using Disk Utility for anything, and Device-View is the one you need to do anything, Device-View shows the devices by Hardware-name.

The first backup with Time machine can take all afternoon, mostly because it must first compute (not just look up) what files have changed. You can save about 20GB by excluding backing up MacOS itself, which you don't want anyway.

You do not need to, but I prefer to, make a USB-stick Installer ahead, to avoid the possibility that the download won't work quite right and I will have to do it again and again. You need the working MacOS to do that for you, and an 8GB USB-stick.

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