4 Easy Ways To Downgrade macOS Tahoe To Sequoia [No Data Loss]

Apple just released macOS Tahoe, and like many Mac users, you may have jumped on the update right away to explore all the new features. But if you’re reading this, chances are things didn’t go as smoothly as expected.

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How to Downgrade macOS Tahoe to Sequoia Easily and Safely

Maybe your essential apps aren’t compatible yet, your Mac feels slower, or you’re running into unexpected bugs. You might be wondering how to downgrade MacBook OS. Fret not! In this blog post, we’ll show you how to downgrade macOS Tahoe to Sequoia in 4 different ways.

Why Downgrade from macOS Tahoe to an Older Version?

There are several possible reasons why you might want to downgrade from macOS Tahoe to Sequoia or another more stable version:

App compatibility issues
System instability or bugs
Slower performance
Missing features or UI preferences

If you’re facing any of these problems, don’t worry — downgrading is often possible, and we’ll walk you through it step by step.

Before You Downgrade from macOS Tahoe

Downgrading macOS means wiping your current system completely, so backing up all your important files is a must. You can use Time Machine, iCloud, or any external backup method you prefer. Many Mac users skip this important step and end up losing valuable data.

But what if you forgot to back up or the backup didn’t work as expected? That’s where professional Mac data recovery tools like 4DDiG come in. With just a few clicks, it can recover missing/corrupted/deleted/formatted files from various storage devices. This powerful tool delivers outstanding results in a range of data loss scenarios, such as system downgrades, hardware malfunctions, formatting errors, virus infections, and more.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to recover lost data on Mac using 4DDiG:

Step 1: Begin with downloading and install the tool on your Mac. Open 4DDiG and you’ll see a list of available drives. Choose the drive or partition where you lost data.

Step 2: Click the “Scan” button to perform a deep scan on the selected disk. 4DDiG supports tons of file types, like documents, photos, videos, and more.

Step 3: Once the scan is complete, preview and select the files you need. Proceed by clicking the “Recover” button in the lower right corner.

Once your data is safely recovered, you’re good to go! In the next section, let’s take a closer look at how to downgrade macOS Tahoe to Sequoia.

How to Downgrade from Tahoe to Sequoia?

Solution 1: Utilize Time Machine

Time Duration	20-30 Minutes
Difficulty	Easy
Tools	A Time Machine backup created before upgrading to macOS Tahoe
Limitations	Everything after the backup point will be lost unless separately saved

There’s no doubt that using a Time Machine backup is the safest and easiest macOS Tahoe downgrade method. Compared with other backup solutions, Time Machine is able to create full snapshots of your entire system, including apps, settings, and personal files. Here’s a guide on how to downgrade MacBook OS with the aid of Time Machine:

Step 1: Plug in the external drive where your Time Machine backups are stored. Then, restart your Mac into Recovery Mode.

For Intel Macs: Restart and immediately hold down Command + R until the Apple logo appears.
For Apple Silicon Macs: Shut down your Mac, then press and hold the power button until you see “Loading startup options.” Click “Options” and then “Continue.”

Step 2: In the macOS Utilities window, pick the “Disk Utility” option.

Step 3: Choose your startup disk. Next, click “Erase,” choose APFS or Mac OS Extended (Journaled), and confirm.

Step 4: Go back to the macOS Utilities window. Then, select “Restore From Time Machine Backup.”

Step 5: Follow the prompts, choose the correct backup date (before upgrading to Tahoe), and let your Mac do the rest.

Solution 2: Create a Bootable Installer

Time Duration	40-60 Minutes
Skill Level	Medium
Tools	A USB drive with at least 32GB of storage; Disk Utility
Limitations	This method requires some technical knowledge, such as running terminal commands and using Disk Utility.

If backups aren’t really your thing, then creating a bootable USB is the next macOS Tahoe downgrade method you should try. To do so:

Step 1: Open the App Store, search for macOS Sequoia, and download the full installer. It will appear in your Applications folder once done.

Step 2: Plug in your pen drive and open Disk Utility to format it as Mac OS Extended (Journaled) with GUID Partition Map.

Note: Name the drive “SequoiaInstaller” (or whatever name you like, but remember this for the Terminal command)

Step 3: Open Terminal. Then, type and run the following command:

sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Sequoia.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia –volume /Volumes/SequoiaInstaller

Step 4: Wait for the process to complete. After that, restart Mac and boot into startup options.

Step 5: Select the USB installer drive when the boot menu appears. Press “Enter.”

Step 6: When the macOS installer loads, it’s recommended to open Disk Utility first and erase your Mac’s internal drive (format as APFS) to ensure a clean installation.

Step 7: Go back the Utilities window, pick “Install macOS Sequoia,” and follow the prompts to complete the installation.

Solution 3: Use Internet Recovery

Time Duration	30-35 Minutes
Skill Level	Easy
Tools	A stable internet connection
Limitations	You can’t install a version earlier than what your Mac originally shipped with

Another possible way to downgrade from Tahoe to Sequoia is by using Internet Recovery. It is a built-in feature that allows you reinstall macOS directly from Apple’s recovery servers. However, keep in mind that Internet Recovery doesn’t always install Sequoia; instead, it will install the version of macOS that originally came with your Mac, which could be Ventura, Monterey, or an earlier version. Follow the given steps to revert Mac to previous OS:

Step 1: Start by putting your Mac into Recovery Mode. Once the macOS Utilities screen appears, tap “Reinstall macOS,” then click “Continue.”

Step 2: Follow the onscreen instructions. After installation finishes, your Mac will be running the older macOS version.

Bonus Tip: Create a New Volume to Downgrade macOS Tahoe

Is there a way to downgrade from macOS Tahoe to Sequoia without wiping your hard drive? Yes, the answer is positive. However, this method is quite technical and may not work with all beta versions. To aviod potential data loss, we strongly recommend creating a full backup and using a bootable USB installer to downgrade your system safely.

If you still want to proceed, follow the steps below:

Step 1: Start by downloading macOS Sequoia Installer from the Apple store.

Step 2: Open Disk Utility. In the menu bar, click “View” > “Show All Devices.” From the sidebar, select your main disk container.

Step 3: Click the plus (+) button to add a new volume. Name the volume something like Sequoia, leave the format as APFS, and click “Add.”

Step 4: Go to your Applications folder and open the macOS Sequoia installer. Click “Continue,” then Agree to the terms and conditions.

Step 5: When prompted to select a destination, choose the new volume you just created (not your current Tahoe volume).

Step 6: Your Mac will reboot and automatically start the installation process.

Step 7: Once you’re booted into Sequoia, you can bring over your personal files from the Tahoe volume. Open Finder, locate your old system volume, and manually copy folders like Documents into your new Sequoia environment.

Conclusion

With the right methods and tools, it’s totally doable to downgrade from Tahoe to Sequoia without losing data. Whether you’ve got a Time Machine backup, prefer using a bootable installer, or want to try Internet Recovery, there’s a solution that fits your situation.

Just remember: the downgrade process typically involves erasing or modifying your disk, so backing up your data beforehand is absolutely essential. If anything goes wrong, tools like 4DDiG Mac Data Recovery can help rescue your lost files.