How to Downgrade from Monterey to Big Sur [macOS 12 to 11]

Prerequisite: Before Downgrading

Have you experienced rapid battery drain or issues with third-party apps after upgrading to Monterey? These are common grievances among users! Hence, before the new macOS becomes entirely reliable, downgrading from Monterey to Big Sur might be your best bet.

It's understandable that you installed the macOS 12 Monterey software to enjoy the new operating system features. But all you got is lagging and network connectivity issues! What should you do in such a scenario? How to downgrade from Monterey to Big Sur? Before jumping on to the solutions for downgrading macOS Monterey, users can try the following major fixes:

• Create a backup. This is a basic step to ensure that documents, files, and folders you build while using the Beta won't be lost. You can upload these files to a cloud service like iCloud or transfer them to an external drive for safekeeping.
• Check your Mac's settings. To view your Mac's basics, choose Apple menu > About This Mac. You can also access this information in the General settings, where you can see more details, such as warranty coverage and service status, and create a detailed system report.
• Enable booting from an external drive. You may want to allow booting from an external drive. This could be necessary on a MacBook Pro, Mac Mini, or MacBook Air.

If you're still unsure what downgrading entails, read more about the differences between macOS Big Sur and Monterey.

2023 Comparison: macOS Monterey vs Big Sur

Are you planning to upgrade your macOS to Monterey? What are the main differences between macOS Big Sur and Monterey?

Next, read on to find out how you can quickly downgrade macOS version in three easy steps.

Downgrade from Monterey to Big Sur using a bootable USB

Was your MacBook pre-installed with Big Sur? If so, you can use the Internet Recovery method to go back to Big Sur. Here's how to downgrade Monterey to Big Sur using a bootable USB drive and create a bootable USB on Mac:

Step 1. You'll need a USB drive, preferably one with a USB-C connector. If you have a USB drive without USB-C, you might need an adapter to convert it. Regardless of the format, it should be at least 16 GB in size, or more.

Step 2: Install macOS Big Sur.

Step 3: Click the Spotlight icon and search for the Mac Terminal.

4. Type sudo in the terminal window, and press Space.

Step 5: Control-click the installed copy of Big Sur in the Finder window and choose Show Package Contents.

6. Next, open the “Contents” folder, and then select the “Resources” folder.

Step 7: Find createinstallmedia and drag it into the Terminal window. The rest of the path will autocomplete:

Drag the Create Install Media icon onto the Terminal window

Step 8: Click on the Finder icon, choose “Go” from the top menu, and then select “Go to Folder.”

Step 9: Type /Volumes in the search field and press Return.

If you haven't already, plug in your USB device, which should appear in the “Finder” window. Dragging the USB drive to the Terminal app window will automatically fill in the rest of the path for you.

Drag the USB drive into the Terminal window.

After launching the Terminal on your Mac, you should do the following to begin the downgrade process:

Press the Enter key.

Step 2: Type your password, and press Enter.

Step 3: Type Y and press Enter.

If the terminal needs access to your files, click Allow.

It will begin the process of downgrading from Monterey to Big Sur. Before copying the Big Sur installer files, it will automatically delete the files from the USB drive.

If you prefer video tutorials, try the video guide:

• 00: 08 - Download the Big Sur installer from the Mac App Store
• 00: 52 - How to create a bootable drive
• 01: 54 - How to install Big Sur on an Intel Mac
• 02: 13 - How to install macOS Big Sur on an M1 Mac

How to Downgrade from macOS Monterey Using Time Machine If you've upgraded to macOS Monterey and find it incompatible with your device or encounter issues, you can use a Time Machine backup to revert to a previous macOS version. Here's a step-by-step guide: 1. **Ensure you have a valid Time Machine backup:** Before upgrading to Monterey, make sure your Mac is connected to a Time Machine backup drive and that the latest backup has been completed. 2. **Boot into Recovery Mode:** - For Macs with Touch ID, press and quickly release the power button, then immediately hold down Command + R until you see the Apple logo. - For Macs without Touch ID, press and hold both the Power button and Command + R keys until you see the Apple logo. 3. **Select "Disk Utility":** In the Recovery window, click the "Disk Utility" icon, then click "Continue." 4. **Verify and repair the startup disk:** In Disk Utility, select your startup disk (usually named "Macintosh HD") and click "Verify Disk" or "Verify Disk Permissions." If any issues appear, click "Repair Disk" or "Repair Disk Permissions." 5. **Exit "Disk Utility":** After verification and repair, click "Disk Utility" in the top-left corner > "Quit Disk Utility." 6. **Restore from Time Machine:** Back in the Recovery window, choose "Restore from Time Machine Backup," then click "Continue." 7. **Select a backup:** Connect your Time Machine backup drive and locate a backup from before you upgraded to Monterey in the timeline. Click on that backup, then click "Restore." 8. **Wait for the restoration process to complete:** The process may take several hours depending on the size of the backup. Do not disconnect power or turn off your Mac during this time. 9. **Restart your Mac:** Once the restoration is finished, your Mac will automatically restart, running the macOS version you selected. Please note that downgrading might affect some applications and settings, as they might be incompatible with the new macOS version. Consider checking app compatibility before reverting to an older version.

One of the easiest ways to install an older version of macOS, such as Big Sur, is by using Time Machine backups. To downgrade from macOS Monterey using a Time Machine backup, follow these steps:

Step 1: Connect the Time Machine backup disk, and then turn off or wake your Mac.

Step 2. For Intel Macs, press and hold Cmd + R to enter Recovery Mode. On newer Apple Silicon Macs, like the M1 and M2 models, you'll need to press and hold the power button until you see the "Load Boot Options" text. On the next screen, select "Options" to start in Recovery Mode.

When the Utilities window appears, choose Reinstall macOS, then click Continue.

Step 4: On the next screen, select “Continue” again.

Step 5: Choose the source for the restore. This should be the backup drive that you connected earlier.

Step 6: Choose the backup you want to restore. You can now see which version of macOS was used to create that backup.

Step 7: Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the reinstallation, and then restore your files from the Time Machine backup.

Downgrade from Monterey and install Big Sur in macOS Recovery

Yes, you can downgrade to Big Sur in the Recovery macOS. Here are the detailed steps to install macOS Big Sur:

If your Mac is already running macOS Big Sur, follow these steps:

Step 1: Turn off your MacBook, then press and hold Shift, Option, Command, and R keys to restart it.

Step 2. This will boot your Mac into Recovery Mode, from where you can select Reinstall macOS Big Sur in the OS X Utilities window.

Step 3: Follow the on-screen instructions to reinstall macOS 11 Big Sur on your MacBook.

If any of these methods helped you downgrade from Monterey to Big Sur, share this on social media – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and so on!

How to Recover Lost Data When Downgrading macOS

If you have created a data backup on iCloud or Time Machine, it is necessary to recover deleted files from Mac from the backup. However, if you haven't made any data backups but wish to recover available data from your Mac before erasing the hard drive, the recovery is also possible.

A professional tool like the Mac Data Recovery Wizard can assist you in retrieving all your lost data. It is designed to recover data from file system errors, failures, and accidental deletions. The software's intuitive design enables even inexperienced users to swiftly restore deleted files. Moreover, it is a powerful yet user-friendly data recovery software that supports the recovery of various file types, offering different features such as:

• Recover Files from Mac Trash: Retrieve data lost due to accidental deletion and from the Trash.
• Solve various complex data loss scenarios, recovering videos, pictures, documents, music files, and emails.
• Create disk images of damaged or fragile hard drives for data protection and quick recovery.
• Recover data from deleted Mac partitions.

In short, Data Recovery Wizard for Mac is the best data recovery solution for every business and service provider. Download it now and follow the steps to get your data back:

Step 1: Search for the Lost File

On macOS Sierra, High Sierra, Mojave, Catalina, Big Sur, Monterey, Ventura, and the latest Sonoma, choose the disk location where you want to search for the lost files (it can be an internal HDD/SSD or a removable storage device). Then, click the “Search Lost Files” button.

Note: Before data recovery, it's better to click “Disk Backup” from the left sidebar to create a backup of your Mac to prevent further data loss. After the backup, the software can recover data from the Mac backup, and your computer can write new data again.

Step 2: Browse the scan results

Data Recovery Wizard for Mac will immediately scan the disk volume you select and display the scanning results.

Step 3. Select the files and recover them

From the scan results, select the file(s) you want to preview and click on the “Recover” button to get them back.

Last Words

That's it! These were the 3 best methods to downgrade from Monterey to Big Sur. Since there are bugs, MacBook beta versions often lead to issues and unexpected problems. This is why it's best to install these betas on a secondary device. Also, with the above guide, you can quickly fix a stuck macOS Monterey update.

Occasional bugs and small issues are to be expected with macOS betas and early public releases. You'll no doubt enjoy the great new features in this latest macOS, and Apple will soon issue updates to address any remaining problems in macOS 12 Monterey. If you lost data during the downgrade to Big Sur, consider installing the Data Recovery Wizard for Mac to retrieve it.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on Downgrading from Monterey to Big Sur

Follow the steps in this FAQ to easily downgrade from Monterey to Big Sur:

How to downgrade from Monterey to Big Sur without a USB? Downgrading from macOS Monterey to Big Sur without a USB can be achieved using Internet Recovery. Here's a detailed step-by-step guide: 1. **Backup your data**: Before making any system changes, ensure you back up your Mac using Time Machine or another backup method. 2. **Get the Big Sur installer**: Open Safari and visit the Apple Developer website (https://developer.apple.com) or download the older version of macOS Big Sur from the App Store. You'll need to sign in with your Apple ID. 3. **Create a bootable installation media**: Since you don't have a USB, you can create a virtual disk for the installation media. Open "Applications" > "Utilities" > "Disk Utility," select an unused disk space, then click "Format." Choose "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)" and name it "Big Sur Installer." Click "Erase." 4. **Make the installer image**: In Finder, right-click on the downloaded Big Sur installer, choose "Show Package Contents." Navigate to "Contents" > "SharedSupport" folder, and locate the file named "InstallInfo.plist." Copy this file and paste it onto your desktop. 5. **Modify the installer image**: Open Terminal (found in "Applications" > "Utilities" > "Terminal"). Replace `/path/to/Install_macOS_Big_Sur.app` with the actual path of your Big Sur installer, and enter the following command: ``` sudo cp /path/to/Install_macOS_Big_Sur.app/Contents/Resources/InstallAssistant.pkg /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Big\ Sur.app/Contents/Resources/ ``` Then replace `/path/to/Desktop/InstallInfo.plist` with the path of the "InstallInfo.plist" file on your desktop and enter: ``` sudo cp /path/to/Desktop/InstallInfo.plist /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Big\ Sur.app/Contents/Resources/ ``` 6. **Boot into Recovery Mode**: Turn off your Mac, then restart. While booting, press and hold Command + R keys until you see the Apple logo or the Recovery interface. 7. **Open Disk Utility**: In Recovery Mode, select "Disk Utility," choose your startup disk (usually named "Macintosh HD"), and click "Erase." Confirm the operation. 8. **Reinstall Big Sur**: Quit "Disk Utility" and select "Reinstall macOS." In the window that appears, choose your startup disk and click "Continue." Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation. 9. **Restore your data**: After the installation is finished, your Mac will automatically boot into the new Big Sur system. You can then restore your data and settings using Time Machine or your preferred backup method. Please note that this process may take some time and may erase all your data, so make sure to back up everything before starting. If you encounter issues, consider seeking professional technical support.

If you have an Intel Mac, follow these steps to downgrade from Monterey to Big Sur:

• Shut down your MacBook.
• Power on your PC and hold Shift + Option + Cmd + R.
• When the macOS Utilities screen loads, select Reinstall macOS (or Reinstall OS X), then click Continue.
• Follow the prompts and select your startup disk.
• Click Install.
• Restore your files from your backup when the installation finishes.

To downgrade your Mac from Ventura to Monterey, follow these steps: 1. **Backup your data**: Before making any system changes, ensure you back up your important files and data using Time Machine or another reliable backup method. 2. **Get the Monterey installer**: Visit the Apple App Store website and search for "macOS Monterey." Download the installer, making sure you download the correct version compatible with your Mac model. 3. **Boot into Recovery Mode**: Turn off your Mac and then restart it. While starting up, press and hold `Command + R` until you see the Apple logo or the Recovery screen. 4. **Access Recovery Tools**: In Recovery Mode, select "Disk Utility," then choose your startup disk (usually named "Macintosh HD"). 5. **Erase the startup disk**: In "Disk Utility," select "Erase," give your startup disk a name (like "Macintosh HD"), set the format to "APFS," and click "Erase." 6. **Exit Disk Utility**: After erasing, close "Disk Utility" and return to the Recovery main screen. 7. **Install Monterey**: Choose "Reinstall macOS," then follow the on-screen instructions. This will download the Monterey installation files from the internet and install them on your startup disk. 8. **Wait for the installation**: The process may take some time; be patient. When complete, your Mac will automatically restart. 9. **Set up Monterey**: Follow the prompts to set up the new operating system, restore your backup data, and reinstall applications. Keep in mind that downgrading can result in data loss, so make sure you have a proper backup before starting. Also, verify that your Mac model is compatible with Monterey, as not all models support it.

Yes, you can downgrade from Ventura to Monterey using keyboard commands. Follow these steps:

Shut down your Mac to start the downgrade process. Press the Power button. Quickly press Shift + Option + Command + R. Enter your password when prompted. Click the Continue button. Follow the on-screen instructions until you see the option to reinstall macOS.

3. Can I uninstall Monterey on my Mac?

It cannot be “uninstalled.” You can download the operating system you want to use, and then use that system to create a bootable USB installer. You can then boot from that installer and erase the hard drive, installing the prior operating system in its place. You can then restore your data from a backup.

4. How can I install an older version of macOS or OS X on my own?

You can download the version of Mac OS X or macOS that you need, and then install it in an isolated environment using a bootable installer.