Reverting back to MacOS Big Sur

[Raymondd]

Hello everyone!

I was wondering if there is any way to do a reinstall of MacOS Big Sur over Monterey via self service. One computer was updated to Monterey and time is a bit of a crunch. Or would the best way to be just boot to USB and then install that way.

I want to try to avoid losing data of course, but I am willing to update the client that it is possible that a wipe may be needed

[ljcacioppo · Accepted solution]

The only way you would be able to install Big Sur on a machine that has already been upgraded to Monterey is by erasing it entirely.

[ljcacioppo · Accepted solution]

The only way you would be able to install Big Sur on a machine that has already been upgraded to Monterey is by erasing it entirely.

[Raymondd]

I figured as much. Thank you for the quick reply. Just trying to see if there was a capability. Thank you!

[ljcacioppo · Accepted solution]

You can copy data off it obviously before you perform the wipe if you need to have it reverted back to the older OS, but not a path Apple makes easy in any way to "downgrade"

[AJPinto]

I really wish Apple would give an in place downgrade option. Microsoft sorted this out a decade ago, but I doubt Apple will ever give us an option aside of wipe and load to downgrade. I am sure Apple thinks we should be thankful they dont update something in the EFI to prevent downgrades.