Downgrade iMac from High Sierra to LionOS10.7 Possible?

[navigates]

Hi All,

I need to downgrade to LionOS because the developer needs to fix the iOS App which is in the old architecture. Is it possible to do this? the developer is asking for an external hard drive.

Since I'm not good with Macs I believe he is taking me for a ride

Much Appreciate.

 

[Novecento]

Depends on the iMac model. Did your iMac exist when Lion was released?

 

[navigates]

This is the model MMQA2HN

https://www.amazon.in/Apple-21-5-inch-iMac-dual-core-MMQA2HN/dp/B073Y97T15
Apple 21.5-inch iMac: 2.3GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 (MMQA2HN/A)

 

[maflynn]

Is it possible to do this?

No, the oldest version of macOS you can downgrade too is the version that was preinstalled when you bought the iMac. I could be wrong, but the 21.5" iMac you have listed haa Sierra installed, there's no way to install such a legacy OS on your iMAc. It simply lacks the device drivers to run the iMac.


You can try running Lion in a VM, i.e., Vmware Fusion

 

[navigates]

No, the oldest version of macOS you can downgrade too is the version that was preinstalled when you bought the iMac. I could be wrong, but the 21.5" iMac you have listed haa Sierra installed, there's no way to install such a legacy OS on your iMAc. It simply lacks the device drivers to run the iMac.


You can try running Lion in a VM, i.e., Vmware Fusion

Thanks for the tip. I will also try Parallels. This is clear.

 

[H2SO4]

No, the oldest version of macOS you can downgrade too is the version that was preinstalled when you bought the iMac. I could be wrong, but the 21.5" iMac you have listed haa Sierra installed, there's no way to install such a legacy OS on your iMAc. It simply lacks the device drivers to run the iMac.


You can try running Lion in a VM, i.e., Vmware Fusion

Hi, I know this oldish but I have a quick Q......
So, the current Mac Mini. If I purchase today and it comes preinstalled with Catalina given that the hardware has not yet changed do you think it's possible or know of anyone that has downgraded to Mojave, the OS previous to that?

 

[Fishrrman]

"So, the current Mac Mini. If I purchase today and it comes preinstalled with Catalina given that the hardware has not yet changed do you think it's possible or know of anyone that has downgraded to Mojave, the OS previous to that?"

If you purchase a Mini within the next few days (or possibly weeks), it probably will come with Mojave rather than Catalina.

BUT... if it does come with Catalina... you should still be able to install Mojave if you wish.

Doing so may involve jumping through a hoop or two, or three.
You'll first need to bypass System Integrity Protection.
Then you'll have to dig up a Mojave installer, and get it onto a USB flash drive.
An alternative might be to do a Mojave install onto an EXTERNAL drive, and then "clone that install" over to the internal drive on the Mini.

But I'm quite sure it can be done.

This is one exception to the "Mac rule" that you can't install a version of the OS onto a Mac that was "earlier than" the OS the Mac ships with.

TIP:
I suggest you visit the app store and see if you can still download the Mojave installer right now.
If you can, I recommend that you "archive" it onto a drive somewhere, so you'll have the copy handy for future use...

 

[H2SO4]

"So, the current Mac Mini. If I purchase today and it comes preinstalled with Catalina given that the hardware has not yet changed do you think it's possible or know of anyone that has downgraded to Mojave, the OS previous to that?"

If you purchase a Mini within the next few days (or possibly weeks), it probably will come with Mojave rather than Catalina.

BUT... if it does come with Catalina... you should still be able to install Mojave if you wish.

Doing so may involve jumping through a hoop or two, or three.
You'll first need to bypass System Integrity Protection.
Then you'll have to dig up a Mojave installer, and get it onto a USB flash drive.
An alternative might be to do a Mojave install onto an EXTERNAL drive, and then "clone that install" over to the internal drive on the Mini.

But I'm quite sure it can be done.

This is one exception to the "Mac rule" that you can't install a version of the OS onto a Mac that was "earlier than" the OS the Mac ships with.

TIP:
I suggest you visit the app store and see if you can still download the Mojave installer right now.
If you can, I recommend that you "archive" it onto a drive somewhere, so you'll have the copy handy for future use...

Thanks for that. Would you believe it, Mojave is still available. So I'm having it just in case.