Macbook Pro 2020 16" Intel - Software Downgrade Possible?

[SparkyCanada]

Hi there.

I have been reading conflicting opinions about this...

Can I install either Catalina or Mojave on an Intel MacBook Pro if it comes preloaded with Big Sur?

Thanks,

SparkyCanada

 

[JustAnExpat]

I'll say no, unless there's a leaked beta version of Catalina for M1 floating around on the internets (highly unlikely).

 

[SparkyCanada]

I'll say no, unless there's a leaked beta version of Catalina for M1 floating around on the internets (highly unlikely).

Hi JustAnExpat

The 16" are still available as Intel based not M1 - these are the ones I'm wondering about...

Thanks

SparkyCanada

 

[posguy99]

Can I install either Catalina or Mojave on an Intel MacBook Pro if it comes preloaded with Big Sur?

You can certainly install Catalina on any machine that it supports. You will need to create a USB installer and use that, Recovery will either install what the machine came with or the latest available for it, depending on how you invoke it... and both of those are Big Sur, if circumstances are as you described.

 

[SparkyCanada]

You can certainly install Catalina on any machine that it supports.

This is what I am having difficulty understanding - will the current Intel 16" MBP's support Catalina...

I run audio software on my existing system and have begun receiving RAM errors - telling me I've reach 100% - so am thinking of loading up a 16" MBP with 64GB of Ram - which should make the problem go away...

I'm currently on a Late 2013 MBP with 16 GB Ram

Thanks,
SparkyCanada

 

[posguy99]

This is what I am having difficulty understanding - will the current Intel 16" MBP's support Catalina...

Why wouldn't it? It was shipped with Catalina at release and has not been revised since it was released.

MacBook Pro "Core i7" 2.6 16" 2019 Specs (2019 16", MVVL2LL/A*, MacBookPro16,1, A2141, 3347): EveryMac.com

Technical specifications for the MacBook Pro "Core i7" 2.6 16" 2019. Dates sold, processor type, memory info, hard drive details, price and more.

everymac.com

 

[DeltaMac]

The present 16-inch originally shipped with Catalina, so, yes, it supports Catalina. It is the same model that now ships with Big Sur. There is nothing, AFAIK, that prevents you erasing the drive if it comes with Big Sur, and installing Catalina. Except for the T2 chip, of course. You just have to work around that thing, but you should be fine with "returning" to Catalina.

 

[mdgm]

If you want to run something older than Catalina then you would need to see if a Virtual Machine works as Macs can't boot any older OS than what the first unit of that model shipped with.

 

[SparkyCanada]

Except for the T2 chip, of course. You just have to work around that thing, but you should be fine with "returning" to Catalina.

So... just did a little research and as far as I can tell - the T2 chip is just going to prompt me for permissions - does that seem correct?

Thanks,

SparkyCanada

 

[DeltaMac]

Not exactly.
The T2 is an integral part of your Mac's system security. If you want to boot from any external boot drive, you have to allow that in the Startup Security Utility, which you access through the recovery system.

About Startup Security Utility on a Mac with the Apple T2 Security Chip - Apple Support

Use Startup Security Utility to make sure that your Mac always starts up from your designated startup disk, and always from a legitimate, trusted operating system.

support.apple.com

 

[ght56]

So... just did a little research and as far as I can tell - the T2 chip is just going to prompt me for permissions - does that seem correct?

Thanks,

SparkyCanada

Effectively you would first enable external booting (as it is disabled by default.) Then you would create a USB Catalina installer. Then you boot into the Catalina installer on the 16-inch MBP, wipe the internal SSD of the MacBook Pro, and then proceed to install macOS Catalina. Side note--if you are going with a BTO that has 64 GB of RAM, I highly recommend also opting for the 5600M GPU as an upgrade.

Create a bootable installer for macOS - Apple Support

You can use a USB flash drive or other secondary volume as a startup disk from which to install the Mac operating system. These steps are primarily for system administrators and other experienced users who are familiar with entering commands in Terminal.

support.apple.com