Restore from Time Machine

[erich.j.k]

I wanted to downgrade to Sequoia (don‘t like Tahoe and all it‘s issues - don‘t want to discuss that). I have a Time Machine backup so thought it would be „easy going“.
I wiped the disk, installed Sequoia and tried to restore.
First try: boot into options, select Restore from Time Machine: Error saying that isn‘t possible. I would need to use Migration Assistant.
Second try: boot Sequoia, start Migration Assistant - but: the backup is not selectable (greyed out).

In the end I reinstalled Tahoe. Again, at first tried during the boot option - same result as before (Message saying I would need to use the Migration Assistant). Booted into Tahoe, started Migration Assistant and that works.

I simply don‘t understand. Before switching to a different backup tool - how am I supposed to use it, if it always says: NO!
Why can‘t I simply restore files? That‘s what a backup is for.
Surprised that people were able to downgrade to Sequoia using Time Machine. Or maybe no one did?

Thanks for any tips!

 

[robvalentine]

I wanted to downgrade to Sequoia (don‘t like Tahoe and all it‘s issues - don‘t want to discuss that). I have a Time Machine backup so thought it would be „easy going“.
I wiped the disk, installed Sequoia and tried to restore.
First try: boot into options, select Restore from Time Machine: Error saying that isn‘t possible. I would need to use Migration Assistant.
Second try: boot Sequoia, start Migration Assistant - but: the backup is not selectable (greyed out).

In the end I reinstalled Tahoe. Again, at first tried during the boot option - same result as before (Message saying I would need to use the Migration Assistant). Booted into Tahoe, started Migration Assistant and that works.

I simply don‘t understand. Before switching to a different backup tool - how am I supposed to use it, if it always says: NO!
Why can‘t I simply restore files? That‘s what a backup is for.
Surprised that people were able to downgrade to Sequoia using Time Machine. Or maybe no one did?

Thanks for any tips!

I know with iOS/watch OS if the back up is on a newer version, then you need to update before restoring. I think the os version has to be higher than or equal to the backup version.

 

[MayflyMaven]

I simply don‘t understand. Before switching to a different backup tool - how am I supposed to use it, if it always says: NO!
Why can‘t I simply restore files? That‘s what a backup is for.

Apple doesn't support downgrading, and they don't want you to do it. Downgrading is a lot harder that it used to be, you have to erase your current OS and then install the older OS using an older installer. Whether you can restore from your Time Machine backup at that point is dubious, you may be prompted to upgrade.

I ran across this reference again just recently after I upgraded one of my systems to Golden Gate (ultimately decided against downgrading though, for now): https://support.bombich.com/hc/en-u...367-Best-practices-for-updating-your-Mac-s-OS

Not sure if that will be helpful if you only have a Time Machine backup though...

 

[Bigwaff]

I simply don‘t understand. Before switching to a different backup tool - how am I supposed to use it, if it always says: NO!
Why can‘t I simply restore files? That‘s what a backup is for.
Surprised that people were able to downgrade to Sequoia using Time Machine. Or maybe no one did?

MrMacintosh knows the way... no data loss