If I buy a New Mac mini, can I make it run OS 15.7, NOT Tahoe
Eventually, I'll be happy to upgrade to Tahoe, but in my present situation, I must have the ability to run OS 15.7. I contacted the Apple sales people. They really don't know what operating system the computer will come with. Could be 15.7 or 26.
If it does come with OS 26 is it possible to install 15.7?
Thanks.
Ziatron wrote:
If it does come with OS 26 is it possible to install 15.7?
No Mac can run a version of macOS the predates the version that was factory installed & delivered on the Mac. So if it comes with macOS 26 preinstalled, that's the baseline.
There are probably still some unsold Macs in the pipeline that have Sequoia preinstalled. But there is almost no way to know in advance if that's the one you will get. If you intend to buy immediately, buy from a vendor that allows returns & refunds.
There is also the choice of buying a slightly older, refurbished Mac that originally came with Sequoia or Sonoma. As long as you pay attention to the exact model & its release date (to identify the version of macOS it originally had) you should be able to downgrade to Sequoia if it arrives with Tahoe preinstalled.
Ziatron wrote:
If it does come with OS 26 is it possible to install 15.7?
No Mac can run a version of macOS the predates the version that was factory installed & delivered on the Mac. So if it comes with macOS 26 preinstalled, that's the baseline.
There are probably still some unsold Macs in the pipeline that have Sequoia preinstalled. But there is almost no way to know in advance if that's the one you will get. If you intend to buy immediately, buy from a vendor that allows returns & refunds.
There is also the choice of buying a slightly older, refurbished Mac that originally came with Sequoia or Sonoma. As long as you pay attention to the exact model & its release date (to identify the version of macOS it originally had) you should be able to downgrade to Sequoia if it arrives with Tahoe preinstalled.
Only if you find a Mini M4 that's been on the shelf for a while and was preinstalled with Sequoia.
Additionally, it you expect to run one system internally and another externally that could cause trouble if the external system includes a firmware update that is not compatible with with the internal system. That's what happened to me. I was running Sequoia public internal and trying to run the Sequoia beta on an external SSD. The external system included in an update a firmware update that was not compatible with the internal system. I got the dreaded amber light on the Mini. I had to take it into my local Genius bar to be reset back to factory setting (45 minutes) and the took it home to migrate my data over from my Time Machine backup drive.
You might find a Sequoia Mini M4 at an Apple Authorized Service Provider as they may have older Mini M4's in stock.
What do you want to run Sequoia rather than Tahoe 26?
With Intel Macs it was definitely possible if the hardware existed before the newly released OS, but I don't know if the same still applies to M-series Macs.
I would assume most new hardware purchased now will ship with Tahoe unless it has been sitting in a warehouse waiting to be sold (more likely with third party resellers than with Apple themselves).
If Apple had released a new Mac Mini along with the release of Tahoe (Apple did not), then that new Mac Mini would only be able to run Tahoe.
I don't believe I've seen anyone confirm existing M-series hardware purchased after a new version of macOS has been released has been able to downgrade the OS to the previous OS...nor have I seen anyone say it cannot be done with an M-series Mac. Perhaps you will be the first to confirm whether it is possible or not.
It might be possible, however there are no certainties. You should also contact AppleCare, they may have more information available.
Why must you run 15.7?
I bought my Mac mini 2018 when Mojave was new. Sequoia is the last it supports so IMO it was money well spent. Now I'm considering a leap to Mac mini or maybe a MacBook that supports Tahoe and later.
BTW below are all macOS versions I can multi Option-boot that trusty old Mac mini 2018 (HD is the main internal work volume running Sequoia. The other external bootable volumes are Mojave, Catalina, Big Sur, Monterey, Ventura, Sonoma, and Sequoia):
So tell us why you think you MUST have 15.7 instead of 26.0 Tahoe. There really isn’t anything much different other than new features and more Apple intelligence. Maybe there’s a solution to your problem.
If I buy a New Mac mini, can I make it run OS 15.7, NOT Tahoe
