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User profile for user: Sharp_Kid
Sharp_Kid Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

Trying to reinstall Big Sur after Monterey upgrade - "volume cannot be downgraded"

Hi community.


I installed Monterey earlier today on my 2020 M1 Macbook Pro, on the promise from the software provider that some of the software I'm using would be compatible. It's not. I had half expected that so made sure I had a valid Big Sur install disk and Time Machine backup before upgrading.

I've gone to install from my Big Sur install disk and when I select the install destination as Macintosh HD it tells me "The volume cannot be downgraded."

Alternatively I tried restoring from a Time Machine backup that I made just prior to installing Monterey, but that tells me I must use Migration Assistant or reinstall the OS (which I can't do because the volume cannot be downgraded). I was of the understanding that Migration Assistant was for transfering data between Macs, not restoring a backup.

What do I do?

How do I make the volume downgradable?


Help me community. You're my only hope.


MacBook Pro (2020 and later)

Posted on Nov 2, 2021 12:44 PM

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User profile for user: WESTCOASTHOPKINS
WESTCOASTHOPKINS
User level: Level 2
459 points

Posted on Nov 2, 2021 12:55 PM

Hi,


From what can be found, look over the links below:


Erase and Re-install Mac OS:

https://support.apple.com/en-ca/guide/mac-help/mh27903/mac


How to re-install Mac OS:

https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT204904


Regardless of which way you are able to go, make sure you have a viable current full back up of your MacBook Pro. I say this as either way, you're likely going to have to reformat your MacBook's drive and setup from scratch to do what you want. If I might suggest, if you want to in future test out a new OS, get an external SSD and install the OS on it, having cloned your MacBook setup to it, that way, you can run it and fall back to your known, good MacBook setup, without going through all that you're likely going too. I have done this myself in preparation for trying out Monterey for my current 2014 Mac mini and seeing if I will indeed move to it or stay on Big Sur.


Good luck.

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User profile for user: WESTCOASTHOPKINS
WESTCOASTHOPKINS
User level: Level 2
459 points

Nov 2, 2021 12:55 PM in response to Sharp_Kid

Hi,


From what can be found, look over the links below:


Erase and Re-install Mac OS:

https://support.apple.com/en-ca/guide/mac-help/mh27903/mac


How to re-install Mac OS:

https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT204904


Regardless of which way you are able to go, make sure you have a viable current full back up of your MacBook Pro. I say this as either way, you're likely going to have to reformat your MacBook's drive and setup from scratch to do what you want. If I might suggest, if you want to in future test out a new OS, get an external SSD and install the OS on it, having cloned your MacBook setup to it, that way, you can run it and fall back to your known, good MacBook setup, without going through all that you're likely going too. I have done this myself in preparation for trying out Monterey for my current 2014 Mac mini and seeing if I will indeed move to it or stay on Big Sur.


Good luck.

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Trying to reinstall Big Sur after Monterey upgrade - "volume cannot be downgraded"

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