i have imac m4 chip, I am trying to downgrade my mac os from Tahoe to Sequoia, Can someone please help ?

An issue with 1 Application IMHO does not warrant Rolling the computer back to Sequoia even it it were possible

The responsibility for keeping their Software Up to date and compatible with macOS 26 Tahoe is their issue

They, if a good and responsible Developer, should have availed themselves of the Developer Bata Testing Program that would have been available weeks or months before we mere mortal Users could have Signed Up for Beta Testing back at the beginning go June 2025

Really suggest Not Downgrading even it it were possible, for the reasons my colleague @ neuroanatomist has given

To put this in my own words

What is the users tolerance for " Risk " ?

1 - Is this your Only computer and you would not be able to live without it for a fews days if the downgrade procedure goes wrong ?

2 - Does the user have access to another Apple computer, that currently is running macOS 15 / 26 , that could be used to Revive or Restore the computer  Firmware  ?

3 - Understand that once the computer has upGraded to macOS 26 Tahoe. there is a strong probability there was a Firmware upGraded that was applied to the computer 

Downgrading back to an older version of macOS, say Sequoia 

It runs the Risk that doing the downgrade, there could be issues with the existing Firmware  also being downgraded.

Secure Enclave

4 - Does the user have at least 2 -  no -  make that 3 backups from a time before the computer was upGraded to macOS 26 Tahoe ?

Have a 3-2-1 Rescue Plan in place and always current

3 Backups using 2 methods and 1 off site incase of natural disaster or un-natural disaster.

Each of the above should be done to a Dedicated Single Purposed External Drive 

Below link is intended to augment what TM Backup does 

https://bombich.com

If the owner of this computer should answer NO  to any of the above questions

Then downgrading the computer Is Not Recommended 

Reverting to Sequoia is not simple. You need to boot into Recovery OS, erase your internal drive, then install the older macOS, then restore from a backup made prior to the Tahoe upgrade. Even then, the firmware on the Mac will likely have been updated, meaning potential conflicts and a possible need for DFU mode and a Configurator revive/restore, which would need to be done via another Mac connected to yours. If that sounds complicated and risky, then you're assessing the situation correctly.

“Is there any way I can find out which OS it comes with ?”

By answering the previously asked questions: Did you formerly have Sequoia on it? How recently did you purchase the iMac?

”Other thing I want to understand, if I erase the internal drive only then it will show me an option to install Sequoia (currently i am getting Tahoe as the only option).”

Depends on the above. After an upgrade to Tahoe, recovery will offer the most recent macOS. If it came with Sequoia, Internet recovery will install Sequoia.

Cloning won’t work, OS installs are machine specific. You can create a bootable USB installer to install Sequoia.

Check with the Deepfreeze developer about the timeline for Tahoe compatibility. May be worth waiting. Or switching MDMs.

If your M4 iMac came with Tahoe preinstalled, it cannot be downgraded to Sequoia or any other earlier release of macOS.

Did you formerly have Sequoia on it?

How recently did you purchase the iMac?

To help determine exactly what version came Originally Installed when it was " Out of the Box " as Brand New

⌘ plus spacebar

Type System Information

Launch it

On Left Panel scroll way down to the category called Installations

Scroll down until you see ALL the Version of macOS that have been installed

On the Right Side Look to Install Date

What is the Oldest date that correspond with What Version of macOS was Originally Installed

On My M4 Mac Mini

It arrived with Sequoia 15.5 and Installed Date being and refer to image below

peaceofmind2020 wrote:

Thanks Owl-53,

I checked and it shows oldest os is Sequoia.

Does it mean, it is possible to roll back to sequoia 15.7.1 ?

Technically, yes it could be downgraded to Sequoia

Though, as I don't support downgrading nor does Apple technically support downgrading

I am redundant to go any further with this for the reasons mentioned by self and others

Why?

As has already been pointed out, this is not a simple thing to do.

If you have a specific issue or issues, maybe we can help you solve them before you jump off the cliff...

peaceofmind2020 wrote:

Oldest os find on this imac is sequoia. but still I can't download it for some reason.

Did you get any error message when you tried? Or any more details on how you tried?