If you decide macOS Sierra is not working out for you, you can downgrade back to OS X El Capitan.
macOS Sierra is here — but just because you take a new operating system for a whirl doesn't mean you're ready to commit full-time just yet. If you've decided you'd rather return to OS X El Capitan, you can downgrade with just a few steps. It is a bit of a complex process, but if you follow the steps you'll be back to your old setup in no time.
Note: If you are reading this article on the Mac that you want to downgrade on, switch to another device or print this page before continuing so you can read along as you go.
- Step 1: Back up your Mac
- Step 2: Create a bootable drive of OS X El Capitan
- Step 3: Erase macOS Sierra
- Step 4: Reinstall OS X El Capitan
- Step 5: Restore data from an earlier El Capitan Time machine backup
Step 1: Back up your Mac
This process will erase macOS Sierra from your hard drive entirely. That means any files, programs, or documents you've been working on while using macOS Sierra will also be erased if you don't back them up first. Use an external hard drive or a cloud-based program like DropBox, OneDrive, or iCloud. If you don't save these important files somewhere off of your computer you will lose them.
Step 2: Create a bootable drive of OS X El Capitan
Before you erase macOS Sierra from your computer, download OS X El Capitan from the Mac App Store. It should be in your purchase list, or you can simply search for it in the Mac App Store. You'll need a copy of OS X El Capitan in order to downgrade from macOS Sierra.
Step 3: Erase macOS Sierra
- Connect your Mac to the internet via Wi-Fi or Ethernet
- Click on the Apple icon ()
Select Restart from the dropdown menu.

- Hold down Command+R when you hear the startup chime and keep holding the keys until your computer reboots.
- Click on Disk Utility in the OS X Utilities selector.
Click Continue.

- Select your Startup Disk.
Click on the Erase tab at the top of the window.

- Enter a name for the file to be destroyed (Like macOS Sierra or something).
- Select Mac OS Extended (Journaled) from the format list.
Click Erase.

After the process is complete, quit Disk Utility from the dropdown menu in the upper left corner of the screen to go back to the OS X Utilities selector.
Step 4: Reinstall OS X El Capitan
After you have erased macOS Sierra, you will want to reinstall an earlier operating system.
- Click on Reinstall OS X in the OS X Utilities selector.
Click Continue in the El Capitan installation window.

OS X El Capitan will install like a standard update. You will agree to the licensing terms before the software reboots on your Mac.
Note: Depending on how old your Mac is, you may download an older version of OS X, possibly the one that originally shipped with your computer (especially if you end up in Internet Recovery Mode). If that happens, complete the installation of the older operating system (IE. Mavericks or Yosemite). Once the installation is complete, open the Mac App Store and download OS X El Capitan from your Purchased list.
Step 5: Restore data from an earlier El Capitan Time machine backup
If you have a recent backup of your Mac saved via Time Machine (which you should), you can use it to reinstall OS X El Capitan.
- Connect your Mac to the internet via Wi-Fi or Ethernet
- Click on the Apple icon ()
Select Restart from the dropdown menu.

- Hold down Command+R when you hear the startup chime and keep holding the keys until your computer reboots.
- Select Restore from Time Machine Backup in the OS X Utilities selector.
Click Continue.

- Click Continue after reading the important information about restoring from a backup.
- Select the Backup source for where your Time Machine backup is stored.
- Click Continue.
- Select the most recent OS X El Capitan backup on the drive.
Click Continue.

Your Mac will begin restoring from the Time Machine backup and then reboot. This process can take a while, so grab a cup of coffee while you wait.
If you run into any problems while trying to downgrade your Mac operating system, let us know in the comments.

Reader comments
How to downgrade from macOS Sierra back to OS X El Capitan
What if you've a cloned copy of the old OS X?
Until now, I am still confused the differences between Time Machine Backup and Cloned.
Anyone can explain when to use cloned and when time machine backup is more appropriate?
Please enlighten me, thanks.
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A time machine is a backup of your data. It's the majority of it, but not all. It does not include the files necessary for booting. So, if you pop it into a computer, nothing happens. You can view the files, but that's it.
A cloned drive is a facsimile of your Mac's drive. You can replace your main drive with a clone, and it will BOOT from it, like it's exactly the same.
As to what you should keep, well I'd suggest a Time Machine backup at least every 3 days (if you're a casual user), and cloning once a month. Clones are rarely needed, but on that off hand chance you do need one, it's better than spending 5-6 hours waiting for macOS to install via Internet Recovery, updating to the newest version, and then using a Time Machine restore. Better to just use the clone drive.
Followed these steps to the letter and it never gives me the option of installing OS X. Each time I am only given the opportunity to re-install macOS beta. Bummer.
Same! Really frustrating, have you fixed yours yet?
Anyone found a workaround for this?
I did not.
You must have the El Capitan.app file downloaded to your Mac before you restore. You can get it from the app store if you have downloaded it before, it will show up in purchased apps. Make sure the El Capitan.app file is in the folder /Applications/. Use Disk Utility, click on the root drive type that has your OS X install on it and select partition. Select the + to add a partition, you will make this 8GB and call it Restore. This will resize your main partition and do nothing to your data. Then you can follow the steps here: http://www.macworld.com/article/2981585/operating-systems/how-to-make-a-...
You need to run the command in terminal with the following changes to create the bootable El Capitan Installer. sudo /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ El\ Capitan.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/Restore --applicationpath /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ El\ Capitan.app
How do I know which my startup disc is?
internal:
Toshiba MK506....
Macintosh HD
Disk Images:
Apple disk image Media
OS X Base System
Those are my only choices. Nothing indicates I even have Sierra installed. I'm using the public beta.
My corceen is that my virus scan is nit compatible with Sierra and leaves me with no virus scan. Should I even be worried?
What did you end up choosing? My husband clicked on macintosh HD and typed in Sierra and what not. When we restarted it, it gave us the option of downloading mavericks. I think that's because he had an older model. Could his files have been deleted? Did we delete the hard drive
Questions about Step 5:
"Step 5: Restore data from an earlier El Capitan Time machine backup"
What if I have work files that have been created after updating to Sierra. If I restore from a time I know I had El Capitan installed, will I lose those work files?
( Reason I'm changing back: My built in ethernet stop working and and my Logitech mouse is funky )
iMac 21.5 late 2009
I recently downloaded the Sierra update to my 2013 MacBook Pro, but I can't get it to install. The computer will act like it'll restart to install, but never does. My laptop is compatible according to specs and I have more than enough storage. It's like I got a "faulty" download. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
I just installed Sierra on my 2014 era iMac without doing my homework. Shame on me! My Adobe apps don't work, I can't access my gmail for my business email...the list goes on. Today was not a good day in mac land.
After some digging, this link http://mashable.com/2015/10/01/clean-install-os-x-el-capitan/#N3h0kNOlWEq7 helped me tremendously!! It includes a workaround, a safe, free boot disk program called Diskmaker X for those out there like myself who could not get the Terminal command to work properly. This link actually gives you the option to not use Terminal which is tops in my book. I am almost finished installing El Capitan back onto my iMac, now I just have to back up using Time Machine.
Hope this helps you lot, I know it helped me!!!