Restore to previous version of OS X using Time Machine

I made a backup of my iMac and then upgraded to Mavericks from Lion. I don't like Mavericks and wish to restore back to Lion. Is this possible? It it just a simple case of using Time Machine? Thanks

Hello there Arucarn,
It sounds like you are wanting to revert to Mac OS X Lion from Mavericks after you performed an upgrade. The following article should help you do that, named:
OS X Mavericks: Revert to a previous OS X version
If you use Time Machine to back up your Mac, you can easily revert to a previous version of OS X if you experience trouble after installing an update.
Important: Reverting erases any changes you made to the files on your Mac since you installed the new version of OS X. To save new or revised files, copy them onto a different disk or back them up before you follow these instructions.
Print these instructions by opening the Help Viewer’s Action pop-up menu (looks like a gear) and choosing Print.
Choose Apple menu > Restart. Once your Mac restarts (and the gray screen appears), hold down the Command (⌘) and R keys.
Select “Restore from a Time Machine Backup,” then click Continue.
Select your Time Machine backup disk.
Select the Time Machine backup you want to restore. To restore your computer to the state it was in before you installed the new version of OS X, choose the most recent backup.
Follow the onscreen instructions.
If you backed up files as described in the Important message above, you can restore them now. If you backed them up using Time Machine, open the Time Machine menu in the menu bar, choose Enter Time Machine, then retrieve your files.
Thank you for using Apple Support Communities.
Regards,
Sterling

Similar Messages

  • Long story short....I restored my computer to an earlier point using time machine and now all of the previous back-ups are gone. My question has to do with itunes...is it possible to restore my itunes library to the most recent backup because the restore

    Long story short....I restored my computer to an earlier point using time machine and now all of the previous back-ups are gone. My question has to do with itunes...is it possible to restore my itunes library to the most recent backup because the restore that I did was in march and the latest backup was in may....the reason being is that there were app that i had downloaded that are in my most recent back-up, that were not in the backup I restored to. Is it possible to just restore one application ie)itunes?

    See this post.
    tt2

  • Cannot restore an old version of photo library from time machine

    I save my photos to an external drive and back up to another drive using time machine.  My photo drive has become corrupted (hard disc failing).  I have gone into Timemachine and chosen an earlier photo library backup version (some months ago) and a new replacement external drive for the photo library, but when I then restore to this new drive, Time Machine advances to the most recent backup (with missing photos), and not my chosen backup, and saves this to the new drive.  iphoto8, 7.1.5  & snow leopard, 10.6.8.

    How did you try to restore from Time machine?  Like described in this document? This should work, if your Time Machine backups are complete:
    iPhoto '11: Restoring from Time Machine with iPhoto '11 (9.2 or later) and OS X Lion 10.7.2 (or later) - Apple Support
    Earlier Time Machine versions had a glitch and could not make a full backup of an iPhoto Library, if iPhoto was open during backup.
    I am not sure about your iPhoto version, but previous iPhoto versions could browse a Time Machine backup directly from iPhoto. Look for a "Browse Backup" backup item in iPhotos Help. Use this to restore the missing photos.

  • Cannot restore an older version of photo library from time machine

    I save my photos to an external drive and back up to another drive using time machine.  My photo drive has become corrupted (hard disc failing).  I have gone into Timemachine and chosen an earlier photo library backup version (some months ago) and a new replacement external drive for the photo library, but when I then restore to this new drive, Time Machine advances to the most recent backup (with missing photos), and not my chosen backup, and saves this to the new drive. Is thi snot possible, or am I doing soething wrong?   iphoto8, 7.1.5  & snow leopard, 10.6.8.
    iMac (24-inch Mid 2007), Mac OS X (10.6.8)

    As a test, try restoring it to your computer and if successful, then copy the file to the external.

  • How to restore point on my macbook if never used Time Machine?

    I recently (20 min ago) attempted to go through all my pictures and documents and do a little "spring cleaning" I put aside all the pictures/documents that I did want to keep in a separate folder on my desktop and trashed the rest. I then went into my Finder and noticed THOUSANDS of more pictures and files that were there but no longer in Documents or "Pictures". So thinking that I saved them on the desktop was a good idea, I trashed everything within Finder as well. LITTLE DID I KNOW, that I deleted everything in my desktop folder too. Heart attack? Definitely. I've never used Time Machine since I've gotten my Macbook in June of 2010. I feel like to gain the things i've lost I would have had to "backup" my computer from the get-go. Please. Help. Dying. Figuratively.

    Try to backup with your old computer and your old iTunes put your contacts back to your iPhone. Aftervthat you sync with your new computer with right settings.

  • Installed my SSD from my Windows 8 PC onto it getting the bootmgr is missing. I formatted the SSD but when I try and plug in my external harddrive to restore my mac settings I backed up using time machine, the computer doesn't show it as an option.

    I recently bought a MacBook Pro. I had a windows 8 pc that had hardware issues that didn't deal with the harddrive. When I got the mbp, I installed the SSD from my windows 8 pc into the macbook. Before doing this, I made a time machine backup on my external hard drive. When I booted up the macbook pro with the windows 8 SSD in it, windows 8 started up. I tried formating the harddrive from within windows but it wouldn't work. From there, I put a spare windows 7 ultimate disk into the macbook and formatted the hard drive using that. Now, bootmgr is missing error keeps coming up and I can't put my time maching backup onto the macbook. Quick replies are appreciated, thanks!

    You need to boot from an OS X installer disc compatible with this model's hardware or you must connect it by Target Disk Mode - Target Disk Mode - so you can re-partition and reformat the hard drive before you can install Mountain Lion on it or any other version of OS X. Here's the process:
    Drive Partition and Format
    1. Boot from your OS X Installer Disc. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button.  When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu.
    If you are preparing an external or a non-startup drive, then open Disk Utility in your Utilities folder.
    2. After DU loads select your hard drive (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Note the SMART status of the drive in DU's status area.  If it does not say "Verified" then the drive is failing or has failed and will need replacing.  SMART info will not be reported  on external drives. Otherwise, click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.
    3. Under the Volume Scheme heading set the number of partitions from the drop down menu to one. Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to GUID then click on the OK button. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Partition button and wait until the process has completed.
    4. Select the volume you just created (this is the sub-entry under the drive entry) from the left side list. Click on the Erase tab in the DU main window.
    5. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Security button, check the button for Zero Data and click on OK to return to the Erase window.
    6. Click on the Erase button. The format process can take up to several hours depending upon the drive size.

  • How do I restore only a few photos from iphoto using time machine?

    I have about 100 photos that have become corrupt and I need to restore from time machine.  When I try to restore the iphoto library, it says it cannot restore because library is too big.  How can I get back only the few photos that are corrupt?
    Thanks!
    Dorothy

    Please expain what you mean by 100 photos becoming corrupt? That is extremely unlikely - it is much more likely that you have a corrupted library
    Probably rebuilding your iPhoto library is the solution but with no information about what you have or what is going on that is only a wild guess
    For iPhoto '11 Back up your iPhoto library, Depress and hold the option (alt) and command keys and launch iPhoto - rebuild your iPhoto library database and see if that resolves things
    LN

  • Can i use time machine instead of restore discs

    alright so i bought a g4 imac 1.25 ghz 1 gb ram, and it has leopard on it right now from the previous owner. i have the panther restore discs but id rather have leopard. so my question is if i use the restore discs on my mac mini(new 09 model, leopard) and restore it to new then can i use time machine on my external hard drive and then plug it into my imac and use that data and make the imac with a fresh install of leopard? sorry if its hard to understand it is hard for me to describe. please help! thanks

    John.Kitzmiller wrote:
    Time Machine backups are not necessarily computer specific, however TM does not back up the OS
    Yes, it does, unless you've specifically told it not to. That's how you can do a full restore of an entire system from a TM backup, even if it's a previous version of Leopard.
    , so there's really no way to do what you're trying to accomplish.
    That's not the practical issue. As pointed out earlier, the practical issue is, the TM backup for one type/model of Mac won't run on another, as the hardware drivers, etc., are different. Worse, the 2009 Mac Mini has an Intel processor; a G4 has a PPC processor.
    Plus as already pointed out, it would be a violation of the EULA.
    Correct.

  • Can I use time machine to revert to Mountain Lion from Maverick?

    In spite of everyone saying how great Maverick is, I have poblems with slow operation, hard to use mail addresses, problems with iPhoto, etc. So I want to go back to Mountain Lion. Can I use Time Machine to restore back before Maverick was installed?

    Only if you have a full backup of Mountain Lion on your Time Machine backup drive. Then you can boot to the Recovery HD that is on the Time Machine backup drive, erase your drive, then do a full Mountain Lion restore. But if you have already used Time Machine to backup your Mountain Lion system, then this won't work. You will need to erase the drive and reinstall Mountain Lion separately. Then you can restore your Home folder from the Time Machine backup.
    Or you can avoid all the above by trying to fix the problems with your Mavericks system. You will need to upgrade iPhoto.
    Try these in order testing your system after each to see if it's back to normal:
    1. a. Resetting your Mac's PRAM and NVRAM
        b. Intel-based Macs: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC)
    2. Restart the computer in Safe Mode, then restart again, normally. If this doesn't help, then:
         Boot to the Recovery HD: Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the
         COMMAND and R keys until the Utilities menu screen appears. Alternatively, restart the
         computer and after the chime press and hold down the OPTION key until the boot manager
         screen appears. Select the Recovery HD and click on the downward pointing arrow button.
    3. Repair the Hard Drive and Permissions: Upon startup select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu. Repair the Hard Drive and Permissions as follows.
    When the recovery menu appears select Disk Utility. After DU loads select your hard drive entry (mfgr.'s ID and drive size) from the the left side list.  In the DU status area you will see an entry for the S.M.A.R.T. status of the hard drive.  If it does not say "Verified" then the hard drive is failing or failed. (SMART status is not reported on external Firewire or USB drives.) If the drive is "Verified" then select your OS X volume from the list on the left (sub-entry below the drive entry,) click on the First Aid tab, then click on the Repair Disk button. If DU reports any errors that have been fixed, then re-run Repair Disk until no errors are reported. If no errors are reported click on the Repair Permissions button. Wait until the operation completes, then quit DU and return to the main menu. Select Restart from the Apple menu.
         Reinstall the 10.9.3 update: OS X Mavericks 10.9.3 Update (Combo).
    4. Reinstall Lion/Mountain Lion, Mavericks: Reboot from the Recovery HD. Select Reinstall Lion/Mountain Lion, Mavericks from the Utilities menu, and click on the Continue button.
    Note: You will need an active Internet connection. I suggest using Ethernet if possible because it is three times faster than wireless.
    Reinstall the 10.9.3 update: OS X Mavericks 10.9.3 Update (Combo).

  • HT1925 Currently have iTunes 11.0.1.12 - how do I restore a previous version of iTunes that was far easier to use (much more familiar with)?

    Currently have iTunes 11.0.1.12 - how do I restore a previous version of iTunes that was far easier to use (much more familiar with)?

    Apple is starting to feel like work and not play.

  • I was running KeyPassFox with Firefox 8.0.1, but the plugin does not work in the new release (9) . Is there a way to restore my previous version with all of my bookmarks intact? I do not mind if I have to restore the plugins myself.

    I was running KeyPassFox with Firefox 8.0.1, but the plugin does not work in the new release (9) . Is there a way to restore my previous version with all of my bookmarks intact? I do not mind if I have to restore the plugins myself.
    The plugin shows on the list as enabled and functioning, yet the tool does not show on the toolbar. It would appear that I need to restore the previous version of Firefox and wait until a newer release of the plugin is available before upgrading the browser.

    I copied the iTunes file from the external drive and it's in both places.  I thought all I would need is the iTunes program (which I downloaded to new computer) and my iTunes library file.  There must be something else that's missing.  My iTunes library looks the same on the new computer as it does when I open it on the external drive.  If I click on an iTunes library song from my new computer, it will only play if I have the external drive plugged in.
    My back-up drive is a mess.  I have multiple copies of music, video, photo, and document files and I don't know how that happened. ={  Obviously, I don't know how to back up stuff properly and there are back-up files extending over a 6- to 8-year period.  I think all I did was just drag and drop the main folders from the back-up drive to the same main folders on the C: drive.  Also (and I'm kind of fuzzy on this) Windows used to automatically save music files in a folder within my document files (which makes no sense to me).  As my Jewish friends would say, "Oy Vey!" 

  • How to restore the previous version of an app?

    Hi,
    I would like to restore the previous version of an iphone APP. I hate the new version. I deleted the new version of the app on my Iphone 4 and also on Itunes. I use windows 7 pro. Is there a way to get the previous version of that app? I use Itunes 11, which is the newest version I believe. I have done several backups this year and last year, if that helps. But I am not sure if the app was backed up as well. I know where the back ups are store in my computer. I dont know much about Itunes, can someone help please?
    Thanks,
    Strupar

    If you have the older version in your recycle bin, or one of your backups, delete the current version of the .ipa file, then paste in a copy of the old one. In iTunes go to the apps section of your library and attempt to Get Info for the app in question. Normally the two versions will have slightly different file names so iTunes may ask you to locate the file, do so. On your device delete the copy of the app, then sync with iTunes. You'll need to disable all forms of automatic updating, and will lose any settings and data associated with the app.
    Hmm, offhand I can't recall if automatic updating in iOS 7 is optional. Check that first.
    tt2

  • How do i restore a previous version of an itunes backup?

    how do i restore a previous version of an itunes backup? my iphone backup was overwritten by a newer backup which i don't want. this is urgent because i have lost all my important notes and all my important contacts! i am using windows vista.
    thank you for your help, if i can solve this horrible problem!

    iTunes only keeps one normal backup per iOS device. As you've found out, its an incremental backup in that only data that has changed is actually backed up or overwritten. You can view available backups under iTunes>Preferences>Devices. Any backups listed that are time/date stamped are backups from restore points. These backups are not overwritten. Do you maintain a backup of your computer data? If so, you might be able to retrieve a prior iPhone backup from your computer backup.

  • Can't restore a previous session (or two ago) using a backup.session file?

    I'm trying to recover a session, but it is not my last previous session (it's from a few sessions ago now I suppose). I started Firefox today and it didn't load the session from the previous night and instead loaded a couple of update pages that I closed. I then reopened Firefox realizing that it didn't reopen to my session and now restoring the previous session doesn't help because it opened to the updates (and I've now opened and closed it a few times trying to solve the issue). I've found a file in the session folder called "backup.session" that was modified last night and says it is a SESSION File, but can't seem to open it (web search for a program does no good and I don't see Firefox in the Browse for a Program section.
    Is there anyway to open a session from a few sessions ago and is it through this backup.session file?

    Are you using any session managing extensions like Tab Mix Plus or Session Manager?
    You can try to restore a previous version of the sessionstore.js file.
    *Right-click: Properties > Previous Versions
    *http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Previous-versions-of-files-frequently-asked-questions

  • Is it possible to reinstall Mac OS X Lion on MacBook and then use Time Machine to restore to the previous backup I made before reinstalling Mac OS X Lion?

    Is it possible to reinstall Mac OS X Lion on MacBook and then use Time Machine to restore to the previous backup I made before reinstalling Mac OS X Lion?

    My MacBook was not normally booting up. It would turn on, make the Apple startup noise, and the bottom loading bar would progress just a little bit, then my MacBook would shut down. I tried rebooting it many times and the same thing would happen, it would just shut down. Then, I read that I can reset the PRAM (by holding Option+Command+P+R after the Apple startup noise comes). That worked, but now I get a screen that asks me to choose one of the 4 options (see:  http://images.macworld.com/images/article/2012/07/lionrecoveryutilities-289404.j pg). I choose Restore From Time Machine Backup, but it progresses to 17.6% and gets stuck there forever. I tried doing it again, and it got stuck at 17.6% again. That is why I am asking if I should just reinstall Lion, then restore a previous backup on the fresh new Lion?

Maybe you are looking for