Is Tahoe Time Machine backup compatible with Sequoia or are any other timing problems to considered.

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Level 1

5 points

Is Tahoe Time Machine backup compatible with Sequoia or are any other timing problems to considered.

My system iMac2020 1TB SSD Intel on Tahoe 26.1; this version does not work for me (many reasons) my last Sequoia backup with Time Machine 14 Sep 2025 last update today on Tahoe 26.1. Must go back to Sequoia to stay sane.

Following a much prescribed downgrade procedures ie. get last Sequoia release and install it. Will my latest time machine data backup done under Tahoe 26.1 be compatible with the last Sequoia release or will I get into trouble?

I must get my latest data from today back from the Time Machine backup.

Please help as Tahoe has been my worst experience since migrating from Windows (pre 7) to Mac many years ago.

iMac 27″, macOS 26.1

Posted on Nov 15, 2025 9:45 PM

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Answer 1

Barney-15E

Level 10

122,102 points

Nov 16, 2025 5:06 AM in response to SigiRNZ

Migration Assistant will not migrate data made on a newer OS than the destination OS. It will instruct you to upgrade the OS. You could only Migrate the last Sequoia backup, then gather everything else manually. I would do that before trying to revert.

You may be able to “Browse Other Backup Disks” to manually restore files from the backup, but I have no way to test that.

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Answer 2

Owl-53

Level 10

102,373 points

Nov 16, 2025 1:39 AM in response to SigiRNZ

There is a link to a posting that specifically relates to your question / issue visa vie TM Backup made on Tahoe and reverting the machine back to macOS 15 Sequoia

Credit to by colleague @ neuroanatomist

Rolling back to Sequoia would require booting in Recovery OS, erasing the internal drive, installing Sequoia, then restoring your data from a backup made before you upgraded to Tahoe. A backup made now won’t work (you could manually copy off your files but settings, licenses, etc., would all be lost). It’s not for the faint hearted.

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Answer 3

Owl-53

Level 10

102,373 points

Nov 17, 2025 1:57 AM in response to SigiRNZ

Regarding the Apple Keyboard

We hope the keyboard is the rechargeable type ?

If so, cable the keyboard via the supplied cable from all Apple directly to computer

In effect it should work much like a USB Keyboard

Going back to Sequoia or Sonoma is doable but less so recommended

Be aware before you venture down this road

To go back will required Wiping the Entire Drive to zero

This can be done via a Bootable USB Installer of the previous version of macOS

There might be be other ways though I usually suggest have the Installation Media On Hand rather that depending on a reliable Internet Connect to the Apple Servers

Also and here I have only read other mention this

Pictures and some other personal data files when used on Tahoe and going back to older OSes just do not work

Just you could do " If I was to copy all of my personal Documents to a external SSD Hard Drive " , then bring them back Manually

Food for though and consider your option carefully Before rather than Afterwards

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Answer 4

Owl-53

Level 10

102,373 points

Nov 16, 2025 5:20 AM in response to SigiRNZ

You may consider the advise from the previous Contributor

Though, perhaps if you were to describe what the precise issue (s ) you are experiencing in Tahoe

We might be able to help with this and avoid the perils associated with Downgrade process, altogether

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Answer 5

SigiRNZ Author

Level 1

5 points

Nov 16, 2025 1:39 PM in response to Owl-53

Sequoia would not recognise my Apple keyboard after trying g just about everything

This forced me into into the next best thing (unfortunately not the best) nothing works like it used to.

My question now is: should I even go back to Sonoma - considering the original experience.

It also seems I am not the one and only to have many problems with Tahoe - is Apple on a bad down spiral?

Many of their so called upgrades seem to be bug fixes.

So my and your conclusion is very likely "I am going to be alone on this one".

Unfortunately for some reason all my pre Sequoia backups have been destroyed due to Apple dropping Time Machine support.

If I was to copy all of my personal Documents to a external SSD Hard Drive (not using Time Machine) and install a macOS be that Sonoma or Sequoia and once the older OS is working copy everything back that should work ok ?

Thanks for your help and advice to all of you.

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Answer 6

SigiRNZ Author

Level 1

5 points

Nov 16, 2025 1:52 PM in response to SigiRNZ

Many typos, so here I go again (age taking its toll (89));

Sequoia would not recognise my Apple keyboard after trying just about everything including talking to friends experienced on Apple.

This forced me into into the next best thing (unfortunately not the best) now nothing works like it used to.

My question now is: should I even go back to Sonoma - considering the original experience.

I am not the only to have many problems with Tahoe (ref Laura Burke Aug 11, 2025)- is Apple on a bad down spiral? Many of their so called upgrades seem to be bug fixes.

So my and your conclusion is very likely "I am going to be alone on this one".

Unfortunately for some reason all my pre Sequoia backups have been destroyed due to Apple dropping Time Machine support and after going to Tahoe my old backups went kaput..

If I was to copy all of my personal Documents to a external SSD Hard Drive (not using Time Machine) and install a macOS - be that Sonoma or Sequoia - and once the older OS is working copy everything back that should work ok ?

Thanks for your help and advice to all of you.

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Answer 7

Owl-53

Level 10

102,373 points

Nov 18, 2025 1:28 AM in response to SigiRNZ

As you machine would qualify to run both Sequoia and Sonoma. I am not sure why the Apple Apps Store is not allowing the downloads of either of them

You may try using info from this link and choose the version / versions of macOS the computer Qualifies to run

Use the App Store

As for installing either or both Sequoia / Sonoma to an external drive

Information from Apple in this link(s) would be a good starter

Use more than one version of macOS on Mac

How to use an external storage device as a Mac startup disk

Important regarding Booting to External Drive with macOS 15 / macOS 14 with a T2 configuration

Allow booting from external media

If you're using a Mac with the Apple T2 Security Chip, use Startup Security Utility to allow your Mac to start up (boot) from external or removable media. Learn how to use Startup Security Utility.

One more thing of equal importance

Use a SSD drive and not one of those traditionally and older Rotational / Spinner Platter Drives

SSD drives are way more fast versus the Mechnical drives. Even a 7200 RPM mechanical drive would be slower than a SSD drive

EDITED 🦉-53

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Answer 8

SigiRNZ Author

Level 1

5 points

Nov 17, 2025 8:49 PM in response to Owl-53

Hi, looks like we get to know each other ....

good advise thank you again and since for some unknown reason Sequoia and Sonoma would not download I got a little upset (p... off..) and thought of another method that might give me some insight into why Sequoia would not accept my keyboard input (I tried on my wife's iMac and it worked ok there telling me there was enough charge in the keyboard). Not downloading either Sonoma or Sequoia could that have anything to do with the T2 chip? I am guessing here since Support would know my setup.

I will now attempt to set up one external boot drive with Sequoia and one with Sonoma. Booting from either one will/should work and I will see what happens. That way Tahoe should not get upset and I get the choice of either OS to use. This time I hope I can get the OS download for this experiement. Maybe I should not use the OS download method recommended by "Support Apple" as outlined on the Web and rather use someone else's...?

One good thing here is that nothing gets destroyed on my internal SSD with Tahoe and data still intact.

Any warnings on that one?

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