How can I get an older version of Mac OS on my MacBook Air in recovery mode??

Question

Level 1

4 points

How can I get an older version of Mac OS on my MacBook Air in recovery mode??

Hi really hope someone can help. So I got my daughter a new laptop more suited to her schoolwork and went to wipe her MacBook Air to sell.

I did this using recovery mode and erased the hard drive, presumably the correct thing to do.

Once that was finished however it won’t re install Mac OS as the software is to new for this older MacBook I think it is around a 2017 model possibly.

can anyone help me get this back up and running please.

Posted on Jun 7, 2025 2:51 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Jun 7, 2025 2:58 PM in response to Sblaikie

Recovery will use the most recent appropriate version of macOS for the Mac.

See Step 6: What to do before you sell, give away, trade in, or recycle your Mac - Apple Support

Boot Recovery with Command-Option-R, and not Command-R.

When you erase, make sure you select Show All Disks, and erase the entire storage device.

View all devices or only volumes in Disk Utility on Mac - Apple Support

When the Erase is completed, use Recovery to re-install the latest supported version on the erased storage.

Reply