Restore Shipping Software

To use a previously-released OS version, you can erase your device, then restore from the backup that you created before you installed the beta.

Intel-based Mac:

Turn off Find My Mac and sign out of your Apple ID

To turn off Find My Mac, go to System Settings > Apple ID > iCloud > Find My Mac, and toggle Find My to OFF.

Then click the back button to return to System Settings > Apple ID, and click “Sign Out…” to sign out of your account.

Back up your Mac

Back up your Mac using Time Machine.

Start Internet Recovery

Boot to Internet Recovery (Option-Command-R or Option-Shift-Command-R) to prepare to downgrade to the version of macOS that came with your Mac or the closest version that’s still available.

Erase volume group

Open Disk Utility and select “Macintosh HD”. Select the “Erase Volume Group” (not just the volume “Macintosh HD”). You may have unexpected results if you do not select ”Erase Volume Group”. When complete, quit Disk Utility.

Reinstall macOS in Internet Recovery

Click on Reinstall macOS and follow the onscreen instructions. If Find My was enabled on the Mac, you will need to activate the Mac when the reinstall process completes. At the end of the activation process, you will be prompted to restart the Mac. More details about reinstalling macOS are available here.

Follow the macOS Setup Assistant

At the appropriate time, select the option to restore data from a Time Machine backup. Select the backup that was completed at the start of this process to restore the Mac’s data.


Mac with Apple silicon:

Turn off Find My Mac and sign out of your Apple ID

To turn off Find My Mac, go to System Settings > Apple ID > iCloud > Find My Mac, and toggle Find My to OFF.

Then click the back button to return to System Settings > Apple ID, and click “Sign Out…” to sign out of your account.

Back up your Mac

Back up your Mac using Time Machine.

Restore with Apple Configurator 2

Use the following procedure to restore a Mac with Apple silicon with Apple Configurator 2.

Follow the macOS Setup Assistant

At the appropriate time, select the option to restore data from a Time Machine backup. Select the backup that was completed at the start of this process to restore the Mac’s data.

Connect your iOS device to iTunes

Connect your device to iTunes using a USB cable and open iTunes.

Note: If you have an Apple Watch enrolled in the watchOS beta, restoring your paired iPhone to a previously-released OS version is not recommended as it will no longer pair properly.

Put your iOS device into Recovery Mode

On an iPhone 8, or later: Press and quickly release the Volume Up button. Press and quickly release the Volume Down button. Then, press and hold the Side button until you see the recovery-mode screen.

On an iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus: Press and hold the Sleep/Wake and Volume Down buttons at the same time. Don’t release the buttons when you see the Apple logo. Keep holding both buttons until you see the recovery mode screen.

On an iPhone 6s and earlier or iPod touch: Press and hold the Sleep/Wake and Home buttons at the same time. Don’t release the buttons when you see the Apple logo. Keep holding both buttons until you see the recovery mode screen.

Learn more about using Recovery Mode

Restore your iOS device

iTunes presents you with options to restore or update your iOS device. You’ll need to confirm that you want to set it back to its factory settings by choosing “Restore” and then iTunes will erase your device.

Activate your iOS device

Once completed, sign in with your Apple ID from iTunes to activate your device.

Restore from your iOS backup in iTunes

When iTunes prompts you to restore all of your information from a previous backup, choose the iOS backup that you created in iTunes before you installed the iOS beta. Then select “Continue” and iTunes restore your device.

Restart your iOS device

After your device has restored, it will shut down. Restart the iOS device and follow the onscreen instructions from Setup Assistant.

Note: If you have upgraded to macOS Catalina, you can restore your device using Finder. After putting your device into Recovery Mode, select it from Locations in the Finder sidebar.

Connect your iPad to iTunes

Connect your device to iTunes using a USB cable and open iTunes.

Put your iPad into Recovery Mode

Press and hold the Sleep/Wake and Home buttons at the same time. Don’t release the buttons when you see the Apple logo. Keep holding both buttons until you see the recovery mode screen.

Learn more about using Recovery Mode

Restore your iPad

iTunes presents you with options to restore or update your iPad. You’ll need to confirm that you want to set it back to its factory settings by choosing “Restore” and then iTunes will erase your device.

Activate your iPad

Once completed, sign in with your Apple ID from iTunes to activate your device.

Restore from your iPad backup in iTunes

When iTunes prompts you to restore all of your information from a previous backup, choose the iPad backup that you created in iTunes before you installed the iPad beta. Then select “Continue” and iTunes restore your device.

Restart your iPad

After your device has restored, it will shut down. Restart your iPad and follow the onscreen instructions from Setup Assistant.

Note: If you have upgraded to macOS Catalina, you can restore your device using Finder. After putting your device into Recovery Mode, select it from Locations in the Finder sidebar.