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I can't reinstall El Capitan from AppStore because of this:

error dialog

and CmdR only suggest to reinstall macOS Sierra.

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    Golden Rule - don't put a beta OS on a mission-critical machine. Use a clone, because even Time Machine cannot roll back to an earlier OS, unless you take the precaution to remove it as you update.
    – Tetsujin
    Commented Jun 14, 2016 at 11:53
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    In addition to the Golden Rule mentioned, one should not upgrade to a new OS without first knowing how and what it takes to revert to the previous OS and have the tools necessary in place before preforming the upgrade!
    – user3439894
    Commented Jun 14, 2016 at 12:44
  • if you switch off SIP (System Integrity Protection), this older solution here on AskDifferent should still work: apple.stackexchange.com/questions/159419/…
    – Redarm
    Commented Jun 15, 2016 at 17:33

5 Answers 5

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macOS is not designed to be downgradable, and as such you cannot downgrade it through an installer like this. You will need to create a bootable install disk (Apple support), e.g. by running 

sudo /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ El\ Capitan.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume --applicationpath /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ El\ Capitan.app

to install on a drive called MyVolume. Running this will lose you all your content, so you will need to have a backup if you want to retain your files. Otherwise, wait Sierra out…

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The preferred way is to do a Restore from Time Machine. Your next option is to do a clean install OS X from USB or other install media; meaning wipe the HDD and install.

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    Topic starter wants to roll back without Time Machine.
    – rwzdoorn
    Commented Jun 14, 2016 at 11:37
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    @rwzdoorn That's from Apple and it obviously bears repeating. There's also a second sentence to my answer.
    – Allan
    Commented Jun 14, 2016 at 11:40
  • Time machine doesn't work. You won't be able to select older installations if current is updated to latest one.
    – Shritam Bhowmick
    Commented Jul 28, 2016 at 20:23
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Best way to downgrade to El Capitan:

  1. Make a new partition
  2. Reboot and hold down Command R to start Internet Recovery . This will clean install El Capitan.
  3. After installation, remove the partition of Sierra.

See official documentation of Apple about Internet Recovery

Done.

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  • The Title of the question clearly states "without time machine".
    – user3439894
    Commented Jun 14, 2016 at 11:20
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    Edited, this is the solution WITHOUT time machine.
    – rwzdoorn
    Commented Jun 14, 2016 at 11:34
  • @Allan, Why did you remove "Option" from the key sequence that rwzdoorn stated?
    – user3439894
    Commented Jun 14, 2016 at 12:20
  • @user3439894 Because per the article he linked, it says Cmd+R, not Cmd+Option+R.
    – Allan
    Commented Jun 14, 2016 at 12:32
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    @user3439894 His tactic is to create a new empty partition (assumes there's space), install OS X there via Internet Recovery, then remove the Sierra partition. I also assume he intends for the user to resize the new partition once done to utilize the full disk, but this is not indicated.
    – Allan
    Commented Jun 14, 2016 at 13:00
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Ok so i just bought this macbook pro and i am really good with computers. However, this is my first mac. So the person i bought it from didnt know how to reboot it so i went online.

Command+R brings up the 4 option menu. I erased the hard drive and when i went to reinstall i wasnt able to install el capitan using my icloud id that i have for my ipad. It said temporarily not available.

So i got pissed and shut down the computer as everything i had read had not worked. After shutting it down i turned it back on and a folder with a question mark came on and couldnt get anywhere. Shut it down again.

Restarted it while holding down command+R and the internet system recovery began. Had to connect to wifi. BAMCIS it was that easy to get it to factory settings. It installed OS X LION and i then upgraded to Sierra. Only to realize that Serato Scratch live was not compatible with Sierra as i am running SL1 lol.

Anyways had to go back to OS X LION so same process erase hard drive. Shut down computer. Command+R to start internet system recovery go back to OS X Lion. Pretty simple method if you want to go back without a hastle or got a laptop off someone and are getting the temporarily not available message. Hope this helps.

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this may seem like a bit of a hack, but you could try to use Unibeast to create a fresh OS X El Capitan installation disk, and boot your mac from it to install. Here is a step-by-step guide on creating this disk : http://www.tonymacx86.com/threads/unibeast-install-os-x-el-capitan-on-any-supported-intel-based-pc.172672/ This is basically intended for Intel-based PCs but it works like a charm on the Mac to perform rollbacks.

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  • Why all of these down votes ? This works fine and does not need any Time Machine backups! I have already done this, it is straightforward and safe. Please kindly consider avoiding to hold the new members of the community back.
    – uiguig
    Commented Jun 21, 2016 at 16:35
  • I think the community is mad at the genuine of macOS that it comes shipped with/
    – Shritam Bhowmick
    Commented Jul 28, 2016 at 20:32

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