Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

macOS Big Sur Update Bricking Some Older MacBook Pro Models

I'm still using Mojave on my 2014 13"MacBook Pro. Works fine for me. I intend to upgrade when the 2nd iteration or M2 is released.

I also still run an old 2008 15" MacBook Pro which runs on El Capitan that I just use for FaceBook. FB only works properly on the Chrome browser, not Firefox or Safari. I'm not a FB fan, for me it is a necessary evil.

Hopefully, I shall have a new MacBook Pro within the next year. I prefer the 13 or it could be a 14" as I travel a lot and don't mind the extra size compared to an iPad.
 
chineseguy38 said:
I was using beta for my late 2015 iMac. Slow as a snail. I restore the original OS and the speed is back to normal. I had been sending feedback back to Apple but no getting any acknowledgement. I think Apple is using the same tactic as iOS. Slowing down Mac to make people buy newer model.
Click to expand...

There's no evidence they do this on either platform
 
  • Like
Reactions: posguy99, hlfway2anywhere, fhopper and 1 other person
Maconplasma said:
I got news for you buddy. The "Big Bucks" you paid for your 2013/2014 Macs has served it's purpose. You're not entitled to a free OS year after year, especially for these Macs that are near 7 & 8 years old. Years ago Apple charged $129 for an OS upgrade and people happily paid it, and Macs weren't any cheaper back then they are now.
Click to expand...
Your logic is so flawed I don’t even know where to start.
 
  • Like
Reactions: raymanh, hlfway2anywhere, JFV_noB and 2 others
Maconplasma said:
I got news for you buddy. The "Big Bucks" you paid for your 2013/2014 Macs has served it's purpose. You're not entitled to a free OS year after year, especially for these Macs that are near 7 & 8 years old. Years ago Apple charged $129 for an OS upgrade and people happily paid it, and Macs weren't any cheaper back then they are now.
Click to expand...
I think the issue is if apple deems the hardware capable of being updated, it shouldn't destroy the device. People would be less ticked off if their device did not get updated 7 years down the road because at least they can still use the device, they just miss out on some of the new features.
 
  • Like
Reactions: pshufd
MacRumors said:


A large number of late 2013 and mid 2014 13-inch MacBook Pro owners are reporting that the macOS Big Sur update is bricking their machines. A MacRumors forum thread contains a significant number of users reporting the issue, and similar problems are being reported across Reddit and the Apple Support Communities, suggesting the problem is widespread.

macbookpro13large.jpg


Users are reporting that during the course of updating to macOS Big Sur, their machines are stuck displaying a black screen. Key reset combinations, including NVRAM, SMC, safe mode, and internet recovery, are all reportedly inaccessible after attempting to install the update, leaving no way to bypass the static black screen.

It appears that the overwhelming number of users experiencing problems are owners of the late 2013 and mid 2014 13-inch MacBook Pro, but it is unclear exactly how many users of these models have been affected. It is also of note that these are the oldest models supported by macOS Big Sur.

One commenter on Reddit said that they were told by Apple support to book their MacBook Pro in for a repair. Another on an Apple Support thread said that the issue has been escalated to Apple's engineering team, so Apple should now be aware of the problem.

Until it is clear what may be causing the issue and Apple releases a fix, late 2013 and mid 2014 13-inch MacBook Pro may wish to hold off on installing macOS Big Sur.

Article Link: macOS Big Sur Update Bricking Some Older MacBook Pro Models
Click to expand...
Maybe I am lucky but I didn't have any problems updating to Big Sur on my MacBook Pro late 2013. I barely use it though. I have a 1 TB drive and I have used just over 300 GB I have 16 GB of ram. I had to bring it to Apple once . I am using this baby until it dies on me. But based on my usage pattern it will go on a bit. You see I am a windows guy predominantly. I only got this machine because of a job that I had where I had to support users on Mac.
 
wumpalumpa said:
What do you want Jimmy, wait few months and get a new PC with AMD 6800 XT, 32-64GB DDR4 RAM? or get a new shinny Apple Mac ARM computer with no professional software for it (apart from your phone apps), without cpu virtualization extensions and a GPU that dreams to reach those 20 teraflops?

did I mention the price is the same?
Click to expand...
M1 will support virtualization quite well, it just doesn't have the specific extensions that Intel and AMD created. Wait a few months and we'll see Parallels and VMWare catching up.
 
wumpalumpa said:
Xbox One Series X is based on Windows 10, with all next gen games adapted for it, those who work with Photo, Video Editing, Vectors, ... would get far better video support on Windows 10 than MacOS next years // Windows Operating System is getting really solid, MaciOS can stick to tablets and phones, still better than Android, no doubt.
Click to expand...
All the prior XBoxes were based on Windows. How is this new?
 
  • Like
Reactions: XXPP
My 120 Gb mid 2013 MBP stopped the install and told me to free up space. I did that and it went on and installed fine. It boot like a spinner now rather than an SSD but is running fine.
 
Really wish Apple would allow end users to set how many days after version update or point update was released before download and install.

Big Sur came out November 12, 2020 then I'd want the option to install it 30 days later like December 12, 2020.

This would allow early adopters, like those who had a bricked Mac, to report it to Apple or allow 3rd party devs to issue updates that breaks due to a system update.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Zeus65
My MacPro 2013 showed exactly the same problem during an update of the "EFI" while installing Catalina. This happened two times. One new motherboard paid and the second was replaced by Apple at no cost. The update "destroyed" the EFI-flash chip...

MacPro is still on Mojave. I never tried to install Catalina...
 
Hexley said:
Really wish Apple would allow end users to set how many days after version update or point update was released before download and install.

Big Sur came out November 12, 2020 then I'd want the option to install it 30 days later like December 12, 2020.

This would allow early adopters, like those who had a bricked Mac, to report it to Apple or allow 3rd party devs to issue updates that breaks due to a system update.
Click to expand...
What are you talking about? You can install an OS upgrade whenever you want. You're not required to upgrade right away or at all.
 
  • Like
Reactions: macfacts and Slix
Premium1 said:
I think the issue is if apple deems the hardware capable of being updated, it shouldn't destroy the device. People would be less ticked off if their device did not get updated 7 years down the road because at least they can still use the device, they just miss out on some of the new features.
Click to expand...
I see so you're suggesting everybody's computer has perfect non-corrupt software? No illegal torrents that could cause install issues? No 3rd party software utilities to do things to override the system functions? Just perfect Mac users right? Because nothing I stated suggested that older Macs WOULD have problems. I said that people with very old Macs tend to not have a clean system and undoubtedly will run into problems let alone they may also hardware issue due to age.

This same thing happened with people that had legacy plug-ins for their music production software that was in 32 bit and would not work in Catalina. Maybe if some people took responsibility for their computer less issues would happen. Nobody here can see another member's computer setup so to automatically take the side of the user against the evil giant Apple without any facts is ridiculous.
 
  • Like
Reactions: eico720
fhopper said:
My 120 Gb mid 2013 MBP stopped the install and told me to free up space. I did that and it went on and installed fine. It boot like a spinner now rather than an SSD but is running fine.
Click to expand...
There is no such thing as "mid 2013 MBP". Maybe you are talking about Mid 2014?
 
My wife's September 2014 MacBook Pro is locked on a BLANK BLACK screen after attempt to install Big Sur! Safe, and Recovery will not work. I power off and when power ON mac comes right back with BLANK BLACK screen.
 
  • Sad
Reactions: macfacts
I have been running Big Sur on a Late 2013 13-inch MBP since the first developer beta and and now upgraded to release version with no problems. Lucky I guess...
 
MacRumors said:
Users are reporting that during the course of updating to macOS Big Sur, their machines are stuck displaying a black screen. Key reset combinations, including NVRAM, SMC, safe mode, and internet recovery, are all reportedly inaccessible after attempting to install the update, leaving no way to bypass the static black screen.
Click to expand...

I had this exact issue with a 2020 MacBook Air.

However, if you leave it alone for 45-50 minutes the black screen does eventually go away and the install continues.

I know... I was freaking out too, but leave it on, plugged into AC power and go away and do something else for an hour or two.

Not sure what it was doing but my fans came on several times so I knew it was doing "something".

After that, install carried on as normal. I suspect maybe it was EFI update vs. overloaded Apple code-signing servers or something. But... either way. Fine now.
 
  • Like
Reactions: steve333
MBA 2018 ... Big Sur install failed at some point, unknown error, may regret trying a second time around, which it is doing now.
 
My mid-2014 15.4” MBP went through the usual motions (progress bars, black screens, progress bars, counting down the minutes, etc., until a final reboot. Then it just showed a black screen. The backlight was on, but the screen was blank. It sat like that for what must have been more than an hour, then the login prompt appeared.

Don’t give up too soon and start mucking around with it, just give it time. If you have a nervous disposition, start the upgrade before you go to bed. It’ll most likely be done by the morning.
 
  • Like
Reactions: steve333 and throAU
Will be staying on Mojave until these bugs are worked out. I just checked for the heck of it how soon I can reserve a “Genius” Bar appointment if mine was bricked. Unless I’m going to drive 45 minutes away, the soonest my local Apple store can see me in a week from today. Had I upgraded because Apple makes the software and hardware so it’s magical seamless user experience, and my Mid 2014 bricked, I would be with out a work computer for at least 7 days. Nice going Apple.
7E1E2E93-116B-45EB-AD15-78BE47EC467A.png
 
As far as bugs go.... pretty smooth sailing here for me as an upgrade from Catalina.

The upgrade black screen was a worry... but so far other than that the only quirk I've seen so far is that my Microsoft bluetooth mouse didn't want to pair this morning when I returned to work until I toggled bluetooth off and on.

Other than that... nothing to report.
 
Before upgrading, it probably makes sense to ensure you’re up to the latest Catalina, and also your applications. It would have been easier for me had I done the Adobe update before Big Sur.... I ended up nuking Adobe (without thinking it through, I’d add :) ) and losing my Photoshop actions. The upgrade to the future was, I think, always going have some nastiness for some users.

Edit: I think developers, especially those who tinker at the OS/file system level, are in for the bigliest pain. Sorry.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back