Yeah, I only installed Catalina quite recently. I think I'll hold off on Bug Sir for a while.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
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
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Yeah, I only installed Catalina quite recently. I think I'll hold off on Bug Sir for a while.
15” Late 2013 here. Not only it didn’t brick mine, actually quite the opposite. Machine was crashing /randomly restarting with Catalina once I installed beta (initially in a partition) it run lime a charm. I get rid of the Catalina partition soon after that.
*I even did 2 clean instals on Catalina prior I go nuclear..
*I even did 2 clean instals on Catalina prior I go nuclear..
Ummm no. If it's a Mac officially supported by Big Sur then it should not be a risk no matter the age.
Well, my mid 2014 MBP 13 inch is in the group of bricked machines, but fortunately I was only using it as a file server, with everything backed up elsewhere. My local Apple stores are closed due to a local state of emergency over the usual current concerns, so no way to fix it anytime soon, but it’s not a big deal. MacOS 11 is working great on my 2013 MBA and on my 2018 13-inch Pro.
It’s disappointing to be sure, especially for people who actually rely on their old machines.
It’s disappointing to be sure, especially for people who actually rely on their old machines.
Take a look at the “unsupported macs” thread. Easy to install and works great on the 2013 iMac.
Actually iOS developers do because Apple tie Xcode and its support of the latest iOS to the latest release of macOS
Ah yes once again cherrypicking to win your failing argument. Adios.
Upgrading is a choice. Nobody is forcing you. Just stop.
I might have gotten lucky on this one because I got BS on launch day and my 2014 13" MacBook Pro is running strong right now, even with the display cracked. I have it connected in clamshell mode to a 1440P, 27" monitor.
I do sympathize with those who have been bricked though. It seems like these issues are to just be expected now.
I do sympathize with those who have been bricked though. It seems like these issues are to just be expected now.
My 2020 iMac was dead for about a day... when I pressed the on button, I could see things light up, hear external drives whirr, etc., but no chime, no Apple... just nothing. It eventually started up and finished the installation when I unplugged for 15 seconds and plugged back in and then waited patiently. I thought it was toast.
I always laugh when I read this. How many 10 updates are fatal? Answer: a lot. Just read the register on patch tuesday. Solid as sand.
Coincidentally, I'm building the same PC today except with a 5600XT and a Ryzen 3600 because I don't feel like paying for a beta product in Apple Silicon and there's too much competition for the new GPUs.
Well, for once I'm very happy that my 2010 Mac Pro is not a supported machine. It really is a feature apparently. 
Ah so you're steering the argument to developers in order to win a failing argument. Newsflash! Developers are not the majority of people here and furthermore Developers generally have the sense to install a major OS upgrade on a separate partition to test it out before they upgrade their Admin partition since their livelihood depends upon it. And seriously I doubt most of the developers are creating apps for Apple's latest OS on 8 year old machines, especially when they don't offer the latest features such as an upgraded Bluetooth, Touchbar, etc. Nice try.
IMHO it's probably something to do with APFS; I was having problems with a late 2013 rMBP until I did a wipe and reinstall back around BS beta 3; it was weird when the installer said not to format in HFS+ and make an APFS volume instead. Since that time I never had any issues with operation in Big Sur, up until the final.
I wonder how many of the blowups are from having HFS+ errors and the APFS converter being totally unequpped to resolve them..
I wonder how many of the blowups are from having HFS+ errors and the APFS converter being totally unequpped to resolve them..
You're right. I have a Windows 10 gaming PC. Nothing exotic. Bog standard Haswell CPU, Z87 chipset. I have nvidia drivers, Steam, and Firefox installed. Nothing else. On two occasions Windows 10 updates have destroyed the installation so badly I had to reinstall.
Firstly, this is the first time I replied to you so my argument is not "failing".
Secondly, I am a developer. So I know exactly what my needs are.
Thirdly, if this issue is bricking Macs' firmware then using a separate partition wouldn't save you from you the problem.
Fourthly, who even has enough space to keep two installs of macOS considering how stingy Apple are with the SSDs they provide?
Why wouldn't they be? Touchbar has nothing to do with iOS. Bluetooth is irrelevant as if you need to test that you need to use a physical device. Your Mac doesn't matter.
So nice try yourself but you clearly aren't a developer. There's no reason developers shouldn't use old machines. My 15" rMBP is a perfectly capable device, and upgrading it before I need to is just throwing money down the drain. I'd rather invest £3000 a year than buy a new MacBook every year. That will pay huge dividends in the future. Not all of us are as profligate as yourself.
It's less onerous of late, but in the past Apple had "nag" reminders which were easy to click unintentionally. Maybe not forcing, but also not intentional choice.
The other really annoying thing about Apple upgrades is the lack of choice choice for *which* upgrade you get. You can't just upgrade to the next minor release, if there is a major release already out. (Talking about end user devices, not enterprise managed devices.)
Last edited:
My late 2013 15' retina macbookpro updated smothly with no problems at all.
Also I want to mention that seems to run faster...
I want to update my machine but seems pointless as runs extremely fast since 2013 as daily working machine and even more now between the old intel of first M1 version. I will have to wait unless it breaks.
edit: i7 16gb 1tb.
Also I want to mention that seems to run faster...
I want to update my machine but seems pointless as runs extremely fast since 2013 as daily working machine and even more now between the old intel of first M1 version. I will have to wait unless it breaks.
edit: i7 16gb 1tb.
Apple literally said ✨it’s upgrade time✨ to some of us 😂