Running Big Sur from external SDD is possible?

[camelia]

Hello

I wonder if is possible to install, run and work with app from an external SDD

Thanks
Camelia

 

[profdraper]

Yes, I have my Big Sur running off a 500GB Samsung M.2 in a Thunderbolt 3 enclosure (OWC Thunderbay 6 M.2 slot). Of course, the security prefs have to be adjusted via Recovery.

 

[DennisdeWit]

Yes. I have this with my Samsung X5 2TB on my 2019 iMac. Works fine! 🙂

 

[camelia]

Yes, I have my Big Sur running off a 500GB Samsung M.2 in a Thunderbolt 3 enclosure (OWC Thunderbay 6 M.2 slot). Of course, the security prefs have to be adjusted via Recovery.

Yes. I have this with my Samsung X5 2TB on my 2019 iMac. Works fine! 🙂

Could you be so kind to post the links of the external SDD you bought?
Just to give me an idea and check the $

Thanks
Camelia

 

[DennisdeWit]

Could you be so kind to post the links of the external SDD you bought?
Just to give me an idea and check the $

Thanks
Camelia

Sure. But they are not cheap. https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Portable-SSD-Thunderbolt-MU-PB2T0B/dp/B07GBTY82P

 

[camelia]

Sure. But they are not cheap. https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Portable-SSD-Thunderbolt-MU-PB2T0B/dp/B07GBTY82P

They are expensive!! 😭😭 I will need to save more money but thanks for the link

And they ship to Mexico!!! 👌

Camelia

 

[joevt]

They are expensive!! 😭😭 I will need to save more money but thanks for the link

Next best thing to Thunderbolt 3 (~22 Gbps) would be USB 3.1 gen 2 (10 Gbps). Plus, it's more compatible than Thunderbolt.
https://www.amazon.ca/Transparent-External-Enclosure-Converter-TCM2-Red/dp/B07QMQHV75

Since it's only 10 Gbps max, you can settle for slower NVMe drives
https://www.amazon.ca/Intel-660p-1-0TB-80mm-978350/dp/B07GCL6BR4

SATA drives or Key B M.2 drives are less expensive but are limited to 6 Gbps. But some USB enclosures are limited to 5 Gbps.
https://www.amazon.ca/ORICO-Enclosure-Aluminum-External-2TB-Clear/dp/B082TZ8DB2

 

[britdev]

Hi,

I am in need of some friendly help. I just downloaded Big Sur and now my external OWC Envoy Pro Ex SSD Hard drive Thunderbolt 3 is not able to back up.
What can I do to resume backups?
Any help is appreciated.
Thank you.

 

[jazz1]

Hi,

I am in need of some friendly help. I just downloaded Big Sur and now my external OWC Envoy Pro Ex SSD Hard drive Thunderbolt 3 is not able to back up.

What can I do to resume backups?

Any help is appreciated.

Thank you.

Oddly I just got a marketing email from OWC/Macsales bragging about their compatibility with the BigSur/M1 Macs. Try chatting with them online. I've got help on Sat. from them in the past. Good luck! Take care!