Big Sur 11.0.1 (20B50) was released to block 2013 & 2014 13″ MBPro’s from installing the OS. This move looks to be related to the Big Sur install problems with these models.
UPDATE 12/14/20 – Apple has added the Mac-189A3D4F975D5FFC BoardID back to the newly released macOS Big Sur 11.1 Full installer! It looks like Apple has found and fixed the issue with the installer that was causing problems! This means that you can now download, install and reinstall Big Sur 11.1 on your 2013-14 13″ MacBook Pro again.
UPDATE 11/25/20 – If you attempt to install Big Sur on your 13″ 2013-2014 MBPro, you might get this error.
Installation of macOS could not continue. installation requires downloading important content. That content can’t be downloaded at this time. Try again later.
If you are wondering about the Big Sur Installer issue for the 2013 & 2014 13″ MacBook Pro users, I wrote about the situation earlier this week.
mrmacintosh.com/macos-big-sur-11-list-of-serious-install-upgrade-issues-updated/
To review, if you have a 2013 or 2014 13″ MacBook Pro and attempted to install macOS Big Sur, it was possible that the installer could brick your Mac.
When I say “brick” I mean that it boots to a black screen and is 100% non responsive. You can’t boot to recovery, USB installers, reset the pram or SMC.
The only option for users is to bring it in for repair. The reports say that Apple is saying that the logic board needs to be replaced at a price over 500$. Even worse some are being told it’s a vintage product and they can’t parts. This is FALSE, Apple will keep stock of parts up to 7 years.
Vintage products are those that have not been sold for more than 5 and less than 7 years ago. Mac, iPhone, iPad, iPod, and Apple TV vintage products continue to receive hardware service from Apple service providers, including Apple Retail Stores, subject to availability of inventory, or as required by law.Apple.com – https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201624
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201624
Hopefully Apple will cover the cost of the repair for free.
The solution for now? Release a new macOS Big Sur Installer that removes both models from the Big Sur compatibility list.
The link below shows the list of Big Sur compatible Macs
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211238
The 2013 & 2014 13″ MacBook Pro is still on the list.
Apple just now released this article
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211242
If you can’t install macOS Big Sur on certain 13-inch MacBook Pro computers from 2013 and 2014. Follow these steps if you can’t install macOS Big Sur on a MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Late 2013) or MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Mid 2014). When you install macOS Big Sur on these Mac models, the installer might say that the update cannot be installed on this computer, or your Mac might start up to a blank screen or circle with a line through it.
Apple.com
The most important part of this article is this line
“or your Mac might start up to a blank screen“
This is exactly what will happen to some users if they install macOS Big Sur on their 2013 or 2014 13″ MacBook Pro.
Let’s look at the other parts of the note.
“the installer might say that the update cannot be installed on this computer“
This is because both models have been removed from the new Big Sur installer compatibility list.
“or your Mac might start up to a blank screen or circle with a line through it“
This might happen if you make a new USB installer of Big Sur 11.0.1 (20B50) and attempt to boot to it.
Removed from the Big Sur Compatible List?
The macOS installer has a file inside called the distribution file. For this release it’s called 001-83532.English.dist.
Compatible Macs for install are listed in this file as BoardID for older devices and DeviceIDs for newer models. The boardID we are looking for is
Mac-189A3D4F975D5FFC
This BoardID is for the MacBookPro11,1 or the 2013 & 2014 13″ MacBook Pro.
I keep a database of all Mac BoardID and DevicesIDs here
mrmacintosh.com/list-of-mac-boardid-deviceid-model-identifiers-machine-models/
This is an example of what the list looks like.
This means that (for now anyway) you will not be able to install macOS Big Sur on your 2013 or 2014 13″ MacBook Pro.
Will Apple fix this issue and add them back later?
Unknown at this time. It’s possible that Apple will fix issue the Big Sur installer is causing to these models. They could then add the models back to the compatibility list later.
Thanks
As always, thanks to my fellow macOS Installer inspector Eric Holtam or @eholtam – Follow him on Twitter! – https://twitter.com/eholtam
Previous Big Sur 11 Prod & Beta Releases
- 15. Big Sur 11.0.1 (20B29) – 11/19/20 – Current Release
- 14. Big Sur 11.1 Beta (20C5048k) – 11/17/20 – My Release Notes
- 13 Big Sur 11.0.1 Final (20B29) – 11/12/20 – My Release Notes
- 12. Big Sur 11 Beta 11.0.1 (20B5022a) Beta 2 RC – 11/05/20 My Release Notes
- 11. Big Sur 11 Beta 11.0.1 (20B5012d) Beta 1 – 10/28/20 – My Release Notes
- 10. Big Sur 11 Beta 10 (20A5395g) – 10/14/20 – My Release Notes
- 9. Big Sur 11 Beta 9 (20A5384c) – 09/29/20 – My Release Notes
- 8. Big Sur 11 Beta 8 (20A5374i) – 09/22/20 – My Release Notes
- 7. Big Sur 11 Beta 7 (20A5374g) – 09/17/20 – My Release Notes
- 6. Big Sur 11 Beta 6 (20A5364e) – 09/03/20 – My Release Notes
- 5. Big Sur 11 Beta 5 (20A5354i) – 08/19/20 – My Release Notes
- 4. Big Sur 11 Beta 4 (20A5343i) – 08/04/20
- 3. Big Sur 11 Beta 3 (20A5323l) – 07/22/20
- 2. Big Sur 11 Beta 2 (20A4300b) – 07/07/20 – My Release Notes
- 1. Big Sur 11 Beta 1 (20A4299v) – 06/22/20 – My Release Notes
macOS Big Sur 11 Installer Info
Note: Combo and Delta updates are not available this release is only for the full installer.
Full Installer.app
A Full Installer of MacOS Big Sur 11.0.1
- Mac App Store – apps.apple.com/us/app/macos-big-sur/id1526878132?mt=12
softwareupdate --fetch-full-installerinstallinstallmacos.py– github.com/munki/macadmin-scripts/blob/master/installinstallmacos.py
Size = N/A
T2 BridgeOS Update
The Version of BridgeOS for your T2 Security Chip was updated.
BridgeOS version = unknown
Size = na
Product ID = na
- 8. Previous Beta RC2 = 18.16.12560.5.1
- 7. Previous Beta 11 = 18.15.12551
- 6. Previous Beta 10 = 18.16.12402.5.2
- 5. Previous Beta 9 = 18.16.12390.5.1
- 4. Previous Beta 8 = 18.16.12380 BuildVersion 3
- 3.Previous Beta 7 = 18.16.12380
- 2. Previous Beta 6 = 18.16.12370.5.1
- 1. Previous Beta 5 = 18.16.10358.5.2
Big Sur 11.0.1 20B50
Second try.
I’ve just finished the Big Sur 11.1 installation on my late Mcbook pro retina 2013 and its working fine… available from Apple Store again
hi – was hoping to install Big Sur on my 2013 Macbook Pro now that the issues have settled, has everything worked ok with your OS since your installation in December?
Couple days ago I installed Big Sur on my MacBook Pro (late 2013) and completely bricked my computer. Should have researched more about it before I did, but here I am trying to do everything to get it to work again.
Big Sur installed with no issues on MacBookPro Retina Mid 2014, from the 11.1 released, I guess, today
The normal story is, it always installs okay if you use `create-install-media`, but there’s a high risk of a black screen if you update via the normal system software update route. (But also, in my experience and some other people’s, the computer can be restored by disconnecting the internal battery – similar to what you are recommended to do by Apple to clear PRAM for MacBooks with removable batteries – you do not have to completely replace the IO board.)
I/O board was replaced free of charge by Apple. Now 11.1 is offered after 11.0.1 was pulled. Do you have any information about the safety of the new update?
Felix, 11.1 should be good to go! Apple has added the 2013-14 13″ MBPro boardID back to the installer!
“Installation of macOS could not continue. Installation requires downloading important content. That content can’t be downloaded at this time. Try again later.”
Weeks of that error & I’ve wasted countless hours with chat support & none of them were privy to this information & of course when I bring it up to them, they confirm nothing then condescend me for reading third-party unofficial Apple information. Each advisor gave the same useless runaround of the many recovery modes to try, wiping the HD, using a USB installer. None of them got to the core issues mentioned here & that’s highly disconcerting.
I used to love Mac but who knows after this…
I had no problem at all upgrading my MacBook Pro 2014 from Catalina to Big Sur.
The troubles only started after I decided for a fresh install of Big Sur, because I had too much crap installed and configured on my Mac. I went to Recovery to download the latest macOS – Big Sur. Somehow this didn’t work, and I couldn’t understand why, because this always worked in the past. I had to install my original macOS version, which was the old Mavericks. Somehow I could recover my Catalina TimeMachine backup and I got Catalina up and running again. But to find out about how to fix this entire mess took me at least half a day.
At last I found this article, which confirmed why installing Big Sur isn’t working (right now). I’m quite happy with Catalina, and I guess I will stick with it for some more time.
Hello guys, here goes my experience.
Me too…always got crazy trying to reinstall it on my late 2013 MBP 13,3′ Retina. The thing is, i had Big Sur installed on my Mac for like 2 weeks, but the performance was a little bit worst than the performance overall in Catalina, so I took the opportunity to format de hard drive, I’ve never did it before in 7 years using my mac…after format the disc with cmd+R I tried to install Big Sur from there and was impossible from boot options… called Apple service and they guided me trough the only way to recover my machine, install the original OS, was the inevitably and only option, Mavericks…and for increasing my problems the doble factor authentication was activated…and I have no other apple device to receive the code to proceed after the boot into my iCloud account…so I had to install Sierra after Mavericks, than get into my iCloud account… and finally install Catalina from where i shouldn’t have never moved from.
There is one more thing of course that gets me mad, is the way apple handle that situation, even of course been aware of all of it they didn’t say a shit.
Hugs
Sounds like my experience exactly.
At least we can Catalina commiserate together!
I just found this article. Was trying to get Big Sur installed on my Late 2013 13 inch MBP and it of course wouldn’t. Tried booting to recovery, resetting SMC, NVRAM, etc. Was on a support chat 4 times with Apple last night and this morning. The last thing they wanted me to try, which had me just disconnect with them out of irritation was, “I want you to ERASE your OS and then have it install Big Sur from recovery.” I said, what guarantee do I have it will even install the OS, it won’t do it from Recovery, so if it still won’t install and I have no OS, seems I’ll have a bit of an issue. Not one of them knew that my model isn’t supported any longer. I’m not sure I can trust Apple support if that is the level of knowledge I can expect from them.
The one thing that I got out of this whole ordeal is how unknowledgeable the support advisors can be. Is it training? Is Apple intentionally keeping them in the dark? It’s a widespread-enough issue that they should all be aware of it by now but not one of the many I’ve spoken to are. I understand software issues but it seems like the company is trying to deny / downplay / cover it up & that’s the most infuriating.
My 2013 MacBook Pro got bricked. The battery disconnection suggestion didn’t work, nor does anything else. I’m typically not an early adopter, but Catalina (System and OS) grew to 90% of the disk space. I tragically thought Big Sur might correct that. Sadly, Apple has put in place so many hurdles. I thought my USB boot disk might be faulty, and trying to get Catalina downloaded proved impossible. Can’t download the file to a Win10 Dell, or the iPad Pro. My hope is that Apple will rethink some of their policies instead of leaving us in the dark. Having to pay to repair their screw up is such an unfair position to be placed in.
This is very annoying. I installed Big Sur on my late 2013 MBP with no issues. I recently decided to sell my Mac, so I wanted to wipe the hard drive clean and do a clean install of Big Sur. I made a bootable USB and used disk utility to erase my drive, and now it won’t accept the bootable USB because the OS isn’t supported. Infuriating. For what is supposed to be a user-friendly machine, I’ve ran into more problems in this process. Apple needs to get its s*** together.
You’ll need to use Internet Recovery mode to do a clean install of Catalina.
Same situation here (MB Pro 13 Late 2013 ready for sale). Internet Recovery doesn’t work either. It tells you certain parts cannot be downloaded and you should try later. (like next year?)
in my case update big sur (2013 late) no brick, just draining battery to fast, must install catalina again, but from a usb, because internet recovery work, but with big sur like a option, try to do it, but make me an error….is to weird!! the good new it my mbp its alive!!
Here is a fairly strong discussion on this topic, but Apple advises buying a new one in older machines or a paid service for replacing I / O boards
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/macos-big-sur-update-bricking-some-older-macbook-pro-models.2268438/page-27
Hello. Why doesn’t Apple release a patch that will overwrite the I / O board and will be after the problem? Have them follow instructions on how to unlock the Macbook with the I / O board disconnected and then how to overwrite the I / O board and everything should be back to normal. Because yes, everyone who has bricks will be left with the problem and will not be able to turn off the computer for the rest of their lives. It reminds me of not a full jailbrake where when the iPhone discharged it is also a brick.
There *is* a fix! If you disconnect the battery (requires partial disassembly), then hold the power button for 5 secs (to drain any residual power in capacitors) then reconnect, reassemble and restart, it fixes the problem. Completely draining the battery will also fix it, but is harder to do reliably.
Strange enough. I have a mid-2014 13 inch MBP and Big Sur runs well on it. In fact, I have no problem at all.
If you have a bricked system from this update, do NOT let Apple get away with blowing you off on a fix for the mess they’ve created. Ask to escalate the issue and it’s likely it will be fixed (source: I work for them).
Thanks for this new
I have the same problem with my MacBook and i am waiting the apple assiatance , i have a conference call with them at 12h
Perrig