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How to download MacOS Big Sur

Tyler Lacoma
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Apple’s latest MacOS update, called Big Sur, finally moves away from version 10 after nearly 20 years. MacOS 11 is one of the biggest updates yet, boasting a visual overhaul, new notifications, a faster Safari experience, and an upgraded Messages app. It also begins Apple’s transition away from Intel CPUs.

Now, Big Sur is officially out of beta and was publicly released on November 12, 2020. Read on to find out how to download MacOS Big Sur right now.

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Big Sur has been out for nearly a year now, and now the latest MacOS Monterey is out in public beta. If you want to test drive the latest OS, you can learn how to download it here. Just understand that there will probably be some bugs and compatibility issues since it is still in beta.

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Step 1: Check your Mac’s compatibility

This should be your first priority. As with all MacOS updates, some Macs can’t support the new software due to outdated hardware. If you are running a Mac that isn’t compatible with Big Sur, you will have to stick with Catalina.

Here is Apple’s official list of compatible devices:

  • MacBook — 2015 and later
  • MacBook Air — 2013 and later
  • MacBook Pro — Late 2013 and later
  • Mac Mini — 2014 and later
  • iMac — 2014 and later
  • iMac Pro — 2017 and later (all models)
  • Mac Pro — 2013 and later

If you’re good to go, then move on to the next step. If not, it’s time to buy a new Mac. We recommend getting one of the M1 MacBooks because of Apple’s powerful processor and impressive battery life.

Step 2: Back up your Mac

Before you update to Big Sur, it is always good to backup your current Mac version. There’s always a chance of serious bugs corrupting your data, and you need to be prepared in case that happens. Unfortunately, you can’t merely roll back to a stable version without a complete factory reset. Instead, you should have a Time Machine backup locked and loaded before installing any beta.

When updating your MacOS install, creating a backup should be your next priority.

When you connect an external drive, MacOS may ask to use it for Time Machine backups. Select Encrypt Backups on the prompt, click the Use Disk button, and you’re good to go. If not, you can manually enable an external disk to use Time Machine by using the following steps.

Step 1: Select Time Machine in System Preferences.

Step 2: Click the Select Backup Disk, Select Disk, or Add or Remove Backup Disk button.

Step 3: Select the external drive in the following window.

Step 4: Click the box next to Encrypt Backups.

Step 5: Click the Use Disk button.

There is another option if you don’t have an external drive and still want to update. You can partition your Mac’s drive and silo off a space to experiment with Big Sur. This is a little more complicated, and you need enough local storage to manage two operating systems. If you are interested, we have a guide where you can learn more.

Step 3: Download MacOS Big Sur

Step 1: Select System Preferences from the Apple drop-down menu, then click Software Update. You can also download MacOS Big Sur on the App Store. Once the update appears and you confirm it’s Big Sur, just click the Update button.

Step 2: Once the update has been downloaded, it is time to install. When the installer pops up, click Continue and follow all the directions.

This update could take some time, but be sure to check on it regularly to see if Apple needs you to make any decisions. When it’s finished, your Mac should boot into the Big Sur.

Note that if your Mac has a small drive, like on a MacBook Air, the installer may refuse to upgrade MacOS on that drive, even though MacOS says there’s enough space. This is likely due to Time Machine, which stores local snapshots that the user can’t see — the installer counts against the total storage space.

Step 1: Open Time Machine in System Preferences.

Step 2: Deselect Back Up Automatically (or click the On/Off switch).

Wait a few minutes, and then turn Time Machine back on — this should delete the local snapshots. If not, you’ll need to manually delete these hidden files. Here’s how:

Step 1: Open Terminal.

Step 2: Type: tmutil listlocalsnapshots /

You should see a list of local backups reading something like “com.apple.TimeMachine.2020-08-19-103644.” The MacBook Air we have on hand lists seven of these files, each with a different number after the August 19 date.

Step 3: Type the following, and replace the date and number with whatever you see on your Mac: sudo tmutil deletelocalsnapshots 2020-08-19-103644

Another way to bypass storage issues is to move the Install MacOS Big Sur app to an external drive. The update downloads to the external drive as well — just select the target drive during the initial installation process.

Finally, click Install to finish and wait for your Mac to reboot or manually click the Restart button.

Step 4: Make Sure Big Sur Works

Before you delete your backup and move on with your life, make sure everything is up to snuff in the operating system. It’s best to hold onto your backup to make sure no major bugs manifest.

Remember that certain features of Big Sur are only available on newer Macs, even if you’re Mac supports the OS in general. You can check Apple’s website to see which features are available for different models.

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Tyler Lacoma
Tyler Lacoma
Contributor
If it can be streamed, voice-activated, made better with an app, or beaten by mashing buttons, Tyler's into it. When he's not…
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