Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Computing

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Beware: Installing MacOS Monterey might brick your older Mac

Arif Bacchus
By

Apple’s newest operating system, MacOS Monterey, is available for download right now, but you might want to hold off on installing it. According to multiple reports on social media and Apple’s own support forums, MacOS Monterey is bricking older Mac models, to the point where they might not even turn on.

Over on Apple’s Discussions forums, there’s a total of 10 posts that detail the poor experience of installing MacOS Monterey. One user mentioned that on a 2019 MacBook Pro, the computer won’t turn on at all after completing the update and that the usual recovery options did not fix the problem. Another user with a 2018 MacBook Pro also had a problem where the computer turns back on, but shows nothing on the screen.

The Software Update screen in MacOS Monterey.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

On Twitter, a search for “MacOS Monterey” returns multiple threads with people complaining about the update causing Apple computers to go completely blank. We found a total of nine threads mentioning Apple Support, ranging as far back as October 26 to as recent as November 1.

Recommended Videos

MacOS Monterrey completely bricked my new work Macbook. The second you commit to updating, it freezes the machine and forces a hard reset. This has happened 3 times now. @AppleSupport

— Brodie SZN (@wari0world) October 29, 2021

Related

The problem also seems to cover iMac and Mac Mini models and isn’t just linked to MacBooks. On Reddit, a frustrated iMac user mentioned that after downloading MacOS Monterey, his 2017 iMac needed to restart, and it never did, instead showing a blank screen. Other Reddit users also replied to the original post, indicating that they’ve had the same issue.

It’s not currently known what’s causing this problem, but similar issues also happened last year during the rollout of MacOS Big Sur, according to MacRumors. An official solution is also not known, but a potential fix in the meantime could involve restoring a Mac’s firmware. This could be out of reach for most people, however, as it requires the use of another Mac computer and the Apple Configurator 2 tool.

The current scope of the problem is not known, and users of the new Apple M1 Macs do not seem to be impacted. However, seeing as though these problems are lighting up social media, Apple could issue a response or a smaller update to fix the issue quite soon. Apple is also beta testing MacOS 12.1, but it’s not known if this could help fix these problems, and the release is not due for another few weeks.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Arif Bacchus
Arif Bacchus
Computing Writer
Arif Bacchus is a native New Yorker and a fan of all things technology. Arif works as a freelance writer at Digital Trends…
Apple just dashed our iMac hopes and dreams
The back of a silver iMac in an office.

Apple has confirmed it has no plans to release a 27-inch iMac in the immediate future. The news comes on the same day that reviews for Apple's 24-inch iMac M3 and MacBook Pro M3 went live, with the company urging pro users who had been waiting for a 27-inch iMac update to go with a Mac Studio or Mac Pro instead.

An Apple representative confirmed that a 27-inch iMac with Apple silicon won't be arriving soon to The Verge. Apple last updated the 27-inch iMac in 2020, just a few months before Apple silicon was released to the world. It never saw Apple Silicon, instead being stuck on older Intel chips. Apple discontinued the product in 2021, eventually delisting it the next year.

Read more
5 things you should never do with your MacBook
Apple's 15-inch MacBook Air placed on a desk.

All of Apple’s best MacBooks are well-known for their superb build quality and remarkable longevity. But that doesn’t mean they’re indestructible, and there are plenty of things you can do to a MacBook that will significantly shorten its lifespan.

If you want to avoid ruining your Apple laptop and having to shell out for an expensive repair or replacement, you should be sure to avoid doing any of the things listed in this article. Steer clear of them and you’ll enjoy years of great usage out of your device, with far fewer hitches along the way.
Don’t let temps get too hot

Read more
Apple’s M3 Max appears to keep up with Intel’s top desktop CPU
Apple revealing the M3 Max processor.

The first benchmarks of Apple's M3 Max processor just leaked, and it looks like it's going to be one speedy chip. Found in the new 16-inch MacBook Pro, the M3 Max pushes the capabilities of Apple silicon to new heights -- so much so that it can keep up with Intel's best desktop processor, all the while consuming far less power.

The exciting results come from a Geekbench 6 test. The chip listed under Apple M3 Max scored 2,943 in single-core and 21,084 in multi-core tests, respectively. Those are numbers that used to be pretty unreachable for a thin and light laptop just a couple of years ago, but they're comparable to Apple's M2 Ultra found in the latest Mac Pro (21,182 multi-core) and Mac Studio (21.316 multi-core).

Read more