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
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