It looks like Apple finally fixed the problems that stopped some Mac owners from updating to macOS Big Sur on launch day.
The message from Cupertino seems to be: If at first you didn’t succeed, try, try again.
After Apple released the major Mac update Thursday, many users reported problems with downloads and installations. Apple’s status page originally showed the issue as resolved by early afternoon. However, problems continued to plague users throughout the day.
Early Friday, Apple Support responded to a slew of complaints on Twitter with variations on the following message:
“The outage lasted longer than originally thought. Please restart your Mac and try again. DM us if still having trouble.”
Hello. Thanks for letting us know you were still having issues downloading software for your Mac. As it turns out, there was an outage yesterday, which has now been resolved. https://t.co/waNYZdXpJm Restart your Mac and try again. DM us if still not working. https://t.co/GDrqU22YpT
— Apple Support (@AppleSupport) November 13, 2020
Apple is officially giving frustrated Mac users the all clear to try the macOS Big Sur upgrade again. The company points out that you should back up your Mac before trying the update. (A handy Apple Support document shows exactly which Macs can run Big Sur and how you should upgrade the right way.)
While a scan of Twitter users Friday morning showed a few stragglers still worried about stalled macOS Big Sur installations, most said the situation eventually resolved.
Why upgrade to Big Sur?
It’s easy to see why so many people rushed to download Big Sur on launch day. The operating system brings the biggest design overhaul to the Mac user interface in nearly two decades. It brings the Mac more in line with iOS and iPadOS.
It also packs big updates to stock apps like Messages and Maps. And don’t forget about all the new Mac app icons …
macOS Big Sur is also clearly the future. Apple built the operating system with its powerful new M1 chip in mind. This software will power the first Apple Silicon Macs, which arrive next week.
Reaction to macOS Big Sur
Users who successfully installed the software generally raved about the new Mac operating system Friday.
https://twitter.com/vaibhavvvohra/status/1327285516958535681?s=20
I like the return to slightly more 3D icons in macOS Big Sur. Goes way to back my fascination with my first Mac back in 2011 pic.twitter.com/MSNgHzEakv
— Venky Venkatakrishnan (@eeshwar1) November 13, 2020
I updated to Big Sur last night. So far no issues. It is really pretty and I absolutely expect a touchscreen for macOS after seeing these changes.
— Josh Thomas (@jthoms1) November 13, 2020
