Apple released macOS Big Sur to the general public today, November 12, 2020. Although this is the first public release, it is already labeled macOS 11.0.1 and comes with the build number 20B29.
macOS 11.0.1 Big Sur is available for all compatible Macs. It works on Mac mini, Macbook Air, and iMac as old as 2012. You can download and install it now from System Preferences.
How to update to macOS Big Sur
Important: Before continuing with the macOS Big Sur update process, we recommend that you make a full backup of your Mac with Time Machine. This way you will have a Plan B, just in case something is wrong. Backing up is also useful if macOS Big Sur is too buggy for you and you want to go back to macOS Catalina.
- 1. Open System Preferences. The easiest way is to do it from the Dock.
- 2. Click on Software Update and wait for the macOS Big Sur update to be found.
Point: Yes macOS 11.0.1 does not appear, restart your Mac and try again. - 3. Click on Update now and be patient until the large 12.18GB macOS Big Sur update file is downloaded and prepared for installation.
Point: If you are prompted with the “An error occurred while installing the selected updates” pop-up, read here what you can do to fix it! - 4. Follow the onscreen instructions and be patient as you deploy macOS 11.0.1 to your Mac. The device will restart automatically after the process is complete.
How long does it take to update?
Depending on your Mac model, the macOS Big Custom update file is approximately 12.18 GB. The first step in the update process is heavily influenced by the speed of your devices’ Wi-Fi connectivity. It may take 2-10 minutes to download the update package.
Then the update is prepared for installation. The duration of this step is influenced by the processing power of your Mac. The more resources he has, the faster he will be. Expect an average of around 10 minutes.
The last step involves verifying the update and the actual installation. It should take another 10 to 15 minutes.
Total update time for upgrading macOS Catalina to Big Sur should be between 25 and 45 minutes.
MacOS Big Sur Change Log
Unlike iOS software updates, Apple didn’t provide a detailed update log in the macOS Big Sur update window. All you get is one ‘More information…’ link that when pressed opens the macOS Big Sur overview page on Apple.com.
You can also check out the main features, improvements, and changes in macOS Big Sur in our in-depth review.
MacOS Big Sur Update Problems?
Are you having problems trying to update to macOS 11.0.1? MacOS Big Sur update not showing, stuck while downloading, or the process hangs at another stage? Please feel free to ask for help using the comments section available below. Please provide as much detail as possible.
Point: One of the common causes of macOS Big Sur update errors is insufficient storage on your computer. Please verify that your Mac has enough space to accommodate a new iOS update.
How? ‘Or’ What: Click it Apple logo, available in the upper left corner of the screen. Go for About this Mac and click on Storage room (available in the horizontal menu). Each segment of the storage bar represents an estimate of the space used by a category of files (System, Applications, Mail, Documents, iCloud Drive). Move your pointer over each segment to see which type of files takes up the most storage. Delete the ones you can afford to free up space.
Did you successfully update to macOS Big Sur? Use the comments section and share your comments? How long did it take? What is your first impression of this new generation of macOS?
Related: Did you know that macOS Big Sur brings battery usage history and remaining time estimates for your Mac?