MacOS Big Sur will finally be released on November 12. The major annual update brings major changes. This way you prepare your Mac optimally for it.
macOS Big Sur: this is how you prepare your Mac
While multiple Mac software updates appear every year, only one major new version is renamed. This year it’s macOS Big Sur, an update that introduces a new design and more major changes. We will help you prepare your Mac properly, step by step, so that you can install the new version quickly and smoothly.
1. Update your Mac to the latest version
Before macOS Big Sur appears, check that you already have the most recent version of macOS Catalina running on your Mac. By installing it in advance, your Mac is all set for a smooth installation of Big Sur. Incidentally, installing this version is not mandatory; it just makes the installation possibly a little faster.
2. Clean up your Mac (with Apple’s cleanup help)
Before backing up everything on your Mac, we recommend that you take a critical look at your storage. This is a great annual time to properly tidy up your iMac or MacBook. You can gain more insight into this via the steps below
- Click on the Apple icon in the top left corner of your screen;
- Tap ‘About This Mac’;
- Go to ‘Storage’;
- Wait for your Mac to calculate the contents of the hard drive.
You will now see what your Mac’s memory is filled with. Who knows, you might come across an old backup of an iPhone that you no longer use, or a large app that you haven’t opened for months. You can easily delete them by clicking on ‘Manage’. If you do this thoroughly, our third tip will also take considerably less time.
3. Back up your files
Is your Mac cleaned up? Then it’s best to make a backup now via the Time Machine app that is installed by default on every Mac. In the unlikely event that something goes wrong during the installation of Big Sur, you will not lose any valuable files or photos. For this you do need an external hard drive that you connect to your Mac. Learn more about backing up a Mac.
4. This way you install macOS Big Sur safely and quickly
Apple has said the update will arrive on November 12, but as always, a time is unknown. If we look at previous years, you can assume that the update will be rolled out around seven o’clock in the evening. Before then, make sure you have completed the steps above, save all your files and see if the update is already available for you.
Since many people want to download Big Sur tomorrow night, it may take a while for the update to appear on your Mac. Moreover, the download can also take a little longer than usual due to this rush. In addition, ensure an optimal internet connection and connect your Mac to the charger.
These Macs support macOS Big Sur
macOS Big Sur runs on many Macs that also support version 10.15 Catalina. Still, many devices from 2013 and 2014 are now bypassed, leaving them stuck on Catalina. If you have one of the devices below, you can download the major Mac update.
- 12-inch MacBook (2015 and newer)
- MacBook Air (2013 and newer)
- MacBook Pro (2013 and newer)
- Mac mini (2014 and newer)
- iMac (2014 and newer)
- iMac Pro
- Mac Pro (2013 and newer)
Keep iPhone tomorrow night. When macOS Big Sur becomes available, be the first to read here.