Apple’s latest iteration of macOS is due out this fall. Big Sur will replace Catalina and introduce a significant redesign to go with the company’s new ARM-based computers. Based on what has been released so far, Big Sur will have a more stylized design that focuses on ease of navigation.
Major changes to Safari, Messages, and Maps will also be introduced, along with an iPad-like Control Center and widgets feature. Big Sur will also add a customizable start page, more powerful tabs, new translation options, and a new Privacy Report.
Big Sur officially arrives in the fall, but if you can’t wait, you can jump in via the developer beta or the public beta next month. A word of caution: these betas are intended to help developers work out any bugs before a final release. As such, they could be unstable and mess with your existing apps. So take that under advisement and perhaps install the betas on a secondary Mac.
Check Compatibility
While a new ARM-based fleet of Mac computers is coming, that doesn’t mean you have to go out and get a whole new computer right away. Many current Macs will support Big Sur, though not all. Here are the devices that will get the new operating system:
-
MacBook from 2015 and later
-
MacBook Air from 2013 and later
-
MacBook Pro from late 2013
-
iMac from 2014 and later
-
iMac Pro from 2017 and later
-
Mac mini from 2014 and later
-
Mac Pro from 2013 and later
Back Up Your Mac
Before you upgrade your OS, it’s always a good idea to back up your files first. Betas are buggy and could wreak havoc on your machine, so make sure your files are backed up before proceeding with any of these upgrade options.
If you have Time Machine set up, it will make hourly backups for the past 24 hours, daily backups for the past month, and weekly backups for all previous months. Backups can also be housed on an external hard drive. A potential alternative is a dedicated backup service that will save your data remotely. Once everything is backed up, you are ready to proceed.
Join Apple’s Developer Program
Apple’s developer program is intended specifically for app developers who want to ensure their products are compatible with the latest updates. However, anyone who wants to get their hands on the latest software can sign up. Be aware that this developer beta is not a finished product, so some features and apps may not work as intended or at all.
(Photo by Christoph Dernbach/picture alliance via Getty Images)
If you want to enroll in Apple’s developer program it’s $99 per year, meaning you’ll only need to sign up this one time in order to get access to further OS updates down the line. You will need an Apple ID protected with two-factor authentication, and you must share some basic personal information with Apple to get set up.
Once you are signed up, you will be able to download the Big Sur beta. As new versions of the OS arrive, you’ll now get first dibs. If you have more than one Mac, it might be a good idea to install this on a computer that isn’t your primary device.
Sign Up for the Public Beta
Instead of paying $99 a year, you can instead wait slightly longer to get the public beta for free. Apple will open up a public beta when the next version of macOS is nearly ready for official release. That means it will be a more stable version than what you get in the developer beta, though it may not have everything that will be in the final version.
(Image: Apple)
The purpose of the public beta is to give a small number of users early access in order to discover any bugs or glitches that have yet to be found by Apple or its developers. Apple’s beta for Big Sur will open in July, but you can sign up for it now. Go to the beta website, scroll down the page, and click Sign Up. Apple will send a notification when it’s available for download.
How to Get macOS Big Sur
When the official release is out, your Mac should tell you there is an update available. All you have to do is click Install Now on the notification and macOS will do the rest. If you wish to check for an update, click the Apple icon in the top-left corner of your desktop and select System Preferences > Software Update. You will also be able to download it from the official Big Sur page.
Your Mac will check for an update. If an update is available, click Upgrade Now to go through the installation process. Your device may need to be restarted before Big Sur is officially installed.
