Some users found downloading the update that way to be significantly faster. If you’re a technical user, try macadamia-scripts. If in doubt, restart your router to make sure there are no issues.
How can you speed up the download? If you use a wireless connection, make sure your Mac is reasonably close to your router so you have a strong signal. Some users (like this Redditor) describe the download as “really, really slow.” On a slow network, it could take much longer. Maximize Your Download Speedĭownloading Big Sur can take 20 or 30 minutes. What a waste of time!ĭon’t make the same mistake: make sure your Mac is supported.
I heard I’d be able to install Big Sur on my mid-2012 MacBook Air and hadn’t checked Apple’s official documentation before trying. Here are some ways you can minimize the time it takes to install Big Sur. Each install was done on a different computer, so we can’t directly compare each result, but it might give you an idea of what to expect. I recorded the times it took to install the new beta version of macOS over the last few years. That’s 50% longer than it took to install Catalina last year but quicker than Mojave the year before. On my computer, the entire process of downloading and installing Big Sur took an hour and a half. That doesn’t mean the installation will be unacceptably slow.
Data loss could occur if the update is interrupted.
Updating to macOS Big Sur 11 beta from previous versions of macOS might take significantly longer than expected. I hoped that would apply to the initial install as well, but it doesn’t.
Here’s how to get Big Sur running faster.Īlso Read: macOS Monterey Slow Speed Up Big Sur InstallationĪccording to 9to5 Mac, Apple has promised that software updates will install faster with Big Sur. On an older machine, you may find it less snappy than you’d like. I haven’t noticed any significant speed issues on my recent model Mac. My experience installing and running Big Sur has been good. I set aside plenty of time to install it, and recommend you do the same-expect it to take hours. I ensured my backup was current, signed up for the beta, and ran through some troubleshooting steps before the Big Sur beta was offered.
Processor: 3.7 GHz 6-core Intel Core i5.After last year’s upgrade fiasco, I expected Apple to double-check everything to ensure a smoother upgrade path. Instead, I took a calculated risk and installed it on my main work machine, a 2019 27-inch iMac. Early reports indicated that it would be supported, but unfortunately, it’s not compatible. To make sure I didn’t miss any speed issues, I tried to install the new operating system on my oldest computer, a mid-2012 MacBook Air. That leads us to an important question: is speed an issue with Big Sur, and if so, how do you handle it? They’re designed for the specs of the current year’s Mac, which means it will almost always run slower on your Mac than the previous version. I’m really enjoying it so far.Įach operating system update adds features and requires more system resources than the previous version, including memory and storage space. Safari has received a speed boost and extensions, and other apps have been updated, too. I just installed the public beta of macOS Big Sur (update: the public version is now available to download).