MacOS Big Sur Public Beta Available to Download

Aug 6, 2020 - 3 Comments

MacOS Big Sur Public Beta

Apple has released the public beta of macOS Big Sur, making the beta release of macOS 11 (or 10.16) available to anyone who is interested in trying it out.


MacOS Big Sur features a redesigned user interface, and includes a variety of new capabilities including bringing Control Center to the Mac, Safari instant language translation, new Messages capabilities, and more.

Important: Beta system software is less stable and more prone to experiencing serious problems than final releases of system software. App crashing, incompatibilities, system crashes, and other difficulties may be experienced with beta system software. If you’re interested in beta testing macOS Big Sur, it’s best to be an advanced user who is comfortable with the challenges of running beta system software, and to install onto a secondary computer and not a primary workstation.

How to Download MacOS Big Sur Public Beta

Mac users who are interested in trying macOS Big Sur Public Beta can enroll any compatible Mac in the public beta testing program via the Apple beta enrollment website, logging in with your Apple ID:

After you enroll a Mac in the public beta program for macOS Big Sur, you’ll be able to download a beta access utility which installs the beta profile on the Mac. This allows the Mac to gain software updates for the macOS Big Sur public beta via the regular Software Update mechanism on the Mac.

The macOS Big Sur installer then downloads to the /Applications folder and can be installed directly onto the current Mac, used to make a bootable USB drive, make an ISO, or used with another compatible Mac if copied to them.

Always back up the Mac with Time Machine or your preferred backup method, making sure to have a full backup of all important data. Backups are important in generally, but doubly so when attempting to run beta system software. Failure to backup the Mac could result in permanent data loss. Additionally, Time Machine backups make downgrading particularly easy, which can be useful if you tire of the beta experience or find it unusable for any other reason of stability, incompatibility, or preference.

The final version of macOS Big Sur is scheduled to be released this fall.

Aside from the Mac, there are also simultaneous programs for iOS 14 public beta for iPhone, iPadOS 14 public beta for iPad, tvOS 14 public beta for Apple TV, and watchOS 7 beta for Apple Watch.

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Posted by: Paul Horowitz in Mac OS, News

3 Comments

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  1. JohnIL says:

    Beta’s are just that a work in progress not ready for general release to public because they are in a process of weeding out issues. If the public installs a beta it should be because they want to test and help report problems. Not to try out the latest and greatest release and expect it will work perfectly. It will not, and should not be expected to work perfectly. If your not willing to accept the issues, report the problems, help Apple fix them. Then don’t install a beta.

  2. Figaro86 says:

    Downloaded and installed. Everything working just fine
    —so far.

    • MARK GEORGEFF says:

      When will you know when something messes up? Is there a standard from APPLE on every new OS release regarding problems after 1 week…2 weeks…1 month of installation?

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