The macOS Big Sur update froze some late-2013 and mid-2014 MacBook Pros

In November 2020, a few days after the release of the macOS Big Sur update, several users of 2013 and 2014 MacBook Pros (the late-2013 and mid-2014 models) were left with a black screen during the update. Below you’ll find what happened then, how it was fixed and what it means for these Macs in 2026.

What happened with the macOS Big Sur update?

According to Apple’s specifications, macOS Big Sur was compatible with the following devices:

• MacBook 2015 or later
• MacBook Air 2013 or later
• MacBook Pro late-2013 or later
• iMac 2014 or later
• iMac Pro 2017 or later
• Mac mini 2014 or later
• Mac Pro 2013 or later

macOS Big Sur needed 4 GB of RAM and at least 35.5 GB of available storage. The update was around 12 GB, and the process took about an hour.

Right after the release, the update caused some late-2013 and mid-2014 MacBook Pros to freeze, and the usual key combinations couldn’t get the Mac out of that state.

Apple acknowledged the problem and published a support document, summarized by MacRumors. The recommendations were: hold down the power button for 10 seconds, disconnect accessories and remove the SD card, reset the SMC and NVRAM, and if nothing helps, contact Apple Support. Apple then temporarily removed these models from the installer’s compatibility list, and with macOS Big Sur 11.1, in December 2020, the update became available for them again.

What does this mean for a 2013 or 2014 MacBook Pro in 2026?

A 2013 or 2014 MacBook Pro no longer receives security updates. Big Sur was the last major macOS version for these models, and the last security update for Big Sur (11.7.10) came out in September 2023. Vulnerabilities discovered since then no longer get fixed, so a Mac like this shouldn’t be used for company email, online banking or customer data. Our recommendation is to replace it.

Newer Intel Macs don’t have long left either: in June 2025, Apple announced that macOS Tahoe 26 is the last major version for Intel Macs, and later versions run only on Macs with Apple silicon. When you buy new Macs for your company, choose Apple silicon models.

What should you check before any macOS update?

A few basic recommendations that apply to any system update on a Mac:

• Don’t install a new major version of macOS in the first few days after release, especially on work Macs. Wait for the first bug-fix update. Security updates, on the other hand, should be installed promptly.
• Check on Apple’s website whether your model is compatible and how much free space the update needs.
• Look up whether other users have run into problems after the update on devices similar to yours, and whether your work apps (accounting, VPN, antivirus) work with the new version.
• Before updating, make a full backup with Time Machine or with #BackupUșor, so you can easily restore the old version of the system if problems arise. Although backing up and restoring is as intuitive as it gets, it does require some technical knowledge.
• Keep the Mac plugged in for the entire update.
• In companies, updates can be deferred and scheduled centrally from a device management (MDM) solution.

Once you’ve checked these things, you can run the update. Planned and tested updates are part of IT maintenance.

If you’re a RezolvIT client, ask our team to help you with these checks so we can plan the update together.

If you’re not a RezolvIT client but need help managing and updating your Apple devices (or your Windows or Linux ones), you can contact us right now.

RezolvIT is an IT outsourcing company that provides personalized support to businesses. Our philosophy is to always adapt to both users’ needs and business needs, so we can propose effective solutions.

Since 2005, we’ve managed infrastructures of every size and complexity, with the goal of administering, securing and monitoring them efficiently.