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9 Things to Do Before Installing macOS Big Sur 11.6.8

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4 years ago

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Installing Apple’s new macOS Big Sur 11.6.8 update might be tempting, but there are some steps you should take before moving your Mac up from macOS Big Sur 11.6.7, or older software, to this version of macOS Big Sur.

Apple’s macOS Big Sur 11.6.8 update is a small upgrade and it’s available to download right now if you own a compatible Mac, you own a Mac that isn’t compatible with macOS Monterey, or you haven’t moved up to macOS Monterey just yet.

The macOS Big Sur 11.6.8 update brings a bunch of security patches to Mac users who are still running the aging operating system.

macOS Big Sur 11.6.8 is an important upgrade and Mac users who want to stay on macOS Big Sur should install it in the near future. That being said, it’s difficult to predict how the new software will impact your Mac’s performance.

While some of you could see a boost, others will run into frustrating bugs and performance issues. And that’s precisely why it’s important to do some prep work before you start the installation. A little work ahead of time could help you avoid serious problems.

With that in mind, we want to help you prepare for the transition from your current version of macOS to macOS Big Sur 11.6.8. We always recommend spending 30 minutes, or more, preparing yourself and your device for the move.

Learn About macOS Big Sur 11.6.8

Make sure you get familiar with macOS Big Sur 11.6.8’s changes before you install it. You can do that over on Apple’s security site.

Decide If You’re Upgrading or Doing a Clean Install

There are two ways to install macOS Big Sur 11.6.8 on your Mac. You can update and keep everything in place, or you can do a clean install if you want to start from scratch.

The update option is the easiest route and it’s the one most users should take. This keeps all your files, apps and photos in place and takes the least amount of time.

Of course, it can also bring along problems and it also keeps the clutter. If you don’t regularly remove unneeded files from your Mac, a clean install can wipe your drive clean and free up space. It will only install the apps and files you need.

You can do a clean installation using this guide. Before you do, make sure you take time to back up all your important files.

Backup Your Mac

Make sure you backup your Mac before you install the macOS Big Sur 11.6.8 update.

Before you click on install, make sure your important files are backed up to the cloud. We also recommend having a local Time Machine Backup handy.

If you run into problems with the installation, you can restore from a backup and be up and running on older macOS software pretty quickly.

From there, you can try installing macOS Big Sur 11.6.8 again or figure out what the issue is.

Make Sure You Know Your Passwords

If you’ll be moving up from really old macOS software make sure you have all of your passwords handy before you install macOS Big Sur 11.6.8.

When you restart your Mac after installing macOS Big Sur 11.6.8, you will need to log in to your computer and you may need to log into your Apple account as well as your apps and services.

We recommend using a password manager like LastPass, 1Password or even Apple’s built-in manager to store this information for you. If you don’t want to use these, make sure you test logging into your Apple account and your email.

Dig Into macOS Big Sur 11.6.8 Feedback

If you’re feeling a bit leery about the move to macOS Big Sur 11.6.8, you should dig through feedback from early adopters.

Again, there’s a chance you encounter bugs and/or performance issues on your device after moving to Apple’s latest macOS Big Sur firmware.

Updates often hits older Mac models the hardest so if you own an older model, and you’re concerned about the jump up from your current software, you’ll want to hunt for feedback from those who have taken the plunge.

This feedback will alert you to potential bugs and problems. You also might learn about potential benefits of Apple’s new firmware.

You’ll want to poke around on Apple’s discussion forums, YouTube, and social media sites like Twitter for feedback from macOS Big Sur 11.6.8 users.

Some of you might want to wait for long-term feedback to emerge before committing. And others might even want to wait for Apple to roll out new macOS Big Sur software.

Prepare for macOS Big Sur 11.6.8 Problems

As we push away from the macOS Big Sur 11.6.8 update’s release we’re hearing about a number of different issues ranging from installation problems to issues with first and third-party apps.

If you don’t have an encyclopedia of fixes for macOS issues stored inside your head, you’ll want to track down and bookmark fixes for potential problems.

To help you get started, have a look at our list of fixes for the most common macOS Big Sur problems. We’ve also released a guide that will help you solve battery issues.

Check App Reviews, Compatibility and Install Updates

If you rely on your apps to get you through the day, you might want to read app reviews before you install macOS Big Sur 11.6.8 on your computer(s).

App developers are rolling out support updates. These updates will be crucial to your experience on the latest macOS Big Sur firmware.

Before you install macOS Big Sur 11.6.8 you’ll want to head to the App Store and read reviews from users. If reviews are mostly positive, go ahead and install the latest update(s).

If the feedback is negative, you might want to wait for a new version of macOS Big Sur or for the developer to update the app before moving your device to the latest software.

Talk to IT Before Installing

If you use your Mac for work you might want to check with your IT team (if you have one) and make sure you’re got the green light to install macOS Big Sur 11.6.8.

Enterprise problems plague every single version of macOS and they can be particularly nasty after Apple releases new macOS software.

If you depend on your device to get work done, it’s important to get in touch with IT to see if the update is safe to use. If you’ve got an IT department, they should be able to provide you with feedback about the core apps and services you use.

If you don’t have an IT department or a tech on site, you might want to ask around the office or talk to friends who use the same services and see how they’re doing on the latest software.

Learn About the Downgrade Process

You should familiarize yourself with the downgrade process before you download macOS Big Sur 11.6.8.

If you run into problems, apps that don’t work, battery life issues, or just don’t like the new update, you can downgrade to older firmware. It’s a lot easier than downgrading iOS and there’s no limit to how far back you can go.

The easiest way to do this is to restore a Time Machine Backup that you made right before installing the macOS Big Sur 11.6.8 update. If you made a backup, this will help get your Mac running on an older version of macOS very quickly.

Here’s more on how to downgrade macOS software to an older version.

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