macOS Big Sur Problems: 5 Things to Know

The macOS Big Sur 11.7.4 update is causing problems for some Mac users.

Apple’s pushed out a new macOS Big Sur 11.7.4 update and it’s available to download right now if you’ve held off on a move to macOS Monterey or macOS Ventura or if your Mac was left behind on macOS Big Sur. The software brings an important bug fix to Mac owners still lingering around on macOS Big Sur.

Some Mac users are noticing a big difference after moving their computer up from the previous version of macOS Big Sur, macOS Big Sur 11.7.3, and older versions of macOS.

On the flip side, some Mac users have run into bugs and performance issues. Some of these issues have carried over from macOS Big Sur 11.7.3, others are brand new.

• macOS Big Sur Problems
• macOS Big Sur Feedback
• How to Fix macOS Big Sur Problems
• macOS Big Sur Downgrade
• Next macOS Update

In this guide to macOS Big Sur problems we’ll take you through the current state of the issues. We’ll show you where to find potential fixes for the most common macOS Big Sur problems and provide you with some resources that should help if do you run into trouble.

We’ll also touch on the macOS downgrade process and outline what you can expect from Apple and macOS Big Sur down the road.

macOS Big Sur Problems

We’ve seen complaints about macOS Big Sur 11.7.4 and older versions of macOS Big Sur. Some of the problems are minor and others are far more problematic.

Some Mac users are having trouble downloading and installing the new software. If your macOS installation gets stuck, try powering your Mac off and on. This typically resolves the issue.

If you’re dealing with installation errors, and you’re using a 2013 or 2014 MacBook, have a look at this guide from Apple.

We’re also seeing complaints about long download times, lag, Touch ID issues, issues with first and third-party apps including Box Drive, iMessage issues, Wi-Fi problems, Bluetooth problems, lockups, freezes, and crashes.

The macOS Big Sur update is also bricking some older MacBook models. The problems appear fairly widespread and they’re mostly impacting owners of 2013 MacBook Pro and mid-2014 MacBook Pro models. These are the oldest MacBook models supported by macOS Big Sur.

Owners of Apple’s M1 MacBook Pros are complaining about a Fast User Switching bug that leaves them unable to close the screensaver. This leaves the device unusable until the lid is closed and opened again, the Alt-Command-Q key combination is used, or the Power/Touch ID key is pressed. In order to fix the issue, users need to shut off Fast User Switching.

On top of that, macOS Big Sur users are running into a nasty issue with the Apple News application. The popular app is reportedly causing extremely large background downloads for some users. If you’re unsure about whether the issue is impacting your machine, you can check in Activity Monitor.

It’s unclear when or even if Apple will issue a fix so Mac users dealing with the problem are on their own for the foreseeable future. Fortunately, there’s a quick manual fix available. Here’s what you need to do in order to fix the problem:

• Open System Preferences on your Mac.
• Click on Apple ID in the top right corner of the menu.
• From there, select iCloud on the left side of the screen.
• Once there, you’ll want to scroll down and uncheck News to turn off iCloud syncing.
• You can then choose to keep iCloud News data on your Mac or delete it. If you choose to delete it, the data will stay put on your other Apple devices.

If you’re experiencing this issue on your MacBook Pro, you’ll want to get in contact with Apple support because the company will fix the problem for free.

If you haven’t downloaded the latest version of macOS yet, we recommend preparing your Mac for the download. Some prep work ahead of time can help you avoid major headaches.

We’ve put together a step-by-step pre-installation process and it will take you through the best way to prepare for the move.

Where to Find macOS Big Sur Reviews

If you’re currently running macOS Big Sur 11.7.4 or you’re planning to upgrade, you’ll want to sift through feedback from users who have downloaded it. This feedback will alert you to potential bugs and performance issues.

We recommend keeping an eye on YouTube, Apple’s discussion forums, social media sites like Twitter/Facebook, and the MacRumors forums for additional feedback about macOS Big Sur 11.7.4’s performance.

How to Fix macOS Big Sur Problems

Some issues might require a fix from Apple, but some you might be able to fix on your own.

Before you make an appointment at your local Apple Store, have a look at our list of fixes for the most common macOS Big Sur problems. We’ve also released a guide that shows you how to fix macOS Big Sur battery life problems.

If you can’t find what you’re looking for in our guides, you should head on over to Apple’s discussion forums. If they can’t help you, you might want to get in contact with Apple Support via Twitter or with customer support via Apple’s website.

If you still can’t fix your issue(s), you might want to schedule an appointment to see a Genius at your local Apple Store. They should be able to diagnose your problem in minutes.

macOS Big Sur Downgrade

If you run into major issues on macOS Big Sur 11.7.4 or an older version of macOS Big Sur, you can downgrade your Mac’s software. There is no time limit and it’s easy if you have a good backup for your Mac.

If you want to get your Mac off of your current version of macOS Big Sur, you just need to start your Mac in safe mode and choose Restore from Time Machine Backup.

This will take some time, so you’ll need to stay patient, but it’s an option if you can’t wait for Apple to release the next version of macOS Big Sur.

What’s Next

It’s unclear when we’ll see a new version of macOS Big Sur.

Apple may continue to update the operating system with new security updates throughout the year so you’ll want to keep your eyes peeled for new software.

When Apple does release a new version of macOS Big Sur, it will likely arrive alongside a new version of macOS Monterey and/or macOS Ventura.

The company won’t force you to install macOS Ventura or macOS Monterey on your Mac so if you want to stay put on macOS Big Sur for the time being you can do so.

For more on the latest version of macOS Monterey, check out our guide. And for more about the latest version of macOS Ventura, head here.

Install macOS Big Sur 11.6.8 for Better Security

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If security is important to you, you should think about installing Apple's macOS Big Sur 11.6.8 update right now. macOS Monterey 11.6.8 has 25+ new patches on board and these will protect your Mac from harm. You can learn more about these changes over on Apple's website. If you've fallen behind on updates, you'll also get the patches from older versions of macOS when you upgrade.  The macOS Big Sur 11.6.6 update had 40 important security patches on board. If you're interested in the particulars, check out Apple's security page. macOS Big Sur 11.6.5 brought more than 15 security patches to Macs. You can learn more about those right here. Apple said macOS Big Sur 11.6.4 "improves the security of macOS" though it still hasn't outlined the patches in detail. macOS Big Sur 11.6.3 delivered seven new security patches. If you're interested in the details, head over to Apple's website. If you missed the macOS Big Sur 11.6.2 update, it brought more than 30 new security patches to macOS Big Sur users. It's a substantial list and you can learn more over on Apple's security site.  If you skipped macOS Big Sur 11.6.1 you'll get its patches when you upgrade your Mac. You can learn more about those patches over on the company's security site. If you missed macOS Big Sur 11.6, it had two important security patches on board. You can read about both of those over on Apple's security website.  If you missed macOS Big Sur 11.5.1, it brought a brand new security patch to Macs. You can read more about it on Apple's website.  If you missed macOS Big Sur 11.5, the update carried 35 new security patches that will help protect your Mac from harm. If you're interested in the details, check out the company's security site.  If you missed macOS Big Sur 11.4, you'll get the update's 50+ security patches when you upgrade. You can read more about them over on Apple's security site.  If you missed macOS Big Sur 11.3.1, it had two crucial security patches on board, both related to WebKit. If you want to learn more about them, head over to Apple's website.  If you skipped macOS Big Sur 11.3, it also had patches on board. The list included one for a vulnerability that escaped built-in malware protections. For more on macOS Big Sur 11.3's patches, head on over to Apple's security site.  If you missed earlier versions of macOS, you'll want to consider upgrading so you get their security patches as well.  macOS Big Sur 11.2.3 brought one security patch to Mac users. You can read more about it on Apple's website.  macOS Big Sur 11.2.1 had three security patches on board. You can read about them over on its security website. macOS Big Sur 11.2 had a ton of patches on board and you can learn more about them right here.  If you missed macOS Big Sur 11.1, it had 51 security patches on board. You can read about them right here. macOS Big Sur 11.1 also included a new privacy information section on App Store pages that includes a developer-reported summary of the app’s privacy practices. If you're moving up from macOS Catalina, you'll get macOS Big Sur 11.0.1's 50+ security patches. If you're interested these improvements, you can read about them over on Apple's website. In addition to those patches, macOS Big Sur comes with additional security and privacy upgrades including improvements to the App Store and Safari.  In Safari, you can now tap the Privacy Report button to better understand how websites handle your privacy. With macOS Big Sur on board you can now get information on the App Store that will help you understand the privacy practices of apps before you download them.  Researchers also discovered that Apple brought a new "BlastDoor" sandbox security system to macOS Big Sur, iOS 14, and iPadOS 14. The system is meant to prevent attacks from occurring via the Messages app.  You can read more about "BlastDoor" right here.

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