MacBook Pro bricked after failed Big Sur update 😵 ⚰️

I'm in a similar situation to you - I'm in New Zealand and haven't heard any concern about this problem from any other kiwi either. I have a MBP 13" Retina Early 2015 and I have purposely been holding off installing Big Sur because of all the issues and concerns that I've read, which needless to say is extremely alarming!

The idea that Apple just suggests it's a hardware fault (by replacing I/O boards and charging customers for it) and is not caused by the Big Sur update is absurd and ridiculous to me, and completely unjustifiable. Pure logic alone suggests that when a machine is in perfect working order prior to a software update, and then stops working immediately after the update - what other conclusion can there be other than the software update caused the fault!?

So I have the same question... is this problem currently resolved? Has Apple recognised the problem and is fixing it?

Hello!

At the moment you will not be able to install it as Apple in it’s last version of the Big Sur official update combo has removed 2013/14 machines- a sign of recognition there’s a problem. I hope Apple is working in a solution and will release when the issues are solved. Hopefully it also provide a solution to the people already affected with “ bricked” machines.

My advice is to keep away from Big Sur until a stable version is released, otherwise you’ll risk “bricking” your machine.

you can see more on this subject here:

https://mrmacintosh.com/whats-new-in-macos-big-sur-11-1-beta-2-20c5061b/

Hello iulia

I advise you to call Apple US hotline during working hours compatible with Apple Germany working hours and expose to them your all experience and ask to escalate it, so they get your local support call you on their instructions.

I believe this may provide a better feedback.

Good luck!

I am not sure how to call Apple Support US Hotline directly.

Yesterday, I was directed to the Apple Support UK by accessing this link:

https://getsupport.apple.com/

I received a case number and with that I will go to the Genius Bar in Düsseldorf again next week.

Hopefully, this time the technicians from Apple Genius Bar Düsseldorf will log/report this failure into the case number so the Apple Support can see it in their system:

MacBook Pro 2013/2014 -> Big Sur Installation -> I/O Patina defect.

I know this process sounds stupid but the Apple Genius Bar from Düsseldorf doesn’t report any of this issues to Apple!

They don’t know how and there are not interested in doing it - as the shop manager Tobias told me yesterday.

Hello!

in support page, go to bottom and choose United States. Every time the page reloads/passes to another level/option keep doing the same thing until you reach the contact option, where you be given the option to call with a attributed case number.

Take care!

Just returned with my MBP mid 2014 from authorised service today (service started Nov 27 ). It's almost new MBP now - only my SSD and bottom panel from my old MBP. Big Sur was installed. Information on SSD saved. New display, new top case with new keyboard and new battery. Free of charge.

But HDMI port seems do not works correctly - first external monitor see the signal from MBP but there is no picture. I hope this is possible BigSur bug and HDMI port could work.

Only second external monitor works via Thunderbolt.

I'm in Russia. There is no Genius bar. Authorised service are service companies operates as Apple official agent. See my post above. I rejected suggested repair for about $800 and escalate the problem to the second level via phone call support, then after engineer level investigation Apple give me (direct to the service) exclude code for free repair.

Happened to me too.. My Macbook Pro late 2013 BRICKED!

My io board broke because of the update and have to be replaced. The repair is around $300 here in Norway. These issues are 100% caused by this update, they are aware of this and should be able to help, but they are not.

Mr.Macintosh on yt says the odds of Apple covering the repairs are increasing as more and more people report this issue to them, so lets hope that happens. REPORT GUYS AND GALS!

Ive talked to two of AppleCares Norwegian representatives so far, both said they are not aware of these issues and cant help me. One of them recommended seeing a technician for repairs at my own expense since my machine is late 2013.

I will continue to call and I will use my strict, yet polite voice!

I had my Macbook Air 13" 2014 fried after Big Sur. It kept hanging and freezing, so I performed a clean install of Catalina, I could not even finish the installation. I figured it would be an issue with the installer, so I tried installing High Sierra, nothing. the computer now kept freezing during install.

I took it to a very talented independent repair shop and they told me the SMC was corrupted. So they had to perform and SMC reflashing to be able to even install back Big Sur. I am considering updating another older machine to Big Sur. but I fear this will happen again. maybe Apple fixed this, I tried to install 11.0 and now we are up to 11.0.1.

Reading this gives me a glimmer of hope..

I have a mid-2014 15” MBP which has also been bricked. I spent about an hour on the phone to Apple Support UK explaining the problem and they tried to troubleshoot as normal.. of course with no luck. They set up an appointment for me to take it to an Apple Authorised Service Provider, which I am doing tomorrow.

I am trying to prepare myself as best as I can for this appointment. I’m not a super techy guy but I have done my research on forums and YT so I can try to sound like I know what I’m talking about..

This is 10000% an issue caused by Apple and I refuse to pay to have my laptop fixed. Any advice on my appointment? I’m nervous!!!

Best of luck to you, Riizzo! There's a whole group of people who also unfortunately got their machine bricked by this and are fighting the same fight, so you are not alone in this. My advice is to just remember that this is Apples fault, even though they might say stuff like "an update cant break hardware" or "the machine is too old". They are gonna test your patience and you might start to doubt yourself, but just breathe and continue to ask for escalation if you feel the case is not moving in the right direction. A win for you, even if its small, is a win for us all! You got this, we all do!

Rizzouk,

Good luck with this! Apple are not claiming responsibility for their software breaking the I/o Board which was working before the upgrade. Seams to me we need to find somebody with power to have a 2013/14 MacBook Pro and complain at top level. They know it was a faulty version. This is almost battery fare all over again. I would if you can escalate to the national news papers this will then be sorted very quickly. Apple hate bad press. France took Apple to court over the battery problem for iPhones and won.

it needs the same but this is much bigger problem customer data and work time is at risk not to mention thousands of people who can’t communicate with family because of this was their only computer.

I hope you are successful. Still won’t get everybody fixed for free.

Thanks for all the replies guys. So I took my MBP in to the Authorised Reseller (Western Computer - Preston, England) today. The woman told me they had received a lot of bricked MBPs recently due to Big Sur (surprise surprise) and wasted no time in telling me that it’d cost £84 for their technicians (who are conveniently not available to speak to) to fix the problem by simply reinstalling Big Sur. I politely declined and pointed out to the young lady that my 2014 15” MBP was working perfectly fine prior to attempting the upgrade to MacOS Big Sur, and that I felt I shouldn’t be responsible for the cost of repairing the machine, Apple should. The lady understood my frustration and recommended I call Apple, which I did. I left the store and got on the phone to Apple Technical Support, gave them my case ID and explain the situation I now found myself in. Unsurprisingly, the gentleman I spoke to (Juliano) told me that Apple Authorised Resellers can set their own prices, to which I accepted but asked to escalate the matter with Apple as I wasn’t satisfied with the offered solution. I was told my next option was to take my machine into an Apple Store to be looked at by a “Genius”. He also assured me that, by doing so, I would not have to pay a penny to have my machine repaired. I obliged and we set up my Genius Bar appointment for next Monday. So, I’m still without a working MBP, and to be honest I feel like this is just the beginning of a long, stressful experience which involves me being passed around without a solution.

Trying to stay hopeful but let’s be honest, Apple don’t give a s**t unless you’re feeding their wallets.

EDIT: I wanted to add that the Authorised Service Provider/Reseller wanted me to pay the £84 UP FRONT! Not after they had successfully repaired my machine. With zero guarantee they could even successfully repair it.

Sidenote - does anyone know if Apple records their telephone conversations? I noted down the time and date of my call with Juliano as I found it interesting that he assured me there would be zero cost once I took my machine to an Apple Store. Hmmm.

TLDR; No luck, next step is a Genius Bar appointment next Monday.

Hey treaders,

im just curious as to what steps you’ve gone through thus far? And do you see a solution in sight? I feel like it’s pot luck how you get treated by Apple in the situations. Some people report Apple repairing their laptop for free while others report Apple insisting they pay big money.