MacBook Pro bricked after failed Big Sur update 😵 ⚰️

Similar for me - update fine on early 2015 macbook, MacBook Air (though zoom not working on latter) and 2020 iMac. But it got stuck on 2017 iMac. Black screen, Apple logo and about 95% or more complete on the status bar. Decided to unplug per BankTheGain suggestion. Left it for a minute and turned on. Colour screen with login appeared... great! Logged in, still in colour, and saw a white status bar at 95% below login name... and then it burst into life, all good. It asked about accessibility features but that was it. Not the same ‘welcome, let me take you through new features!’ message that other computers had displayed.

Just rebooting again to check what’s what... seems a bit slower than before but all okay.

I also had an SD card inserted during the update. Perhaps because of this, the update did not go according to plan. I also noticed that many people wrote that they had an SD card inserted during the update.

MBP 13" Mid 2014

Hey there!

Wow a lot of reactions to this one.

Many posts so forgive me if you’ve done this.

You mentioned target disk mode, did you manage to create a bootable installer to either reinstall, or even reformat and reinstall the OS? If so how did that go?

If troubles, I’d probably try erasing then reinstalling the previous OS from a bootable installer, but sure sounds like hardware to me if that doesn’t do it, have you been able to connect it via Ethernet, and leave it for a while just to see if it finishes installing?

Best of luck!

Hey, MacBook Pro 2018 here stuck at 98% aswell. I contacted Apple and they asked me to force shutdown the computer and to next boot the Mac with Option + Command + R key pressed till the planet appear, I was not too quick with the keys so the Mac reboot normally and by my surprise the install finished by its own and the login page appear. I was scared to shutdown the computer while update was not finished but the assistance guy at the phone told me it be can be caused by the internet connection..not sure about this.. hope it will help you or others 🤞🤞🤞

I just got back from the Apple Store they told me it was cost about $500 for a logic board replacement that's pretty disappointing I've taken care of my Late 2013 Macbook Pro really well and this Big Sur update bricked my computer.

GlasgowRoss wrote:

Apple's official response is pathetic!

You left out the part where Apple said, and I quote, "This article will be updated as more information becomes available."

Apple does not monitor this forum. If you really want to help Apple solve this issue, then you need to contact them directly.

Click on the link below and fill out the form. The more people that report this to Apple directly, the more specific information they will have, and the more resources they will give to quickly solve this issue.

https://www.apple.com/feedback/macos.html

I did. First when the technician called me letting me know that my io board is gone and needs to be replaced. He first shamelessly said that it has not been established yet that your io board was damaged by BigSur (he had a nerve to say that even though when I handed over the laptop in the morning, the lady at Genius Bar told me that there have been 4 such cases in last 2 days). I said I would like to speak his manager. But his manager kept repeating I am sorry about this but we have no instructions from Apple to do it for free......Extremely frustrating of course....I am therefore venting it on these forums making this information public so apple can know how it is loosing its loyal customers....

Same happened to me. Had an appointment at the local Genius Bar and the support guy told me that it’s a hardware issue and not software - which can’t damage hardware as to the genius guy. He mentioned costs of 500 EUR for repair but that would definitely exceed the remaining economic value of the MB. When I got home tonight, I read about all the other experiences and now I am disappointed that Apple support did not mention this obviously well known issue. Will claim damage compensation from Apple since Apple as originator of the update caused a damage, being liable pursuant to civil law. Without downloading the update, as encouraged by Apple, my MB would still work.

Very odd. The comforting thing however is it appears a battery drain and recharge kicked our installation back into life. Really hope it helps others. Reading all the $500 repair costs would cause me to go DIY too

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!

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.

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!

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.