Is Filemaker Pro 16 compatible with MacOS Big Sur?

Apart from the FMP issue, I’d generally recommend against updating to Big Sur (going higher than Catalina), especially on your 6-year-old Mac. First off, for most users (with Intel Macs) BS brings no advantages, but some possible disadvantages: Some apps, not just FMP, may not run as well, or at all, or need upgrading. Bootable clones, IMO still one of the best kinds of backup, are no longer possible. Then there’s the age issue. Even if an older Mac can run BS, it may not be able to cope with it efficiently, resulting in an overall slowdown. Of course, none of this applies to the newer Apple silicone Macs, which need at least BS - and which is a reason for me to not get one of those unless/until I absolutely need to, at least not in the foreseeable future. (That’s probably a moot issue for me, anyway. At my age, given my not-upgradable legacy hardware, I suspect my 2020 Mac will outlast me. ;) )

Filemaker 17 advanced Pro crashed when I selected Layout mode using Big Sur.

ARGH! I thought Big Sur had some sort of Rosetta Stone translator that would allow older programs to run.... I'm getting sick of new OS that requires purchasing updated versions of software!!! Dang FMP is a claris product (which I think apple still controls... you'd think they'd work seamlessly. The old apple / claris was great, everything after "pages" came out has been a challenge to deal with!

I've also had problems with new filemaker version purchases that wouldn't import a file from .fmp7 etc. What a crock! You spend 100's of dollars and then have to export and re-import data. Will 18 or 19 import .fmp12 files (which seems to be the attachment for filemaker 16 files - so stupidly befuddling!) Over the years, I really haven't seen any amazing improvements in filemaker pro, just lots of hype on what it can do.

Sorry but laptops and software are getting so expensive, updates & upgrades every couple of years are getting too costly!

I use FM 16 (and not anything later) since it allows me to connect with a server company running FM server 14. It turns out the FM 17 and later versions are incompatible with this version of FM server 14. Now, you might ask, why don't I go with newer FM server. Turns out that Claris, in its greedy wisdom, has decreed that any newer version of FM server will have to run on dedicated hardware. So server companies need to charge significantly more for any newer software version, even for very small businesses like ours (we only have two people on the database) that don't need a dedicated piece of remote hardware.

Sigh.

I agree - Apple/Claris are not what they used to be - I have been using FM for years, periodically upgrading when it seemed necessary (for new features or others). I am really disappointed in Claris, developing a new version of FM and not taking care of previous versions to assure compatibility. Not fair to good customers over the years - I too am retired but use FM regularly -

FM was a great program from the very beginning, and the updates were worthwhile and not too expensive. Over time, though, FMPro became more and more expensive, with more capability, some of which was only questionably necessary for most users, and then “legacied-out” older files. I’m up to FMP 16 (so I’ll stay with Catalina as long as possible), the newer versions are unnecessary for me (and don’t differ much from v16), and I’ll use it as long as it runs. But the pricing has become outrageous, and this new hardware requirement is surely a bummer for those who need such capability. I don’t know how popular FMP is out there in the world (Macs and Windows), but it seems to me they’re beginning to aggravate too many users, and may be pricing themselves out of many sales, since I imagine there is probably serious competition.

Thanks for your insight. I’m really screwed if the price continues to go up. I have a small business that depends on the program that was designed for my business. I would be in dire straits if I had to do without it. I too have stayed with Catalina.

Exactly! I have another laptop (2020)with Big Sur running and having issues with other apps. I’m not a young man myself 😂. Glad I held on to my older one. Can run my version of photoshop on Big Sur. I’d have to buy a newer version that friends tell me has issues 🤬. Stay safe!

I was worried as well. I had to buy a new version when I last updated.

I’m in the same boat. Retired but run my own small business. Thanks for your input.

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It's crashing when running scripts on Big Sur. Be careful!

Thanks for the insight. I don’t think it’s right to have to buy FM every 2-3 years. I’m a retiree with a sole proprietor of a small business.