Black screen after Macbook Pro update to Big Sur

I can now comfirm that switching out the IO-board from a MacBook that has NOT had the update will fix the issue.

My broken MacBook now runs Mac OS Big Sur without any problems with a replacement board in it.

You will need an A1502 IO board, be carefull - there are 2 different types. One with and one without an EMI shield on it. Eventhough I believe they are interchangeable, you might as well choose the right one for your device just to be sure.

Extra note: the IO-board taken from the machine that did not work now runs fine in a machine that has Mac OS Catalina on it.

I will not be updating that machine to Big Sur.

I had a similar experience with my iMac (2020 i9). The screen never turned on (completely black). I ended up removing upgraded memory that I had previously installed (a month ago) and place the original stock memory back in. After that, it booted up and the screen turned back on.

I have a machine here that has the exact same problem, gives me a black screen and nothig works after updating to Big Sur.

After some reversed engineering I found a temporary fix to get the machine working again:

• Open the MacBook up
• Disconnect the IO-cable that runs from the morherboard to the IO-board on the left side of the machine (when upside down), it's the connectors that have the little metallic shields on them that are held down by T5 screws)
• Start the MacBook as you normally would and it should boot now
• Reconnect the IO-cable with the machine running
• Close the machine back up and do NOT restart or shut down your machine
• Happy computing

Mind you, this fix will cause your WiFi/bluetooth to not work. Manually reloading the Kernel extensions for WiFI/Bluetooth have not helped, maybe another terminal wizz can help with this step?

Anyway, I hope I helped you get up and running again, be it with some bumps in the road...

I know it's only a temporary fix untill Apple comes up with a permanent one, but it might help you out if you really need to have your machine back up and running for the time being.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/252034110?answerId=254133701022#254133701022

Hey Putnik, I tried flashing the machine back to an older EFI update but that did not fix the problem for me.

I ended up having to exchange the IO-board to fix the issue.

Thanks for the tip though! :)

2013 MBP same thing for me. Only way to get the screen to come back (for me) is to connect via HDMI to a tv and reboot w/ shift/control/opt/power. Then it works until i inevitably haver to let it sleep or power down. Repeat.... Worth a shot... they are winning and i probably will be buying a new one as this is my lifeline for a virtual job in covid.

| Hi, only want to tell, my MacBook Pro 15" End 2013 works well without any problem! Hope, you will get a solution !!!

a.g.

That has to be the most useless reply ever.

No your post is the most useless reply ever.

There's a forum discussing this problem here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25112768

This issue was going to cost me @ apple 831 CAD$ to fix.. I obviously did not accept that "repair" cost I brought it to a local repair shop and it so far (pre-pay) is costing 432 CAD$ still obscenely hight cost for a 35$ part on an OS Update that has supposedly:

1. gone through beta testing,

2. was a supported version on the Mid-2015 MacBook Pro 15" retina IG...

Hey Morridinges,

Thanks hopefully this helps others.. They seemed to remove that other post, but I got it in my e-mail, they might auto delete links.. getting a sourced IO board would be easy.. now I wish I waited.. but a month is a long time when you don't know what's coming.. the repair was already underway I was just fet up and left it with the shop, it's been there a week and a half.. no doubt they're waiting for the part.

thanks again, next time I know, never install an update on Friday the 13th ;P

Hey Sab,

They removed it because the information would be "potentially harmfull" to users computers...

Eventhough I understand where they are coming from with the message, the irony in this message is laughable.

They released a software-update that harmed an insane amount of MacBooks, and now they block a fix for it...oh well.

At least you got the message :)

Hi, only want to tell, my MacBook Pro 15" End 2013 works well without any problem! Hope, you will get a solution !!!

a.g.

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I have same problem

MacBook Pro 15 2016

black screen after MacOS Big Sur and silence from Apple support.