Endless reboot cycle trying to update to Big Sur

Question

Beebziie' Author

Level 1

9 points

Endless reboot cycle trying to update to Big Sur

Tried about four times, the OS downloads fine but when I try to install it the following occurs in a repeated loop:

Macbook will restart with some small progress on the install happening
It reboots, showing me my login screen
I log in, it gets partway through logging me in, then switches to the black OS installer screen with white apple logo and progress bar
Tries to install for a few seconds, reboots and goes back to the login screen to repeat the process

I've tried a few fixes I've seen on the community but none work?

(This is on a mid-2015 Macbook Pro Retina 15")

MacBook Pro 15″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Nov 14, 2020 12:34 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Nov 14, 2020 12:43 PM in response to Beebziie'

Try a SafeBoot https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201262

Takes noticeable longer to get to the login screen, does a 5-15 minute disk repair before it fully boots up, and certain system caches get cleared and rebuilt, including dynamic loader cache, etc.

Reply

Answer 2

Nov 15, 2020 5:54 AM in response to Beebziie'

Beebziie' wrote:

Hi, just to clarify - should I log in first using Safe Mode before I then try to install Big Sur?

Yes that is the idea. Safe boot> log-in

and launch the installer from the Applications folder "Install macOS Big Sur.app"

Reply

Answer 3

Beebziie' Author

Level 1

9 points

Nov 15, 2020 6:49 AM in response to leroydouglas

Just tried this, still encountering the same problem. I have FireVault enabled so I've tried the trick of unlocking the startup disk in recovery mode, and then booting in Safe Mode when it restarts, but to no avail. Guess I'll be waiting a few months until it's fixed?

Reply

Answer 4

Dec 18, 2020 1:00 PM in response to leroydouglas

I can’t even get to safe mode. The problem continues: the computer downloads about 1/8 of the way and then restarts and continues in an endless loop. It’s a month since this answer was posted. Does anyone have any other ideas?

Reply

Answer 5

Nov 14, 2020 12:46 PM in response to Beebziie'

I have the same problem got stuck in the progress bar on the screen (on Imac 2018)

Reply

Answer 6

Beebziie' Author

Level 1

9 points

Nov 15, 2020 5:52 AM in response to leroydouglas

Hi, just to clarify - should I log in first using Safe Mode before I then try to install Big Sur?

Reply

Endless reboot cycle trying to update to Big Sur

Similar questions