User profile for user: AA846
AA846 Author
User level: Level 1
8 points

Cannot access system preferences after upgrading to Big Sur

I have just purchased a 13" MacBook Pro with preinstalled with macOS Catalina. I had no issues accessing the system preference but after upgrading to Mac OS Big Sur 11.1, I cannot access it even though I am the only user on this Mac and have admin access. I have tried clearing my disk and reinstalling factory settings which got macOS Catalina back. Checked the system preference and was able to access it, then upgraded to macOS Big Sure and the problem is back. I cannot access system preferences for changes.

Has anyone else had similar issues? Any suggestions? I appreciate any help I can get.

Posted on Dec 18, 2020 12:47 PM

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User profile for user: karina184
karina184
User level: Community Specialist

Posted on Dec 21, 2020 8:35 AM

Hello AA846,


Thank you for using Apple Support Communities.


We understand that you are having an issue with accessing System Preferences after upgrading to Big Sur. We have a series of steps that you can try to sort out what may be going on with your system.


  1. In Finder, go to Menu > Applications. Select the view menu . Sort By > Name to sort alphabetically. double-click the System Preferences app in the Applications folder. If there are multiple copies, select the one with the icon with more rounded corners and smaller gear teeth. (This is the version included with macOS Big Sur). Open several preference panes. Is this version working?
  2. If this version in Applications folder is working, but a different version that doesn't work is being opened, then: Quit all open apps. Click on the Apple menu and select System Preferences, to open the version that is not working. Click and hold the mouse button on the Dock icon for the version of system Prefs that is open and select options > Show in Finder from the pop-up menu. Select the File menu > Get Info and get the info nest to "Where" in the info window.
  3. After locating the non-working copy of System Prefs in the previous step, quit all open apps. Drag the non-working copy of System Prefs to the Trash. Empty the Trash. Confirm that Apple menu > System Preferences opens the working copy.


Let us know how this works.


Best regards.

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User profile for user: karina184
karina184
User level: Community Specialist

Dec 21, 2020 8:35 AM in response to AA846

Hello AA846,


Thank you for using Apple Support Communities.


We understand that you are having an issue with accessing System Preferences after upgrading to Big Sur. We have a series of steps that you can try to sort out what may be going on with your system.


  1. In Finder, go to Menu > Applications. Select the view menu . Sort By > Name to sort alphabetically. double-click the System Preferences app in the Applications folder. If there are multiple copies, select the one with the icon with more rounded corners and smaller gear teeth. (This is the version included with macOS Big Sur). Open several preference panes. Is this version working?
  2. If this version in Applications folder is working, but a different version that doesn't work is being opened, then: Quit all open apps. Click on the Apple menu and select System Preferences, to open the version that is not working. Click and hold the mouse button on the Dock icon for the version of system Prefs that is open and select options > Show in Finder from the pop-up menu. Select the File menu > Get Info and get the info nest to "Where" in the info window.
  3. After locating the non-working copy of System Prefs in the previous step, quit all open apps. Drag the non-working copy of System Prefs to the Trash. Empty the Trash. Confirm that Apple menu > System Preferences opens the working copy.


Let us know how this works.


Best regards.

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User profile for user: AA846
AA846 Author
User level: Level 1
8 points

Dec 24, 2020 6:49 AM in response to karina184

Hi Karina,


I formatted my macbook pro then uploaded the latest version of macOS Catalina on it and that solved my issue. The system works fine now and I have also come across a few threads highlighting concerns with macOS Big Sur so I decided to wait for a few updates to come out to address the many issues before upgrading my own OS.


But thanks for the advice.

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Cannot access system preferences after upgrading to Big Sur

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