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macOS Recovery: No option to upgrade to Big Sur

Hi everyone,


I'm trying to install macOS Big Sur on a separate APFS volume. I've backed up my Mac and created the new volume, but when I start up in macOS Recovery via Option–Command–R, there's no option to upgrade to Big Sur – only the option to install Catalina.


I think this is a known issue (Command–R should allow you to re-install your current version of macOS while Option–Command–R should allow you to upgrade to the latest version), so which workaround should I use?


Will installing via > System Preferences give me the option to choose which disk I want to install to? If not, is there another workaround?


Thanks!



MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Jan 23, 2021 10:33 AM

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Posted on Jan 23, 2021 11:29 PM

Hi aurawra,


Welcome to Apple Support Communities! I see your question above and am happy to help.


You are correct. If you download macOS Big Sur via. System Preferences > Software Update it will give you the option of installing on your separate APFS volume. Just backup first in case anything goes wrong!


Hope this helps!


Cheers,


Jack

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Question marked as Best reply

Jan 23, 2021 11:29 PM in response to aurawra

Hi aurawra,


Welcome to Apple Support Communities! I see your question above and am happy to help.


You are correct. If you download macOS Big Sur via. System Preferences > Software Update it will give you the option of installing on your separate APFS volume. Just backup first in case anything goes wrong!


Hope this helps!


Cheers,


Jack

macOS Recovery: No option to upgrade to Big Sur

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