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Jurgenbrune Author

Level 1

11 points

Mac Mini 2018 Bricked during OS 11.4 upgrade

Hi all,

Today I tried updating my 2018 MacMini to BigSur 11.4. I has successfully updated my 2019 MBP 16 as well as my 2015 MBP.

Here is what happened. MacMini downloaded and started the update normally. Screen went blank and MacMini got hot.

I noticed the white light blinking “SOS” (three short, three long, three short blinks). Nothing else happened

Tried recovery with Configurator 2 from my 2019 MBP using the following this link (note - I have successfully solved earlier problems this way when the T2 did not update properly):

https://support.apple.com/guide/apple-configurator-2/revive-or-restore-an-intel-based-mac-apdebea5be51/mac

The first time it identified the Mini as "DFU". It downloaded the update files, unzipped and then tried to apply.

Error:

"Failed to restore device in recovery mode, libusbrestore error:21 [com.apple.MobileDevice.MobileRestore – 0x15 (21)]"

Tried again, now it identifies the Mini as "Recovery". Same motions trying to update, but same error.

MacMini appears dead except for the SOS light.

Mac mini 2018 or later

Posted on May 30, 2021 1:48 PM

Top-ranking reply

hcsitas

Level 6

12,692 points

Posted on May 30, 2021 8:55 PM

Looks like the system board might need replacing. Over to Apple Repair https://support.apple.com/guide/system-information/find-how-to-service-or-repair-your-mac-syspr35948/mac. Good luck!

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Mac Mini 2018 Bricked during OS 11.4 upgrade

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