How To Install macOS Big Sur

Martin Lasek
3 min readJun 22, 2020

In this guide, I will quickly walk you through how to install Big Sur in parallel to your current (f.e. Catalina) macOS version✨

Index

1. Create a new APFS Volume
2. Download and Install the Beta Profile
3. Download and Install macOS Big Sur

1. Create a new APFS Volume

Open up Disk Utility — you can use spotlight by pressing cmd+space:

press cmd+space to open spotlight

Now right click your main hard drive — it is most likely called Macintosh HD and select Add APFS Volume..

You can give it a name and click on Add

That’s it! This is the preparation we needed to now install the shiny new OS!

2. Download and Install the Beta Profile

You’ll have to log in with your Apple ID in order to get access to all the beta software from Apple → https://developer.apple.com/download/

Once you’ve logged in you’ll be at the Operating System tab so go ahead and click the Install Profile for Big Sur!

This is just a profile and not the OS itself. Once downloaded double click to install it on your current system!

It will make it possible for you to download the actual OS (Big Sur). Once you finish the installation of the profile it should open the “Software Update” window.

If it doesn’t appear immediately, give it a few seconds!

3. Download and Install macOS Big Sur

Download macOS Big Sur in that window by clicking on “Upgrade Now”. This is when you take a break and watch some WWDC20 Videos since it may take a while 📽✨

Once the download is finished follow the installation wizard until you see your hard drive Macintosh HD displayed.

If you don’t see your new disk click on “Show all Disks..”

Select your new Volume and hit install ✨

Your Mac will install Big Sur, may restart a few times and ultimately you will be greeted with the wizard to configure your Big Sur Installation. Follow that, too and you successfully installed Big Sur!

— Switch between your OS by holding ⌥ (option key) when starting the mac

I am really happy you read my article! If you have any suggestions or improvements of any kind let me know! I’d love to hear from you! 😊

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Martin Lasek

I'm an always optimistic, open minded and knowledge seeking fullstack developer passionate about UI/UX and changing things for the better :)