Apple provides instructions on what to do if macOS Big Sur causes installation errors on the 2013 and 2014 MacBook Pro

Following the release of macOS Big Sur last week, a number of 2013 and 2014 MacBook Pro owners have found that the update has broken their machines. Affected users saw their Macs get stuck with a black screen after trying to install the new software.

Apple has now addressed this issue in a new support document that provides instructions on what to do if ‌macOS Big Sur‌ cannot be installed on a 2013 or 2014 MacBook Pro. Apple suggests that Mac owners experiencing these issues unplug external devices, attempt to restart, reset SMC, and reset NVRAM or PRAM. From the support document:

1. Press and hold the power button on your Mac for at least 10 seconds, then release it. If your Mac is on, it turns off.
2. Unplug all external devices from your Mac, including displays and USB accessories, and remove any cards inserted in the SDXC card slot. Then turn on your Mac.
3. If the problem persists, reset the SMC as described for laptops with a non-removable battery.
4. If the problem persists, reset NVRAM or PRAM.

Apple says if these solutions don’t work, affected customers should contact Apple Support for further help with the issue. The document also states that Apple plans to update the article as more information becomes available.

To be safe, those with older 2013 or 2014 MacBook Pro models should avoid installing the ‌macOS Big Sur‌ update for now until a more definitive patch is available. Apple today released a new version of macOS Big Sur 11.0.1, but it’s not clear if that fixes the issues with older MacBook Pro models.