Skip to navigation | Skip to main content | Skip to footer
Menu
Search the University of Manchester siteSearch Menu StaffNet

Apple Mac user? Wait before upgrading your operating system. (Updated May 2021)

12 Nov 2020

Updated May 2021: IT Services have confirmed that our core applications work as expected, and we're now happy for Mac users to update their Operating Systems to macOS 11 (Big Sur)

Image is the apple logo on a coloured background used at a recent Apple event

We would like to remind staff to check that the versions of the applications they use regularly are compatible with macOS Big Sur, and to ensure that their important data is backed up before upgrading.

Original message (12 November 2020)

As you may be aware, Apple have announced the latest release of their macOS Operating System (11.0 – known as “Big Sur”) for their Mac computers, and we are advising Mac users not to upgrade yet.

We always advise against updating any Operating System immediately after release. This ensures that any potential bugs or incompatibility issues can be identified.

Known compatibility issues:

  • McAfee Agent versions earlier than 5.6.6 are not certified as compatible. Version 5.6.6 was released by McAfee in October and is presently being rolled out to University computers.
  • Versions of GlobalProtect VPN earlier than 5.1 will not work properly. Version 5.2.2 has been made available to download from the University’s GlobalProtect download page. 

There may also be other compatibility issues which have not yet been identified.

Apple Macs managed by the University will be temporarily blocked from upgrading to macOS 11.0 until we’re happy that compatibility issues have been resolved. Our stance on macOS upgrades has always been to advise those using Macs for University business to wait until at least the third update following release, to allow the system to mature and bugs to be corrected.

We expect to release the restriction on upgrades in Q1 2021, however this is subject to change.