Is There a macOS 11 Big Sur Beta Profile to Download?
Yes — at the time. macOS 11 Big Sur launched during the configuration-profile era, so its beta genuinely was unlocked by a downloadable .mobileconfig file that you installed under Settings and then rebooted. That file no longer works on any device: Apple removed the profile mechanism from iOS in 2023, and the macOS 11 Big Sur beta programme itself closed years ago.
What replaced it is simpler and safer. Beta access now lives in Settings, tied to your Apple Account, and works identically across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Apple TV. Our current beta download guide covers the whole process in four steps.
How the macOS 11 Big Sur Beta Was Installed
Download the macOS 11 Big Sur beta profile from Apple's beta site, tap Install, enter your passcode and restart the device. After the reboot, the beta appeared in Software Update as a normal update. Profiles expired periodically, which is why testers had to reinstall them each year.
The macOS 11 Big Sur developer beta opened on June 22, 2020, with the public beta following in August 2020. New builds then arrived every one to two weeks until the finished version shipped that autumn.
What macOS 11 Big Sur Introduced
macOS 11 Big Sur is remembered for the largest visual redesign since OS X arrived, Control Centre coming to the Mac, a rebuilt Safari — and being the first macOS to run on Apple silicon. Big Sur's beta cycle ran unusually long because it carried the Intel-to-Apple-silicon transition. Its developer betas were the first macOS builds many people ever ran on an ARM Mac.
Everything that shipped in macOS 11 Big Sur carried forward into later releases, refined by successive cycles — which is the practical reason chasing an old beta build has little value today. The finished version, and the versions after it, contain all of it plus years of fixes.
Which Devices Ran macOS 11 Big Sur
macOS 11 Big Sur supported the MacBook from 2015, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro from 2013, Mac mini and iMac from 2014, iMac Pro and Mac Pro from 2013 — and, historically, the first Apple silicon Macs.
Compatibility and feature availability are separate questions on modern Apple releases: a device can be on the supported list while still missing the headline features that require newer silicon. Our supported devices page breaks down the current cycle model by model.
macOS 11 Big Sur Today
macOS 11 Big Sur has reached the end of its support life. Its final build was macOS 11.7.10, and no further updates are expected. Devices still running it should move to the newest version their hardware allows.
If your device currently runs macOS 11 Big Sur, open Settings → General → Software Update to see the newest version it supports. Staying current matters for security even when no new features are on offer.
How to Get an Apple Beta in 2026
The programme is very much alive — it simply works through your Apple Account. Enrol free at beta.apple.com for the public beta or developer.apple.com for the developer channel, then open Settings → General → Software Update → Beta Updates and choose the current release.
Before you install anything, make an archived backup — it is the only route back to your current version with your data intact. If you later change your mind, our guide to leaving the beta program covers every device.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I download the macOS 11 Big Sur beta profile?
No. The macOS 11 Big Sur beta used a configuration profile at the time, but Apple removed that mechanism from iOS in 2023 and the macOS 11 Big Sur beta programme is closed. No profile file for any version works on modern devices.
Can I still install macOS 11 Big Sur today?
Only the finished macOS 11.7.10 release, and only on devices that cap there. Apple no longer signs macOS 11 Big Sur beta builds, so beta versions cannot be installed on any device.
Which devices supported macOS 11 Big Sur?
macOS 11 Big Sur supported the MacBook from 2015, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro from 2013, Mac mini and iMac from 2014, iMac Pro and Mac Pro from 2013 — and, historically, the first Apple silicon Macs. Devices outside that list stayed on the previous release, which continued to receive security updates.
When did the macOS 11 Big Sur beta come out?
The developer beta opened on June 22, 2020 and the public beta followed in August 2020, with the finished version shipping later that year.