I've formatted for Big Sur. But it installed Catalina again

[fulhamx5]

today I saw an alert new Big Sur ready to install.
so I formatted my MacBook Pro with command+R.
i deleted disk. and it asked to install Catalina os.
i was expecting to install Big Sur.
do you suggest me to install Big Sur on to Catalina ?

or clean Big Sur install is must done?
thanks

 

[oldsuttree]

I believe this happens when you delete the disk as opposed to the volume.

"If you erased your entire disk instead of just the startup volume on that disk, macOS Recovery might offer only the macOS that came with your Mac, or the closest version still available. You can upgrade to a later version afterward."

How to reinstall macOS - Apple Support

You can use macOS Recovery, your computer's built-in recovery system, to reinstall the Mac operating system. Reinstalling macOS doesn't remove your personal data.

support.apple.com

 

[Heat_Fan89]

do you suggest me to install Big Sur on to Catalina ?

or clean Big Sur install is must done?
thanks

I don't think it matters anymore. When Apple introduced Catalina they made the OS partition read only and the second partition was for data. I don't write code but I would not be surprised if the OS partition is erased then macOS 11 is installed fresh in that partition. Either way it's still a read only partition to protect the OS.

I installed Big Sur on top of Catalina and there have been no problems whatsoever. I would not worry about something going wrong. A modern OS whether it's macOS, Linux or Windows 10 all incorporate fail safe measures to insure little to nothing goes wrong.

In fact when I completed the Big Sur upgrade there where no lingering folders where added when the switch was made from Catalina.

 

[apachie2k]

at this point i'd probably rather a clean install of Big Sur, i would try to load Big Sur on a USB

 

[chkwong]

I would also like to clean install Big Sur from internet recovery option-command-R

However, it is still Catalina when I get into internet recovery mode.

Anyone could help? thanks

 

[pshifrin]

I would also like to clean install Big Sur from internet recovery option-command-R

However, it is still Catalina when I get into internet recovery mode.

Anyone could help? thanks

option-command-R installs the "latest available macOS version for your device" but it's clear Apple hasn't updated their end yet to account for Big Sur. My suggestion, which is exactly what I did last night for a clean install:

Install Catalina
Download the Big Sur installer
Create a USB installer
If you have a T2 equipped Mac, make sure you set the startup security utility to allow booting from USB drives.
Boot from Big Sur installer and install!

 

[fulhamx5]

how will we have information Apple has updated their end yet to account for Big Sur for formatting ?

 

[chkwong]

option-command-R installs the "latest available macOS version for your device" but it's clear Apple hasn't updated their end yet to account for Big Sur. My suggestion, which is exactly what I did last night for a clean install:

Install Catalina
Download the Big Sur installer
Create a USB installer
If you have a T2 equipped Mac, make sure you set the startup security utility to allow booting from USB drives.
Boot from Big Sur installer and install!

thanks for advice

 

[chkwong]

Internet recovery works on Mac Pro 2013 already.

however Mac mini 2018 not yet

 

[Markus2801A]

Tried it yesterday on my Mac mini 2018, can confirm no internet recovery with Big Sur available at the moment. Hopefully Apple will release it ASAP, a clean install is the best way for switching to the newest OS!
In the meanwhile, BigSur works very well as update here in Austria, now download problems, installation was approx half an hour!

 

[Arctic Moose]

Follow these instructions to boot, format the entire disk and install from USB:

How to create a bootable USB masOS installer

Make a macOS installer with createinstallmedia and install Monterey or another macOS on multiple Macs, do a clean install, or access a faulty Mac.

www.macworld.com

 

[Markus2801A]

At the moment I'm installing macOS Big Sur via internet Recovery on my MacBook Pro 2015!
So I can confirm its also working on the 2015 MBP series

 

[chkwong]

Internet recovery works on Mac Pro 2013 already.

however Mac mini 2018 not yet

It requires update boot rom version in Mac mini 2018 through update from Catalina first, then internet recovery could go into big sur internet recovery now.

 

[chkwong]

It requires update boot rom version in Mac mini 2018 through update from Catalina first, then internet recovery could go into big sur internet recovery now.

I think it is related to T2 issue

 

[Markus2801A]

As of today morning 15th November, internet recovery with Big Sur is working on Mac mini 2018 Series!
I installed it and everything worked flawlessly!

 

[fulhamx5]

It’s still installing Catalina after cmd +r boot for my MacBook Pro 16
How will I clean install big sur ?

 

[Quackers]

It’s still installing Catalina after cmd +r boot for my MacBook Pro 16
How will I clean install big sur ?

• Command + R Will install the latest version installed on your Mac - won’t upgrade you to the latest version.
• Option/Alt + Command + R Will upgrade you to the latest macOS compatible with your Mac. Note: If you aren’t running Sierra 10.12.4 of later, this will install the version that came with your Mac; if your Mac has a T2 chip then Option/Alt + Command + R will install the latest macOS on your Mac.

 

[Arctic Moose]

It’s still installing Catalina after cmd +r boot for my MacBook Pro 16
How will I clean install big sur ?

You can always install from USB, follow these instructions:

How to create a bootable USB masOS installer

Make a macOS installer with createinstallmedia and install Monterey or another macOS on multiple Macs, do a clean install, or access a faulty Mac.

www.macworld.com