Public Beta - Firmware Update included?

[cryptocat]

Quick question:

Will installing the public beta also update the firmware on (most) macs?

I'd use an external drive, but if trying out the beta would update my firmware to some beta version, I'll pass for now.

What are your observations?

 

[Colstan]

Yes, the betas of Monterey will update your Mac's firmware, by design, regardless if you are using an external drive. See details listed numbered 9 and 10 from this Mr Macintosh article.

Apple Silicon M1 Firmware Update- UPDATED = 7429.0.133.121.1

Intel BridgeOS version – UPDATED = 19.16.10284.5.7

I myself am very cautious about updating my Mac to newer versions of macOS, seeing how I am still on Mojave, even though my Mac mini supports newer versions.

As has often been said, it's best not to use a production machine when trying out a beta. While Apple probably vets the public beta as best as they can, there is always the chance that a pre-release firmware update could cause unforeseen issues. Unless you want to worry about the potential hassle of downgrading to an earlier firmware version, it's best to wait for the final release sometime later this year.

 

[cryptocat]

Thanks, I thought it'd include an update and that using an external drive wouldn't save me from that. External drive is a must for preserving my "production system" in the same state but the beta firmware makes me want to hold off anyways.

How do you downgrade the firmware, btw?

Does Apple still release standalone firmware updates which you can use to manually downgrade? Just in case if you are on beta and want to revert to the last "release" firmware.

I remember Big Sur bricking 13" Retina MBPs through corrupt FW. Do want to avoid that.

 

[Fishrrman]

I installed the developer beta (releases 1 and 2) onto an EXTERNAL USB3 SSD.

Don't -know- whether the firmware was updated, but I will assume that it was.

Having said that, the internal drive on my 2018 Mini (with Mojave) still boots and runs as it always did before...

 

[flowrider]

I myself am very cautious about updating my Mac to newer versions of macOS, seeing how I am still on Mojave, even though my Mac mini supports newer versions.

I have ten SSDs installed in my NcMP. Five of them boot. One is the OEM supplied by Apple, untouched and running Catalina 10.15.2. The other four are working and backup drives. Two are running the Monterey 12.0 Beta. One is running Big Sur Beta 11.5 and the other running Big Sur 11.4. I move quickly to new OS's, but keep backups just in case.

Lou

 

[MrMacintoshBlog]

Yes, you can downgrade firmware.

For Apple Silicon M1 Mac you need to use Apple Configurator 2 to downgrade with a 2nd mac
For T2 Macs you can downgrade BridgeOS firmware for 1 week after the next os release or if you are running a beta version you can downgrade back to prod.

 

[cryptocat]

I have a 15" 2016 with Touchbar. Should have a T1 chip.

But how do I downgrade that one?

Back in the day apple had EFI updater .dmgs on their support sites. Not anymore.