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Unable to download MacOS Big Sur installer

My company owns multiple Macbook Air/Pro Laptops. An employee recently left the company and reset their macbook air. Unfortunately, an error occured and that laptop is now stuck in recovery mode. After trying everything I could to reinstall the OS on this laptop, I've given up; I am now trying to download Big Sur (on a separate MacBook running Big Sur) onto an SSD and reinstall the OS from there.


Unfortunately, my MacBook refuses to download the Big Sur Installer tool. Whenever I try to download the installer tool I get the following message: "Install macOS Big Sur“ cannot be opened from a newer version of macOS."


Any help would be greatly appreciated!







Posted on Aug 11, 2022 1:23 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Aug 11, 2022 1:56 PM

If the computer being used to download Big Sur is running Monterey ( Original Installation as New ) this could be an issue but probably still possible.


Terminal Application and use the below command ( Copy and Paste )


softwareupdate --list-full-installers


Whatever the output is, is what this specific computer Qualifies to download and Run


Should Big Sur 11.6.8 appear in the list - good


Again Terminal and below command


softwareupdate --fetch-full-installer --full-installer-version 11.6.8


This will download the Full Version of Big Sur and place a New application in Applications folder. it Will Not Auto Launch





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5 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Aug 11, 2022 1:56 PM in response to Sage-F98

If the computer being used to download Big Sur is running Monterey ( Original Installation as New ) this could be an issue but probably still possible.


Terminal Application and use the below command ( Copy and Paste )


softwareupdate --list-full-installers


Whatever the output is, is what this specific computer Qualifies to download and Run


Should Big Sur 11.6.8 appear in the list - good


Again Terminal and below command


softwareupdate --fetch-full-installer --full-installer-version 11.6.8


This will download the Full Version of Big Sur and place a New application in Applications folder. it Will Not Auto Launch





Unable to download MacOS Big Sur installer

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