Additional accommodations for macOS 11 Big Sur More information for Block Party! V4.3 and download link is here. Posted in Big Sur, Catalina, Managing Playlists, Music app. Copy the 'iTunes Library.itl' iTunes Data from Mojave to your Big Sur desktop (can delete later) - Hold the opt key and open the Music.app - you should get a dialog to 'Choose Library' choose the 'iTunes Library.itl' on the desktop and it should import / Create a new “music library” in the main music folder and import all the playlists.

1. Itunes In Macos Big Sur
2. Run Itunes In Big Sur
3. Itunes For Mac Big Sur
4. Install Itunes In Big Sur
5. Download Big Sur
6. Where Is Itunes On Mac Big Sur

Article ID = 247
Article Title = macOS 11 Big Sur Post Install Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
Article Author(s) = Graham Needham (BH)
Article Created On = 11th August 2020
Article Last Updated = 18th March 2021
Article URL = https://www.macstrategy.com/article.php?247
Article Brief Description:
Frequently asked questions after installing macOS 11 Big Sur

macOS 11 Big Sur Post Install Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which version of macOS / OS X / Mac OS X did you upgrade from? Click on the relevant link below and read everything from that point onwards.

After Upgrading From Mac OS X 10.6

Q. Scrolling appears to be the wrong way round. Can I change it?

A. Yes. Go to Apple menu > System Preferences >

• (for mice) click on the Mouse icon and untick the 'Move content in the direction of finger movement when scrolling or navigating' option.
• (for trackpads) click on the Trackpad icon > Scroll & Zoom tab and use/don't use the 'Scroll Direction: natural' option.

Q. I don't like the system 'Resume' feature. Can I switch it off?

A. Yes. Go to Apple menu > System Preferences > General and tick the 'Close windows when quitting an app' option. Alternatively if you like the feature for some applications but not others, in those that you don't want the feature you can alt-Command-Quit (Quit and Discard Windows).

Q. I don't like the new system wide text 'Auto-Correct' feature. Can I switch it off?

A. Yes. Go to Apple menu > System Preferences > Keyboard > Text tab >untick the 'Correct spelling automatically' option in the top right.

Q. I don't like the new Apple System Information view. Can I get the original view back?

A. Yes. System Profiler has been renamed System Information and it opens from the new simplified window. To see the old style view, go to File menu > Overview tab > System Report… button or alternatively hold down alt and select 'System Information…' from the Apple menu.

Q. My Finder windows used to show the number of selected items, disk space left and/or the path for selected items at the bottom. Can I get this information back?

A. Yes - Big Sur switches these off by default. In Finder go to the View menu and select 'Show Path Bar' and/or 'Show Status Bar' as required.

Q. I have a NAS drive but although I can connect to it I can no longer use it as a Time Machine backup destination. What's wrong?

Q. I have a NAS drive but can no longer connect to it using the AFP protocol. What's wrong?

Q. I have a very old AppleShare IP (ASIP) server but can no longer connect to it using the AFP protocol. What's wrong?

A. AFP servers must support the Netatalk v2.2 protocol or later to work with Big Sur.

• Apple has disabled AFP support for the Diffie-Hellman Key Exchange (DHX) Protocol ('DHCAST128'). DHCAST128 is often used by NAS boxes, mainly because it has fewer overheads. DHCAST128 is deprecated and replaced by Diffie-Hellman Key Exchange 2 (DHX2). The minimum size of the prime is increased to 512 bits to improve resistance to numerical methods of attack.
• You should contact your NAS provider for an update to the NAS software.
• For a list of potential NAS products affected with information, links and software updates see this article.
• Apple has now officially stated a workaround in this technical support article.

Q. Where has Front Row gone?

A. Front Row is no longer included with Big Sur. Alternatives include:

Q. Where has iSync gone?

A. iSync is no longer included with Big Sur. It has been replaced by iCloud.

Q. I'm trying to open an application but Big Sur keeps popping up the message 'You can't open the application your application name here because PowerPC applications are no longer supported'. What's wrong?

A. Big Sur no longer supports PowerPC applications/the Rosetta environment. See this article.

Q. I'm trying to move an application out of the Applications folder but it just creates an alias. What am I doing wrong?

A. Nothing. Big Sur has changed the permissions on the Applications folder. To move an application out of the folder you now need to 'copy' it (by dragging and holding the alt key down) first. Then you can delete the original from the Applications folder.

Q. I'd really like to use the original QuickTime 7 Pro. Can I still do this?

A. No. QuickTime 7 Pro is 32-bit and 32-bit software is no longer supported in Big Sur.

Q. When I copy files from one place to another that has files with the same name the new dialogue window does not have the 'Don't Replace' option/button. What do I do now?

A. Big Sur works differently to previous OSes and there is a new dialogue window for such instances including a 'Keep Both Files' option. Basically Big Sur copies/moves all unique files first (unlike older OSes) and then gives you the dialogue window for the files with the same name with the following options:

• Keep Both Files: this will keep both files with the same name, it will add 'copy' to the filename of the items you are moving/copying
• Stop: this is now the equivalent of the old 'Don't Replace' option
• Replace: this is the same as before where it will replace the items with the same name with the items you are moving/copying

Q. I'm trying to browse web sites but all the texts are coming up with the letter A in a square. What's wrong?

A. You have a font problem. Try these:

1. If you are using a third party font manager e.g. FontExplorer or Suitcase Fusion check for updated software.
• FontExplorer latest update.
• Suitcase Fusion latest update.
• FontAgent Pro latest update.
2. If you are using a third party font manager e.g. FontExplorer or Suitcase Fusion check you have not enabled fonts that will 'conflict' or 'override' the System fonts.
• FontExplorer: Go to the 'Tools' menu and make sure 'System Font Protection' is unticked.
• Suitcase Fusion: Go to Suitcase Fusion > Preferences > Activation tab and make sure 'Allow Suitcase Fusion to override System Fonts' is unticked.
• FontAgent Pro: Go to FontAgent Pro > Preferences > and make sure 'Manage System Fonts' is unticked.
3. Make sure your (required) fonts are stored in the correct macOS locations:
• Macintosh HD > Library > Fonts folder.
• Macintosh HD > System > Library > Fonts folder.
• Macintosh HD > Users > ~your home directory > Library > Fonts folder.
4. Reboot to your normal boot disk in Safe Boot Mode to clear (font) caches.
5. Go to Macintosh HD > Applications > Font Book and Select All (Command+A) fonts. Then try each of the following:
• File menu > Validate Fonts.
• Edit menu > Resolve Duplicates.
• File menu > Restore Standard Fonts.

You should also read the After Upgrading From OS X 10.7 FAQ below

After Upgrading From OS X 10.7 or earlier

Q. I keep getting banners and alerts in the top right of my screen. How do I change this behaviour/stop them appearing?

A. Go to Apple menu > System Preferences > Notifications and configure them accordingly.

Q. The system 'Resume' feature has changed since 10.7. What can I do?

A. Whereas before you unticked an option in System preferences you must now go to Apple menu > System Preferences > General and TICK the 'Close windows when quitting an app' option.

Q. I went to System Preferences > Sharing and 'Web sharing' is missing. What happened to it?
Q. I went to System Preferences > Sharing and 'Xgrid sharing' is missing. What happened to it?
Q. I want to use X11 but it's not installed. What should I do?

A. Big Sur no longer includes X11 or web/Xgrid sharing, see our Big Sur FAQ for more information/alternatives.

Q. I'm trying to run a software application but Big Sur says it can't be opened because it's from an unidentified developer. What's wrong?
Q. I'm trying to install some software but Big Sur says it can't be installed because it's from an unidentified developer. What's wrong?

A. Probably nothing but make sure the software you want to run/install is legitimate and is not malware. Big Sur includes an enhanced security featured called Gatekeeper. Check out our article all about it.

Q. I've heard Big Sur supports using more than one Time Machine backup device. How do I get this to work?

A. You can 'add' additional devices in the Time Machine preferences or select the option when connecting another drive.

Q. Safari doesn't appear to have an RSS facility or the activity monitor window. Are there alternatives?

A. The Activity monitor within the Safari application (not the general application in Utilities) is gone - it's not likely to come back. If you still want RSS feeds you could use a different web browser that does support them or use a dedicated RSS software application:

• RSS Menu
• iReader
• NewsRack
• RSSimple
• NewsFire
• Feeds

Q. Safari appears to have lost the ability to change the default font and size (used to be Appearance in Preferences), block pop-up windows and empty its cache (latter two used to be on the Safari menu). Are there alternatives?

A. 'Block pop-up windows' is now in Safari menu > Preferences > Websites tab > Pop-up Windows (list on the left) > configure on the right as required.
A. Minimum font size is now in Safari menu > Preferences > Advanced tab > 'Never use font sizes smaller than' pop-up menu.
A. 'Empty cache' is now available only when you have enabled the 'Develop' menu (go to Safari menu > Preferences > Advanced tab > TICK 'Show Develop menu in menu bar').

Q. Where's iChat gone?

A. It's been replaced with the Messages application.
You should also read the After Upgrading From OS X 10.8 FAQ below

After Upgrading From OS X 10.8 or earlier

Q. I can access Wireless Diagnostics from the Wireless menu (using the Option key) but where is the actual application located on the hard disk?

A. The 'Wireless Diagnostics' application can now be found in Macintosh HD > System > Library > CoreServices > Applications.

Q. I used to be able to turn off text smoothing for font sizes below a certain size in System Preferences > General but I can't find that option now. Is it still available?

A. No. It's been removed from Big Sur.

Q. If I held the Command key down when opening a folder in the Finder it would open in a new Window but now it opens in a new Tab. Can this be changed?

A. The Big Sur Finder has changed (with the Finder Tabs feature) so the default preference is to open new Finder windows in a new tab. You can change this setting back by going to (Finder) Preferences > General and UNTICK 'Open folders in tabs instead of new windows'.

Q. I had the Finder set to 'Always open folders in a new window' but this no longer works. Why?

A. The Big Sur Finder has changed (with the Finder Tabs feature) so this preference has been removed and is no longer available, sorry.

Q. I have lots of Finder windows open. Is there an easy way to turn them into a tabbed Finder window?

A. Yes. Go to Window menu > and select 'Merge All Windows'.

Q. I've heard Safari can now save credit card details using the new iCloud Keychain feature. Is there a way to stop this?

A. The iCloud Keychain is an optional feature. However, if you have switched it on/are using it and don't want to store credit card details you can turn just those off by going to Safari Preferences > AutoFill > and UNTICK 'Credit cards'.

Q. The directions in the new Maps application are in kilometers. Can I switch this to miles?

A. Yes. Go to Apple menu > System Preferences > Language & Region and change 'Region' as required and also click 'Advanced…' > General tab and set 'Measurement units' as required.

Q. The new Notification Center is really annoying. Can I switch it off?

A. Not totally but here's a handy tip: Go to Apple menu > System Preferences > Notification Center. There is a new 'Turn on Do Not Disturb' option. Set this to a small timeframe while you are usually asleep e.g. from 04:00 to 03:45 i.e. notifications will only show between 03:45 and 14:00 in the morning. However, note that Big Sur does use Notifications for some important system notices like software updates so use this feature wisely.

Q. I'm having problems file sharing to a Windows computer/connecting to a Windows server. Is the newer SMB protocol in Big Sur causing issues?

A. Probably. You can control which protocol is used to connect to file servers in the Finder > Go menu > Connect to Server… dialogue box by using:

• cifs://server.name.or.ipaddress = SMB1
• smb://server.name.or.ipaddress = SMB2 or later
• afp://server.name.or.ipaddress = AFP

Q. I have multiple monitors but it all works differently in Big Sur e.g. the Dock and menu bar are available on all screens. How do I get Big Sur to work like the old versions of OS X?

A. Go to Apple menu > System Preferences > Mission Control > Displays section at the top > UNTICK 'Displays have separate spaces'.

Q. The Dock is supposed to be available on multiple monitors but I can't see it. What's wrong?

A. Nothing. To save space and confusion it only appears when you try and drag something to the bottom of your screen - then it appears.

Q. Some of the new power saving options sound great. What should I do to enhance my battery life?

A. Go to the Battery menu item and it now shows applications that are using significant power - go to each application that is listed and quit it when not in use.
A. App Nap can be disabled/enabled for individual applications by Get Info on the application icon and ticking the 'Prevent App Nap' option (if the developer supports App Nap for their application).

Q. I really like the Dictation feature of macOS but it requires the internet. Is there any way to use this feature offline?

A. Yes! Go to Apple menu > System Preferences > Keyboard > Dictation tab > TICK 'Use Enhanced Dictation' (Dictation needs to be switched on for this option to be available).
NOTE: After you switch this feature on macOS will download and install the local Dictation services to your computer. The files/data can be quite large (~500MB+) so make sure you have a speedy connection to the internet or you are prepared to wait for the files to download!

Q. My computer is set to sleep after a certain amount of time but if I am near the computer it won't go to sleep. Is my iSight camera/computer watching me?

A. No! Big Sur uses the ambient light sensors to sense movement in the near vicinity of the computer. If it senses movements it will delay the computer going to sleep.
NOTE: This could be a security risk if you normally let your computer sleep after a short period of time. If you are security conscious you should setup and use a sleep 'corner' in System Preferences or if you have a laptop close the lid before stepping away from your computer.

Q. I used to use the Finder's QuickLook feature to preview videos but it's no longer working with some videos or there is a huge pause before it previews. What's wrong?

A. QuickLook now only works with MPEG4/mp4 video files and even then, only those with certain CODECs - see legacy media formats are no longer supported. Some types of files will be converted on the fly to mp4 prior for playback (hence the pause) or they won't preview at all. You can still use a third party video application e.g. VLC to playback non-mp4 files.

Q. I use Finder Labels to colour code my files and folders but now the colours have disappeared. What's wrong?

A. Labels have been replaced by Finder 'Tags'. You can still tag files and folders (with colours) but they no longer highlight in full colour - instead there is a Finder window column for tags which are identified by coloured dots. Tags can be added in save dialogue boxes/sheets or via the Finder - use the File menu > Tags, or right/control click on a file/folder, or drag the item to the required tag on the sidebar. To delete tags go to Finder Preferences > Tags pane > right/control click on the tag in the list that you want to delete > select 'Delete Tag' from the contextual menu.

Q. I don't like the new Finder 'Tags'. Can I go back to Labels?

A. No.

Q. I use Time Machine to backup my computer but when Time Machine is backing up the menu bar clock icon no longer spins. Is there something wrong?

A. No. In an effort to help save battery life the icon is now static. However, an extra arrowhead now appears on the clock icon when a backup is in progress.

Q. I use special characters a lot like the Emoji font but invoking the Special Characters option or opening the Character Viewer is a real pain. Is there an easier way?

A. Yes. In Big Sur the 'Special Characters…' option in the Edit menu now has a keyboard shortcut which is command-control-space. Triggering it opens a special window at the current text insertion point with access to special characters. You can even drag this window off to create a floating palette.

Q. I use special characters a lot but the Input menu in the top right is missing and there are no text options in System Preferences anymore. Can I still access these features?

A. Yes. They've just moved in Big Sur. Go to Apple menu > System Preferences > Keyboard > Input Sources tab.

Q. I use to store my books in iTunes but iTunes has gone. Where are my Books?

A. Big Sur has a new Books application (in Macintosh HD > Applications) where all your digital books are now stored and viewed.
You should also read the After Upgrading From OS X 10.9 FAQ below

After Upgrading From OS X 10.9 or earlier

Q. I have multiple partitions on my hard disk and I installed Big Sur but now my Boot Camp Windows installation doesn't work/I cannot boot to Windows. What's wrong?

A. Windows requires that Boot Camp is within the first four partitions on your hard disk. Unfortunately a Mac running Big Sur has TWO additional invisible partitions on the hard disk (EFI and Recovery HD) so if you have more partitions than just your normal macOS and Windows, Windows may not work. The standard setup (Boot Camp will work):

1. [hidden] EFI
2. [hidden] Recovery HD
3. macOS 11 Big Sur
4. Boot Camp and Windows

An example non-standard setup (Boot Camp may not work):

1. [hidden] EFI
2. [hidden] Recovery HD
3. macOS 10.15 Catalina (dual boot)
4. macOS 11 Big Sur (dual boot)
5. Boot Camp and Windows

NOTE: This is a limitation of Windows and it's partitioning scheme, not the Mac or macOS.

Q. In some applications when I click the green traffic light button (in the top left of the window) it no longer toggles the window size but makes the current window go full screen. Can I get the old way back?

A. No you can't get the old way back permanently. In Big Sur the green traffic light button now toggles between full-screen mode for applications that support full-screen mode. However, for those applications you can hold the Option (Alt) key down while clicking the green traffic light to trigger the old behaviour.

Q. I use the 'Reader/Reading List' features in Safari a lot but can't add items to it now. How does it work in Big Sur?

A. Reader and Reading List are still in Big Sur but Apple have simplified how they work. The Reader icon is now to the left of the search field and shown as a series of horizontal lines. Click the icon to go into Reader mode. Hover over the icon and you will see a plus button to the right that when clicked will add that page to the Reading List. The Bookmarks (where your Reading List is) icon has been changed to a 'Sidebar' icon in the top left of the main bar at the top of the window.

Q. The simplified URL field only shows the primary web site domain name I am visiting. How do I see/get the full URL?

A. Just click into the URL field and the full URL will be shown.

Q. I don't like the new simplified URL field in Safari - is there anything I can do?

A. Yes. Go to Safari > Preferences > Advanced and tick 'Show full website address' for 'Smart Search Field' to switch this feature off.

Q. I've heard you can initiate a Personal Hotspot on your iPhone/iPad directly from your Mac. How do you do that?

A. On your Mac, just go to the Wi-Fi menu in the menu bar (top right) and your iPhone/iPad's (hotspot) will appear as an option in the list of available networks. However, your iOS device must be running iOS 8.1 or later.

Q. In OS X 10.9 Mavericks Apple changed the way system software updates are installed. Is there anything new/different with Big Sur?

A. Yes. Go to Apple menu > System Preferences > Software Update > click the 'Advanced…' button - as part of the automatic check for updates you now have the specific option for 'Install macOS updates'. In addition you should note that the Apple Menu > Software Updates option has gone.

Q. I can't find AppleScript Editor in Applications > Utilities. What's happened to it?

A. It's been renamed to 'Script Editor' and is in the same location (Utilities folder) but it now also supports JavaScript.

Q. I've heard there's new information about a Wi-Fi connection available but I can't find it - where is it??

A. Option (alt) click the Wi-Fi menu bar item and you now get an additional four items at the top of the menu (the interface name, MAC address, the ability to open 'Wireless Diagnostics' or to switch on 'Wi-Fi Logging') and you get dedicated information about the current wireless network you are connected to.

Q. Spotlight is now supposed to search the internet but it's not working. What could be wrong?

A. Go to Apple menu > System Preferences > Spotlight > Search Results tab > and make sure 'Spotlight Suggestions' is TICKED.
NOTE: the order of the search categories can be dragged into your preferred order and you can disable/enable specific search options here. Unticking 'Spotlight Suggestions' will actually prevent Spotlight searching the web which some of you may consider a good thing - see our privacy article.

Q. Now that Spotlight can search the internet I'm concerned about privacy. What are my options?

A. Go to Apple menu > System Preferences > Spotlight and click on the 'About Spotlight Suggestions & Privacy' button. This will give you details about what Apple does and exactly how to disable any 'phone home' functions.

Q. I've installed iOS 8.1 or later on my iPhone/iPad but I cannot get iMessage, SMS and MMS messages all combined on my Mac. What's wrong?

A. First try signing out of and then back into iMessage on your iPhone/iPad - go to Settings > Messages and switch 'iMessage' OFF. Then switch it back ON. If that doesn't work try enabling your Apple ID email address in iMessage - go to Settings > Messages > Send & Receive and make sure your Apple ID email address is TICKED. You should then receive a code on your iPhone/iPad when using Messages on your Mac.

Q. After upgrading iPhoto won't open and it says I need an update from the App Store for compatibility with Big Sur/Catalina/Mojave/High Sierra/Sierra/El Capitan/Yosemite but when I go to the App Store it says the app is not available. What can I do?

Q. Where has iPhoto gone/Can I use iPhoto with Big Sur?

A. See our Photos FAQ.
You should also read the After Upgrading From OS X 10.10 FAQ below

After Upgrading From OS X 10.10

Q. Big Sur has a new, primary 'system font'. Can I change this?

A. Big Sur uses San Francisco as the system font. You can't change this. Well, not officially. There are third party 'hacks' out there to accomplish the job - do so at your own risk - An internet search engine is your friend.

Q. I'm trying to install some software but Big Sur says it can't be installed. What's wrong?
Q. I'm trying to access/modify '/bin', '/sbin', '/usr', '/System' or '/Applications/Utilities' but I can't. What's wrong?

A. Big Sur includes a new low-level security technology called System Integrity Protection (SIP) which prevents the modification or removal of certain system files. See our separate article all about System Integrity Protection (SIP).

Q. I use the Secure Empty Trash feature but it appears to be no longer an option. What's wrong?

A. The Secure Empty Trash feature has been removed from the Finder (it's not necessarily needed any more with SSDs/Flash storage which is what the majority of new Apple Mac computers now ship with). There are alternatives/workarounds:

• Use the Terminal command 'rm' with the flags 'r' for recursive deletion of folders, and 'P' for overwriting of the removed files e.g.
rm -rP /path/to/file_or_folder
• Use the more secure Terminal command 'srm' with the flags 'r' for recursive deletion of folders, 'f' for force confirmation, 'v' for verbose showing of information, and an additional flag of '-s' for secure deletion e.g.
srm -rfv -s /path/to/file_or_folderNOTE: the additional '-s' flag performs a single-pass erase but can be replaced with '-m' for a 7-pass erase instead, or '-z' for overwriting with zeros, or with no additional flag at all it will perform a 35-pass erase!
• Use a third party utility that offers the feature of securely deleting files e.g.
• Cocktail (US$20)
• CCleaner (£20)

Q. I used to use Disk Utility to 'Erase Free Space'. How do I do that in the new Disk Utility?

A. This feature has been removed from Disk Utility (it's not necessarily needed with SSDs/Flash storage which it was what the majority of new Apple Macs now ship with). The feature is still available from the diskutil command in Terminal:diskutil secureErase freespace ERASE_TYPE /Volumes/NAME_OF_DRIVENOTE: change ERASE_TYPE with a number between 0 and 4:

• 0 = single pass with zero data
• 1 = single pass with random numbers
• 2 = 7-pass
• 3 = 35-pass
• 4 = 3-pass

NOTE: change NAME_OF_DRIVE with the name of the mounted drive (put the name in standard quote marks if it contains spaces or any punctuation).

Q. I used to use Disk Utility to Repair Permissions. How do I do that in the new Disk Utility?

A. This feature has been removed from Disk Utility. We recommend using the free Onyx application that now supports repairing permissions on Big Sur or later.

Q. I used to use Disk Utility to burn CDR/DVDR discs but can't see that feature any more. How do I do that in the new Disk Utility?

A. This feature has been removed from Disk Utility. You can burn discs from the Finder or there are third party optical disc burning software products but you should make sure they are Big Sur compatible before purchasing:

• Roxio Toast Titanium 19 (64-bit compatible)
• Roxio Toast Titanium 18 (64-bit compatible)
• Roxio Toast Titanium 17 (64-bit compatible)
• Corel Toast Burn
• NTI Dragon Burn
• Burn (FREE - Open Source)
• NCH Express Burn (FREE for home use or US$34.99)
• Disco (FREE) - 32-bit software so not compatible with macOS 10.15 or later!
• SimplyBurns (FREE) - 32-bit software so not compatible with macOS 10.15 or later!

You should also read the After Upgrading From OS X 10.11 FAQ below

After Upgrading From OS X 10.11 or earlier

Q. I have a third-party/the Apple USB Modem but under Big Sur I cannot get it to work. What's wrong?

Q. I use to use my Mac as a fax machine. This option seems to have disappeared from System Preferences. Can I use my computer for faxes?

A. Faxing is no longer supported from directly within macOS because Apple removed the underlying software (Ed Casas' open source 'efax' package). You used to be able to use an external USB modem for faxing but this is no longer possible - there are manual workarounds:

Q. I can't find my User Library? Where is it?

Q. Is my User Library folder still hidden?

Q. Why doesn't Finder > Go menu (while holding the 'alt' key down) > Library work any more?

A. Your User Library has not gone and it is in fact in the same place, but in Sierra, by default, it is invisible. You can now make it permanantely visible again - just go to Finder > Go menu > Home and then select 'Show View Options' from the 'View' menu > TICK 'Show Library Folder'. However, if you do this you will not be able to access it quickly via the Finder > Go menu (while holding the 'alt' key down). If you choose not to view it permanently in the Finder > Go menu (while holding the 'alt' key down) > Library still works.

Q. I've heard Big Sur now includes Siri. Is Siri switched on and listening all the time?

A. When you first install Big Sur you will be asked whether you want to switch Siri on or off as part of the install/upgrade process. Once Big Sur is installed you have control over Siri:

• Go to Apple menu > System Preferences > Siri to enable (tick) or disable (untick) Siri
• Go to Apple menu > System Preferences > Siri to turn on/off 'Show Siri in the menu bar'
• If you don't want Siri in your Dock click and drag Siri's icon off of the Dock and wait a few seconds, the Remove option will appear and you can let go of the mouse button

Q. Where have my Desktop and Documents folders gone?

A. By default they will be in the same place but it is now possible to save and synchronise them to iCloud - this feature is OFF by deafult. If you turn this feature on your Desktop and Documents folders will be in your iCloud Drive. There are two places in Big Sur where you can choose to turn this feature on:

1. Apple menu > System Preferences > iCloud > (sign-in if necessary) > iCloud Drive > Options > 'Desktop & Documents Folders' TICKED
2. Optimized Storage via Apple menu > About This Mac > Storage tab > Manage… > Recommendations > Store in iCloud > Store files from Desktop and Documents in iCloud Drive

Q. I use to have a PPTP VPN configured but it's disappeared. Where has it gone?

A. Big Sur does not support PPTP VPN connections as they are inherently insecure. The third party Equinux VPN Tracker 365 Pro and VIP software products/services include support for PPTP VPN connections on Big Sur.

Q. I've heard something about a new 'Apple Pay on the Web' feature. Does my Mac support this new feature?

A. Big Sur does indeed have this feature but not all Macs/iPhones support this feature - so basically older hardware won't support this feature. Macs that officially support 'Apple Pay on the Web' are:

• MacBook (Early 2015 or newer)
• MacBook Pro 13' (2012 or newer)
• MacBook Pro 15' (2012 or newer)
• MacBook Air (2012 or newer)
• Mac mini (2012 or newer)
• iMac (2012 or newer)
• Mac Pro (Late 2013 or newer)

NOTE: Apple Pay on the Web requires an iPhone 6 or later with iOS 10 or later or an Apple Watch with watchOS 3.

Q. I've heard about features like Handoff, Instant Hotspot, and Universal Clipboard. Does my Mac support these new features?

A. Big Sur does indeed have this features but not all Macs/iOS devices support these features. Macs that officially support Handoff, Instant Hotspot, and Universal Clipboard are:

• MacBook (Early 2015 or newer)
• MacBook Pro 13' (2012 or newer)
• MacBook Pro 15' (2012 or newer)
• MacBook Air (2012 or newer)
• Mac mini (2012 or newer)
• iMac (2012 or newer)
• Mac Pro (Late 2013 or newer)

NOTE: No MacBook Pro 17' model supports these features.
NOTE: Handoff requires an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with a Lightning connector and iOS 8 or later. Instant Hotspot requires an iPhone or iPad with cellular connectivity with a Lightning connector and iOS 8.1 or later. Requires Personal Hotspot service through your carrier.

Q. I've heard something about a new 'Auto Unlock' feature. Does my Mac support this new feature?

A. All 2013 models or later support it - it also requires an Apple Watch with watchOS 3 and an iPhone 5 or later to work.

Q. I've heard something about a low-power wake mode (sharing resources without the need to turn on the monitor or attached USB devices) called 'Power Nap'. I can't find this in the Preferences anywhere. How do I utilise this mode?

A. Big Sur does indeed have this feature. Simply go to Apple menu > System Preferences > Energy Saver and make sure 'Enable Power Nap' is ticked. However, not all Macs support this feature as it is dependent on the hardware in your computer - so basically older computers won't support this feature. Macs that officially support 'Power Nap' are:

• MacBook (Early 2015 or newer)
• MacBook Pro 13' with Retina display (Mid 2012 or newer)
• MacBook Pro 15' with Retina display (Mid 2012 or newer)
• Mac mini (Late 2012 or newer)
• iMac (Late 2012 or newer)
• Mac Pro (Late 2013 or newer)

Q. I've heard Big Sur has AirPlay video mirroring to an Apple TV. How do I get this to work?

Itunes In Macos Big Sur

A. Your Apple TV must be up-to-date (2nd/3rd generation / 4th/5th generation). Only certain Mac models support AirPlay video mirroring, they are:

• MacBook (Early 2015 or newer)
• MacBook Pro 13' (Early 2011 or newer)
• MacBook Pro 15' (Early 2011 or newer)
• MacBook Pro 17' (Early 2011 or newer)
• Mac mini (Mid 2011 or newer)
• iMac (Mid 2011 or newer)
• Mac Pro (Late 2013 or newer)

NOTE: AirPlay for web video requires an Apple TV (2nd generation or later). Peer-to-peer AirPlay requires a Mac (2012 or later) with OS X Yosemite or later and an Apple TV (3rd generation rev A, model A1469 or later) with Apple TV software 7.0 or later.
If you have a compatible Mac go to Apple menu > System Preferences > Displays > click the 'AirPlay Mirroring' option near the bottom and select 'Apple TV'. Alternatively, when a compatible Mac with Big Sur detects an Apple TV on the same network, the AirPlay Mirroring menu item appears in the menu bar (top right) and this can be used to turn the feature on. In addition audio can be streamed on its own - audio from your Mac is wirelessly sent to your Apple TV. You can use this feature independent of AirPlay Mirroring by selecting your Apple TV in the Sound pane of System Preferences.
You should also read the After Upgrading From macOS 10.12 FAQ below

After Upgrading From macOS 10.12 or earlier

Q. I clicked straight through the Express Set Up stage of the install. How do I undo that?

A. Go to Apple menu > System Preferences >

• Security & Privacy > Privacy tab > click 'Location Services' on the left > either UNTICK 'Enable Location Services' or set them as required
• Security & Privacy > Privacy tab > click 'Analytics' on the left > UNTICK all listed options on the right
• Siri > UNTICK 'Enable Siri' (only Macs that support 'Siri')

Q. My Finder windows used to open to 'All My Files' but now they open to 'Recents' (files). What's going on?

A. The 'All My Files' feature has been removed. You can set what your new Finder windows open to in Finder > Finder menu > Preferences… > General tab > 'New Finder windows show:' pop-up menu.

Q. I've heard something about new 'Airplay 2' streaming. Does my Mac support it?

A. All Macs supported by Big Sur support AirPlay 2.
You should also read the After Upgrading From macOS 10.13 FAQ below

After Upgrading From macOS 10.13 or earlier

Q. What has Apple done with Software Update now?

A. It's no longer part of the Mac App Store. Go to Apple menu > System Preferences > Software Update instead.

Q. I'm trying to open an application but I am getting a security access warning. What should I do?

A. Big Sur requires explicit permission for applications to access your camera/microphone. Big Sur also tries to protect location information, contacts, photos, Safari data, mail database, message history, iTunes device backups, calendar, reminders, time machine backups and cookies so you may get similar access messages for these too. When you get these messages check exactly what the message is asking, which application is requesting access and what permission you will give it.

Q. When I try to order a Photo Book, Photos tells me the service has been discontinued. What can I do?

A. Apple's service has been replaced by third party Photos Project Extensions - see our separate Photos FAQ.

Q. How do I activate the new 'Dark Mode'?

A. If you didn't set it as part of the initial 'Setup' process after installation, go to Apple menu > System Preferences > General and for 'Appearance:' set it to either 'Light' or 'Dark.

Q. Where's the Grab application gone?

A. It's been replaced with the new Screenshots feature in Big Sur - there's also a new Screenshots application located in Macintosh HD > Applications > Utilities.

Q. Where's the iBooks application gone?

A. It's been renamed to Books.

Q. Where's the Cover Flow view in the Finder gone?

A. It's been replaced with the new Gallery View feature in Big Sur.

Q. I use Mail but I can't personalise messages with stationery. What happened?

A. The Mail Stationery feature has been removed.

Q. Can I use third-party messaging services in the Message application?

A. No. Messages now only supports Apple's own iMessage/SMS services. For third-party messaging services use a third-party application e.g.

Q. I use Back To My Mac but it no longer works - why?

A. This feature has been removed - see this Apple support page for more information and alternative options.

Q. I use Proxy Automatic Configuration (PAC) but it no longer works - why?

A. The FTP and File URL schemes for PAC are no longer supported. You must use either HTTP or HTTPS.

Q. I use Safari browser plug-ins but they no longer work - why?

A. Legacy NPAPI browser plug-ins are no longer supported in Safari 14 for Big Sur. As Firefox and Chrome no longer support legacy browser plug-ins either, if you really need this requirement e.g. for legacy business systems, we suggest setting up a secured and protected virtualised macOS environment with an older browser and plug-in installed just for this access:

Q. I use .safariextz packaged Safari Extensions but they no longer work - why?

A. These legacy Safari Extensions are no longer supported in Safari 13 or later - you should check whether the developer has created a newer/updated 'Safari App Extension' version which will be available via the Mac App Store.

Q. I'm trying to add a social media internet account e.g. Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn in System Preferences but there is no option for it - where's it gone?

A. Big Sur no longer supports built-in integration with social media internet accounts. Use an official/third-party application, primary web site or sharing extension facility (if available) instead.
You should also read the After Upgrading From macOS 10.14 FAQ below

After Upgrading From macOS 10.14 or earlier

Q. Some of my fonts have gone missing. Where did they go?

A. Big Sur is more picky about fonts that may conflict with the system fonts and will disable/move such fonts to a special folder. Try checking for the disabled fonts in the following folders:

• Macintosh HD > Library > Fonts (Removed)
• Macintosh HD > Users > ~your home directory > Library > Fonts (Removed)

Q. I've heard Apple licensed additional fonts for Catalina and later. Where are they or how do I install them?

A. Typography.Guru discovered they are optional downloads so they put together a web page with some information about them and how to download/install them.

Q. I don't like the new Apple Mail view. Can I get the classic view back?

A. No - the original classic view has now been removed and is no longer settable in Mail's Preferences. Apple calls the new view an 'updated classic layout' but you cannot get the original classicview back. You can sort by different columns, but you can't show them all. Will Blume on MacInTouch details a workaround that's close to the original classic view.

Q. Where has the RAID Utility application gone?

A. It has been removed - Apple's hardware RAID is no longer supported.

Q. Where has the System Image Utility application gone?

A. It has been removed - it is no longer supported.

Q. Where has the CoreServices Ticket Viewer application gone?

A. It has been moved to Macintosh HD > System > Library > CoreServices > Applications.

Q. I use Dashboard a lot but can't access it now. Where is the Dashboard?

A. The Dashboard feature has been removed - it's not coming back. Widgets are now available in the Notification Center.

Q. My application displays a no entry symbol over its icon. What's wrong?

A. Big Sur no longer supports PowerPC applications/the Rosetta environment. See this article.
A. Big Sur no longer supports 32-bit applications. See this article.

Q. I'm trying to open an application but Big Sur keeps popping up the message 'your application name here needs to be updated. The developer of this app needs to update it to work with this versions of macOS. Contact the developer for more information.' What's wrong?

A. Big Sur no longer supports 32-bit applications. See this article.

Q. I'm trying to watch a video/view an image/listen to some audio with an Apple application e.g. QuickTime Player or Preview, but it won't work. What's wrong?

A. Most likely, the video/image/audio file is in a legacy format and Big Sur no longer supports legacy media formats. You could try third party software to open the media instead. We can recommend:

• Images = Lemkesoft Graphic Converter
• Video/Audio = VLC media player

Q. Where has the iTunes application gone?

A. Apple has split iTunes into three new applications - Apple TV, Music and Podcasts. Apple has now published an official support document with details but you can also continue reading our article here too…

Q. Can I just install an older version of iTunes?

A. No. Big Sur won't let you install iTunes.

Q. If iTunes is discontinued/gone where do I buy and download music from the iTunes Store?

A. The iTunes 'Store' is not being discontinued. You will still be able to make purchases from within each of the three new applications. This facility still includes iTunes Gift Cards and iTunes credits.

Q. If iTunes is discontinued/gone can I still play locally stored MP3/AAC/ALAC music on my Mac?

A. Yes. Big Sur's new Music application still supports locally stored MP3/AAC/ALAC music.

Q. Does the new Music application bring in my old playlists and smart playlists?

A. Yes. Your playlists and smart playlists should automatically be imported into the new Music application.

Q. If iTunes is discontinued/gone how do I 'burn' a physical audio CD directly from the new Music app?

A. The process is similar to before, but the burning progress feedback is much diminished - you won't see any obvious feedback that anything actually is happening. There is a small 'Burning CD' text in very small type in the bottom left corner of the Music app sidebar. Although it's not obvious that 'Burning CD' is clickable, it is, and a small window will appear with a small progress wheel and the name of the track currently being burned.

Q. So the new Music application is identical to the music parts of iTunes?

A. Not quite. It's not identical. We'll list any significant differences here and upadte this article as more information/differences become known:

• Playlist XML support has been removed - this affects many DJ type applications which will need to be upgraded to work with the new way of accessing this data
• There is no Column Browser view
• When importing a CD there is no progress bar at the top of the window - there is now 'Activity in progress…' text in the bottom left of the window which when clicked, gives you an Activity progress window
• When burning a CD there is no progress bar at the top of the window - there is now 'Burning CD…' text in the bottom left of the window which when clicked, gives you an Activity progress window

Q. Where is the Sharing option in the iTunes Preferences gone as it no longer appears in the new Music application?

A. This feature has now moved to the 'Sharing' System Preference where there is a new 'Media Sharing' option. Go to Apple menu (top left) > System Preferences… > Sharing.

Q. I don't want to use an Apple Music subscription. Can you remove/disable the Apple Music visuals?

A. Yes. Go to Music app > Preferences > Restrictions > TICK 'Disable:' 'Apple Music' + 'Apple Music Profiles'

Q. If iTunes is discontinued/gone how do I synchronise media to my iOS device/check the summary of my iOS device/back it up/update it?

A. If you're using iCloud for the relevant media the synchronisation is automatic via the internet. If you want to synchronise media manually via USB cable/check the summary of your iOS device/back it up/update it, you can still do this via the Sidebar in Big Sur's Finder - iOS devices appear under the 'Locations' heading. Make sure under Finder > Preferences > Sidebar > Locations > 'CDs, DVDs and iPods' is TICKED.

Q. If iTunes is discontinued/gone how do I synchronise photos from a folder (not the Photos application) to my iOS device?

A. Yes. This option is available the same way as it was before (but via the Finder not iTunes).

Q. If iTunes is discontinued/gone how do I synchronise my iOS device over Wi-Fi?

A. Yes. This option is available the same way as it was before (but via the Finder not iTunes).

Q. If iTunes is discontinued/gone how do I play/buy audiobooks?

A. They are moved to and played via the Books application. You can also now purchase audiobooks via the Books application.

Q. If iTunes is discontinued/gone is all my media still stored in one single location (e.g. 'iTunes Media' folder) or is it spread out across separate folders for each of the applications/system areas now?

A. Media is now spread out across separate folders for each of the applications and stored separately:

• Music/Music Video media files are stored in Macintosh HD > Users > ~your home directory~ > Music > Media
• Apple TV media files are stored in Macintosh HD > Users > ~your home directory~ > Movies > Apple TV > Media
• Podcast media files are stored in Macintosh HD > Users > ~your home directory~ > Library > Group Containers > 243LU875E5.groups.com.apple.podcasts > Library > Cache (but they may not have easily recognisable names)
• Books/Audiobooks media files are stored in Macintosh HD > Users > ~your home directory~ > Library > Containers > com.apple.BKAgentService > Data > Documents > iBooks > Books (but they may not have easily recognisable names)

Q: How do I use the new Voice Control feature?

A. Make sure your Mac is connected to the internet and go to Apple Menu > System Preferences > Accessibility > Motor heading > Voice Control > TICK 'Enable Voice Control' and set the language and microphone to use. From here you can set voice controlled commands and tasks.

Q: Where have 'Parental Controls' gone?

A. Most of the same functionality has been moved to the new Screen Time feature.

Q. Most Apple computers include a built-in (iSight/FaceTime) camera. Can this be blocked?

A. Yes. Big Sur now has a privacy and security feature that can block software access to the camera. In addition you can also use Screen Time (Parental Controls) to disable the built-in camera for specific users. If you have a laptop, Apple recommends that you do not physically cover the camera or it may damage your computer!

Q: How do I use the new Screen Time (Parental Controls) feature?

A. Go to Apple Menu > System Preferences > Screen Time - see Apple's support page.

Q: How do I use the new Activation Lock feature?

A. As long as your Mac has a T2 chip, simply make sure the Mac is logged into iCloud (Apple Menu > System Preferences > iCloud) and enable Find My Mac - this switches activation lock on.

Q: How do I use the new Restore from snapshot feature?

A. You will need to boot into Recovery Mode and restore your Mac from the recent snapshot - exactly how to do this is to be confirmed - we'll update this article when we have more information.

Q: How do I use the new Sidecar feature with an iPad?

NOTE: Sidecar requires a compatible Mac running macOS 10.15 Catalina or later and a compatible iPad running iPadOS 13 or later.

1. On your Mac, go to the AirPlay menu icon in your menu bar (the square above a triangle icon in the top right of your screen)
NOTE: If you do not have an AirPlay menu icon, go to the Apple menu > System Preferences > Displays > TICK 'Show mirroring options in the menu bar when available'
2. If you have an iPad that's compatible with Sidecar it will show up in the AirPlay menu list with it's name
3. Select the iPad you want to use as a Sidecar additional display from the AirPlay menu list - the iPad should automatically switch to being an additional display

Some notes about Sidecar:

• The iPad can be used in Sidecar mode either over Wi-Fi or via a physical USB connection - using a USB connection will power the iPad
• Most touch gestures on the iPad will be switched off while in Sidecar mode - a few things may still work such as scrolling a window
• The Apple Pencil can be used on the iPad but it works as a mouse alternative
• Any keyboard connected to the iPad still works
• A control sidebar will appear on the iPad while in Sidecar mode - this can be moved or turned on/off via the Sidecar System Preferences pane
• A Touch Bar will appear on the iPad while in Sidecar mode (this is similar to the Touch Bar found on specific Touch Bar model MacBook Pros) - this can be moved or turned on/off via the Sidecar System Preference pane
• While an iPad is attached in Sidecar mode you get further options/controls at Apple menu > System Preferences > Sidecar
• You can arrange the position of the Sidecar display in the normal way via Apple menu > System Preferences > Displays > Arrangement tab

Q. I'm trying to use the new Sidecar feature but it doesn't work?

A. Only the following Macs are compatible with the new Sidecar feature:

• MacBook (Early 2016 or newer)
• MacBook Air (Late 2018 or newer)
• MacBook Pro 13'/15' (Mid 2016 or newer)
• Mac mini (Late 2018 or newer)
• iMac 21.5' (Late 2015 or newer)
• iMac 27' (Late 2015 or newer)
• iMac Pro (2017 or newer)
• Mac Pro (2019? or newer)

Q. I'm trying to use Apple Watch unlocking / WPA3 Wi-Fi but it's not working/available?

A. Only the following Macs are compatible with these new features:

• MacBook (Early 2015 or newer)
• MacBook Air (Mid 2013 or newer)
• MacBook Pro 13'/15' (Early 2013 or newer)
• Mac mini (Late 2014 or newer)
• iMac (Late 2013 or newer)
• iMac Pro (2017 or newer)
• Mac Pro (Late 2013 or newer)

You should also read the After Upgrading From macOS 10.15 FAQ below

After Upgrading From macOS 10.15 or earlier

Q. I use an L2TP over IPSec VPN client but it cannot connect any more/doesn't work. What's wrong?

A. If you are using the included macOS VPN client, Big Sur L2TP over IPSec VPN connections now require 'HMAC-SHA-256' security at the third-party server end - make sure your VPN server is compatible/updated/upgraded!
A. If you use a third party VPN client Big Sur does not support legacy System/Kernel Extensions (KEXTs) so make sure your VPN client doesn't use one of these and if it does you'll need to install an upgraded version of the software.
A. If you're trying to use Apple applications like Pages, Numbers, Keynote over the VPN connection make sure your VPN software is compatible with the new ContentFilterExclusionList feature of Big Sur.

Q. Big Sur has translucent windows. Can I turn this 'feature' off?

Q. My menu bar has become transparent again. I used to be able to turn menu bar transparency off but that option has disappeared. What can I do?

A. You can't turn it off completely but you can reduce it's effect by going to System Preferences > Accessibility > Display (on the left) and tick 'Reduce Transparency'. In addition you can now also go to Apple menu > System Preferences > General > and UNTICK 'Allow wallpaper tinting in windows'.

Q. I don't like the way Big Sur looks. Can I change it back to look like my previous OS?

A. Most of the new look and feel cannot be changed. However, if you find the new transparency feature/muted effects annoying you can reduce those effects by going to Apple menu > System Preferences > Accessibility > select Display on the left and tick 'Reduce transparency' plus you can also try ticking 'Increase contrast' too for a different look and feel. Check the other settings for what might help you and your individual circumstances/eyesight.

Q. I have multiple volumes with multiple versions of macOS installed on them. I installed Big Sur, booted into a different version of macOS and now I cannot boot back into Big Sur. What's wrong?

A. Big Sur has a Signed System Volume - this means if you install it in the same APFS 'container' (partition) as another version of macOS you will have issues booting. If you wish to install macOS Big Sur on the same storage device as older versions of macOS (such as a dual boot configuration) you must create a new 'container' (partition) for macOS Big Sur and install it to that separate container/partition! Below is an example of how it can work:

• Container (Partition) disk1
• [volume] macOS 10.13
• [volume] macOS 10.14
• [volume] macOS 10.15
• [volume] macOS 10.15 - Data
• Container (Partition) disk2
• [volume] macOS 11 Big Sur
• [volume] macOS 11 Big Sur - Data

NOTE: This is a security feature of Big Sur. If it sees that the primary Big Sur volume has been changed in any way outside of Big Sur changing it itself - it's flagged as a potential security risk and may result in Big Sur not booting. You can create separate containers/partitions by using Disk Utility (Macintosh HD > Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility) but make sure you turn on View menu > Show Sidebar + View menu > Show All Devices, to see the proper layout.

Q. The Network Utility application (previously in Macintosh HD > System > Library > CoreServices > Applications) has gone/does not work (when opened it reports it has been deprecated). Is it still available?

A. No. It has been deprecated so it is no longer available to use. You can use Terminal commands or here are some (third party) alternative options:

• Info (GUI - interface information) - go to System Preferences > Network > select the required interface on the left > click the 'Advanced…' button > click 'Hardware' tab
• Info (GUI - interface information) - go to Apple menu > About This Mac > System Report > click the 'System Report…' button > click 'Network' on the left > select the required interface at the top
• Info (GUI - transfer statistics) - go to Macintosh HD > Applications > Utilities > Activity Monitor > 'Network' tab
• netstat (macOS terminal command) - netstat man page (manual opens in Terminal)
• ping (macOS terminal command) - ping man page (manual opens in Terminal)
• Lookup (web service) - who.is
• traceroute (macOS terminal command) - traceroute man page (manual opens in Terminal)
• traceroute (GUI) - WhatRoute (US$15 donationware)
• whois (macOS terminal command) - whois man page (manual opens in Terminal)
• finger (macOS terminal command) - finger man page (manual opens in Terminal)
• Port Scan (terminal command) - nmap (install via Homebrew)

Q. How do I configure the new Control Centre menu bar item?

A. Go to System Preferences > Dock & Menu Bar > select items on the left under 'Control Centre' and configure them as you require on the right. In addition you can add favourite Control Centre widgets directly on to the menu bar - just open the Control Centre on the menu bar and drag the widget you want on to the menu bar to create a menu bar icon.

Q. How do I pin/unpin Message conversations?

A. Go to Messages application > select the conversation you want to pin/unpin > drag that conversation upwards to the top just below Search > a circular 'Drag here to pin' icon will appear for your to drag the conversation on to.

Q. How do I customise the new Safari start page?

A. Go to Safari application > if one doesn't open automatically, open a new page > click on the three horizontal lines icon in the bottom right of the Safari window > configure as required.

Q. Where did the 'Energy Saver' System Preference go on my laptop?

A. It has been replaced with a new 'Battery' System Preference.

Q. I heard Big Sur brings back the startup chime on modern Macs. How do I configure this?

A. It should be turned on automatically by default but if it isn't (or you don't want it) go to Apple menu > System Preferences > Sound and TICK/UNTICK 'Play sound on startup' as required.

Q. Where did the 'Notifications' menu bar icon go?

A. It has been replaced - now you click on the clock in the menu bar.

Q. I used to remove the clock in the menu bar - but now it's back, Can I remove it?

A. No. The clock in the menu bar is now required as it is used for viewing 'notifications'.

Q. I'm trying to change the settings of the clock in the menu bar but the settings are not in Date & Time System Preferences. Where have they gone?

A. The menu bar Clock preferences have been moved to System Preferences > Dock & Menu Bar.

Q. I'm having problems with networking/(slow) Wi-Fi/accessing the internet. What can I do?

A. Sometimes after installing a major upgrade to the Mac operating system your networking configurations can become corrupted - you can try resetting them by following these instructions:

1. Restart your computer
2. Quit any automatically running applications
3. Create a new folder on your Desktop and name it 'Old Networking Prefs'
4. In the Finder go to Go menu > Go to Folder… > type in '/Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/' without the quotemarks
5. Click 'Go'
6. Locate the following files
• com.apple.airport.preferences.plist
• com.apple.network.identification.plist
• com.apple.wifi.message-tracer.plist
• NetworkInterfaces.plist
• preferences.plist
7. Copy these files to the 'Old Networking Prefs' folder on your Desktop
8. Delete the original files from the 'SystemConfiguration' folder
NOTE: This will delete all your current networking preferences and locations - if you do not want to do this or you do not have a backup stop now and close the Finder window!
9. Restart your computer
10. Go to Apple menu > System Preferences > Network and reset your networking preferences and locations as required

Q. I'm trying to print to my printer but it's not working properly. What can I do?

A. Printer drivers may need to be reinstalled after upgrading to Big Sur or they can become corrupted. If you are having printing problems the first thing to do is reset the macOS printing system:

1. Go to Apple menu > System Preferences
2. Click the 'Print & Scan' icon
3. Hold down the Control (ctrl) key on your keyboard (bottom left)
4. Click on the any printer in your printer list
5. Select 'Reset printing system…' from the contextual menu (in some cases this may take some time)
6. When the printing system has reset and there are no printers listed in the printer list Restart your computer
7. If your printer is supported by macOS simply add your printer back in System Preferences (macOS may download and install the latest printer driver for you)
8. If your printer is not supported by macOS go to your printer manufacturer's web site, check your model of printer is compatible with Big Sur and download the latest printer driver for your printer (it is best not to use any install discs that came with your printer as the software is likely to pre-date Big Sur!)

Q. I'm trying to install a third party application but the installer says it cannot install because the OS is 'earlier than 11' or similar. What's wrong?

A. The third party company has coded their installer (incorrectly/badly) to only check for the OS digits. Big Sur is '11' so the installer sees the OS as '10' and fails to install. You will need to contact the third party company for an updated installer.

Q. Is Java included with Big Sur?

Q. I'm trying to run a Java application/Java in a web browser but it's not working properly. What can I do?

A. Even if you previously manually installed Java you may need to reinstall it. If you need to, read our macOS Java article for information and links to download it and install it. The Java web browser plug-in for Safari is no longer supported.

Q. Is Adobe Flash included with Big Sur?

A. No. Safari 14 in Big Sur does not support any legacy NPAPI browser plug-ins including Adobe Flash but if you still need it, to run it in an alternative web browser onlydownload it directly from Adobe - we recommend not installing Adobe Flash unless you really needto as it is a high security risk and is now unsupported with no further security updates to be issued!

Q. I had Adobe Flash already installed but Big Sur says it is out of date and has been disabled. Why is this?

A. You haven't kept your Flash plug-in up-to-date (which is a big security risk). Download the latest version from Adobe and when you install it, it is best to allow Adobe to install (Flash) updates automatically.

Q. I've installed Big Sur and I don't like it. Can I downgrade to 10.15/10.14/10.13/10.12/10.11/10.10/10.9/10.8?

A. Yes, but not easily. We are currently working on an article all about that - check back soon.

Q. Is there anything else you recommend?

A. Yes:

Run Itunes In Big Sur

• Configure iCloud.
• Configure your preferred Privacy settings.
• Customise your Notifications experience - click on the clock in the menu bar (to open Notifications) and click 'Edit Widgets' at the bottom.
• If you want to use the new Dictation feature remember to turn it on - go to Apple menu > System Preferences > Keyboard > Dictation tab and switch 'Dictation' to 'On'.
• If you use the Text To Speech function of Big Sur you can download additional voices and dialects - go to Apple menu > System Preferences > Keyboard > Dictation tab > 'Language' pop-up menu > Add Language… > select the voices/dialects that you want and download (each voice download can be quite large e.g. 1GB+).
• Go to Apple menu > System Preferences > Notifications and configure them as required.
• If your Mac has an SSD/Flash storage consider turning on FileVault to encrypt your data - go to Apple menu > System Preferences > Security & Privacy > FileVault and turn it on.
• Go to Macintosh HD > Applications > Safari > Safari menu > Preferences > General tab and UNTICK 'Open 'safe' files after downloading'.
• Create an emergency boot drive for your Mac.
• Backup your computer regularly.

Article Keywords: macOS 11 Big Sur 1100 post after install FAQ frequently asked questions Control Center Centre

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Status: Dec 2020 - Confirmed that Big Sur uses the same Media file locations

Apple decided to abandon iTunes with its Catalina macOS release. In Catalina the iTunes media swiss army knife has been replaced with three seperate applications and some functions that are now 'hidden' in sharing.

The impact is that upgrading to Catalina changes quite a lot of macOS media handling. This is likely to be problematic, for many Mac users, as media content is one of the most valuable things on a well used Mac.

Itunes For Mac Big Sur

This note provides guideance as to where the various media files are stored and what you can do to make things managable.

With iTunes all your media was contained within:

• ~/Music/iTunes (by default)

Sitting under this you had:

• 'iTunes Music' or 'iTunes Media' - folder (depending on how old your library is) where your various media files were kept
• 'iTunes Music Library.xml' - the old library index file
• 'iTunes Library.itl' - the new library index file

If you have set iTunes to manage your library then all your media files will be sitting under this directory structure, including: Music, Movies, TV & Podcasts

This was nice as you could move the library by just copying/moving the entire directory structure and all was well.

This is no longer the case with Catalina.

With macOS Catalina what was once handled by one big iTunes application is now handled by three big applications and Books ;-) .

• Music - for your music content and music videos
• TV - for your Movies and TV content
• Podcasts - for your podcasts
• Books - for your books which was moved out of iTunes some time ago

Each of these has its own media storage location, but depending on how you started, the actual media content could still be held within your prior iTunes Library (above).

The default locations for media in this new world are:

• ~/Music/Music - for you music files
• ~/Movies/TV - for your movie and tv files
• ~/Library/Group Containers/243LU875E5.groups.com.apple.podcasts/Library/Cache - podcasts are now held in special container and not directly manageable
• ~/Library/Containers/com.apple.BKAgentService/Data/Documents/iBooks/Books - iBooks were moved into a special container sometime ago, again to some surprise and have a habit of disappearing ...

The details for the various apps and storage locations are described in turn.

NOTE: These media file locations are also valid with 'Big Sur'

Install Itunes In Big Sur

Music

• ~/Music/Music

Sitting within this you will have:

• Media - folder where media content files are kept
• 'Music Library.musiclibrary' - the new music library catalog file (replacement for 'iTunes Library.itl', but this is really a directory which contains a further set of files including Preferences.plist file)

NOTE: the plist file is a binary files, but you can see contents using the plutil command.

If you had an existing iTunes library then on starting the new Music app, you will be prompted to migrate your library Music. This will load the catalog and set the media location to the existing iTunes media location.

If you want re-consolidate your music and music videos under the new Music library then:

1. Ensure you have a Media directory in ~/Music/Music (i.e. ~/Music/Music/Media)
2. Change Media location via: Music - Preferences - Files to: /Users/<YOU>/Music/Music/Media . Then select - 'Keep Music folder organised' and 'Copy files to Music Media folder when adding to library'. You will get prompted to copy files as per preferences, so select 'Yes'.
3. Now in Music - select: 'File - Library - Organise Library...' and when prompted select 'Yes'. It is only now that it will copy all the content from you existing iTunes media folder to the new location.

NOTE: There is a signficant bug in new Music App when it comes to keeping your iTunes cover art. There are many reports of intital migration resulting in lost cover art, and if you have very large iTunes libray then the cover art migration process can take more than a day to complete. I have found that even it you do manage to get the inital migration to Music to process the cover art successfully, if you move your library to different a machine then the cover art will get lost again and fixing is either a programming exercise or a laborious manual process.

See 'Music Cover Art' below for more information.

Music Cover Art

Music cover art is one of the problem areas in moving from iTuness to Music. In iTunes cover art is managed via a special catalog within the iTunes media library. There are a number of different levels of cover art that iTunes and Music manage:

• Indivdiual Media File - such as .mp4 or apple .m4a / .m4p variations. These can have cover art embedded into then using 'meta tags'
• Album - this is a collection of Individual Media Files within a directory/folder. Unlike an individual media files the director/folder does have directly embedded graphics, so instead the cover art graphic that is displayed must be managed as part of the overall library catalog. In the case of iTunes this cover art catalog/cache was held within the iTunes media directory. In Music the catalog is stored in seperate & fixed location.
• Artist - these are the small icon graphics that are displayed in middle panel if you view your library by Artist. Many moons ago these used to be based on Album cover art. Now they are created automatically by iTunes or Music app and there does not appeary to be a way to manually populate this data.

In Music the cover art directory appears to be maintained seperately in:

• ~/Library/Containers/com.apple.APMArtworkAgent/Data/Documents

This container based catalog is obviously not in the same directory tree as ~/Music/Music .

The consequence of this is that if you move your Music directory to another machine, then you will be leaving behind the cover art catalog.

Apple answer to this problem is that any moving of media data from one Mac to another should be done via the Migration Assistant, which is aware of all the various files and locations.

NOTE: Big Sur appears to have address some of the cover art bugs. See my Big Sur update.

TV

• ~/Movies/TV

Sitting within this you will have:

• Media - folder where media content files are kept
• 'TV Library.tvlibrary' - the TV/movie library catalog (again like Music this is a directory which contains the various library catalog files)

The migration from iTunes to Catalina TV is equivalent to that for Music. The migration to TV library occurs when you first run TV app. This generates a new catalog and media files will be left in iTunes folder.

If you want to consolidate into new ~/Movies/TV directory then you will need to follow simillar step to Music above:

1. Ensure you have Media directory in ~/Movies/TV (ie ~/Movies/TV/Media)
2. Change Media location via: TV - Preferences - Files to: /Users/<YOU>/Movies/TV/Media . Select - 'Keep Media folder organised' and 'Copy files to Media folder when adding to library'. You will get prompted to copy files as per preferences, select 'Yes'.
3. Now in TV - select: 'File - Library - Organise Library...' and when prompted select 'Yes'. It is only now that it will copy all the content from you existing iTunes media folder.

NOTE: The Movie / TV content migration seems to work and be less problematic than music one. One reason is that there is no Cover Art. A problem I have seen is that if you have downloaded movies from the iTunes Store, then these now appear twice in your Movie library, one for the downloaded copy and a second one for the iTunes store cloud version. If you delete the downloaded version from your library and then re-download the file, this fixes the problem. If you have a large number of Movies then this will result in a lot of very large downloads.

Podcasts

Be aware that the Podcasts app, will want to automatically delete played podcasts and if you have old podcast that are no longer available then this will result in lost podcasts. So ensure you change your Preferences to stop auto deletion of played podcasts.

I have sucessfully moved Podcasts from one machine to another by copying the entire directory tree and contents:

Why bother and some good things & bad things

All this moving media content around is a nuisance, so why bother. The reason is that media files take up lot of storage space and many people move them to external storage for both more storage, but also to provide greater data security. Having a large media store on a single disk has high risk of failure, in fact it is guaranteed to fail eventually.

With iTunes this was pretty easy to do as you could simply move/copy the entire iTunes directory to an alternate location and then restart iTunes holding the 'Option' key and select the new location.

When you have the catalog and media content in different directories and music and music and movies managed seperately this is not possible. So the easiest way is to accept the Catalina change and move to two seperate consolidated directories.

Having seperate library for Music and Movies means you have some additional flexibility in the files location.

I have also found that when consolidating under the new directories that the new APFS file system must be using some type of hard linking as my 700GB existing media library, did not grow to double the size on consolidation.

Once I had consolidated my content into each of the seperate directories, Movie and Podcasts appear to be readily movable, but music is problematic due Cover art bugs. On consolidating to new location I was able to remove the old iTunes directory, to help recover disk space.

This blog posting was driven by desperation, as recently our family media Mac mini running Catalina crashed and I had to go to some substantial lengths to get back all the media content on it.

The recovery process meant peeling off the details of changes that have occured to iTunes and its storage solution. The documentation for Catalina was very limited and less detailed than what was previously available on iTunes.

To validate and test this I have used a combination of repaired Mac, a KVM virtual machine based on Time Machine backup of dead Mac and a MacBook Pro laptop, so process of recovery of Catalina based media required quite a lot time, 3 Macs and lots of storage to test various alternate recovery techniques.

References & Links:

Download Big Sur

Reading and Modifying OS X plists - very old blog on plists tools

Move or Manage the Music, Apple TV and Podcasts Libraries - Rocket Yard (MacSales) partial information on how to manage Catalina media libraries

What happened to iTunes ? - Apple's answers to the surprise they gave us ...

Where Is Itunes On Mac Big Sur

Big Sur - does this change things, fix things or it is the same. I have done some initial testing and documented finding in my 'Big Sur' update

Low Res Image (based on Arcade Fire - Funeral) - via SoundCloud - Out of Tune