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Apple Warns macOS Catalina Users About Installing macOS 12.3 Beta on Volume With FileVault Enabled

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Apple today updated its macOS 12.3 beta release notes to warn macOS Catalina users about a potential boot loop issue when installing the macOS 12.3 or macOS 11.6.4 betas on a separate APFS volume with FileVault enabled.

macOS Monterey on MBP Feature
"If your Mac currently has macOS Catalina installed, installing macOS Monterey 12.3 beta or macOS Big Sur 11.6.4 beta on a volume with FileVault enabled might cause a boot loop when attempting to log back into the previous volume," says Apple.

On a Mac running macOS High Sierra or later, it is possible to install macOS on a separate APFS volume and then switch between versions of macOS, including betas, as if each were on a separate disk. Apple has a support document with more details.

Apple seeded the first beta of macOS 12.3 earlier this week, with a key new feature being Universal Control. macOS 12.3 also features new emoji, deprecates kernel extensions used by Dropbox and OneDrive, removes Python 2.7, and more.

Related Forums: macOS Catalina, macOS Monterey

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Top Rated Comments

D
dr_lha
61 months ago

I wonder how many people in that case will actually receive the information.
If you're not reading changelogs, you probably shouldn't be installing betas.
Score: 28 Votes (Like | Disagree)
A
antnythr
61 months ago

If you're not reading changelogs, you probably shouldn't be installing betas.
And if you are installing betas, your data should be backed up so when something like this inevitably happens, it’s not actually an issue.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
S
sdf
61 months ago

Wait, are you saying Apple only tested a Beta release in the simplest and most basic install config? I’m SHOCKED!!
Discovering bugs in a variety of real world conditions is why beta tests exist.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
contacos Avatar
contacos
61 months ago

If you're not reading changelogs, you probably shouldn't be installing betas.
Next you assume people read TnC of anything
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
R
randyhudson
61 months ago
Wait, are you saying Apple only tested a Beta release in the simplest and most basic install config? I’m SHOCKED!!
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
A
apparatchik
61 months ago
Not only shouldn't you install betas on critical / important devices but, just out of caution, you shouldn't jump head first to new major releases whatever the OS.

I was once left out of my bank's mobile app (which meant I couldn't withdraw money, pay for critical stuff, etc.) because I updated my phone right away to the new release and the app would crash. It took three weeks for the bank to fix it. On iOS you should wait at least six months, and on a Mac you use for a living, you better wait a full year and always stay a version behind if possible.

Beta testing should be left to either platform developers or people with the time and spare devices to actually test things. People shouldn't expect it to be seamless.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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