News > Software & Apps 38 38 people found this article helpful Be Careful With macOS Monterey on Older Hardware Users report the new OS can brick iMac, Mac mini, and MacBook Pro By Rob Rich Rob Rich Twitter News Reporter College for Creative Studies Rob is a freelance tech reporter with experience writing for a variety of outlets, including IGN, Unwinnable, 148Apps, Gamezebo, Pocket Gamer, Fanbolt, Zam, and more. lifewire's editorial guidelines Published on November 1, 2021 12:19PM EDT Fact checked by Rich Scherr Fact checked by Rich Scherr Twitter University of Maryland Baltimore County Rich Scherr is a seasoned technology and financial journalist who spent nearly two decades as the editor of Potomac and Bay Area Tech Wire. lifewire's fact checking process Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Software & Apps Mobile Phones Internet & Security Computers & Tablets Smart Life Home Theater & Entertainment Software & Apps Social Media Streaming Gaming If you're using an older piece of Apple hardware, like a Mac mini or a pre-silicon chip MacBook Pro, you might want to hold off on installing the newest macOS. Multiple Mac users are reporting issues when trying to install macOS Monterey, with the process typically rendering their machine unusable (i.e., "bricking"). It seems something is going wrong with the post-installation restart process, causing some systems to simply give up on turning on at all. According to MacRumors, the problem seems to be affecting older machines like the Mac mini, iMac, and some models of the MacBook Pro. Apple For the time being, it seems as though this problem doesn't affect silicon-based Macs, which only go back as far as 2020 and all use Apple's M1 chip. This doesn't mean you're in the clear if your Mac is from 2020, however, as some models still came with the Intel i9 chip. Before updating, it's suggested you look at the type of processor your Mac is using, rather than just the production year. If you've installed macOS Monterey and now your Mac won't start, you can try to fix it by following Apple's Configurator 2 User Guide. If that doesn't work, some users have been able to get their computers back online by taking them into an Apple Store for maintenance. If you're unsure if installing Monterey will affect your system, it might be best to wait for an update or two, just to be on the safe side. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Email Address Sign up There was an error. Please try again. You're in! Thanks for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. Thank you for signing up! Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit