Apple Warns macOS Catalina Users About Installing macOS 12.3 Beta on Volume With FileVault Enabled - MacRumors
Skip to Content

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

by

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

Popular Stories

macworld iphone 18 pro colors

iPhone 18 Pro's Four Rumored Colors Revealed, Including 'Dark Cherry'

Friday April 17, 2026 3:50 am PDT by
A source said to be familiar with Apple's supply chain today revealed the color options Apple is planning for the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the upcoming foldable iPhone. Image via Macworld. The information comes from Macworld, which says the signature new color for this year's Pro models will be Dark Cherry, a deep wine-like red. While other sources had previously reported on a...
Read Full Article • 112 comments
macOS 27 on MacBook Pro

macOS 27 Will Mark the End of an Era

Saturday April 18, 2026 6:45 am PDT by
During its Platforms State of the Union segment at WWDC 2025, Apple revealed that macOS 26 Tahoe is the final major macOS version for Intel-based Macs. The upcoming macOS 27 release will be compatible with Apple silicon Macs only, meaning that you will need a Mac with an M-series chip or a MacBook Neo with an A18 Pro chip in order to install the software update. macOS 27 should be available...
Read Full Article • 109 comments
ipad mini 7 feature red and blue

OLED iPad Mini: Release Date, Pricing, and What to Expect

Wednesday April 15, 2026 8:15 am PDT by
According to the latest rumors, Apple is close to launching its next-generation iPad mini. So what should we expect from the successor to the iPad mini 7 that Apple released over a year ago? Read on to find out. Processor and Performance Apple is working on a next-generation version of the iPad mini (codename J510/J511) that features the A19 Pro chip, according to information found in code...
Read Full Article • 81 comments

Top Rated Comments

D
dr_lha
55 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
55 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
55 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
55 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
55 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
55 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)
Read All Comments