Fix for macOS Tahoe Beta updates no longer available as a Software Update option

[deeveedee]

If your hack's System Settings > General > Software Update is not showing macOS Tahoe Beta as an available option (see symptoms below), there's a potential fix for this.

 

 It appears that at some point in Apple's Tahoe release schedule, the Tahoe Beta update program started screening the Mac SMBIOS / board-id differently and excluding some models from the Beta program .  Some "unsupported" SMBIOS models (like MacMini8,1) may no longer show available Tahoe Public or Developer Beta updates, despite having

• boot-arg "-no_compat_check" or Booter Patch "Skip Board ID Check"
• RestrictEvents.kext with NVRam property revpatch=sbvmm
• SecureBootModel = Disabled

 

If you are experiencing this Beta update problem with your hack, you've probably been frustrated by the fact that your hack can download incremental release updates, but not incremental Beta updates.  This means that in order to test macOS Tahoe Beta versions, you've had to download the full Beta installer when / if it becomes available.

 

Symptoms

The symptoms of this Beta update problem include the following

• "Beta Updates" does not appear at all as an option in System Settings > General > Software Update
• The only "Beta Update" option is "Off"
• Attempting to "force" Beta updates enrollment via the Apple website does not fix the problem

 

Fortunately, there may be a fix for your hack that involves changing the SMBIOS to an officially supported Intel Mac (e.g., MacPro7,1), enrolling in the Beta program, and then switching back to your preferred SMBIOS.

 

STEP 1: Try to "force" enrollment in Apple Beta Program

• Visit https://beta.apple.com
• Click "Sign up" if you've never previously enrolled in macOS Beta testing or click "Sign in" if you've previously enrolled in Beta testing
• Follow the prompts to sign-in with your Apple Account
• When you arrive at the "Guide for Beta Software" page, look for the "Get started" paragraph and click the "enroll your Mac" link
  
• Scroll down to "2 - Turn on beta updates" and click the "Open Software Update" button

 

• Allow the web page to "Open System Settings"
• If you now see Beta Update options, select your preferred Public or Developer Beta update option.  If you see only "Off" as a Beta Update option, proceed to STEP 2.

 

STEP 2: If STEP 1 did not work for you, change your SMBIOS model to MacPro7,1, repeat STEP 1 and perform the Beta update.  Then switch back to your preferred SMBIOS model.

• Copy your EFI to a GUID formatted USB thumb drive (so that you can easily revert to your original SMBIOS model by ejecting the USB thumb drive)
• Edit the config on your USB EFI to change the SMBIOS model to MacPro7,1.  Use a tool like CorpNewt's "Gen SMBIOS" to generate the Platform serials/IDs
• If your EFI uses a USB kext, be sure to change the SMBIOS in your USB kext's Info.plist to MacPro7,1 (to match the SMBIOS configured in your new boot-loader config)
• Boot from your modified USB EFI with SMBIOS MacPro7,1
• Perform the steps in STEP 1 to enroll your hack in the macOS Tahoe Beta program
• You should now have enrolled your hack for macOS Tahoe Public or Developer Beta versions
• "Check for Updates" and start the incremental macOS Tahoe Beta update process
• Before the macOS Beta Installer prompts to Restart, eject the USB thumb drive so that when your Mac reboots during the update, the SMBIOS is restored to your original SMBIOS (MacPro7,1 is required only to opt into the Beta Program).  Then restart your hack to complete the Beta update
• If you miss the opportunity to eject your USB thumb drive before the Beta update completes, simply eject the USB thumb drive and reboot with your original SMBIOS

 

Welcome to macOS Tahoe Beta! 😀

 

About This Hack

Spoiler

 

Edited 7 hours ago by deeveedee