How do I download Big Sur Installer - the app store just says finding update....

If all else fails try this:

1 - download and install the free MDS application.

2 - launch it and click on Download macOS in the sidebar.

3 - select macOS Big Sur 11.7.

4 - click on Download button.

When the download is completed run the installer to install 11.7.

You can try running this command in the Terminal…

softwareupdate --fetch-full-installer --full-installer-version 11.7

Hi there!

Since you are aiming to install Big Sur and not the latest one which is Monterey, you can try creating a bootable installer instead to install it.

How to create a bootable installer for macOS - Apple Support

Booting to internet recovery can help you install the latest macOS version. That can work if your Mac has at least 10.13.6 installed.

Hope this helps!

Best of luck!

Q - " I can not get the App Store to work "

Q - " MDS System Requirement is Big Sur - I'm on Catalina, so I don't think this will work :("

A - Does this computer appear as listed to Qualify for Big Sur ?

A - macOS Big Sur is compatible with these computers

See if you can download Big Sur 11.7 from the Mac App Store: How to download macOS - Apple Support

VikingOSX wrote:

See if you can download Big Sur 11.7 from the Mac App Store: How to download macOS - Apple Support

I thought that's where we started…

Is there a direct download available for Big Sur. I can not get the App Store to work

Yes, I didn't mention MDS, that was some other dude. :) I guess I assumed the user was having the same problem with Software Update as a few others were. That they clicked on the link from the page you posted and was just endlessly searching for Big Sur.

.

No one offered that link until I posted it. SoftwareUpdate was not working for the OP, and macOS 11.7 is coming directly from Apple, not MDS.

Glad it's fixed.