Apple Fixes macOS Bug That Impacted SuperDuper Bootable Backups
Apple’s latest macOS Sequoia 15.3 update has resolved a frustrating bug that prevented the popular backup tool, SuperDuper, from creating bootable backups. The fix comes as a welcome relief to users who rely on the software for reliable data protection.
The issue first appeared in macOS 15.2, where a “Resource Busy” error disrupted SuperDuper during the final stages of creating bootable backups. This error occurred when attempting to copy critical system preboot or recovery files. Apple mandates that third-party apps use its proprietary replication tools to replicate the operating system, but a malfunction in these tools caused SuperDuper’s process to fail.
Developer Dave Nanian confirmed the fix in a post on his Shirt Pocket Watch blog, stating, “macOS 15.3 is now out, and with it, a fix for the broken replicator. As such, macOS copying will work again with ‘Erase, then copy’ backups.”
However, Nanian also highlighted that while the replication bug has been addressed, certain limitations remain due to Apple’s security-related changes in recent macOS versions and hardware. For instance, on Apple Silicon Macs, the internal SSD must be functional for external booting to work. This means that even with a flawless SuperDuper backup, a Mac with a failed internal drive won’t boot from the backup.
While the update resolves a key issue, users should remain aware of these hardware and software constraints when relying on bootable backups.
