You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Can't open the Security & Privacy Preference Pane in Big Sur

After Big Sur Update, Security & Privacy Preference is not working. It keeps giving the error:


"Could not load Security & Privacy preference pane"


MacBook Pro 15″, macOS 11.5

Posted on Sep 3, 2021 7:31 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Sep 3, 2021 8:37 AM

maheshnair2803 wrote:

After Big Sur Update, Security & Privacy Preference is not working. It keeps giving the error:

"Could not load Security & Privacy preference pane"


Can you verify you have set a psswd ..(?)


If you can't unlock settings in System Preferences

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203127

4 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Sep 3, 2021 8:37 AM in response to maheshnair2803

maheshnair2803 wrote:

After Big Sur Update, Security & Privacy Preference is not working. It keeps giving the error:

"Could not load Security & Privacy preference pane"


Can you verify you have set a psswd ..(?)


If you can't unlock settings in System Preferences

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203127

Sep 5, 2021 7:31 AM in response to maheshnair2803

maheshnair2803 wrote:

Yes I have set the password. Rest all the panes in System Preferences open but Security & Privacy doesn't open even after reinstalling. Even in Safe mode, it doesn't open.



I would try a SafeBoot https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201262



Takes noticeable longer to get to the login screen, does a 5 minute disk repair before it fully boots up, and certain system caches get cleared and rebuilt, including dynamic loader cache,  etc. 


You can Login and test. Reboot  as normal and test— Caches get rebuilt automatically.

Sep 5, 2021 8:27 AM in response to maheshnair2803

maheshnair2803 wrote:

Yes I have set the password. Rest all the panes in System Preferences open but Security & Privacy doesn't open even after reinstalling. Even in Safe mode, it doesn't open.



There is no straight forward answer that I see— an issue that has surfaced more than once.


—try an alternative way to open System Preferences ie from Dock icon, try from  dropdown for example.

—uninstall Parallels, Fusion VM

—If this is T2 chip Mac, From Recovery make some change and try again About Startup Security Utility - Apple Support

—third party kext maybe implicated


Many suggestion and associated plist—with no clear path

Mac OS Big Sur Preference error when trying to launch security preferences to Allow System Extension or Kernel extension



You can try an escalate this up the chain of command... to get engineers involved


Call Customer Support  (800) MYAPPLE (800–692–7753)

or on line  https://getsupport.apple.com/

or call  AppleCare Support at 1-800-APLCARE (800-275-2273)


Outside the USA—Contact Apple for support and service by phone

See a list of Apple phone numbers around the world.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201232



Can't open the Security & Privacy Preference Pane in Big Sur

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.