Went to the System Settings > General, and opened Software Updates, it automatically checked for updates, after several seconds, it returned the error message “Unable to check for updates,” what does this error indicates? Anyone know how to fix this error?
“Unable to check for updates" is a common macOS updating error, it is usually accompanied by other messages such as:
- Can’t contact to the Apple Software Update server
- Make sure you are connected to the internet.
- No available update found. Please try again later.
- An internal error occurred.
There are several possible causes for your Mac to become stuck when it is looking for updates. One of the most frequent problems is internet connectivity because macOS update files might be fairly large. A server outage for Apple, a lack of storage, faults with the SMC or NVRAM, and current macOS issues could also lead to the error.
Given that this problem tends to occur more frequently with major upgrades, it’s probable that the error results from inadequate storage capacity, an overloaded Apple server, or a slow internet connection that can’t handle the download size. Other potential causes include faulty update files, firewall settings, software errors, incompatibility between the Mac’s model and the OS, and issues with the NVRAM or SMC.
Therefore, when you receive the error message “Unable to check for updates,” you can troubleshoot the issue from the possible culprits individually.
Check network connection
A quality and stable network connection is necessary to download macOS updates from the Apple server. Therefore, you should make sure the connected network is working. You can try disabling and re-enabling the WiFi, reconnecting the network, switching to Ethernet, etc., and also check if Apple’s servers are down.
Restart Mac
Always try to restart your Mac when your Mac performs abnormally. Although there is never 100% assurance with this method, it does work more often than one might think. Restarting Mac gives it a fresh start, which should resolve any minor glitches or problems. It also doesn’t take long, so you can quickly move on to the next possible solution if it doesn’t work.
Ensure there is enough disk space
Insufficient storage space prevents updates from being installed. As your Mac is unable to access update data, you can quickly search to find out how much space the major macOS update will require, and then check free storage space on your Mac.
Free download iBoysoft DiskGeeker for Mac to free up space if necessary!
Reload Software Updates
A straightforward refresh could resolve a minor issue causing a Mac to be unable to find macOS updates. Press the keyboard shortcut Cmd + R while the Software Update window is open. See whether the refresh helps after some time has passed. Alternatively, you can reload the window by going to the Activity Monitor and force quit it there.
Reset NVRAM and SMC
Errors in the SMC and NVRAM could prevent software updates from working properly. Check out our tutorial on resetting PRAM/NVRAM and resetting SMC on your Mac. Be aware that only Macs with Intel processors can use this. If your Mac with Apple Silicon finds any faults, it will automatically reset your NVRAM when you restart.
Boot Mac into Safe Mode
Before downloading the most recent version of macOS and checking for updates, you can boot into safe mode. If you do this, your Mac will boot up with a few system extensions, deactivated apps, and disabled services. By doing this, you may help rule out any program incompatibilities that might be preventing your Mac from searching for updates.
Install the updates through the Terminal
An additional option for users to get around any flaws that might be present is to attempt installing a macOS update using Terminal. Here’s how to install macOS using Terminal, located in the Utilities folder:
- Launch Terminal from Finder > Applications > Utilities.
- Type the following command and hit Enter: sudo softwareupdate -l
- Then enter your password.
- Find the file in your Applications folder to install it with the command: sudo softwareupdate --fetch-full-installer
- Install and automatically download the update: sudo softwareupdate --fetch-full-installer --launch-installer