Updating macOS seems straightforward, as you just need to finish it with a few clicks. However, software update issues are common; you may not be able to find software updates on a Mac, or you can't install macOS Tahoe on your Mac Studio M3 Ultra.
When you fail to update your Mac to macOS Tahoe, you may wonder, 'Why can't I update my Mac?' and 'Is my Mac too old to update?'.
We have experienced the same trouble and have concluded efficient solutions to help you out with the Mac won't update issue.
Notably, when you fail to update your Mac with Software Update, check: Mac OS Updates Download to try to download and install the desired macOS directly.
Mac/MacBook won't update, what to do?
Since the possible causes of the Mac update failure are various and hard to identify at a glance, you'd better troubleshoot it with the solutions listed below in order. Then, you can continue to update your Mac successfully and enjoy the new features of the latest macOS.
Be patient to wait it out
A macOS update takes some time, especially for those from an old macOS version to the latest. For example, some Mac users report that several hours are needed to upgrade from macOS Mojave or earlier to the latest macOS Big Sur or Monterey.
If you also upgrade your Mac from an earlier macOS, give it more time. Perhaps you think the Software Update gets stuck, just wait it out. During the process, remember to keep your Mac charged. Also, don't let your Mac enter sleep mode or close the MacBook lid.
Check the compatibility of the macOS version
With time passing by and the yearly release of the new macOS version and its frequent minor updates, some obsolete Mac machines are no longer compatible with the newest software updates.
If your MacBook crashes, freezes, or pauses during the macOS update, you need to check if there are compatibility issues between your Mac and the new OS.
To do that, you can visit the corresponding pages on support.apple.com below:
Mac computers that are compatible with macOS Big Sur.
Mac machines that support macOS Monterey.
Go tell others the basic trick for fixing the Mac that won't update to macOS Tahoe, Sequoia, Sonoma, etc.
Check if your Mac has enough storage space
Adequate storage space on your Mac is one of the preconditions for a successful software update. So, if your Mac halts during the macOS update, go check the storage on your Macintosh HD.
- Click the Apple menu > About This Mac.
- Move on to the Storage tab.
Usually, a minor update only contains bug fixes and security updates and requires a few GB or less. But a macOS upgrade needs dozens of GB.
For instance, upgrading from macOS Sierra or later to Big Sur will require at least 35.5GB of storage space, while 26GB or more for Monterey. macOS Tahoe requires at least 25 GB of free space for installation.
Therefore, try your best to clean up the junk files on your Mac and make enough room for the macOS download and update.
iBoysoft DiskGeeker is a disk management tool that supports cleaning up junk files on a Mac. It can quickly scan and list different types of junk files on your Mac for your one-click deletion. With it, you don't need to spend much energy and time doing this job.
- Download, install, and open iBoysoft DiskGeeker on your Mac.
- Wait for the software to scan junk files on your Mac.
- Choose those unwanted junk files and click Clean.
Check the Internet connection
macOS updates are downloaded from Apple's servers. If the Internet connection is poor or broken, the OS update process will be paused. Then, you may run into the "The request timed out" error when updating your Mac.
You can click the Wi-Fi menu at the top-right corner of the Apple menu bar and disable it. Then, turn it on again after waiting for a moment. If the Internet continues to be unstable, you can try another Wi-Fi.
After that, redo the software update in System Preferences.
Check Apple System Status
Apart from the strong Internet connection, Apple's servers are also vital for macOS updates. The software update process may still halt halfway or even fail to start once Apple's servers are unstable or in an outage.
So, go to Apple's System Status page to check if Apple's servers are experiencing any problems. If the circle beside macOS Software Update lights green, it means that the servers are in good status, conversely are not. In that situation, you need to wait until they are back to normal. Then, try to update your Mac again.
Disconnect the peripherals & restart your Mac
Sometimes, the connected external hard drives or other peripherals carry malware or viruses that may lead to misbehavior of your Mac, like software update freezes.
To make clear if the peripherals cause the Mac won't update issue, you can unplug the recently connected external hard drives, SD card adapters, or so. Besides, there are also chances that the tiny glitches on your current macOS may prevent your MacBook from being updated.
So, after disconnecting the unnecessary external devices, restart your Mac and update your Mac again.
Reset NVRAM/PRAM
NVRAM (old Mac uses PRAM) stands for non-volatile random-access memory. It is used to store system-related settings like kernel panic information. If your Mac won't update to the latest macOS, you can try to reset NVRAM to refresh your Mac state.
To reset NVRAM on your Intel-based Mac:
- Shut down your Mac.
- Press the power button, and at the same time, press down the Option + Command + P + R shortcut keys for about 20 seconds.
- Release the keys once you hear the second startup chime. Or, see the Apple logo show up and disappear twice on a T2-based Mac.
For an M1 Mac, NVRAM will reset automatically during Mac startup if needed.
Update your Mac in Safe Mode
Some users indicate that if Mac OS won't update in normal mode, updating Mac in Safe Mode is possible.
That's because Safe Mode enables your Mac to start up with minimal core extensions. Meanwhile, it prevents suspicious third-party software and programs that may result in your Mac's abnormal performance, like MacBook Air won't update.
How to boot an Intel-based Mac in Safe Mode:
- Turn off your Mac and wait a moment.
- Hit the power button to restart your computer, and meanwhile, press down the Shift key until you see the login window.
How to boot an Apple Silicon Mac in Safe Mode:
- Shut down your M1 Mac and wait a few seconds.
- Hold down the power button until you see the startup options and the Options icon.
- Select your startup drive.
- Press down the Shift key and then click Continue in Safe Mode.
- Release the Shift key.
Mac won't start in Safe Mode, what to do?
If your Mac's Safe Mode is not working or you are not sure whether your Mac enters Safe Mode or not, follow this post to get more suggestions and solutions. Read more >>
After entering Safe Mode, click the Apple logo > System Preferences > Software Update. And then, click Update Now or Upgrade Now to update your Mac.
Try combo update your Mac
If, sadly, you also fail to update your machine to the latest Mac OS, try the combo update.
A combo update can be considered the combined update of the same major version. It contains all the changes between the original major version and the release you are preparing to update to. For example, you can jump the macOS version from macOS 11.0.1 to macOS 11.3, skipping macOS 11.1 and macOS 11.2.
When there are some bugs in certain software updates, you may not update your MacBook Pro easily and fast. So, you can try to combo update your Mac.
But the size of the combo update installer is large. You need to ensure your Mac has enough storage space.
To combo update your Mac computer, you need:
- Find and download the combo update from Apple's macOS download site.
- Quit all the open apps and programs on your Mac.
- Double-click the downloaded combo update file.
- Follow the on-screen guide to finish the update.
Check your startup disk & update your Mac in macOS Recovery
Rarely, your MacBook Pro won't update, even go for all the above methods. That means your startup disk probably has some problems.
In that case, the first thing you need to do is to run Disk Utility First Aid to check and repair the possible tiny errors on your startup disk in macOS Recovery Mode.
- Boot your Mac in Recovery Mode. Make sure your Mac connects to the Internet well.
For an Intel-based Mac, restart your Mac and simultaneously hold the Option/Alt + Command + R keys until seeing the Apple logo starts up.
For an M1 Mac, turn off your Mac. Then, press down the power button until the startup options and the Options icon appear. Select Options and click Continue. - Choose Disk Utility.
- Select your startup disk from the right sidebar.
- Click First Aid to check and repair errors on your startup disk.
After First Aid finishes checking, go back to the macOS Utilities screen. If your Mac runs older versions and you want to upgrade it to macOS Monterey, you can click the Reinstall macOS utility and follow the offered instructions.
If your Mac runs macOS Big Sur or Monterey now and you just want to proceed with the minor updates, restart your Mac. Then, click the Apple menu > System Preferences > Software Update.
If you encounter the issue that a Mac update deleted everything, don't be upset. You can launch iBoysoft Data Recovery Software to recover files with simple clicks.
Why can't you update your Mac?
A successful software update on a Mac requires a lot, such as enough storage space, a stable internet connection, hardware compatibility, etc.
If one of the requirements can't be satisfied, you'll get stuck on the macOS update and receive error messages like one of these:
- Software Update is trying to authenticate user
- The macOS installation couldn't be completed
- macOS could not be installed on your computer
- An error occurred while installing the selected updates
Share the reasons with your friends now.
FAQs about Mac won't update
- Q1. Is my Mac too old to update?
-
A
Apple takes the Mac machines that were designed and delivered about 5 to 7 years ago as old ones. The old Macs won't support the latest macOS anymore. To check if your Mac is too old to update, you can visit support.apple.com and check if the macOS version you want to update is compatible with your Mac model.
- Q2. How do I manually update my Mac?
-
A
To manually update your Mac, go to the Apple menu > System Preferences > Software Update and then click the available updates to update your Mac.