macOS Tahoe Cannot be Installed on Macintosh HD (Fix)

Known bug: Can't install macOS Tahoe on Mac Studio M3 Ultra yet

If you can't install macOS Tahoe on Mac Studio, you're not alone. There's a bug on Mac Studio with the M3 Ultra Apple Silicon chip that allows you to download macOS Tahoe but not install it.

Cannot install Tahoe on mac studio M3 ultra
by u/NinjaLatino in MacOS

Based on users' reports, when trying to upgrade from macOS Sequoia to macOS Tahoe, the system prepares the macOS Tahoe update, reboots, and runs down to "Less than a minute remaining," then suddenly brings them back to the login or lock screen of macOS Sequoia.

The logs indicate that while installing, macOS Tahoe attempted to verify a hardware register associated with the Neural Engine but encountered a failure. Apple Neural Engine (ANE) is part of Apple's silicon architecture and is specifically designed to handle tasks that involve artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning.

This installation bug only affects the Mac Studio with the M3 Ultra. Users have tried different ways to install macOS Tahoe, but they all ended the same way, with the Mac Studio returning to macOS Sequoia.

Unfortunately, there's currently no fix to the bug. If you have a Mac Studio M3 Ultra, wait for a future point release before installing the macOS Tahoe update.

Share the bug that renders macOS Tahoe not installing on Mac Studio M3 Ultra!

Fix 1: Check if your Mac is compatible with macOS Tahoe

If macOS Tahoe cannot be installed on Macintosh HD, you should first check if your Mac is compatible with it. Here's the list of Mac models that are compatible with macOS Tahoe 26:

Supported Apple Silicon Macs:

Supported Intel-Based Macs:

If your Mac is not supported, it won't receive the macOS Tahoe update. Even if you can download macOS Tahoe from Apple's server, it won't install on your Mac.

Fix 2: Ensure your Mac has enough free space

Although the space needed for macOS Tahoe varies depending on different situations, for utmost performance, you should keep at least 50 GB of free space on your Mac.

If you upgrade from Software Update, the installer size may vary from 7GB to 19GB, based on your current macOS version. Then you need 20-25 GB for the installation and a recommended 10 GB buffer for post-installation performance.

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Fix 3: Ensure your internet is working

A strong and stable internet connection is vital for the macOS Tahoe installation. It's needed to download the installer and get the firmware and other information exclusive to your Mac when installing. You can test if your internet works when searching or playing videos. If it doesn't work well, switch to an Ethernet connection or a different WiFi network.

Fix 4: Restart your Mac and redownload macOS Tahoe

If you can't update to macOS Tahoe due to an error or the macOS Tahoe installation is stuck, try rebooting your Mac. Once booting up, delete the downloaded macOS Tahoe installer, empty the Trash, and then redownload the full installer directly from Apple's server.

Download macOS Tahoe directly

After downloading it, double-click the PKG file to save the APP installer to your Applications folder. Then run the installer to install macOS Tahoe.

Fix 5: Install macOS Tahoe from Terminal

Instead of upgrading macOS Tahoe from Software Update, do it from the built-in Terminal. Follow the steps below:

Fix 6: Install macOS Tahoe from Safe Mode

Alternatively, you can download and install macOS Tahoe from Safe Mode, a diagnostic mode in macOS that starts your Mac with the minimum required software and drivers. Here's how to boot into macOS Safe Mode:

For Intel-based Macs:

For Macs with Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3 & M4):

When you're in Safe Mode, open Software Update to upgrade to macOS Tahoe.

Fix 7: Update your current macOS first

If your Mac still won't upgrade to Tahoe, consider updating to macOS Sequoia 15.7 first. To do this, go to System Settings > General > Software Update, then check if macOS Sequoia 15.7 shows up under "Also Available."

 If not, click "More info...", then choose macOS Sequoia 15.7 from the other available updates and click Update Now. After macOS Sequoia is installed, you can upgrade to macOS Tahoe.

Fix 8: Install macOS Tahoe from bootable USB

Suppose you cannot install macOS Tahoe on Macintosh HD despite multiple attempts; then creating a bootable USB installer can be an effective solution. This method allows you to bypass potential issues related to your Mac's hard drive or existing installation.

You can create the macOS Tahoe bootable USB installer and then boot from it to install macOS Tahoe on Macintosh HD without erasing your Mac first.

If macOS Tahoe won't install, opt for a clean install that removes unnecessary files, applications, and system errors that may prevent your Mac from installing macOS Tahoe.

Keep reading the following guide to learn how to create a bootable macOS Tahoe installer and install macOS Tahoe from USB.

How to Fresh or Clean Install macOS Tahoe [Full Guide]

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Why macOS Tahoe cannot be installed on Macintosh HD?

If you can't install macOS Tahoe on Macintosh HD, it's usually caused by macOS Tahoe bugs, an incompatible Mac model, insufficient free storage space, a corrupted macOS Tahoe installer, an unstable internet connection, or a temporary system glitch.

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FAQs about macOS Tahoe cannot be installed on Macintosh HD