Fix Known macOS Tahoe Issues, Bugs, Problems (Top 18)

macOS Tahoe not showing up/not available

The first macOS Tahoe problem you may encounter is the update not showing up or not being found.

You open Software Update and check for updates, but macOS Tahoe doesn't show up as an available update. It either tells you that your Mac is up to date, or it gets stuck at "Checking for updates" or "Find Update."

Sometimes, you could also receive an error, such as "Unable to check for updates. Make sure you are connected to the internet."

Or if you try to download macOS Tahoe from the Mac App Store, you may fail with the message, "Update not found. The requested macOS version is not available. Check if your Mac is compatible with this software."

To fix macOS Tahoe not showing up, try the following solutions.

Check macOS Tahoe compatibility

Usually, if you can't find macOS Tahoe, your Mac is not compatible with it. You can verify your Mac's compatibility by checking the supported devices list below:

(If you're uncertain about your Mac's year, open the Apple menu > About This Mac.)

Mac models that are compatible with macOS Tahoe (26):

Supported Apple Silicon Macs:

Supported Intel-Based Macs:

If your Mac isn't on the list, unfortunately, you can't upgrade to macOS Tahoe through the usual means.

Check the internet connection

Your Mac requires a strong internet connection to check for new software updates. If your network is poor, it can't find the macOS Tahoe update.

So, try switching to a different WiFi network, use an ethernet cable, or your phone hotspot, provided that your Mac is compatible with macOS Tahoe. Then reopen Software Update to check whether macOS Tahoe shows up.

Check your current macOS version

Although less common, you may be currently running a higher beta version of macOS Tahoe than the public release. For instance, if you have macOS Tahoe 26.1 beta, you can't install the public release of macOS Tahoe 26.0 because it's a downgrade. You can wait for the final release of macOS Tahoe 26.1 or erase your Mac and clean install macOS Tahoe.

Also, you should turn off beta updates before installing macOS Tahoe to stop receiving beta versions for any future updates.

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macOS Tahoe not downloading

When Software Update finds macOS Tahoe, it will start downloading the macOS installer. The download process may be slow, get stuck (e.g., it says 3.33/3.33 GB complete and 30 mins remaining but just sits there forever), or fail with different errors.

You may encounter one of the following macOS Tahoe download errors:

Poor internet connection, overloaded Apple server, VPN or antivirus software intervention, insufficient storage space, or system glitches are factors that may cause problems in downloading macOS Tahoe.

You should ensure your Mac has a strong internet connection and is supported by macOS Tahoe, then try the following fixes:

Check Apple's system status

If many Mac users are downloading macOS Tahoe at the same time, Apple's server will become overloaded, causing download issues. You can open Apple's system status page and check if the "macOS Software Update" service is operational. If it's not operating normally, update your Mac at a less crowded time. For example, you can initiate the download before you go to bed.

Delete the incomplete installer and reboot your Mac

If macOS Tahoe won't download or is stuck at downloading, delete the incomplete macOS installer from your Downloads or Applications folder, empty the trash, and then restart your Mac. Once your Mac boots up, retry downloading it from Software Update or the Mac App Store.

Download macOS Tahoe directly

Instead of downloading macOS Tahoe from Software Update or the App Store, you can also get it directly from Apple's server. Click the link below to download it.

Mac OS Free Download Full Version

(It's a PKG file that you need to double-click to add to your Applications folder.)

To learn more about downloading and installing macOS Tahoe, read this guide: Download and Install macOS Tahoe/Sequoia/Sonoma/Earlier

Download macOS Tahoe from Terminal

Another way to download macOS Tahoe is from the built-in Terminal app. Simply launch it from your Applications/Utilities folder, then run the command below to download macOS Tahoe:

Run this command to find the software updates available to your Mac.

softwareupdate --list-full-installers

Execute this command to download macOS Tahoe without installing it immediately.

softwareupdate --fetch-full-installer --full-installer-version 26.0

To get more details on downloading macOS Tahoe from Terminal, refer to: How to Update Mac from Terminal

Ensure enough space to download macOS Tahoe

Having enough free storage space for the macOS Tahoe update is essential to avoid update issues and performance slop.

You can manually delete all unwanted files or use a disk cleaner like iBoysoft DiskGeeker for Mac to quickly analyze your disk space and permanently remove unnecessary files and junk. Another unique benefit of this tool is that it harnesses the power of AI to help you decide whether to delete an unknown file or not.

We recommend you use the disk cleaner's "Space Analyze" feature first, as it can identify all files on your Mac and help you locate large files.

Then run the "Clean Junk" feature to delete junk, such as caches, logs, preference files, etc.

Disable adblockers and security software

If you have adblockers, VPNs, antivirus software, or firewall software turned on when experiencing problems downloading macOS Tahoe, disable them and retry the download.

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macOS Tahoe not installing

After the macOS Tahoe download is complete, you can click "Update Now" in System Settings or run the "Install macOS Tahoe" app installer from your Applications folder to start the installation.

Suppose macOS Tahoe won't install; you'll likely experience one of the following macOS Tahoe installation problems:

macOS Tahoe update freezes at a certain point:

macOS Tahoe installation fails with an error:

Try the solutions below if macOS Tahoe won't install:

Restart your Mac and retry the upate

A simple yet useful fix to macOS Tahoe issues is to reboot your Mac and retry the update. If it still won't install, delete the macOS installer completely and empty it from your Trash, then redownload macOS Tahoe from Terminal or directly from Apple's server.

If the macOS Tahoe update is stuck and you can't restart your Mac from the Apple menu, hold the power button for 10-15 seconds to force-reboot it.

Update from macOS Safe Mode

If your Mac still can't upgrade to macOS Tahoe, boot into macOS Safe Mode. It's a troubleshooting mode that launches with only essential kernels, preventing third-party software intervention. You can open System Settings > General > Software Update in Safe Mode to update to macOS Tahoe.

Upgrade Intel Macs from macOS Recovery Mode

Intel Macs have a special mode called Internet Recovery, which installs the latest macOS version (macOS Tahoe) to your Mac. If your Intel-based Mac is compatible with macOS Tahoe, go through the following steps:

Clean install macOS Tahoe

The last, potentially most effective solution to all macOS Tahoe update issues is to perform a clean install or fresh install. This refers to the process of erasing your Mac and installing a fresh copy of macOS Tahoe.

Since the process will remove all data on your Mac, you must back up the important data before carrying it out.

Keep reading this tutorial to learn the details: Clean Install macOS Tahoe 26 from USB/without USB

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Launchpad replaced by Apps in macOS Tahoe

Apple has replaced the grid-based Launchpad with a new "Apps" interface that is integrated into the redesigned Spotlight. This new interface sorts your apps into categories, similar to the App Library on the iPhone and iPad. It includes categories such as Utilities, Productivity, Entertainment, and a "Suggested" section based on your recent activity.

However, it doesn't allow for pages of custom folders or manually rearranged icons, which has frustrated some users, particularly power users who relied on Launchpad's customization.  

While many miss the old Launchpad, others appreciate the modern design and tighter integration with Spotlight.

If you want to restore Launchpad on macOS Tahoe, try the methods in this article: How to Restore Launchpad to Dock on macOS Tahoe

Apps not working on macOS Tahoe

After updating to macOS Tahoe, some apps may not work or partially work due to compatibility issues and Tahoe bugs. Typically, the app may not open, quit unexpectedly, keep crashing, hang, or become unresponsive.

You can view the list of working and non-working apps updated by a MacRumors user to see if any of your favorite apps are affected.

Another issue is that the non-Apple apps may get relocated to the "Moved Items" folder if they are incompatible with macOS Tahoe. This folder also includes outdated system preference files, browser or system extensions that are no longer supported, configuration files that may cause issues with the new system, and incompatible user data.

To fix macOS Tahoe apps not launching, keep crashing, or being unresponsive:

Force quit the problematic app

If an app is frozen on macOS Tahoe, press Option-Command-Esc, choose it, and then click "Force Quit" to close it. After that, you can reboot your Mac and relaunch the app.

Update the app on macOS Tahoe

Apps that are not working on macOS Tahoe are usually not compatible with it. If the app is actively updated, there's likely a newer version that works on macOS Tahoe 26. You can check its official website to install the updated version if it's a third-party app. Or visit the App Store to update your Apple apps.

Fully uninstall the problematic app

If the app has no updates available yet, consider fully uninstalling it with iBoysoft MagicMenu. Deleting the app in Finder or uninstalling it from Launchpad doesn't completely uninstall the app and its associated files. But a disk cleaner like iBoysoft MagicMenu can identify all files related to your app and uninstall it completely.

Simply download it, install the "Uninstall" extension, and then right-click on the app to fully uninstall it.  When a new update is available, you can reinstall it.

Reinstall Rosetta

If the malfunctioning apps are Intel apps running through Rosetta on Apple Silicon Macs, reinstalling Rosetta should resolve the problem. To do this, open Terminal and run the command below:

softwareupdate --install-rosetta

Type A and hit Enter to agree to the terms of the software license agreement.

Spotlight not working on macOS Tahoe

macOS Tahoe has the biggest Spotlight update ever, transforming it from a simple search bar into a powerful command center. Many of its new features mirror those found in third-party utilities, potentially replacing clipboard managers, app launchers, and utilities that provide quick actions.

Nevertheless, it also has its own share of bugs and performance issues. Users have reported the following issues regarding Spotlight on macOS Tahoe:

To fix macOS Tahoe Spotlight bugs, try:

Ensure Apps is turned on

If the Apps section of Spotlight isn't working properly, go to System Settings > Spotlight and ensure Results from System > Apps is turned on.

Reset the Spotlight index

If Spotlight doesn't show the correct results on macOS Tahoe, open Terminal from your Applications > Utilities folder and run the following commands one by one: (Ensure you're logged in as an administrator. When it asks for a password, type your login password and hit Enter.)

sudo mdutil -X /

This command removes the Spotlight index for the root volume (/) of your system.

sudo mdutil -X /System/Volumes/Preboot

This command removes the Spotlight index for the Preboot volume.

sudo mdutil -X /System/Volumes/Data

This command removes the Spotlight index for the Data volume.

Then reboot your Mac for the changes to take effect.

Ensure the Spotlight indexing is turned on

If the Spotlight index is not turned on, it'll only show web results rather than local files and apps on macOS Tahoe. Run the command below in Terminal to check the Spotlight indexing status for all mounted volumes on your Mac:

mdutil -sa

If Spotlight indexing is disabled, enable it with the following command:

sudo mdutil -ai on

Test if Spotlight works properly now. If not, turn off Spotlight indexing, delete the corrupted Spotlight database, and re-enable indexing with the following command:

Disables Spotlight indexing across all mounted volumes on the system: sudo mdutil -ai off

Forcefully kills the mds process, which is the main Spotlight indexing daemon (service): sudo pkill -f mds

Forcefully kills the mdworker processes, which are worker processes used by Spotlight to perform file indexing tasks in the background:sudo pkill -f mdworker 
 Deletes the .Spotlight-V100 folder, which stores Spotlight's indexing data on APFS volumes: sudo rm -rf /System/Volumes/Data/.Spotlight-V100

Deletes the .Spotlight-V100 folder on older volumes (e.g., HFS+ volumes) where Spotlight stores its indexing data.: sudo rm -rf /.Spotlight-V100

Reboot your Mac.

Enable Spotlight indexing:sudo mdutil -ai on

Erases the current Spotlight index for the root volume (/) and forces Spotlight to rebuild it:sudo mdutil -E /

Erases and rebuilds the Spotlight index specifically for the /System/Volumes/Data volume:sudo mdutil -E /System/Volumes/Data

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Apps app(Launchpad replacement) not responding

If the Apps app in the Dock doesn't respond and you've previously used the Launchpad workaround to access Launchpad on macOS Tahoe, disable it with the steps below:

macOS Tahoe sluggish animations

You may observe sluggish animations in macOS Tahoe, especially when using Mission Control or switching spaces on high refresh rate screens. This may happen in early releases. You can wait for a point release to fix it or turn off the effects for the moment. Here's how:

External hard drive icons not updated yet

Apple changed the default icons for system and internal drive, a number of built-in apps, and forces most third-party app icons into the "squircle" shape. However, the default icon for external drives hasn't been updated yet.

macOS Tahoe network issues

WiFi not working is also a known macOS Tahoe issue. Typically, you have no internet access or you're connected to WiFi but are unable to access the internet, even the local network.

Here are a few tips to resolve the issue of macOS Tahoe internet not working:

For more solutions to fix macOS Tahoe no internet, check out: Mac Connected to WiFi but No Internet [Why & Fixes]

macOS Tahoe memory leak

Some Mac users have reported experiencing a memory leak after upgrading to macOS Tahoe, with the process mds_store taking up 40GB of memory in Activity Monitor. Other processes that spike memory or CPU usage include WindowServer, kernel_task, Safari, contextstore, etc.

On certain Macs, you may see the pop-up "Your system has run out of application memory" with some apps paused in red.

To stop the memory leak, you need to understand the function behind the process that results in high memory usage.

For instance, mds_store is part of the Spotlight indexing system in macOS. It helps in indexing files and data on your Mac to enable quick search results. If it's utilizing excessive memory, you know Spotlight is indexing files. You can wait for the indexing to complete or reset the process.

You can also force quit the process in Activity Monitor to stop the memory leak.

macOS Tahoe slow performance

You might experience lag after updating to macOS Tahoe. For instance, "Messages may take a bit longer to open, there's the occasional hitch when switching between desktops, rapid scrolling through the interface doesn't load content as quickly as it used to," as posted by a Reddit user.

If your Mac is slow after the Tahoe update, try updating your apps to work better with macOS Tahoe and completely uninstalling incompatible programs to avoid conflicts. Besides, try not to use resource-intensive apps simultaneously. Finally, clean up your Mac.

If you don't want to waste time looking for files to delete, use iBoysoft DiskGeeker to scan your hard drive to find and delete unwanted files.

Erasing your Mac and reinstalling macOS Tahoe also enables you to start fresh with only the necessary apps and files. If you opt for it, back up your Mac with Time Machine first, then restore only the necessary data after macOS Tahoe is installed.

macOS Tahoe overheating

After upgrading to macOS Tahoe 26, some Macs may heat up when doing light work or even when they are idle. If the overheating issue persists for a long time, it'll slow down your Mac, cause lags or freezing, render loud fan noises, and cause faster battery drain.

To cool down your Mac, consider the following solutions:

macOS Tahoe battery drain

You may notice some excessive battery drain at certain times after updating to macOS Tahoe. It can result from various issues, such as Spotlight indexing your drive, background processes intensely syncing your files, incompatible applications, resource-intensive new features, or macOS Tahoe bugs.

To fix battery drain on macOS Tahoe, you can:

macOS Tahoe Bluetooth issues

After the macOS Tahoe update, your Bluetooth device may not pair with your Mac or keep disconnecting. To fix it, try the following fixes:

To further troubleshoot macOS Tahoe Bluetooth issues, follow How to Fix Bluetooth Issues on Mac

macOS Tahoe black screen

The black screen issue may occur while updating to macOS Tahoe, after logging into your Mac, or upon system reboots. If it happens, you can force restart your Mac by pressing the power button to turn it off, unplugging all peripherals, and then turning it back on.

Should the issue persist, reinstall macOS Tahoe from Recovery Mode.

On an Intel-based Mac:

On an Apple Silicon Mac:

If the macOS Tahoe black screen problem remains, try restoring or reviving your Mac with Apple Configurator 2.

External Hard Drives not mounting/detected on macOS Tahoe

External hard drives, especially your NTFS drives, may not mount, be recognized, or be detected on macOS Tahoe. The causes usually include incompatible drivers, temporary bugs, broken cables, drive corruption, etc.

If your NTFS external drives are not working on macOS Tahoe, uninstall the current outdated NTFS driver and install a compatible one.

NTFS is a Windows format that's read-only on Mac. If you were able to read and write to your NTFS drive on Mac, you likely have an NTFS for Mac driver.

However, it's not supported on macOS Tahoe. To fix your NTFS drive on macOS Tahoe, switch to iBoysoft NTFS driver for Mac. It's a reliable NTFS driver that grants you read and write access to macOS. Also, it's compatible with macOS Tahoe ~ macOS High Sierra.

You can try it out with the button below!

If your external drive is formatted in APFS, Mac OS Extended (Journaled), exFAT, or FAT32, check out the following fixes:

Mac won't boot after installing macOS Tahoe

Although rare, your Mac may not boot or turn on after the macOS Tahoe upgrade. Such boot problems are often caused by macOS Tahoe bugs, corrupted boot loader, update issues, or hardware problems. Try the solutions below to fix your Mac:

Are there any other macOS Tahoe bugs or problems you have encountered? Share with us!

FAQs about macOS Tahoe known issues