Downloading and installing an updated version of macOS on any Mac device is quick and easy. In most cases, your respective Mac device will show an available new update in a pop-up window in the notification center. Based on each Apple user’s settings, the new version of macOS is downloaded and installed automatically. However, in other cases, the user’s permission is required to continue with the installation.
However, sometimes, even if you let the device go through the installation and update process, things don’t go as smoothly as expected.
This blog will cover various issues and fixes related to why your Apple device freezes or why I cannot update my Mac during the software update process and also if any error message appears during the installation and update process.
Solutions When Mac freezes during the update process and why I can’t update my Mac:
- Solutions for macOS Monterey that can’t be downloaded
- Other solutions to macOS boot issues
- Solutions for a stuck macOS update
- What to do if your Mac freezes during installation
1. Solutions for macOS Monterey that can’t be downloaded
Around October 25, 2021, a pertinent issue occurred with macOS Monterey. When macOS Big Sur was released in November 2020, many Apple users encountered difficulties and annoying errors when downloading and installing the iOS update. Hence, users have speculated that this type of update issue could be related to the arrival of Monterey.
The latest version of macOS Monterey was released on May 16, 2022. In 2020, Apple users experienced a lot of problems, so it is quite possible that users will face the same problems, but in a different way, again. with the arrival of Monterey.
This article has a detailed guide on what to do if you can’t boot macOS Monterey without problems, as well as fixes for macOS Monterey when it won’t install, and what else you need to do if your Mac freezes in the middle of booting. update procedure.
One of the biggest issues with macOS Monterey may be that it blocks some Intel Macs with a T2 or T1 processor (used for Touch ID and for SMC control).
If you’ve ever received a warning saying “The installation of macOS could not be completed”or a dialog box saying “There was an error installing the selected updates”or after downloading Monterey, you’ve encountered a dialog box saying “There is not enough free space on the selected volume to OS updates,
Don’t worry, because this article will guide you through all the obstacles and their solutions so that, despite all these inconveniences, you know exactly your next step.
- Problems with Monterey
- Memory management problem
- iMac
- Problems with Big Sur
- Solutions for macOS Monterey that can’t be downloaded
1. Problems with Monterey
Unfortunately, there have been cases lately where when Apple releases a new version of macOS, some Mac users face various issues while performing the update. These issues are more commonly seen in older Mac users than in newly released Mac users.
It’s entirely possible that all of these error messages and issues can be resolved in macOS 12.5 or later. The latest preview version of macOS 12.5 was released on May 31, 2022.
Despite waiting for the release of the latest version of macOS, it is recommended to review below the various helpful solutions that many Mac users use to solve such problems.
2. Problem with memory management
Many Mac users are reporting that some Macs are running out of free memory due to a memory management error. Such users may see the warning “Your system has run out of application memory.”
In this case, the error seems to affect new and old Macs, and is not limited to just Apple Silicon or Intel computers. When these errors are displayed, the device asks you to force quit apps, which means that the device asks you to remove several apps from the device using the force exit method to make room for the new macOS update.
If you are facing this kind of error, it is advised to force close a few applications or restart your Mac.
3.iMac
Installing Monterey locks up many Macs.
More specifically, other older Intel-based models with T2 and T1 chips (which manage the System Management Controller (SMC) and Touch ID sensor in some Intel Macs) are most affected.
This issue seems to be interfering with the firmware update procedure. One of the suggested solutions to this problem is to restore Mac computers from there, but this is not so easy to do.
The procedure for T2 Macs, as stated in the Apple document, requires a second Intel Mac, from which the user needs to transfer damaged computers through the Apple configurator 2 application with the new firmware for the T2 processor.
But if you have T1, the process is much harder and tougher. In this case, you need to visit the Apple Customer Service Store and consult with them on the matter.
4. Problems with Big Sur
Around 2020, when Big Sur was launched, many Mac users encountered a bug that prevented the installer from checking how much space was available before downloading and installing an operating system update.
Consequently, the installation cannot proceed any further and all available storage on the Mac will be taken up, rendering the Mac unusable.
Apple released and registered an update for Big Sur addressing this particular complication on February 15, 2021. If a similar issue occurs in Monterey, it is very likely that we will be notified of the update shortly after its launch.
Along with Big Sur, there were various other reports of messages such as “macOS cannot be installed on your computer”, “Gateway timed out”, “Bad gateway”, or even “The network connection was lost”.
Big Sur users were also prompted with the message: “The service pack was removed after being downloaded from the Apple Software Update Server.”
All solutions to such problems will be discussed further in this blog.
5. Solutions for macOS Monterey that can’t be downloaded
There are various reasons why the macOS installation or boot process does not run smoothly and gets interrupted. There are also several possible reasons why the download might take longer than expected. This blog will go over all the issues and their best solutions as you scroll down.
Problem: macOS update won’t download
If you’re unable to download a macOS update, it might be because your Mac doesn’t have enough free space. Perhaps if you don’t have enough free space on your device, this website recommends that you don’t install the update if your Mac has less than 20 GB of free space.
Even though you have less than 20 GB of free space, if you try to install a macOS update, your Mac may experience difficulties during the installation process and your device may freeze. Considering Big Sur is over 12GB and Monterey is estimated to be just as big, they’ll need all the space you have or more.
Even 20 GB of space is not enough when installing macOS Big Sur. It is generally recommended that you have 35 GB of free space when planning the installation and upgrade process. So it is estimated that you will need more than 45 GB of space before you start the process.
- Make space
- Use safe mode
- Download from Mac App Store
- Download the software from the Apple website.
1. Free up some space
This website recommends freeing up space on your Mac before downloading a macOS update. For example, you can try deleting old emails and text messages or find old Time Machine backup files on your Mac and delete them.
One of the best ways to free up space is to remove images from text messages received on your Mac. You can do this by clicking on the Apple menu logo at the top of the screen. Then go to “About This Mac”and click “Manage”. Then click “Messages”and delete as many images and videos as possible. You can also try deleting and clearing all caches and other things on your Mac from files.
2. Use Safe Mode
Another possible way to help you download and install a macOS update is to use Safe Mode.
1. Press and hold the Power button and hold the Shift key to start your Mac in Safe Mode.
2. Wait a minute until the Apple logo appears on the screen. When the login window appears on the screen, release the Shift key.
3. You can go to the App Store and update all your apps in safe mode.
4. Then reboot.
3. Download from the Mac App Store
If you’re using macOS Catalina or later, you can download new software using the software update option on your device, but you can also download it from the Mac App Store.
When you try to download Catalina from the Mac App Store, you may be prompted with the message “Update not found”or “The requested version of macOS is not available.”
This may be a temporary glitch, but downloading updated software this way is very helpful.
4. Download the software from the Apple website.
If you’re having trouble downloading a spot update (not a completely new version) through the software update option on your device or the Mac App Store, you can use the Apple website instead. You can find all the latest macOS updates on the Apple website. To find any specific software update on the site, you can search in the search bar.
Issue: Loading takes too long
Let’s say a new version of the Mac operating system has been released and you’re trying to download it to trigger an update. In this case, you will run into potential problems due to a large number of people accessing the Apple server at the same time. As a result, downloading the software can take a long time. And even if you end up downloading a software update, the installation process may not go as smoothly as expected, and your device may freeze while it tries to verify your details with Apple.
In 2020, Big Sur took a whole day to download. This was a typical indication that many people were trying to access the server that day. You can try to check for server issues on the Apple side by visiting the Apple Status Server web page.
While the Big Sur complication was occurring on November 12, 2020, Apple posted a message on their website confirming there was a problem on their end. The message was: “Users may not be able to download macOS software updates to Macs.”
1. Enable content caching
Something you could try doing is setting up content caching. You can try enabling content caching if the download and installation process is taking too long.
The steps to enable content caching are given below:
1. Go to “system settings”of your device.
2. Click Sharing and turn on Content Caching. “
3. Restart your Mac and you’re done.
Enabling the content caching option reduces bandwidth usage and speeds up the entire installation process on your device by keeping software updates on your computer.
To make sure the cache size is unlimited, you can click “Options”and then click the option next to the cache that shows “all content”. With these changes, the download and installation process will take no more than two hours, instead of the 12 hours originally intended.
2. Speed up the download process and installation process
Surely the problem can always be not on the Apple server side. Perhaps the problem may be on your end as well.
Try checking your Internet connection over a Wi-Fi network or contact your Internet Service Provider. It is recommended to get closer or stay in close proximity to the Wi-Fi router.
Sometimes the download or installation process may be faster with a wired connection than with a Wi-Fi connection. If you have an Ethernet cable connection and the necessary adapter, and your Mac only has a USB port, plug it directly into a hub. You will notice that your download will be much faster over a wired connection.
3. Problem: macOS does not install errors
Even if you downloaded Monterey, Big Sur, or any other macOS update, you may find that it won’t install later.
Many people encountered this error when trying to download Big Sur on November 12th. They were given an error message: “Installation failed: An error occurred while installing the update.”
- Error: Update runs out of disk space and fails
Sometimes the macOS Big Sur installer didn’t check if there was enough free space before going through the installation process. As a result, many Mac users have found that their Macs are unable to complete the installation process even before they run out of free space.
It is possible that the same or similar problems may occur when installing a macOS update.
In 2020, the best solution to this problem was a clean install of Big Sur. Therefore, this may be advice for the coming years as well.
- Error: Installation failed while installing update
One of the most annoying problems with Big Sur was that the installer determined that there was not enough free space.
- Since macOS Big Sur required over 48.5 GB of free space to install, that is 35.5 GB plus another 13 GB for the installer itself. Consequently, running out of space has been a very common problem among 128GB Mac users.
- With the Big Sir update, if you were prompted with the error message “Installation failed. An error occurred while installing the update”, know that you are not alone. Many Mac users have faced the same issues while downloading Big Sur.
- One of the main signs that something was wrong was that the macOS Big Sur download finally finished with all 12.2 GB of the download, but the progress bar got stuck for some distance.
- After the strip was not working for a long time, users were shown the message “Installation failed. An error occurred while installing the update.”
- One of the strangest things was that although it indicated that the entire Big Sur file had been downloaded, that file was nowhere to be seen in the Mac device’s files.
- Then if you try to download it again you will be prompted with another message and this time it will show something like “The file can no longer be downloaded”.
- When you continue searching for the Big Sur file on your device, it will show that it is stored there, but again, if you search for it, you will not find it in the device files.
- Error: There is not enough free space on the selected volume to update the OS
Turns out Big Sur is a 12.2GB download. Regardless, you still need around 34GB of free space. Since Apple stopped selling Macs with 128GB SDS lately, many people have experienced this problem.
You can try deleting files from “other storage”on your Mac. Also, “Big Sur Clean Install”can be another solution to get enough space for installation.
In short, suppose you encounter this error. In this case, you can try deleting cached files, junk and other redundant data, and then copying the videos and images associated with conversations or chat messages. So you can manage and free up space around 10 GB.
- Fixed: The service pack was removed by mistake.
Every year a new bug is discovered when installing a new version of macOS. Many users encountered this error when trying to download Catalina around 2019. The error message said “The service pack was removed after being downloaded from the Apple Software Update Server.”
- This error was supposed to indicate that Apple had withdrawn the software, but upon further investigation, it turned out that the issue was with users’ network connectivity.
- It was later revealed that many Apple users on their network were experiencing this bug, causing too much competition for bandwidth.
- The only solution to this error is to move your Mac device closer to your Wi-Fi router, stop radio streaming, and turn off other devices.
- If you have an Ethernet cable handy, you can also use that.
2. Other solutions to macOS boot issues
- Cancel download or stop update
- Check if your Mac is working.
1. Cancel the download or stop the update
- You can cancel the download process or stop the update process halfway through. But this method depends on the different versions of macOS you have installed.
- With macOS Mojave, Apple has changed the route users take to download macOS software updates. These can now be accessed from “system preferences”from which you need to click on “software update”previously downloaded via the Mac App Store.
- If you want to stop the download halfway through, you can click the cross button that appears anywhere on the screen, indicating that the update process is cancelled. Typically, a cross-shaped button will appear next to the download status bar to show the progress of the download.
- Prior to Mojave, you could fix a stuck update by going to the Mac App Store. Then find the software you are currently downloading and then by pressing Option/Alt the screen will give you the option to cancel the download process.
- After canceling the download process, you should hopefully be able to start the process again without any problems.
2. Check if your Mac is working.
It is always necessary to run a series of checks and scans before allowing the device to perform any operating system update.
3. Solutions for stuck macOS update
As a general rule, let’s assume that some problem occurs during the installation of the software. In this case, the whole process freezes at the update screen and the Apple logo appears on the screen with a status bar showing progress as the software continues to download. Many refer to this as a “spinning beach ball”on screen.
In addition, you may notice a white, gray, or black screen. In most cases, your Mac screen turns black and you can’t tell if your Mac is turned on. In this case, many users try to force restart their Mac but are not sure if the installation process is still running in the background.
Hence, if they forcibly restart the computer, the installation process may be interrupted and the entire process may result in data loss. Hence, users are advised to backup their Macs before they agree to install new software.
Sometimes users may even be prompted with a message saying “macOS cannot be installed on your computer”with an option to reboot. If the user clicks on reload, the same thing will happen. The only macOS solution in this scenario would be to start the entire installation process in safe mode and redownload the installer.
In many cases, your Mac freezes during installation. What to do in such cases? All possible problems with its fixes are listed below:
- Check if your Mac is frozen
- Wait
- Check the log to see if your Mac is still installing macOS.
1. Check if your Mac is frozen.
Before you conclude that your Mac is stuck during installation, there are a few tips you should know.
- Sometimes it takes a long time to update software on Mac and during this process, you may experience a stuck update, but if you leave it for a few hours, the process may end up eventually.
- Sometimes, many people choose to update their Mac overnight. It is worth leaving the computer overnight to finish the task that has been started.
- Sometimes updates can take up to 16 hours or more, especially on the days when Apple releases a new version of their Mac operating system, because the server becomes very crowded.
- The progress bar displayed on the screen shows the progress of the update installation. This is the best way to guess how long this process might take. The update bar shows “Time Remaining”and it keeps fluctuating drastically; for example, right now it might show 1 hour, but then the time might change to 2 hours, but again some time later it might show 20 minutes. Despite the occasional time jump, the job will get done.
- Why does the time change randomly from 45 minutes to 1 hour and 20 minutes? This is because the device encounters various files during installation.
- Each file has its own unique properties that take different periods of time. Sometimes work can slow down because a single file can take an unexpected amount of time. This is when the progress bar changes time randomly.
Sometimes the update bar may not appear for several hours. For example, the next 2 hours might show 30 minutes. But that doesn’t mean your update is stuck or the screen is frozen. Sometimes work is done behind the scenes and the device is busy trying to install software.
2. Wait
If you find that the installation has stalled after the whole process, it is recommended to wait a few more hours. Choosing other options or restarting your computer in this situation can make things worse. Therefore, it is recommended to wait and observe before doing anything.
3. Review the log to make sure your Mac is still installing macOS.
Press command + L. This will display additional options and more information about the estimated remaining installation time. It will also give you clarity and a better idea of the file types installed.
4. What to do if your Mac freezes during installation
After checking, if you are sure that your Mac device is not responding and working on an update, then you should follow these steps:
- Go to system settings and then to software update.
- Try installing the combo update.
- Check the log screen to see if the files are being installed.
- Launching Disk Utility after an update.
- Reset non-volatile memory
- Use recovery mode to reinstall macOS.
- Installing an OS from an external drive
1. Go to system settings and then to software update.
The title says it all about what you need to do. But if you have an older version of macOS:
- Go to the Mac App Store and click on updates.
- You will then find a pending update or installation process. Your Mac can continue the process where it left off by clicking on it.
- Turn off your computer, wait a few seconds, and restart your Mac.
- (Press and hold your device’s power button to turn it off and follow the same method to start your Mac again.)
2. Try installing the combo update.
- As mentioned earlier in this blog, Apple hosts the software on their website. This way, you can go to the Apple website and download the software update from there if you run into problems with the normal process.
- There are many benefits to downloading software from the Apple website. When you download the software from the Apple website, the software version will only include the core files needed to update your Mac.
- If you go to the Apple support website, you will find a combined update message that includes all the necessary files needed to update macOS. This version of the update on the Apple website will replace all system files and ensure that the update completes safely.
3. Check the log screen to see if the files are being installed.
- When a software update is in progress and the update panel appears on the screen, press Command + L to view the log screen.
- On the log screen, you will see the files being installed. If there are no files on the log screen and nothing is happening, you can try installing the combo update mentioned right above this item.
4. Run Disk Utility after the update.
When you finally get the software up and running, it’s a good idea to run a Disk Utility Check to fix any issues that may have caused the problem in the first place.
5. Reset non-volatile memory
- If safe mode doesn’t work as a solution, you can try restarting your Mac and pressing and holding the /ALT, P, and R command option.
- This will reset the NVRAM. Now wait for your computer to restart and see if it starts the update process.
6. Use recovery mode to reinstall macOS.
- As a last option, you can try restarting your Mac in recovery mode by holding down the command button + R button for a long time.
- This will bring up several options on the screen. You can restore your Mac from the latest computer backup or perform a disk restore. But it is recommended to choose the option “install a new OS”.
- When your macOS is installed, your Mac will replace all other Apple system files, which can be problematic and contribute to these errors.
This particular update will not include the latest software. Hence, it is suggested to check the software update section and apply for the latest macOS update.
7. Install the OS from an external drive
If you are still having issues with the software update installation process, you can try installing the OS from an external drive.
Summarizing
Keeping your macOS up to date is critical as your device can receive the latest Apple features and security patches. Your Mac is less likely to freeze or freeze due to bugs or glitches, which will improve the overall performance of your computer.
Sometimes, many people choose to update their Mac overnight. It is worth leaving the computer overnight to finish the task that has been started. Sometimes updates can take up to 16 hours or more, especially on the days when Apple releases a new version of their Mac operating system, because the server becomes very crowded.
Always make sure you back up your files before updating your Mac in case your computer crashes.
FAQ
Why is my Mac not updating?
There are serious problems or reasons why your Mac won’t update software. But you have nothing to worry about because this website lists all possible problems and possible solutions. Scroll up and view all issues and solutions to resolve your Mac software update issues accordingly.
My Mac was updating fine, but suddenly the screen freezes and the system stops responding. What should I do?
Go to the Mac App Store, click System Preferences, Software Update, and check for any pending updates.
How do I know if the installation is in progress?
When the update is in progress and the update progress bar is displayed on the screen, press and hold Command + L and you can check the log screen and view all installed files.
When updating, it gives an error “No storage”. What should I do?
Try deleting some apps or files to free up some space. Also, delete shared and received photos, videos, and media in chats or messages.