Why Can’t My Mac Update: Troubleshooting Tips and Solutions

The most recent macOS update should normally be easy to install; however, if you’re reading this, you’re probably among the many people who are wondering "why won’t my Mac update?"

You’re not alone if you’ve had trouble downloading and installing macOS Ventura since its release in October 2022; the good news is that we have a ton of troubleshooting guides to assist you.

THAT MAC IS NOT WORKING. Apple additionally releases a list of Mac computers that are compatible with each major macOS version. The problem is that if your Mac model is not included in the official list, you won’t be able to update it. When trying to install the macOS software update on older Macs, you might run into some issues even if it exists.

There is not enough disk space available. Typically, Mac users believe they require the same amount of space as the installation package. Contrary to popular belief, your Mac will not install any software updates if it does not have enough storage space.

WI-FI CONNECTION IS BAD. You’ll need a reliable internet connection in order to update Mac. You can’t download the software update from the Mac App Store without it. Additionally, the macOS update won’t be able to be installed on your device or connect to update servers.

THE APPLE SERVER ISSUES. Apple may experience server issues, just like any other business. Despite preventing Mac users from downloading and installing macOS updates at their convenience, the good news is that this issue is only momentary.

VENTURA HAS POSSIBLE MAC MODEL BRICKAGE. Although Ventura has an official list of Mac devices that it can work with, some of them may get bricked. Reports of bricking M1 Mac mini, iMac (2019), and iMac Pro (2017) have surfaced.

MACS DOES NOT REBOOT AFTER A UPDATE. Some users claim that their Macs would automatically boot into recovery mode after updating to Ventura, preventing them from restarting normally. It entered safe mode during bootup for other users. On the M1 Mac mini and M1 Pro MacBook Pro, the problem was reported.

TIP: Just in case, make a backup of your Mac before installing any important updates. You can use an external hard drive with Time Machine and disk utility, iCloud, or third-party apps to accomplish this.

CAN YOU USE YOUR MAC?

Make sure your Mac is truly compatible before attempting to install macOS Ventura as a starting point.

Verify that you have adequate space.

Lack of space is the most frequent cause of your Mac not updating.

INSTALLE YOUR UPDATE IN SAFE MODE, IF POSSIBLE

Installing macOS updates can occasionally be complicated by login items, launch agents, or corrupt extensions that load when your Mac boots up.

TRIPLE CHECK YOUR NVRAM

Wiping your NVRAM might be the solution if safe mode proved to be ineffective.

TEAR OFF OF YOUR WI-FI

Wi-Fi can be turned on and off. Once connected, click the upgrade button and once more search for the macOS update.

USE DISK UTILITY TO REPAIR YOUR HARD DRIVE

Try using a built-in utility to perform checks and fix any issues with the hard drive and files if none of the aforementioned solutions worked.

COMBO UPDATE TRY

In addition to having all you need to update your Mac to the newest version of macOS, a combo update has the ability to fix problematic updates in certain situations.

Reinstall MacOS and restart in recovery mode.

Holding down the Command + R key during startup will cause your Intel Mac to boot into recovery mode until the Apple logo shows.

FINISH A CLEAN INSTALLATION

It’s time to think about a clean install if you continue to receive error messages regarding space, regardless of how much space you manage to recover.

Let’s see if we can figure out how to update my unresponsive Mac.

The following are some typical causes of a Mac not updating:

THAT MAC IS NOT WORKING. Apple additionally releases a list of Mac computers that are compatible with each major macOS version. The problem is that if your Mac model is not included in the official list, you won’t be able to update it. When trying to install the macOS software update on older Macs, you might run into some issues even if it exists.

There is not enough disk space available. Typically, Mac users believe they require the same amount of space as the installation package. Contrary to popular belief, your Mac will not install any software updates if it does not have enough storage space.

WI-FI CONNECTION IS BAD. You’ll need a reliable internet connection in order to update Mac. You can’t download the software update from the Mac App Store without it. Additionally, the macOS update won’t be able to be installed on your device or connect to update servers.

THE APPLE SERVER ISSUES. Apple may experience server issues, just like any other business. Despite preventing Mac users from downloading and installing macOS updates at their convenience, the good news is that this issue is only momentary.

Make sure your Mac is truly compatible before attempting to install macOS Ventura as a starting point.

Lack of space is the most frequent cause of your Mac not updating.

On the day of release, if you try to download a new version of the operating system, you may have to wait a while because Apple’s servers get busy.

Now let’s explore if updating my Mac is too old for it.

Security and stability updates for macOS versions older than that are no longer being provided.

Operating systems that are out of date and unpatched increase the risk to the university and your data.

In order to adhere to the University Information Security Policy, all UVM-owned computers running macOS 10.15 Catalina or older must be updated or replaced as soon as possible.

It will not be possible for you to install a supported version of macOS if your computer does not meet the minimum requirements for Big Sur.

Depending on which version of macOS is installed on your machine right now and how it is controlled, upgrading your computer involves different steps.

Although losing data during a macOS upgrade is not common, it is generally advisable to make a backup of your data using Time Machine or OneDrive before proceeding.

32-bit applications are not supported by macOS as of 10.15 Catalina.

Let’s see how to make a Mac update by force.

One of the following can be done on your Mac to manually install updates:

  • Select Apple menu > System Settings, click General in the sidebar (you might have to scroll down), and then select Software Update on the right to download macOS software updates.

  • Click the Apple menu to update software that you downloaded from the App Store. The App Store is next to the number of updates that are available, if any. In the App Store app, select App Store to proceed.

  • Click the Info button for Automatic updates, then select one of the following actions to configure update options:

    • Turn on "Check for updates" to make your Mac check for updates automatically.
    • Turn on "Download new updates when available" to make your Mac download updates automatically.
    • Turn on "Install macOS updates" to have your Mac install macOS updates automatically.

However, what happens if macOS refuses to install?

You should think about a few safety precautions before attempting to fix the macOS installation error in order to avoid data loss and other anomalies.

SET UP YOUR MAC IN SAFE MODE

Utilize A time-keeping machine for batches

ASK IF YOUR MAC IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE APP STORE TO FIX THE "YOUR MACOS COULDN’T BE INSTALLED ON YOUR COMPUTER" error. ERRIT

RESTART THE MAC AND REINSTALL FIX 1: Verify the date and time of your Mac. Check Fix 2:

Fix 4: DOWNLOAD A NEW ONE TO REPLACE Fix 5: SET THE PRAM AND NVRAM AGAIN FIX 3: MAKE SPACE FOR MACOS TO INSTALL

RUN FIRST AID ON DISK UTILITY IS FIX 6

Fix 7: Use MacOS Recovery to Reinstall MacOS

FIX 8: REINSTALL MACOS AND ERASE YOUR STARTUP DISK

Bonus Tip: How Can I Get My Data Back From An Unbootable Mac?