Keeping your Mac up to date is essential to get new features, system updates, and security patches. Updating your Mac also improves performance, reducing the chances of crashes and bags. However, this is not always easy in some cases.
You can run into an error while installing updates, making the installation incomplete. There are multiple reasons why your Mac fails to update. If your Mac is compatible with the new update, here are possible fixes for a Mac that’s not updating.
Create Enough Disk Space
It’s possible that you don’t have enough space on your Mac to complete the update. This might be the reason your update fails midway. You should have at least 35 to 45 GB free to support the update.
If you need to check your available storage space, click the Apple icon on your desktop, tap “About This Mac,” and click the “Storage tab.” The figure under “Available” is the amount of space you have on your disk.
If you don’t have adequate space, click the “Manage” button to select and delete apps and files you no longer use. Once you have enough space, you can initiate the update again.
Check Your Internet Connection
A poor internet connection can also cause your macOS update to fail. The installer always uses the internet to get the details of your Mac and firmware. A good connection is vital to verify compatibility before the update.
Check if your Mac is connected to the internet. If it’s connected, you need to check the speed. There are free tools you can use, such as Fast.com and Google’s Internet Speed Test. Your speed should be 8 Mbps or more to support the update.
Try Again Later
If your Mac is compatible with the update and you have enough space and a good internet connection, there might be an issue with Apple’s server. While Apple rarely has a glitch, factors like high service traffic and undergoing system maintenance can affect your macOS update.
The good thing is that Apple lets you check the status of their systems online by going to apple.com/support/systemstatus. If the “macOS Software Update” is red, then there’s probably an issue. In this case, it’s advisable to try again later.
Update Your macOS
There could be many reasons why your macOS is not updating, and it’s advisable to rule out all possible culprits, including incompatibility, poor internet connection, Apple server issues, and inadequate storage space. This allows you to get to the root of the problem and avoid such issues in the future.
In some cases, there’s no plausible reason for the software update failure. You can try the typical troubleshooting tip: Restarting your Mac and retrying the installation. Some people have luck installing the update after rebooting their Mac.
If all your options fail, Apple recommends erasing your Mac and then reinstalling macOS or restoring it from a backup
