Quick Answers
Here are some quick tips if your Mac is having issues updating:
- Check your internet connection – Make sure you have a stable WiFi or Ethernet connection when updating
- Restart your Mac – This can help clear any software issues preventing the update
- Free up storage space – You need enough free space on your startup drive to install updates
- Check for compatibility issues – Very old Macs may not support the latest OS versions
- Try updating again – Sometimes retryting the update after fixing other issues will work
- Contact Apple support – If you still can’t update, Apple’s support team can help troubleshoot
Step 1: Check Your Internet Connection
One of the first things to check if your Mac won’t update is your internet connection. Software updates on a Mac require downloading data from Apple’s servers, so you’ll need a stable, fast internet connection for it to work properly.
Make sure your Mac is connected to a WiFi or Ethernet network that is working properly. Try loading a website in a browser like Safari to verify you have a connection. If pages won’t load, your internet is not working correctly. Troubleshoot your network connection by resetting your router, modem, or WiFi access point.
If you are on a public WiFi network, it may have restrictions or firewalls that prevent your Mac from accessing Apple’s update servers. Try connecting to a personal WiFi network or using Ethernet instead.
Apple recommends at least a 2 Mbps internet connection speed for updating. If your internet is very slow, updates may fail or take a very long time. Contact your ISP if your connection is consistently under 2 Mbps.
Checking your network connection on a Mac
To check your current network connection speed on a Mac:
- Click the Apple logo in the top left
- Select “System Preferences…”
- Click “Network”
- Select your connected network on the left
- Look for “Status: Connected” and the speed below it
This will show your network name, connectivity status, and approximate speed. Make sure it is Connected and has a speed of at least 2 Mbps to update.
Step 2: Restart Your Mac
If you’ve verified your internet connection is working properly, another simple step is to restart your Mac. Rebooting can clear out any minor software issues, glitches, or processes that may be interfering with the update.
To restart a Mac:
- Click the Apple logo in the top left
- Select “Restart…”
Alternatively, you can press and hold the power button until the Mac turns off, then turn it back on again.
Restarting your Mac essentially gives the operating system a fresh start, clearing out memory, forcing all apps to quit, and reinitializing software and services. This can resolve many issues that may be preventing updates from being installed correctly.
After restarting, check the Mac App Store or Software Update again to see if the update will now install. Sometimes this one simple step is all you need to get updates working again.
Step 3: Free Up Storage Space
Another common reason a Mac may fail to update is insufficient storage space. macOS updates can require multiple gigabytes of free space. If your startup drive is low on space, the update may not be able to download and install correctly.
To see how much free space you have:
- Go to Finder
- Click on your startup drive in the left sidebar (usually named Macintosh HD)
- Look at the storage information at the bottom
You’ll want at least 10-15% of your total space to be free to allow room for updates. So on a 256GB MacBook, aim for at least 25-30GB free.
If your space is low, you’ll need to free up room for the update to work. Here are some tips:
- Empty the Trash – Delete old files in your Trash bin
- Remove unused apps – Uninstall apps and games you no longer use
- Store files externally – Move files like photos and movies to an external hard drive
- Delete system junk files – Use a cleaning tool to remove caches and other unneeded system files
Cleaning up your drive and removing unused files can help create space needed for updates. Try downloading and installing apps like CleanMyMac X, DaisyDisk or OmniDiskSweeper to help remove files and free up space.
Important: Don’t delete critical system files
Be very careful not to delete any files or folders you aren’t sure about. Deleting critical system resources can cause crashes or data loss.
Step 4: Check for Compatibility Issues
If your Mac is very old, it may not support installing the latest macOS versions. Apple periodically stops providing software updates for older Macs.
Most Macs purchased within the last 5-6 years should be compatible with the latest versions. But if your Mac is over 6-7 years old, double check to see if the current macOS is supported.
To find your Mac’s model and year, go to Apple > About This Mac. Then compare it to Apple’s macOS compatibility chart:
If your Mac is no longer supported, Apple will not provide updates to that device. You will need to stay on the latest compatible OS version instead.
For old, unsupported Macs, potential workarounds include using third party patchers to install newer OS versions. But this is not recommended, as it can cause stability issues and break core functionality.
Step 5: Try Updating Again
After fixing any potential issues with internet, storage space, restarting, or model compatibility, try performing the update again.
On modern Macs, you have two options to update:
- Software Update – The Software Update utility directly checks Apple’s servers for any available updates for your specific model. To use it:
- Go to the Apple menu
- Click “Software Update…”
- Click “Install Now” next to any updates
- Mac App Store – The Mac App Store app will show update badges on the Updates tab for any new versions of macOS. To use it:
- Open the Mac App Store app
- Click the Updates tab
- Click “Install” next to macOS updates
Try updating from both places to see if it now works. Installation will likely take some time depending on your Mac and internet speeds.
Important update steps
- Do not power off or disconnect the Mac during updates
- Connect power adapter to avoid battery draining
- Backup critical data incase something goes wrong
- Expect long wait times for major OS version updates
Following the update process through and letting it complete is key. Interrupting an update can cause corruption and prevent your Mac from booting.
Step 6: Contact Apple Support
If you still cannot get your Mac to update after trying the steps above, you may need to contact Apple support for further troubleshooting.
Apple provides technical support for Mac issues through:
- Phone – Call 1-800-275-2273
- Chat – Start a chat session at getsupport.apple.com
- Genius Bar – Book an appointment at an Apple Store Genius Bar
When contacting support, provide details on your Mac model, the update issue, and troubleshooting steps you’ve tried. Have your Mac available to walk through additional steps with the support advisor.
Some further ways Apple support may help get updates working:
- Diagnosing hardware or disk issues
- Checking your updates and software downloads
- Fixing underlying bugs or errors
- Suggesting advanced troubleshooting steps
- Assessing if a damaged device needs repair
If there are complex underlying issues, Apple’s experts have more advanced tools to diagnose and fix problems.
Important: Back up your data first
Before talking to support or attempting advanced troubleshooting, ensure your data is backed up. In some cases fixing update issues may require erasing the Mac entirely, causing data loss.
Back up to an external drive or cloud storage before updating in case things go wrong and you need to reset your Mac.
Why Does My Mac Have Problems Updating?
There are a few common reasons you may experience issues installing macOS updates:
- Connectivity problems – Slow internet or WiFi problems prevent downloading updates
- Low storage space – Not enough free space for the update to download and install
- Background processes – Other apps running can interfere with the update installer
- Outdated components – Very old hardware or software may not be compatible anymore
- Corrupt data – Bugs, damaged files or permissions errors stop updates working correctly
- Power issues – The Mac being powered off during an update can corrupt things
Troubleshooting is focused on identifying and resolving the specific issue preventing updates on your Mac.
How to Prevent Future Update Problems
To help ensure smooth updating going forward, follow these tips:
- Update regularly – Don’t wait months between updates, do them when prompted
- Leave auto-updates on – Let macOS install updates in the background automatically
- Maintain free space – Keep 10-15% of your drive free by deleting unused files
- Use Ethernet for major updates – For big macOS version updates use a wired connection
- Don’t interrupt updates – Allow updates to finish completely before disconnecting power
- Back up data – Always maintain backups before updating incase anything gets corrupted
Staying up to date, allowing updates to complete fully, and taking precautions like backups can help prevent update issues going forward.
Conclusion
Updating macOS is an important part of keeping your Mac performing well and being secure. But sometimes issues can arise that prevent updates from installing correctly.
By troubleshooting potential connection, storage, compatibility or corruption problems you can usually get updates working again. Restarting, freeing disk space, using Ethernet, re-trying the update, or contacting Apple support are good steps to take.
Keeping your Mac up to date regularly and taking precautions can help avoid update issues in the future. But if your Mac still won’t update after trying common fixes, don’t hesitate to contact Apple support to get expert help resolving it.
