macOS Sequoia Update Stuck? Here’s the Fix

If your Mac gets stuck during a macOS update, try these steps to fix the issue. This is a common problem that many users have reported across different versions of macOS.

Before troubleshooting a Mac update issue, check the Apple System Status, eject any external drives, and make sure your Mac has enough available storage for the update.

Let’s get started!

1. Force Restart

If the update has been stuck for an extended period (e.g., more than 3-4 hours), you can try force restarting your Mac. Hold down the power button until the Mac turns off, then turn it back on.

2. Install the Update in Safe Mode

• Turn off your Mac and restart it in Safe Mode by holding down the Shift key during startup.
• Once in Safe Mode, try running the macOS update again to check if it completes without freezing.

3. Skip the Update During Setup

If you’re setting up a new Mac and the update is stuck, you can try restarting the setup process and skipping the update.

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4. Restart the Update

• If you’re sure the update is frozen, refresh it by holding the power button for 30 seconds until the Mac shuts down.
• Press the power button again to restart and continue the update process.
• You can press Command + L to check the estimated installation time.

5. Give the Update Some Time

Large updates can sometimes take a while to complete. Keep your Mac plugged in and allow the update to run for a few hours before concluding that it’s stuck.

6. Reset macOS Software Update

Update Services helps keep your computer up-to-date with the latest patches and security updates. Whenever you experience a freezing issue with the new macOS update, just reset the update services. This may help solve the problem.

To reset software updates on Mac,

• Open Finder and enter the path ~/Library/Preferences/
• Find the file called ‘com.apple.SoftwareUpdate.plis‘ and delete it by moving it to the Trash. If you also spot a file with the same name but ending in ‘.apple‘ (such as “com.apple.SoftwareUpdate.plist.apple”), remove that one as well.
• Restart your Mac

OR You can use below Terminal commands to reset the update service:

sudo rm -rf "/macOS Install Data"
sudo rm /Library/Preferences/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate.plist

After running these two commands, restart your MacBook. The next time you check for updates, macOS will automatically generate a new preferences file to replace the one you deleted.

7. Use Recovery Mode

If the update still won’t finish, try reinstalling macOS through Recovery Mode. Don’t forget to take a backup of your data before performing these steps.

• Power off your Mac, then restart it while holding Command + R to enter Recovery Mode.
• Choose “Reinstall macOS” and follow the instructions to download and install the latest version.

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8. Reset Your Mac

If none of the solutions listed above work, you may want to try resetting your Mac. To reset your Mac, hold down the Command (⌘) button and power your Mac on by pressing the Power button. After your Mac has started up, let go of the Command (⌘) button and it will restart.

Following these fixes, you should be able to resolve most issues you encounter with freezing when trying to complete macOS updates.

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