How to Fix the Annoying “Mac Won’t Update” Issue

January 14, 2025

We’ve all been there. The most recent macOS update is ready to be installed, but your Mac won’t let you. Being stuck, not being able to start the update, or failing over and over again is annoying. The good news is that this problem is easy to fix, and you can get your Mac back on track.

That’s why we’re writing this guide: to show you how to fix some of the most common problems that make your Mac not update.

Just why it’s important to update

That being said, let’s quickly go over why it’s so important to keep your Mac up to date. Every macOS update not only adds new features and makes the system run faster, but it also fixes bugs and security holes that could let hackers into your device. It could slow down or even damage your data if you don’t install these patches. That is why you should fix your Mac as soon as possible if it won’t update.

Now, let’s look at what you can do to make your changes work.

Checks Before Everything

Let’s do a few simple checks first before moving on to more complicated changes. It’s funny how the easiest things can cause the most trouble.

• 1. Make sure your connection to the internet is stable. To download and run updates, your Mac needs to be connected to the internet all the time. If your Wi-Fi is spotty or keeps stopping, the update process could be stopped. To be sure this isn’t the issue: Turn off and on your Wi-Fi router again. It will work better if you move closer to the router. If you can, connect with an Ethernet cable for a more stable link.
• See how much space you have available macOS updates are sometimes very big and need several gigabytes of room. The fix won’t work if your hard drive is already full. It’s quick and easy to check your files, though:

To start, click on the Apple icon in the upper left part of your screen.

Click on “This Mac.”

You can see how much room you have by clicking the “Storage” tab.

If your storage is getting low, delete old files, empty your trash, or move some of your bigger files to an external drive or the cloud to free up room.

How to Do It Step by Step

This is what you should do next if your link and storage are fine but the update still won’t go through.

1. Turn your Mac back on.

It’s sometimes enough to just restart to fix small problems. System problems that might be getting in the way of the update can be fixed by restarting the computer.

To start over:

In the upper left area, click on the Apple icon.

Click on “Restart.”

Try running the update again after your Mac has started up again.

2. Make room for more stuff

There may not be enough place for the update. You will need to make some room. How to do it:

Go to your “Downloads” folder and get rid of any things that you don’t need.

Take out your trash.

Larger files, like movies or photos, should be moved to an external hard drive or the cloud.

Try the update again after you’ve made enough room.

3. Fix issues with Wi-Fi

Even if your Wi-Fi seems fine, the update might not work because of a small problem with the link. Try these things to fix it:

Getting off of and back on your Wi-Fi network. If you want to restart your router, unplug it, wait 10 seconds, and then plug it back in. To do a diagnostic test on your Mac’s network, turn it off and on again while holding down the D key.

4. See how Apple’s servers are doing.

It’s not always your Mac that’s broken; sometimes it’s Apple’s computers. You might not be able to download or run updates if Apple’s update servers are down for maintenance or have a lot of traffic.

To see what’s going on with Apple’s servers:

Go to the page for Apple System Status.

Look for “macOS Software Update” and make sure it says it works.

You’ll have to wait until Apple’s systems are back up if they’re down.

5. Clear the NVRAM

Small settings like sound level, screen resolution, and time zone are stored in NVRAM (non-volatile random-access memory). These settings can mess up the update process if they become damaged. Any bugs can be fixed by resetting the NVRAM.

To clear the NVRAM:

Turn off your Mac.

After you turn it back on, hold down the Option, Command, P, and R keys at the same time.

Press and hold the keys for 20 seconds, then let go.

After restarting your Mac, you can try updating it again.

6. Start up in safe mode

Safe Mode lets you start up your Mac with only the most important hardware and software installed. This can help get around any software conflicts that might be stopping the update.

To get into Safe Mode, do these things:

Turn off your Mac.

Hold down the Shift key and turn it on.

When you see the login screen, let go of the Shift key.

Put the update on again after going into Safe Mode. It should work. If it does, restart your Mac regularly.

7. Do an Update All at Once

You can try a Combo Update if the normal update doesn’t work either. A Combo Update has all the changes from earlier versions. This can help keep software from fighting with each other and stopping the update.

The most recent Combo Update can be downloaded from Apple’s help site and put on your computer by hand.

8. Look at how the date and time are set

You wouldn’t believe it, but setting the date and time wrong can mess up updates. Apple’s systems could get messed up if the date and time on your Mac are off.

To make this better:

Go to “System Preferences.”

Click on “Date & Time.”

Check that “Set date and time automatically” is chosen.

Now try to update once more.

In conclusion

It can be annoying when your Mac won’t update, but as you can see, there are many things you can try to fix the issue. It doesn’t matter if you just restart, free up space, or reset the NVRAM—one of these should work.

This list of steps might not help if your Mac still won’t update. You may need to get help from a professional. Rapid service is the best Apple service shop in India, and they fix complicated hardware and software problems all the time. They can help you quickly figure out what’s wrong and fix it.