After successful download and initial restart, the upgrade ask if I'd like to setup the screen time/management features. I chose to set that up later. It took a little while to move on to the next screen. Which is a gray box and a graphic of my iMac. In it, it says, "Setting Up Your Mac" with a spinning indicator below with "Setting up...". It has been on this screen for well over 90 minutes. Should I just turn it off?
Same for me, with the process getting only so far as the step where you set up the “Screen Time” function. I opted to simply restart the computer by shutting down via the power button, and it started up just fine with Catalina fully installed. I was frustrated that I didn’t experience the full setup process, and couldn’t find any way to reinitiate the setup assistant, but everything seems configured just fine.
Same for me, with the process getting only so far as the step where you set up the “Screen Time” function. I opted to simply restart the computer by shutting down via the power button, and it started up just fine with Catalina fully installed. I was frustrated that I didn’t experience the full setup process, and couldn’t find any way to reinitiate the setup assistant, but everything seems configured just fine.
Yes. If you got to the setup stage you should be able to restart in Catalina.
Just had the issue as well & followed advice above. I shut it down and rebooted. Everything was there and all is good.
My MINI stuck in the exact same spot. As somebody else said this is why I stopped using Windows . I had to unplug the main power as well as shutting down with the power button. It finally came back. Well that update was unhelpful and a waste of time.
You do have to keep the power button pressed for several seconds - my MacBook took at least 10 secs before it shut down
This is true. I was able to start up in catalina and everything appears fine, but is there any way to restart the setup assistant? I don't have any particular need to, I suppose, but I was curious about whether it would introduce me to new features or have me set up the arcade thing, or any number of things I may not know about. I've searched everywhere for how to re-start that process, but apple doesn't appear to have any info on this.
I can hardly imagine Apple would release a new OS version with such an issue. To me, this is almost unacceptable! The user experience is just getting worse. It’s these small things that start to make me lose trust in the company.
I have the same issue but I can’t seem to shut the MacBook down - I’ve held down the power button and tried the comman control power button but didn’t work. Its still stuck on setting up the MacBook - what do I do :(
Thank you so much!
If you install an OS upgrade Setup Assistant doesn’t run. It only runs if you install on an empty hard drive.
Downloaded Catalina to my MacBook Air got to setting up your Mac page with wheel turning for hours what do I do next? Not an expert
Glad it’s working for you. Wish I knew why this was happening to people.
Same problem. Screen time froze. This kind of issue was why I dropped Windows and decided to pay more for apple kit .... What’s the point of paying premium if this kind of issue is acceptable!?
I had this on my laptop so I powered down, restarted and all OK except, when I opened Photos app, none of the photos had their titles nor tags.
I had to restart, use the library backup and then all was well.
Now the same appears to be happening on my desktop.
I will restart immediately this time and come back here if there was a problem.
Yes, all fine for me too, including Photos app - but it still took a while. I wish there was one of those progress bars somewhere so that we knew it was still busy and not going round in circles!
Stuck "setting up" Catalina
