Big Sur Update failed Storage system verify or repair failed -69716

I ended up solving it. Just go out and buy a big backup disk and a thumb drive. Create a bootable Big Sur installer image on the thumb drive. Back up your system. Format your hard drive. Install Big Sur on a fresh drive. Then restore your data from your backup disk. Then spend the next several days dealing with your fresh computer every time you try to do anything.

It took me 3 days including backing up and restoring. Not full time, but 3 days being ready as soon as your machine is ready for the next step. Plus you can't use your computer the entire time.

Then another day for the spotlight search to index before search works.

Step 1 of TheLittles’ solution is one that you should already have done. Everyone should use TimeMachine or some other reliable system to keep their computer backed up. If you aren’t backing up, TM will easily do it overnight if you use a USB 3 (or faster) external drive.

Step 2 is necessary because Disk Utility (which ran when you attempted to upgrade to Big Sur) found an error it couldn’t fix. Some disk errors indicate an underlying hardware problems while others simply cannot be repaired without reformatting the drive. If the drive is successfully formatted your problem probably won’t reappear. There are no 100% guarantees but I’d bet a pizza on it.

Step 3 will take a while if you have really slow Internet but 3-4 hours is typical with typical cable Internet speeds

Step 4 is totally dependent upon how much data an how many programs you have. For me it takes about 4 hours. I have lots of programs and photos. I keep my music and movies on a separate external drive.

Step 5 is dependent on the software you use. After doing a clean install and migration I have about a dozen programs that make me re-enter serial numbers. I keep all my serial # information in 1Password and I enter them as I use the applications.

This summer I did clean installs numerous times as I beta tested Big Sur and each time it took me less than 24 hours, most of it unattended.

BigSurBoy Said:

"I have Mac mini late 2014. The Big Sur upgrade keep failed with the error 'Storage system verify or repair failed -69716'"

-------

Get the Drive Serviced:

This means that the Hard Drive has failed, and therefore needs to be replaced. Upgrading to a higher macOS for an older device may have been the culprit. So, see if you can have this looked at. If no local Apple Store is open nearby, then take it to a local AASP (Apple Authorized Service Provider). So, to find out your local options, go here:

• Apple Stores: Find a Store - Apple
• AASPs: Apple - Find Locations - Apple Authorized Reseller - Apple Support

MarceloCol1970 Said:

“The solution is to install Big Sur from scratch. Fine, but how, can you guide us?”

———-

How To Reinstall the macOS Anew:

1. Create a Time Machine Backup (TMB) your hard drive
2. Format the hard drive
3. Perform a clean install
4. Migrate items from TMB of step one
5. Get licenses reactivated from Developer

BigSurBoy Said:

"I have Mac mini late 2014. The Big Sur upgrade keep failed with the error 'Storage system verify or repair failed -69716'"

———-

Provide your Feedback:

Do your Part: Inform Apple of your feedback of this issue. Include how you’ve troubleshot this, and your results. Apple wont get back to you directly, but the more feedback they receive from its users, the more likely they will know what needs to be fixed, and what their customers prefer in updates, and future macOS versions to come.

1. Go Here: Feedback - macOS - Apple
2. Select: "Bug Report" for the "Feedback Type"
3. Select: "Installation/Setup" for the "Feedback Area"
4. Proceed from there as necessary

I did eventually figure out that you have to mount the root drive to run Disk First Aid on it properly. But it couldn't fix the issue.

So now I have had to buy a 1TB drive and a 32GB USB stick. I am backing up my system to a 1TB drive, which will take well over 12 hours. I will format my drive, install Bug Sur, restore the backup. Another 20 hours probably.

I have been at it all day and will probably spend all of tomorrow on it too. IF all goes well. So the best case is a freaking disaster and it will take me 2 days to find out if it even works.

This better work

BigSurBoy

The solution is to install Big Sur from scratch. Fine, but how, can you guide us?

philfromedmonton Said:

"No solutions as yet. I’ve spent hours trying every suggestion I can find, to solve this Big Sur installation problem.[...]"

-------

To the OP and All Participants:

Report this as a bug to Apple:

Seems Apple has more to hear of this, so report it to Apple as a bug. See my second reply for instructions on doing so.

I have the same error for an upgrade-compatible 2013 MacBook Air: "Storage system check or repair failed -69716" error.No help from Apple for this error?

I have same issue, but have a 2017 imac, with no issues running anything else..

glrudd Said:

“Seriously? That would be ~200 hours of mind numbing, down time for me that I can't afford. And that probably will not solve the problem.”

———-

As a last resort. And, for newbies it could take a few.

I’ve had the same issue and have tried everything that has been mentioned here — and more! There’s been a litany of similar install problems with various Macs — from MacBooks > Mac Mini and everything between. I’ve searched everywhere for a practical solution to no avail.

I am also suffering the same issue.

The Big Sur upgrade keeps failed with the error "Storage system verify or repair failed -69716". 

2017 MacBook Pro. No issues running anything else.

When I boot into Disk Utility and run Disk First Aid it does not report any issues.

I have reset my NVRAM, PRAM and SMC.

The install is apparently finding an disk error that Disk First Aid does not.

It doesn't look like Disk First Aid even does anything. It finishes after about second.

So this is clearly a bug. If the installer can find errors then there should be some other way of finding the error.

No solutions as yet. I’ve spent hours trying every suggestion I can find, to solve this Big Sur installation problem. You are right in your assumption that there cannot possibly be all these faulty hard drives out there — if there is, then Apple should recall these. I’m getting very frustrated. I don’t see why I should be forced to replace the hard drive considering the light usage I’ve given it since I bought it. I’m growing increasingly tired of Apple products. I’ve been an avid user since 1988.