2018 MacBook Pro stuck "A critical software update is required"

Once you encounter this error you will need to boot the laptop while it is connected to the Internet so it can communicate with Apple and download the Touchbar software. If you are using an Ethernet cable and a USB-C to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter, then make sure this is connected to the laptop before powering on the laptop. Most times if you connect the Ethernet cable once you reach the error screen macOS will never see the Internet through the Ethernet connection.

If you know for sure that your laptop has a good connection to the Internet, then you have some sort of hardware failure that will need to be repaired by Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider. Expect the repair to be expensive ($600+ US) since it will require the replacement of at least one of the following parts: Top Case Assembly (including Touchbar), Logic Board, or Display Assembly (may need multiple parts if liquid damage is involved).

FYI, even once the repair center has installed new parts the laptop will still be required to be connected to the Internet on its first boot in order to download the necessary software (of course the repair center will do this for you, but this is meant only to illustrate the need to be connected to the Internet to get this required software once the error has been encountered). It makes repairing these Touchbar Macs very annoying and time consuming.

anthonymaw wrote:

Hello yes I tried that actually. I have a Belkin fast-ethernet to USB adapter connected to the USB C port. I can Command+R download Big Sur but after it installs it goes to that "critical update needed" dead-end window. Some other people have mentioned that it might be necessary to click the "Try Again" several times as it might be downloading the update in the background.

I've had click "Try Again" a few times as well. Sometimes if the Mac has trouble connecting it will make a difference. Sometimes it takes macOS a while to establish a network connection.

If you get the same error while booting into Internet Recovery Mode using Command + Option + R, then it confirms a hardware issue that will need to be repaired.

Also I noticed there is a new volume labelled "Update" in Disk Manager - not sure what it does. I find it strange that the Big Sur automatic upgrade triggers such a situation since it ran perfectly fine with the original High Sierra OSX.

This is a new volume used by Big Sur to handle installing macOS updates. I'm not quite sure how it works though. Unfortunately on Intel Macs this "Update" volume appears on the left pane of a Finder window if you have show mounted volumes selected. In my opinion a system only volume like this should be hidden from user view like the other system APFS volumes.

anthonymaw Said:

"2018 MacBook Pro stuck 'A critical software update is required'" [...]

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Two Thoughts:

I. Running Slow:

"After waiting for hours to download and a few reboots it is now totally stuck at the error message 'A critical software update is required'.[...]"

Run First Aid: Check the status of your internal hard drive. See if it needs to be replaced. To check, run First Aid In Recovery Mode.

Boot into Recovery Mode:

1. Hold Down: command + R upon boot.
2. Go in to: Disk Utilities
3. Select: the hard drive
4. Click: First Aid

II. Fixing the Install:

"Before starting I backed up everything to Time Machine."

A. Restore from a Time Machine Backup:

Start by recovering your Mac from a Time Machine Backup, if you have created one. Go Here: Restore your Mac from a backup - Apple Support

If that is unsuccessful, try...

B. Reinstalling the macOS:

Go Here: How to create a bootable installer for macOS - Apple Support. Choose the code for a High Sierra USB Bootable Installer. So, first reinstall it, not erasing your Hard Drive. Nothing would be rid of; it's just that all missing folders and files would be places to where they should be. If that makes no Home folder, then you would have to erase the hard drive. But, reply back before erasing it.

anthonymaw Said:

"2018 MacBook Pro stuck 'A critical software update is required': These are all generic answers that don't work. Please offer specific solutions if you have knowledge of the problem. It was also mentioned the generic troubleshooting steps have all be tried. This is a machine model specific problem since it does not happen to other Macs which upgraded to Big Sur just fine. Please refrain from posting generic answers since those are well publicized."

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A Few Specific Ideas:

• A Photo May Help:

Please take a picture of your screen showing this message. Upload it, first deleting personal information (i.e. using the Photos App on your iPhone).

• Verify Wi-Fi is Connected:

Look on Top-Left corner of the screen to verify it is connected.

• Use Ethernet:

Ethernet would be more reliable.

Use this Adapter: Belkin USB-C to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter - Apple

• Avoid Heat:

Perform this in an open location (not in the corner or the room nor with an enclosed room), and place it atop a laptop cooler.