Problems installing Big Sur 11.2 update

You can go into recovery. This is another way to update to Big Sur 11.2. Press Command R press reinstall macos.

Select the disk. It will reboot itself. It's updated to macos big sur

11.2. That my Image. Thanks

Below my experience with this "update" I have a 2017 iMac with a 1TB SSD and 32GB RAM :

1. HD was backed up to an external drive using Carbon Copy Cloner (this creates a clone of the main drive). A Backup of the main drive is key to preserve the main drive's data (see more on the importance of this below).
2. Attempted a normal update to 11.2 using System Preferences: Software Update this resulted in a software download error.
3. Booted to Safe Mode (Shift S while booting) and tried the update again via System Preferences:Software Update that resulted in the same error.
4. Booted to Recovery Mode (Command R while booting) and chooses Instal MacOS. T his resulted in an error at the end if the installation process.  This also rendered the drive unusable; Drive would boot to a System error.
5. Booted to Recovery Mode, ran Disk Utilities: First Aid  and again tried to install the OS with the same error at the end of the instal process.
6. The following solved the issue:

a). Booted from the backup external drive (clone).

b). Launched disk First Aid and eased the main drive.

c). Downloaded Big Sur from the App Store (this places the OS installer in the Applications folder that, if you want, you can copy or move before the installation process is completed).  

d). Installed the OS (using the App Store Download).

e). After a successful install, used Migration Assistant to transfer the data from the backup drive to the main drive.

My first Mac was a 512Ke and I have NEVER seen a worst update process than with the original Big Sur and its "updates."  The initial Big Sur installation was basically the same fiasco, this time with Apple Support on the line - me talking to “senior advisors”.  If Jobs were alive today he’d fire them all (and I’m not kidding). 

I've done quite a few upgrades to Big Sur and previous large installations for friends, family and clients.

What seems to be important to be successful is a reliable network connection.

Before kicking off the upgrade I turn off the sleep function to ensure the iMac/MacBook doesn't go to sleep during the download phase.

Over the years I've found that WiFi varies. On some people's network the upgrade works and on others it seems to be the cause of the upgrade failure. The installation phase also needs access to the network and it seems to be that is when the installation fails when the iMac/MacBook is using WiFi. So I always use an Ethernet connection for the upgrade and turn WiFi off for the upgrade just to make sure.

I posted on page 2 of this topic how I upgraded my 2015 MacBook.

Woo Hoo!!! Finally. Device #1 MacBook Pro 15" (mid-2014) down and two to go (iMac 27" Late-2014 and MacBook Pro 13" Mid-2020).

After trying to update numerous times and getting the error message and incomplete update, I followed the advice here, and I booted my MacBook Pro 15" up in Safe Mode and ran the Update for macOS Big Sur 11.2.1 2.43 GB, and it completed. Yay, yay, yay!!! Thanks to the community!!!

I tried all sorts of things, rebooted, rebooted into safe mode, even took my iMac over to the modem and connected it via Ethernet. None of that worked.

I finally got it installed. This is what I did to the computer before it worked. I disconnected all peripherals (printer, external hard drive even my recharging bicycle lights!)

1. Reset PRAM
2. Boot into Recovery and re-installed 11.2.1 from the Apple site
3. Used "softwareupdate -ia" via terminal app

When my computer booted up after all of this , I went into settings> general>software update, it said it was ready to install the update.

Maybe this will work for someone else

Good Luck

My update ****:

I have an iMac (Retina 4K, 21.5-inch, 2017),4 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i5, 32GB RAM, 1TB internal SSD.

Have been here before when initially "upgrading" to the first installment of Big Sur. Tried everything including, normal update path (failed), booting up to recovery mode and trying the update from there (failed) downloading the Installer from the App Store, booting up to recovery mode and trying the update (failed), ended up having to reformat the drive and installing from a separate drive (this with Apple Support on the phone).

Back to upgrade **** 2.0. Basically same experience as the first time. To make a long story short, after numerous attempts (see above for steps I took again) ended creating a bootable USB flash drive installer, erasing internal SSD and installing the OS from the flash drive, then migrated the data from a backup. Totally and absolutely ridiculous.

If Jobs would be alive he would fire them all.

Had been having the same issue. Tried safe mode and it worked! Thanks!!

I also had this problem. Rebooting into safe mode and installing from there worked for me.

It was in my first post:

Boot into Safe Mode by booting with the Shift key held down.

After many failures in normal and safe mode, I ignored the 11.2 update notice completely. I went straight to the App Store and did the update from there. It worked perfectly the first time.

Warning: be sure you have enough free space on your boot drive for the installation or you may fall victim to this:  PSA: Upgrading a Mac to macOS Big Sur without enough space can result in data loss



I have tried Safe Mode twice. Once with WIFi only and once with Ethernet only internet. Both attempts failed exactly as the update fails in normal boot mode. Apple support tells me I must reinstall Big Sur from Restore mode.

Safe mode failed repeatedly on

my Intel 2017 iMac.

don’t bother with that.

instead go to App Store and download Big Sur 11.2 from update tab.

it willtake an hour. Then simply click restart when prompted. Wait ran hour or two and 11.2 will be installed correctly.

At least that was my experience.

good luck

I noticed 11.2.1 was available for download. Maybe Apple have fixed the problem.

I had the same problems in the Netherlands, safe mode does not work on my 2019 macbook pro. with vpn server we managed to install big sur 11.2.1 without any problems.