Upgrade to macOS 11.2 Failing

When I try to upgrade my 2019 MBP to 11.2, the download starts and eventually fails. When I use the softwareupdate command in terminal, it fails in the download stage. Here's the output I get:

% sudo softwareupdate -da --verbose
Password:
Software Update Tool

Finding available software
Downloading macOS Big Sur 11.2 Update
Downloading: 100.00%
Failed to download & prepare update: Error Domain=SUMacControllerError Code=7740 "[SUMacControllerErrorPrepareFailed=7740] Failed to perform Prepare operation: [MobileSoftwareUpdateErrorDomain(MSU):MSU_ERR_BRIDGEOS_PERSONALIZATION_FAILURE(44)_1_OSPErrorDomain:201_2_AuthInstallErrorDomain:11]" UserInfo={NSUnderlyingError=0x7fd504d04850 {Error Domain=MobileSoftwareUpdateErrorDomain Code=44 "bridgeOS personalization failed" UserInfo={target_update=20D64, NSLocalizedDescription=bridgeOS personalization failed, NSUnderlyingError=0x7fd504d04a40 {Error Domain=OSPErrorDomain Code=201 "An error occurred during personalization." UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=An error occurred during personalization., NSUnderlyingError=0x7fd504d04bb0 {Error Domain=AuthInstallErrorDomain Code=11 "(null)"}}}}}, SUMacControllerErrorIndicationsMask=0, NSDebugDescription=[SUMacControllerErrorPrepareFailed=7740] Failed to perform Prepare operation: [MobileSoftwareUpdateErrorDomain(MSU):MSU_ERR_BRIDGEOS_PERSONALIZATION_FAILURE(44)_1_OSPErrorDomain:201_2_AuthInstallErrorDomain:11], NSLocalizedDescription=Failed to prepare the software update. Please try again.}

Previously, when 11.1 came out, the upgrade went south and I needed to do a full wipe and reinstall, so at least this is an improvement compared to blowing everything up, but it would be very helpful to better understand why this is happening.

Thank you.

MacBook Pro

Posted on Feb 3, 2021 10:32 AM

Top-ranking reply

Pete Toscano Author

Level 1

13 points

Posted on Feb 5, 2021 11:26 AM

I'll add some follow-up info for those seeing the same issue.

I wound up reaching out to Apple Support. The guy I chatted with suggested that I try rebooting into safe mode, then do the upgrade. This worked, but only to a point. The upgrade was downloaded, I rebooted the laptop, and the upgrade started installing, but after a while, it hung. I let it sit for a few hours with a paper placed on the screen so I could see if progress was happening, but only very slowly. When I came back, the screen had blanked out. Let it go for a while longer, but it continued, so eventually, I rebooted. The install started again. And hung again.

I had similar issues with the 11.1 upgrade, so I followed the directions I got back then and booted into recovery mode, and ran the macOS install option from there (without wiping the system volume). It was getting late, so I made sure that was well on its way, then went to bed. When I got back the next day, the laptop was shutdown. I crossed my fingers and powered it on. It booted normally and I was able to log in as my regular user. When I checked the UI, I found that the 11.2 upgrade finally worked. (This time around -- vs with 11.1 -- I didn't need to wipe the system volume and fully reinstall.)

I'm still not convinced that this is fully functional. Even though according to the release notes, a bunch of Bluetooth issues were fixed, I'm seeing my older generation MagicPad disconnecting/reconnecting much more than when running 11.1. (On the other hand, my BT headphones are staying connected better.) Eventually, I'm going to dump my user folder to an external drive and do a full wipe and reinstall. I think that's the only way to be sure.

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Upgrade to macOS 11.2 Failing

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