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Trying to update my Mac to the latest OS but each time I try to download the software via the software update tool it tells me it could not download to software. Tried rebooting the Mac and running the download at different times but still get the same result.
User wrote " Trying to update my Mac to the latest OS " This implies Big Sur is already installed and looking for the Big Sur 11.5.1 update - if correct see below for possible solutions.
If this update is for Big Sur 11.5.1 - the error message can be misleading. There are factors like poor Wifi connection, slow wifi connection, too many other people downloading at the same time and Apple Severs are overloaded, Software on the computer interfering with the download process, running behind a VPN and or / if via wifi too many Other devices using the wifi at the same time reducing the Bandwidth to you computer. Best Results are via Ethernet Cable to Router
There are several ways to download the Big Sur 11.5 .1update.
1 - Connect to Router via Ethernet connection and restart the computer in Safe Mode and then open the Apple Apps Store and get the Full Installer of Big Sur. It will be the 11.5 version and once downloaded run the installer from the Applications folder.
2 - Resart the computer in Recovery Mode ( INTEL Command + r ) and choose Reinstall macOS. It too will download the full Installer and commence the installation. For M1 CPU the Recovery Mode is Here
3 - This method may seem unnecessary but sometimes the Router Restart clears Network issues from ISP to Apple Servers
Shutdown Router. Shutdown computer and disconnect all External Drives. Restart Router. Connect to Router via Ethernet Cable. If via Wifi - Disconnect all other Devices using the Wifi - want the Maximum Bandwidth only for this computer. Restart computer in Safe Mode. It does a Repair Disk, Clear System Cache files and only load Apple Software, extensions and Fonts. Will load slowly - Normal. Once Logged in - open Apple Apps Store and Get the Full Version of Big Sur. It will take some time and several pauses will occur - normal. Countdown clock may say 15 minutes but in Real time may be 30 minutes. Same goes for clock at 10 minutes could be 20 minutes in Real time. Eventually , Full Installer will download and a New Application in Applications Folder will present called Install Big Sur. Stop there and perform a Time Machine Backup. If desired - have an External Drive - Copy & Paste the Install Big Sur Application to external drive for future usage - making a Bootable Installer. Now run the Installer.
Have found this method more reliable than the Software Update which is very iffy at best
Are there any AntiVirus, Disk Cleaner, Optimizers, Defrag, VPNs etc installed which should be removed as per Developers Instructions. They are useless, unneeded, cause havoc and interfere with the normal operation of the OS and may even Corrupt the OS requiring a Reinstallation.
User wrote " Trying to update my Mac to the latest OS " This implies Big Sur is already installed and looking for the Big Sur 11.5.1 update - if correct see below for possible solutions.
If this update is for Big Sur 11.5.1 - the error message can be misleading. There are factors like poor Wifi connection, slow wifi connection, too many other people downloading at the same time and Apple Severs are overloaded, Software on the computer interfering with the download process, running behind a VPN and or / if via wifi too many Other devices using the wifi at the same time reducing the Bandwidth to you computer. Best Results are via Ethernet Cable to Router
There are several ways to download the Big Sur 11.5 .1update.
1 - Connect to Router via Ethernet connection and restart the computer in Safe Mode and then open the Apple Apps Store and get the Full Installer of Big Sur. It will be the 11.5 version and once downloaded run the installer from the Applications folder.
2 - Resart the computer in Recovery Mode ( INTEL Command + r ) and choose Reinstall macOS. It too will download the full Installer and commence the installation. For M1 CPU the Recovery Mode is Here
3 - This method may seem unnecessary but sometimes the Router Restart clears Network issues from ISP to Apple Servers
Shutdown Router. Shutdown computer and disconnect all External Drives. Restart Router. Connect to Router via Ethernet Cable. If via Wifi - Disconnect all other Devices using the Wifi - want the Maximum Bandwidth only for this computer. Restart computer in Safe Mode. It does a Repair Disk, Clear System Cache files and only load Apple Software, extensions and Fonts. Will load slowly - Normal. Once Logged in - open Apple Apps Store and Get the Full Version of Big Sur. It will take some time and several pauses will occur - normal. Countdown clock may say 15 minutes but in Real time may be 30 minutes. Same goes for clock at 10 minutes could be 20 minutes in Real time. Eventually , Full Installer will download and a New Application in Applications Folder will present called Install Big Sur. Stop there and perform a Time Machine Backup. If desired - have an External Drive - Copy & Paste the Install Big Sur Application to external drive for future usage - making a Bootable Installer. Now run the Installer.
Have found this method more reliable than the Software Update which is very iffy at best
Are there any AntiVirus, Disk Cleaner, Optimizers, Defrag, VPNs etc installed which should be removed as per Developers Instructions. They are useless, unneeded, cause havoc and interfere with the normal operation of the OS and may even Corrupt the OS requiring a Reinstallation.
This is an issue I also encountered - see thread https://discussions.apple.com/thread/253045356
Here the quick breakdown of the applied solution:
If you update via the Terminal, you will probably also see the same error I had:
softwareupdate -d -a --verbose
You will see a long error message essentially telling you the full installer is needed to proceed with an update (as opposed to only the update packages that keeps failing to download) - cf. see explanation of user HWTech pointing this out in the thread.
softwareupdate -d --verbose --fetch-full-installer
sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Big\ Sur.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume
PS: replace "MyVolume" in these commands with the name of your volume
sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Big\ Sur.app/Contents/Resources/startosinstall --agreetolicense --forcequitapps --nointeraction
Actually, Method # 2 will download the Full Installer of the Most Recent Version of Big Sur ( 11.5.2 ).
That is a good thing. It will install over your present version of Big Sur. It will update only what needs updating, replace missing or corrupted system files.
It will not remove or alter your Settings, Applications or Documents.
Always good practice to perform A Time Machine Backup is very useful and can be used to Revert to Previous Working macOS.
Hi P. Phillips,
I have tried the methods described at 1 and 3 and both were unsuccessful. At this stage I have not tried the options described at 2. as I am concerned that this may write over my hard drive (like a new installation) is this the case?
I have updated a MacBook Pro and my other Mac with no problems and cannot see why this has become a problem.
Any thoughts?
If I use the recovery method is it going to wipe my hard drive?
Thanks for your assistance.
Lahood21
This is the actual message I get "An error occurred while downloading the selected updates. Please check your internet connection and try again"
I WOULD WAIT IF YOU PLAN TO PLUG IN ANYTHING THROUGH THUNDERBOLT.
I UPGRADED AND NOW CAN'T GET USB SIMS OR ANYTHING TO SHOW UP
Update to Big Sur 11.5.1