You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Updating my 2013 iMac and immediately black screen with arrow appeared. It's been at least an hour. Is this the updating?

I finally clicked to update my 2013 iMac and immediately black screen with arrow appeared. It's been an hour, at least. Is this the updating?

iMac 21.5″, macOS 10.14

Posted on Oct 3, 2021 3:05 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Oct 3, 2021 3:10 PM

Welcome to the Apple Support Communities.


That isn’t right. Please follow these steps:


  1. Shut down the Mac.
  2. Turn on the Mac, and immediately press and hold Option + Command + R until you see a spinning globe.
  3. Once you are in macOS Recovery, verify you are connected to WiFi in the top right corner. If possible, connect directly to the internet with Ethernet. 
  4. Go to the reinstall macOS app.
  5. Follow the prompts, and install on Macintosh HD.


Jack

2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Oct 3, 2021 3:10 PM in response to carol fromsausalito

Welcome to the Apple Support Communities.


That isn’t right. Please follow these steps:


  1. Shut down the Mac.
  2. Turn on the Mac, and immediately press and hold Option + Command + R until you see a spinning globe.
  3. Once you are in macOS Recovery, verify you are connected to WiFi in the top right corner. If possible, connect directly to the internet with Ethernet. 
  4. Go to the reinstall macOS app.
  5. Follow the prompts, and install on Macintosh HD.


Jack

Oct 3, 2021 4:29 PM in response to Jack-19

Actually, as soon as I sent that the screen changed to black with a rotating wheel in the center, and then kept showing a line indicating time passing, and it kept changing how long it was taking, going black, coming back on and finally it stuck and finished. It took maybe another half hour with password screens repeating a couple of times. Then it suggested I had another update to download, but when I checked for more details, this computer is not listed as able to download that update. It's a mess. But it's working, at least. Thanks.

Updating my 2013 iMac and immediately black screen with arrow appeared. It's been at least an hour. Is this the updating?

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.