"A required firmware update could not be installed. Compatible internal storage is required in order to update".

While the solution provided got me out of this situation, I have to say this is very s--tty treatment on the part of Apple. Those of us who replaced the original SSD, particularly in laptops that are out of warranty, should NEVER have to put an original SSD back in, to do an OS upgrade. Pretty disgusted Apple wasted so much of my time.

Your need an Apple SSD installed internally to go to Monterey since the first part of the upgrade to Monterey is updating the Mac's firmware and that requires an Apple SSD be installed.

Sorry

I have exactly the same issue. No such issue while installing BigSur. It is ridiculous…

Have you tried:

Circle with a line through it

Learn what to do if your Mac starts up to a circle with a line through it (prohibitory symbol).

Seems like there is bootable macOS verion now on the SSD.

When you looked in About This Mac>Overview>System Report>Storage. Is the Samsung SSD identified as App SSD... as Device Name?Name

I've tried to upgrade my MacBook Pro from Mojave to Monterey and got this famous message "A required firmware update...."

I've got this MacBook Pro three years ago from second hand and upgraded the SSD to a 1.0 TB OWC AURA PRO SSD.

Following the suggested recommendation, I've reinserted the SSD which was in the MackBook Pro when I got it. . I've then attempted to restarted the MacBook Pro with the original SSD. It does not even reboot, instead I've got a picture showing a circle with a bar in it (see attached picture) .

Guess what, it looks that even this hard drive might not be the original one (see attached picture).

Now that being said, what are my options?

There are reports appearing on the ASC Forums regarding failed installation of Monterey on older Qualifying Apple Computers.

In most cases this is related to having a NON Apple Original internal drive ? 

The EFI Boot ROM included in Monterey is verifying for Original Apple Drive and if not found , may Balk or fail to upgrade to Monterey.

Reports indicate the EFI BOOT ROM is Required to Flash the Computer and is a requirement for a Successful Monterey Installation.

I have a mid 2015 15" macbook pro with non apple ssd and after trying it donwloaded macos monterey but if i try to install it gives the internal storage compatibility error,so putting back in apple's ssd will sort the problem?

So I have just been having a right hassle with Apple support on this very issue. I upgraded my mid 2015 MacBook Pro using the "replace original Apple SSD" procedure and that works just as it should.

My issue occurred a few months down the line with a repeating WiFi won't connect problem. The entire might of Apple support could come up with nothing better than Clean install Monterey. Somewhat reluctant to do this on-line support said a reinstall would be ok BUT it failed with the firmware update message.

This should not have happened as I had already updated the firmware and done both the more recent Monterey updates. Unfortunately I did not have access to the original Apple SSD so asked Apple for help.

Their in store "genius" waffled on endlessly about the firmware being necessary for security and protection of the system. Sadly he was waffling, hadn't got a clue about the firmware issue. Their best offer, they could do a chargeable repair for putting in a new Apple SSD so I could do firmware update, then put my own SSD back. Not acceptable.

I remained very puzzled that with the firmware already updated the Monterey install failed wanting the update. I went home very angry and frustrated with Apple's useless support. Once I had calmed down I did a full review of my MacBooks history and discovered the problem.

A short while after the first Monterey update I had a battery failure imminent warning and on Apples advice agreed to a paid for battery/keyboard unit replacement. This repair was taking much longer than the promised delivery date so I chased up with support. They then admitted that during the repair they had damaged my motherboard but not to worry because they had ordered a replacement (for no additional charger) and it was eventually returned.

This was about the same time that my WiFi started having problems which eventually lead to the recent support visit suggesting a clean install.

When I checked I discovered that the new motherboard fitted during the battery repair had in fact a very out of date firmware not compatible with Monterey. That was the cause of Monetary failing to install. An incomplete repair.

From all of this I defuse that whatever the firmware update does it is not necessary for Monterey to run but only necessary for the Monterey installer to run. Since the firmware update is done to the motherboard and not to the disk it seems to me that Apple have created an unreasonable restrictive process preventing the upgrade on machines without Apple SSD.

The story has a happy ending for me because all my belonging that were in storage during home makeover have just been returned and I was able to find the original Apple SSD. All I have to do now is find a fix to WiFi problem.

I know. I'll ask Apple support

Same problem for me too. MacPro 6,1 (Late 2013). Purchased used in 2017 with an OWC Aura SSD. I never had the original. OWC is great, they are offering to loan me a genuine Apple SSD to update my firmware.

I can at least partially sympathize with Apple for not trusting 3rd party storage. They have to temporarily put the new firmware image somewhere so as to have a copy to read when overwriting the system firmware. That means they need a means of reading the internal SSD and can not necessarily trust that SSD isn't using the very firmware Apple is overwriting. Don't know but guessing they know somebody did something they were not supposed to which would brick your Mac during the firmware update.

Error message when installing from the running OS is unhelpful. Says in effect, "Failed, try again." Booting command-option-R returns error -5101F. And booting command-option-P-R returned this:

Actually not.

Once the firmware has flashed the Computer - it good to go and flip out the original and put the OWC drive back in. The run the Monterey Installer again.

What would be the cause if I have an Apple Hard Drive? Mine says the same but I have a Macbook SSD. Suggestions?

Never mind. Here's where I think MY experience went awry ... when creating the Monterey USB boot drive, there is a step that has you add Contents / Resources / createinstallmedia into your Terminal code. Notice that there is a file called "createinstallmedia_yosemite" right under the correct file? I *believe* when I went through the process, I accidentally grabbed the "yosemite" version. Then, once I tried installing, some little yosemite gremlin got into the Trash Can (not just the hard drive). I think that has been preventing us from getting anywhere. RIGHT NOW, we are actually installing Yosemite on the internal Apple SSD and we will then go about upgrading from there. Sigh. What a rigamarole.

zahid198 wrote:

.....,so putting back in apple's ssd will sort the problem?

Yes, putting the Apple SSD back inside and then upgrading that disk to Monterey will allow you to then subsequently put the non-Apple SSD back inside and you will be able to upgrade that disk to Monterey.

Well, is this the norm for firmware updates going forward?

I too have a mid 2015 15" MBP. I'd upgraded to a 1TB OWC SSD recently, but maybe I ought to put the old Apple SSD back in permanently. If I'll end up having to swap out the storage every time, it won't be worth the hassle.