Level 1

32 points

Mac stuck on checking for updates

I run Big Sur 11.6.1 and have noticed that my System Preference reads "1 update". However, when I choose Software Update, the system gets stuck at "Checking for updates". Nothing freezes, but the wheel keeps spinning and nothing happens. I wish to update the OS (the option was there earlier).

I have tried repeated reboots. I have done a disk utility check. I have tried removing .plist files related to "software update" and "Apple store" (following various advice in seemingly older related threads. Nothing has worked. Any advice, please?

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

MacBook Pro 15″, macOS 11.6

Posted on Jan 23, 2022 12:32 PM

Top-ranking reply

philinsofiadisc

Level 1

12 points

Posted on Feb 1, 2022 5:16 AM

Thanks to your initial request for advice and from reading all replies, I have today solved the same problem on one of the 2 iMacs we use. I had the same symptoms on 1 of the iMacs (the other has been OK throughout in this respect), and wanted to update to 11.6.3 on the troublesome machine. Ran all the checks mentioned, including EtreCheck. This gave a list of apps installed in the past 30 days. To my surprise, there was an app "Install macOS Monterey" sitting in the main Applications folder, dated 22 Jan, 2022.

Surprise—because both iMacs have only the option "Automatically: Check for Updates" ticked. Anyway, deleting the app and restarting solved the problem. The Software Update worked perfectly, now showing Monterey as available and, for my immediate purpose, Safari 15.3 and macOS 11.6.3, which I'm now in the process of installing.

Hope this strange solution may be useful to someone else!

View in context

69 replies

Feb 9, 2022 5:55 PM in response to Js5wpr

Yes, I reported it to a manager at Apple support and made her look up the entire post while I was on the phone with her so she could see that hundreds have reported having this same issue.

Valeriol

Level 1

0 points

Feb 21, 2022 12:23 PM in response to Js5wpr

Yes, the backup was from after.

I'm starting from scratch now and I will keep you posted.

Valeriol

Level 1

0 points

Feb 22, 2022 3:10 PM in response to Valeriol

Unfortunately all this work did not fix the computer, that randomly reboots.

I'll need to take it to Apple to have them do a full hardware check.

RJH-333

Level 1

8 points

Feb 27, 2022 2:34 PM in response to Richard Dansereau

Anecdotal evidence suggests this one time fix is not permanent, and the issue can re-occur on that same mac after reboot, OR after a period of (undetermined) time.

LilY0da

Level 1

12 points

Mar 8, 2022 6:30 AM in response to florisbdr

Worked for me! Thanks

Mar 31, 2022 12:15 PM in response to Nevyn82

Guys, this is not exclusive to Big Sur (11.6.x) OS since this is happening to me under Catalina (10.15.7) as well. Is there any other possibilities to fix this problem?

Jun 3, 2022 1:25 AM in response to florisbdr

Thanks this worked

Jun 16, 2022 5:15 AM in response to florisbdr

This is the solution, thanks.

Jul 1, 2022 6:48 PM in response to Wendybarrygirl

Thanks. Will try it out.

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

Mac stuck on checking for updates