Software Update is still checking for updates after Big Sur 11.6.3 yesterday.

Sapote wrote:

24 hours later....

https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/243b5032-0e60-4dd2-bead-f08eb7837d20

The current macOS — you are up to date Big Sur 11.6.3

Close the System Preference pane.

Sapote Said:

"Software Update is still checking for updates after Big Sur 11.6.3 yesterday.: 24 hours later...."

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Removing this Update Prompt:

Boot in Safe Mode:

In Safe Mode, Login Items do not run at login, certain preferences are set aside, and damaged system files are then reset. So, once booted in to Safe Mode, wait 30 seconds, and then boot up normally, seeing if it goes away.. For instructions, go here: How to Use safe Mode on your Mac - Apple Support

Sapote Said:

"Software Update is still checking for updates after Big Sur 11.6.3 yesterday.: Nothing has changed/improved. Software Update is still checking..."

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A. Exit this Stuck Window:

Use "Force Quit..." Menu: Once you access that menu, Force Quit all items. Read my tip for more on this. Once closed, try this once more. Use my User Tip for more on this: [command+tab] Use it to Access your Mac when Something is Not Responding - User Tip.

B. Use Ethernet:

If you cannot perform this through Wi-Fi, then use Ethernet.  For a Mac (or PC) that does not have Ethernet, this would be the adapter to use: Belkin USB-C to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter - Apple

Also...

C. Contact Apple Support:

If you cannot get out of this windows, nor update using Ethernet, call Apple Support, letting them know what is going on there. Perform a screensharing session so they can see this firsthand, from your perspective, and more easily run you through this fix.

Apple Phone Support:

• Contact Us - Choose Locations
• Proceed from there as Necessary

Why the Wait:

Phone calls are taking a bit to go through at the moment, due do lots of calls. With the Coronavirus Pandemic, many are at home at the moment, with much time on their hands to contact Apple. So, just stay on the line, and you will get through :)

Sapote Said:

"Software Update is still checking for updates after Big Sur 11.6.3 yesterday.: 24 hours later...."

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Important:

Create a Time Machine Backup: Create a Time Machine backup of your Mac, so that you can have something to restore your Mac from, should anything go wrong with the update.

Install in Safe Mode:

If Safe Mode works, then once backed up, boot into Safe Mode and then perform the update.

Sapote Said:

"I always backup and have been using TM since beginning. I have also used SuperDuper!: Again, I'm not trying to update to Monterey. Only checking for Big Sur updates. But this is what happened after updating to Big Sur 11.6.3."

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Backup, Restore, then Migrate:

Have a backup? So, downgrade by restoring once more. You'd backup your Mac before restoring, and then migrate it back one restored, through use of Migration Assistant.

Have you tried this:

Boot into recovery, use diskutil to mount & check the system disk.

Then go into the terminal, still in recovery, and remove:

/Library/Preferences/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate.plist
/Users/<User>/Library/Preferences/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate.plist
/Library/Updates/*

24 hours and it's still working for me.

software update problems after 2022-02 Ca… - Apple Community

Just out of interest does this file exist?:

/Library/Updates/index.plist

and does this folder exist?:

/Library/Receipts/db

TheLittles Said:

"Update: I tried Safe Boot Mode again and it did not work. But after restarting in normal boot mode it finally worked. I guess second time is the charm."

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Seems my above reply fixed this:

Thank for spreading the word! Great job troubleshooting!

Sapote Said:

"Software Update is still checking for updates after Big Sur 11.6.3 yesterday.: Works in Safe Boot Mode. It connected/found Monterey Update. But it's back to 'Checking for updates...' once I exit Safe Boot Mode.: [...]EXTREMELY SLOW to boot and settle down after login. Desktop, Apps, macOS in general takes 15-20 mins or longer."

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Being a Slow Mac is the likely culprit. So, try the following...

Troubleshooting a Slow Mac:

Too much is likely running in the background. System resources are probably being eaten up quite a bit. So, here is what to try....

Boot into Safe Mode [Hold Down: shift key upon boot] and then perform the following:

A. Remove: Login Items:

See if Safari and/or Chrome are Login Items. If so, remove them as such and then restart the Mac, seeing if it/they no longer load(s) at login.  Go Here: Change Users & Groups Login Items preferences on Mac - Apple Support.

B. Uninstall: Security Software:

Any Security Software installed on your computer? If so, uninstall it. Use the Uninstaller for to do so, getting the Uninstaller directly from my Developer’s site, as getting it else where may result in Malware or Spyware being installed. If you are uncertain which to download, then as the Developer. What is it doing is running you through VPN (Virtual Private Network), and your location is seen elsewhere — perhaps a location that this site is inaccessible to.

C. Scan: your Mac for Malware: 

Use MalwareBytes for Mac --- This is software that searches for malware/adware. So, scan with it and then remove what is found. Once removed, uninstall MalwareBytes for Mac. Then restart the Mac.

Downloads:

1. Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for Mac
2. Malwarebytes Uninstaller

D. Clean: Space:

Delete: Unneeded, Large Files:

Remove all unneeded files from your TV and Music Libraries. Full-Movies take up 2-4GB typically, and a bunch of those would take up a load of storage, ideally. So, if you have any movies that are not needed, then delete them.  Virtual Machines can be in the double and triple digits of GBs of data.

E. Clear: Temporary Internet Files:

• Cookies perform remembrance of certain site-entered data.
• Cache keeps a snapshot of the last time you visited a site.

Go Here: Clear the History and Cookies from Safari on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch - Apple Support

What did you do last?

A summary of the stuff I tried is below, only the last one worked for me but each of the others was given as a solution by someone.

Mine is still going strong after 56+ Hours.

• check free space

• check the disk

• try different DNS servers

• try another network if possible

• try using another account

• reboot

• try safe mode

• reset NVRAM

• reset SMC & NVRAM

• power off computer & router and wait 10 mins then try again

• remove /Library/Preferences/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate.plist; reboot

• remove "/macOS Install Data" if it exists; reboot

• Remove

/Library/Preferences/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate.plist

/Users/<user>/Library/Preferences/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate.plist

/Library/Updates/*

reboot

Might be worth trying my solution first, if it works then it helps others and saves you a lot of time. If it doesn't it's only cost you a reboot.

• Remove

/Library/Preferences/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate.plist

/Users/<user>/Library/Preferences/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate.plist

/Library/Updates/*

reboot

Also, open the index.plist in an editor, are the folders it references actually present?

There's a limit to how many posts you can do in a given time, to prevent spamming I would assume.

Over a year would be a little excessive, even for Apple 😉

Have you tried Onyx (free), get it to clean out the caches, rebuild everything, it's worth a go every now and then to clear out the crud and optimise the system.

https://titanium-software.fr/en/onyx.html

There's also cocktail or TinkerTool but they are both paid options.

These are the options just to give you an idea of what it can do.