I have a red dot against system preferences. When I click on System updates I just get a spinning wheel and no updates are shown.
I left it for a couple of hours but nothing changed.
I am not very techy so I need some simple help with this if possible.
Many thanks.
iMac 21.5″, macOS 11.6
Restart in Safe Mode and try the Software Update applet residing in the System Preferences.
Safe mode may help you resolve or isolate problems that you’re having with your Mac.
When you start up in safe mode, your Mac prevents some software, such as startup items, from loading, and it performs a check of your startup disk. Your Mac may take longer to start up because of the check.
Restart in Safe Mode and try the Software Update applet residing in the System Preferences.
Safe mode may help you resolve or isolate problems that you’re having with your Mac.
When you start up in safe mode, your Mac prevents some software, such as startup items, from loading, and it performs a check of your startup disk. Your Mac may take longer to start up because of the check.
Ok and sorry but it appears the Apple Method of delivering updates is still not working as intended. This issue has been present since the release of Big Sur and in some cases continues in the new Monterey macOS 12.
Personally have experienced this so suggestion is based on this experience.
Restart in Safe Mode again and use the provided link to download the Full Version of Big Sur available in the Apple Apps Store.
Use Safari to download macOS on your Mac
Safari uses these links to find the old installers in the App Store. After you download the installer from the App Store, the installer opens automatically.
The information to Restart in Safe Mode is contained within the Link Provided above but if that was overlooked here it is again Safe Mode
Once Booted into Safe Mode maneuver to System Preference >> Software Update and click it.
Any Third Party Applications that will interfere with the normal operation of the OS, alter, modify, remove or delete or attempt to do so is an invitation for disaster and may require a Reinstallation of the OS.
Are any of the below software installed on this computer?
As for Antivirus software, there are may different Named AV Software including Norton AV, Intego AV, Sophos AC, Trend AV and and this list is very long.
This includes AntiVirus, Disk Cleaners, Disk Optimizes, UnInstaller etc.
The The Built in Security is all that is required.
I've had this happen too. If Software Update won't come out to play there is something blocking it reporting an update. Have you restarted your Mac to see if this eliminates any difficulty Software Update may be having?
Thanks for this. I booted up in safe mode and the software updates displayed. I updated to Safari 15.3.
The red dot has now disappeared. However, when I click on Software Update, I still get the spinning wheel. The same happens in safe mode.
Should this be the case?
Cheers
26bosman wrote:
Thanks for the reply.
So is this a known issue with Big Sur and hopefully rectified in the future?
Is might be know by some user who have experienced this issue, it is known to those to attempt to assist other users who are experiencing this issue.
As for does Apple Know - it has been reported to them, I have done so several times.
As for a fix in the future - that we can only hope so.
Yes I've tried that but still have the issue.
Sorry to appear stupid! How do I do this? If I start it this way how to I get everything to work as normal?
Thanks
Still no luck and safe mode produces the same result!
Thanks for the reply.
So is this a known issue with Big Sur and hopefully rectified in the future?
Software Updates
