software update error

That specific error is related to an issue with the Touchbar. Boot into Safe Mode to verify your laptop can finish booting and perhaps finish installing the OS update and to make a backup of your data if you don't already have a good backup. If the OS update still needs to finish and does so, then try rebooting normally to see if you can boot normally. Otherwise you can attempt to boot into Internet Recovery Mode using Command + Option + R and try reinstalling macOS over top of itself. A couple users reported this solved their problem a few years ago when they encountered this error.

FYI, once you get this error you will not be able to boot normally until the EmbeddedOS for the Touchbar is downloaded and stored on the SSD and uploaded to the Touchbar (I believe it gets stored on a hidden partition).

Otherwise you will need to have Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider examine the laptop to provide you with a repair estimate.

JohnSpada wrote:

Hi, my MacBook pro had an issue while doing an update. Now when I try to restart it I receive the error "A critical software update is required for your Mac, ** an error was encountered while installing this uptake. Your mac can't be used until this update is installed." I get two choices, shut down or try again. When I hit Try again it just brings me to the same screen.

I tried to reinstall Monterey again and still get this issue. anyone have any ideas on how I can fix this?

Thanks

Has your OEM drive been replaced by a third party drive...(?) this is known to cause issues.

Cannot upgrade to Monterey with non-apple SSD

Install problems with third party

replace the internal Apple SSD with an NVMe drive with adapter

https://eshop.macsales.com/blog/78613-macos-monterey-install-requirements-for-owc-aura-pro-ssds/