I've been trying all day to install the Monterey 12.6 update requiring 13 gb free space. I cleared 130 gb of free space but it still won't install. I've restarted the laptop and emptied the trash repeatedly. Storage confirms 130 gb of free space, but still won't install. Get the same message - Your disk does not have enough space to install.
MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 12.5
If your file system is APFS, macOS keeps local copies of your file system called APFS snapshots. Snapshots take up disk space, but don't count towards total amount of storage used in Finder or Storage in About This Mac. If you had very little space left on your SSD when you tried to update and then tried to delete enough files to make room for the update, those APFS snapshots might still be around. To see them, start Disk Utility and choose View -> Show APFS Snapshots. Then choose the disk that holds macOS (typically Macintosh HD) in the left column. Disk Utility lets you view and delete Snapshots. If you think your APFS Snapshots are causing the problem and you have a recent Time Machine backup, just delete the Snapshots and try installing Monterey 12.6 again.
If your file system is APFS, macOS keeps local copies of your file system called APFS snapshots. Snapshots take up disk space, but don't count towards total amount of storage used in Finder or Storage in About This Mac. If you had very little space left on your SSD when you tried to update and then tried to delete enough files to make room for the update, those APFS snapshots might still be around. To see them, start Disk Utility and choose View -> Show APFS Snapshots. Then choose the disk that holds macOS (typically Macintosh HD) in the left column. Disk Utility lets you view and delete Snapshots. If you think your APFS Snapshots are causing the problem and you have a recent Time Machine backup, just delete the Snapshots and try installing Monterey 12.6 again.
I had the same problem: Monterey 12.6 update would not install because of 'insufficient disk space'. Ik freed up more than 100 GB, but still the same problem. I tried restarting in safe mode and installing: that didn't work either, I got the same error message. But... after starting up again (so out of safe mode and after normal boot), the update finally installed!
Try restarting in Safe Mode. Can you install while in safe mode?
Thank you! That’s what happened for me as well.
I did but it still failed. I waited 24 hours and this morning it installed without issue.
Thank - that helps explain why it wouldn't install until more than 24 hours later. Much appreciated.
You're welcome!
Monterey 12.6 not enough memory to install
