Trying to update software and stuck on Preparing Update 15 min left about 15 minutes left
Trying to update software and am stuck on Preparing updates
iMac 21.5″, macOS 12.6
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Tough to tell, that estimate can seem really stuck when it's just adjusting itself to longer & longer as it finds more things or has trouble reading things or lack of free working space.
Several times I've had less than a Minute remaining take over an hour.
If it is indeed stuck...
If M1 or M2 Mac...
Start up a Mac with Apple silicon in safe mode
On your Mac, choose Apple menu > Shut Down.
After your Mac shuts down, wait 10 seconds.
Press and hold the power button on your Mac until the startup options window appears showing available startup disks and Options.
Select a startup disk.
Press and hold the Shift key, click Continue in Safe Mode, then release the Shift key.
To leave safe mode, restart your Mac normally, without pressing and holding any keys during startup.
If IntelMac...
Safe Boot, (holding Shift key down at startup), does the problem occur in Safe Mode? Could take 10 minutes or more.
Safe mode attempts to repair Disks & clears lots of caches & loads safe Drivers, & prevents loading of 3rd party extensions, so if Safe Mode works try again in regular boot.