macOS Monterey install freezes at restart after installation finished

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macOS Monterey install freezes at restart after installation finished

I’m trying to update my 2017 iMac 27” 5k from Big Sur to Monterey. Monterey finished installing and the “click to restart” screen appeared, so I clicked to restart rather than waiting the 30 seconds until auto restart. At that point, the screen went blank except for the wallpaper- no icons, dock, menu bar, etc. The trackpad still works, but clicking does nothing, and there are no icons to click on, anyway.

I’m considering doing a hard restart using the power button, but am concerned that doing so will end up sending me to the restore options - I do make regular backups with Time Machine, so I could probably restore from that disk as a last resort, though I would rather not take that chance on losing everything.

Does anyone know if a hard restart under these conditions - screen freeze after new macOS completes installation - will force me to restore, or what will happen?

Thanks!

Posted on Dec 10, 2022 10:52 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Old Toad

Level 10

210,497 points

Dec 10, 2022 1:32 PM in response to E. Kennedy

If your current attempt doesn't work read and try the following:

I've had better luck from the Safe Mode because I evidently have some 3rd party software that interferes with the installation so try the following:

#1 - boot into Safe Mode according to Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support.

NOTE: Safe Mode boot can take up to 3-5 minutes as it's doing the following;

• Verifies your startup disk and attempts to repair directory issues, if needed

• Loads only required kernel extensions (prevents 3rd party kernel/extensions from loading)

• Prevents Startup Items and Login Items from opening automatically

• Disables user-installed fonts

• Deletes font caches, kernel cache, and other system cache files

#2 - go to the System/Software Update preference pane and begin the download.

#3 - run the installer from the Safe Mode.

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Answer 2

E. Kennedy Author

Level 2

213 points

Dec 10, 2022 1:13 PM in response to E. Kennedy

I tried again, this time allowing the full 30 seconds to elapse and the installer to restart my iMac - same result :( Everything - icons, dock, menu bar - was removed from screen, leaving only the wallpaper, then nothing! Trackpad still showed cursor movement, but nothing to point to or click on. I then deleted the Monterey installer and went to App Store to get another copy, but that just sent me to Software Update which just shows "Checking for Update" and a continuously-running clock icon.

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Answer 3

E. Kennedy Author

Level 2

213 points

Dec 10, 2022 1:35 PM in response to E. Kennedy

Tried again - this time, when I clicked on the disk to which I wished to install Monterey (there is only 1 disk, the internal HDD, "Macintosh HD"), I got a message that "disk cannot be downgraded"! I checked "About this Mac" to make sure, but I AM running macOS 11.7.1 Big Sur, so why is it a "downgrade" to install a newer version of macOS???

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Answer 4

E. Kennedy Author

Level 2

213 points

Dec 11, 2022 10:24 AM in response to Old Toad

Thanks for the reply and for the help.

I tried your suggestion and restarted in Safe Mode (at least I think it was safe mode since there was nothing indicating that other than an outline around the dock.) However, when I tried Software Update, I got the same result: the spinning timer icon. I then decided to try Apple Diagnostics and it ran and the result was no issues. I was going to try your suggestion again, so I went to the Apple icon in the menu bar and clicked on “Shut Down” and all the icons on the screen disappeared but the wallpaper remained, just like earlier. Next, I tried booting into recovery mode (Command+R) and chose the option to reinstall macOS Big Sur, which is what I was running. But, after choosing the disk I wanted to install it on, I got an error message that it couldn’t be completed (see screen photo below)

Feeling frustrated (for some unknown reason 🤯) I decided to try Internet Recovery Mode (Command+Option+R) and am now in the process of installing macOS Ventura (hopefully! 🤞) 1 hour and 10 minutes to go until I know if this worked…)

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Answer 5

E. Kennedy Author

Level 2

213 points

Dec 10, 2022 11:59 AM in response to E. Kennedy

Well, I took a chance and shut down my iMac, waited for about 20 minutes, then restarted it. Started okay EXCEPT it was still in macOS Big Sur! So, it looks like Monterey didn't actually install, despite going through a whole 58 minute installation process all the way up to restarting the iMac to finish installation? Guess I'll give it another try...I'll let you know what happens ;)

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Answer 6

E. Kennedy Author

Level 2

213 points

Dec 11, 2022 11:25 AM in response to E. Kennedy

Ventura was installed and seems to be working okay - all apps I have tried so far are working properly, which was one of the main reasons I was reluctant to upgrade to Ventura directly from Big Sur, rather than trying Monterey first.

Anyway, even though things seem to be back to normal, I still have no idea what happened to start all these problems, and I probably never will :(

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macOS Monterey install freezes at restart after installation finished

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