Pop up message with ""A critical software update is required for your Mac" comes up while updating MacBook Pro.

That error message indicates a hardware issue of some sort with the laptop which is affecting the Touchbar. While I have seen a couple people post here on these forums that reinstalling macOS solved the problem, but I've never seen that help with any of the laptops I support in our organization. Every single time I have seen this error with one of our organization's laptops....it has always been a hardware issue.

This "required software update" is actually referring to the EmbeddedOS that needs to be uploaded to the Touchbar so the Touchbar can function. macOS refuses to boot normally if this cannot be achieved and in fact macOS actually deletes the local hidden copy of EmbeddedOS from the internal SSD so that is why it is trying to download a new copy. Until the hardware issue has been resolved, there is no way to boot this laptop normally.

In the mean time you can boot into Safe Mode to continue using the laptop in a degraded & more limited mode until it can be repaired and to allow you to make a good backup before having the laptop serviced.

Unfortunately I cannot say exactly which part is defective. It may be the Touchbar itself which is part of the Top Case Assembly, or it may be the Logic Board, or it may be the Display Assembly (I have seen the built-in camera fail which somehow interferes with the Touchbar being able to upload the EmbeddedOS image). This is what I have personally experienced while supporting thousands of our organization's Apple laptops.

Finally found an easy fix after not being able to use my mac pro for 3 months! As a designer that's pretty annoying, anyhow..... After a bit of digging and troubleshooting, I found out that in simple terms it's the update not communicating with the servers properly. So, how I managed to get around this was, I simply went into WIFI settings and forgot all my wifi network... restated and VOLIA, bypassed the screen asking for wifi and started with no problems. This fixed my issue.

Hope this helps!!!!!

I was on a call with Apple a while ago, they performed the first aid run, didn’t do much , they then proceeded to install Monterey onto the utilities disk - it downloaded okay, got to where you add your password- once I put that in the laptop fully died , does not even start via - shift, ctrl, option - power -

god knows what happened then ?

It is possible something (drive) was in a failing state which is why the odd warning appeared in the first place. Trying to work the disk hard reinstalling might have pushed it over the edge.

I'm pretty sure that model had an SSD in it, so that failing is pretty rare. As P. Phillips suggested, use Apple Support to make an appointment to have it looked at.

To be forwards about the above reply.

Sorry this has occurred but at this point and sadly so >>

Then have a few suggestions ;

1 - Have the computer evaluated by the Professionals who have the Special Hardware Software and Expertise to diagnose the issue and offer possible solutions

2 - Make an Appointment at the Apple Genius Bar and have them evaluate the computer

Forgot to say you’ll have to start in safe mode first ( hold shift whilst starting) and forget all the WiFi settings and restart, it will then work!

as stated before, boot in safe mode, forget all WiFi settings, restart and you will be fine!

Try booting in Safe Mode (hold Shift right after the chime and hold it until boot is complete).

Thx.

It could be that your present version of one of the Apple Applications like iMovie or GarageBand is messing up when the update is trying to download and install.

From vague memory of that other time seeing this issue was to remove the existing application.

The go to Apple Apps Store and look for Past Purchases

Re- download the newer version of the application

Before attempting any of the above - make a Time Machine Backup as the computer exists now

Incase this goes sideways

On a different take on this issue which bears asking

The Internal Drive of this computer is an Apple Original Drive ?

Certain Models of the MacBook Pro from 2017 can use Third Party and After Market Drives to Upgrade the Storage

Unfortunately, SSD drives do have a life span which when reached - well they fail.

Though, at this point, it has yet to be determined by the Professionals if that is what has actually happened and hopefully not 🤞

Where are you seeing this: "a critical software update is required for your Mac"

Are you on a website and this pops up? If so, ignore it, it's a scam.

I've seen that before ... an exclamation point and a tuxedo, but can't remember what it is. IIRC it was associated with an app.

You are right and something to do with iMovie or GarageBand updates