How to update Ventura without upgrading to Sonoma?

Ventura 13.6.4 - Downloading the Installer

You should have 35GB to 40GB of free storage. Apple menu bar icon (upper left corner) -> About This Mac -> More Info... -> Storage

12+GB for the InstallAssistant.pkg. 12+GB for the “Install macOS Ventura” app. And the rest is used during the install, as existing operating system components are replaced with new components.

You will get most of the storage back after the upgrade completes.

If at home, disconnect from the VPN so you get your ISP’s full bandwidth.

Using any web browser, download the following URL (it is 12+GB):

https://swcdn.apple.com/content/downloads/32/13/052-33049-A_UX3Z28TPLL/702vi772ckrytq1r67eli9zrgsu8jxxoqw/InstallAssistant.pkg

The above URL will download InstallAssistant.pkg to your Downloads folder.

Double-Click on the InstallAssistant.pkg file.

This will place a copy of the app “Install macOS Ventura” in the Applications folder.

NOTE: Before starting the installation, it is wise to backup any important files before applying a major operating system upgrade.

Finder -> Go (menu) -> Applications -> Install macOS Ventura

Double-Click on “Install macOS Ventura”

This should start the Ventura installation.

After the installation is complete, check the System Settings -> General -> Software Update and make sure there are no incremental updates available (hopefully not, but check to make sure).

The Applications -> “Install macOS Ventura” will delete itself after the install. Then you can delete the Downloads -> InstallAssistant.pkg to recover that 12+GB of storage.

The Software Update panel will show the currently available operating system that one can upgrade too, and potentially below that, the text "Another update is available." and a More Info… link. When you click on that link, it will show any currently available update that is available for the installed operating system if among the two previously supported releases (e.g. Monterey, Ventura) if the main upgrade shows Sonoma.

So if that More Info… link showed Ventura 13.6.3 and Safari 17.3, clicking these would install these choices and not Sonoma.

I've had better luck from the Safe Mode because I evidently had some 3rd party software that interferes with the downloading and installing 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.

What makes you think Sonoma will slow down your Mac?

Ventura 13.6.1 was released 3 days ago, 10/4.

You should be able to go to the App Store, search for madOS Ventura and find, download and install that update.

Or go to the System/Software update setting pane and see if it will appear there.

As noted, Ventura 13.6 is the current version.

Using the following Terminal command on Sunday Oct 8, 2023

This is what I am getting

softwareupdate --list-full-installers

Finding available software

Software Update found the following full installers:

* Title: macOS Sonoma, Version: 14.0, Size: 12555162KiB, Build: 23A344,

* Title: macOS Ventura, Version: 13.6, Size: 11657005KiB, Build: 22G120,

* Title: macOS Ventura, Version: 13.5.2, Size: 11655353KiB, Build: 22G91,

* Title: macOS Ventura, Version: 13.5.1, Size: 11655520KiB, Build: 22G90,

* Title: macOS Ventura, Version: 13.5, Size: 11654590KiB, Build: 22G74,

* Title: macOS Ventura, Version: 13.4.1, Size: 11513284KiB, Build: 22F82,

* Title: macOS Monterey, Version: 12.7, Size: 12107687KiB, Build: 21G816,

* Title: macOS Monterey, Version: 12.6.9, Size: 12111110KiB, Build: 21G726,

* Title: macOS Monterey, Version: 12.6.8, Size: 12119078KiB, Build: 21G725,

* Title: macOS Monterey, Version: 12.6.7, Size: 12115649KiB, Build: 21G651,

* Title: macOS Big Sur, Version: 11.7.10, Size: 12125478KiB, Build: 20G1427,

* Title: macOS Big Sur, Version: 11.7.9, Size: 12125714KiB, Build: 20G1426,

* Title: macOS Big Sur, Version: 11.7.8, Size: 12120994KiB, Build: 20G1351,

I only see 13.6. Per this link it still shows only 13.6. Unless 13.6.1 is a beta?

Apple security releases - Apple Support

Whenever I try to do a software update to Ventura 13.6.1, I get the message unable to install updates. It stays in installing mode without completing installation. I have a MacBook Pro Ventura 13.5.1.

I don't want to install Sonoma because it will slow down my computer. I just want to install the latest Ventura update from last October, which I have not done yet. However, I keep getting unable to install update error message.

Is the updated Ventura version necessary to prevent bugs? In Safari, the google and gmail webpages are blacked out in addition to my webcam. I don't know if this new version will fix those issues. Also, will I lose open web pages after I install The updated Ventura version? I have all these web pages I wanted to review but they are black out due to this issue or I want to keep those web pages to read when they're not blacked out.

These days Ventura updates are just bug fixes and Security updates.

Applying a Ventura update should not affect any of your data, nor what tabs and windows your web browser opens when it launches.

But no one knows the future, and something could go wrong. Which is why it is always wise to have a backup before applying any update or upgrade.

I’ve been working with computers for 50 years, most of the time nothing happens, but given enough time eventually something does, and I have been thankful to have backups.

Thanks, I was finally able to update Ventura using this link. Guess what? It fixed the black screen issue on websites. However, my web cam still has a black screen. So, I don't know how to fix this issue and I need the web cam to work for meetings.

cnovice wrote:

Thanks, I was finally able to update Ventura using this link. Guess what? It fixed the black screen issue on websites. However, my web cam still has a black screen. So, I don't know how to fix this issue and I need the web cam to work for meetings.

Boot macOS Safe Mode:

Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support

If 3rd party software is involved, Safe mode should not start it when you boot.

And make sure you take the post-it note off of the camera lense 😁. And yes I have a post-it note covering my Macbook Pro camera.

My web cam works now. After the followed the following steps to reset my web cam, the message in Command stated no matching processes so I'm not sure if this helped or not. Right after, I quit all applications in the dock since I read that another application could be using the camera although no meeting software was opened.

"To restart your Mac camera, go to 'Applications,' then click on the arrow next to 'Utilities' and scroll down to 'Terminal. ' When the Terminal window opens, type in 'sudo killall VDCAssistant' and hit 'Enter. ' Enter your administrator password (if requested) and hit 'Enter."

My web cam works now. After I followed the following steps to reset my web cam, the message in Command stated no matching processes found so I'm not sure if it helped or not. Right after, I quit all applications in the dock since I read that another application could be using the camera although no meeting software was opened. Then, my web cam worked.

"To restart your Mac camera, go to 'Applications,' then click on the arrow next to 'Utilities' and scroll down to 'Terminal. ' When the Terminal window opens, type in 'sudo killall VDCAssistant' and hit 'Enter. ' Enter your administrator password (if requested) and hit 'Enter."