Software Update failing on High Sierra: (NSURLErrorDomain error -1012.)

When I try to run Software Update (on High Sierra), I get the following error:

"An error has occurred / This operation couldn't be completed. / (NSURLErrorDomain error -1012.)"

I've been trying a few solutions I've found here and on google, but I don't want to make the problem worse by trying something more complicated that I don't fully understand, so guidance would be appreciated.

I noticed I've had a few 'network' related errors popping up in different places the last few weeks, so I think this is another one, and I suspect they are all part of the same problem. Hopefully these can give you a clue:

-screen sharing (with Apple support) won't connect any more. it says it's connected but they see nothing.

-adding new accounts in SystemPreferences>InternetAccounts fails to load remote web content.

-when I connect new iPhone 15 - 7.0.3, high sierra will prompt to install update to support the device, but the download fails to establish after I click to install.

-High Sierra installer 1) downloaded from Mac App Store or 2) from Recovery Install, both fail to connect to servers during attempted installations.

-and now software update.

As a test, I installed a clean High Sierra on another drive (same Macbook Pro) and 4 of those 5 issues don't occur on the clean system. I can't test screen sharing or I might be 5 for 5.

I tried reinstalling High Sierra on top of itself (on the problem system), but I still get the same errors afterward.

I tried a different internet connection, but no change.

I have NO VPN.

I have tried with built-In firewall disabled.

I have Little Snitch, but it's disabled.

Ideas?

Help?

MacBook Pro 17″

Posted on Oct 21, 2023 10:21 AM

Top-ranking reply

Scott Bernard Author

Level 1

46 points

Posted on Nov 15, 2023 2:35 PM

Scott Bernard wrote:

Well, we sort of finally found the problem, and I have a painful working solution to get around it, since we can't fix it.

Well, I have to revise my earlier post after further testing revealed some things, and other helpful users gave some really good instruction.

The big discovery since my earlier post:

***ALL High Sierra Clean Installs come with the errors/problem... ...until you restart it once.***

Everything below is revised to reflect this.

We sort of finally found the main problem, and I have a working solution to get around it, since we can't fix it.

If you are on High Sierra and none of the other "(NSURLErrorDomain error -1012.)" threads fixes have worked for you, keep reading.

The Problem:

It seems there is something local stopping connections to at least swscan.apple.com, but we don't know what/where it is in order to fix it in-place.

Do you have the same problem?

1. First, I suspect you have to be on High Sierra to have this problem. I installed multiple Mojaves and they were all error-free.

2. Second, take a look at these related errors to the main problem. Errors 1-3 are the easiest to test for, but maybe some of the other errors already look familiar.

1) Can't add Google or Yahoo email accounts to Internet Accounts pane.

2) Software Update failing on High Sierra: (NSURLErrorDomain error -1012.) (this thread)

3) iOS 17 iPhone 12 not showing up on 2009 iMac iTunes.*

*make sure you have the latest iTunes version if you test. On High Sierra this should be 12.8.3. For some users, this version never appeared in the App Store software Updates section. Get it here: Download iTunes 12.8.3 for Mac

4) Can't download High Sierra full installer.

5) other unspecified "server" or "connection" errors.

3. Third, do 1-3 occur together? If you have 1 or 2 of the errors, but a 3rd one works fine, you likely don't have the problem described above, and this solution would be overkill.

The Solution:

1. The eventual workaround is to install a clean copy of High Sierra.
2. Migrate your users and data into the clean copy, but to avoid ugly permissions problems, try following the outline found here: Is there a difference in results between Migration Assistant app and 'Transfer Information' option during OS installation?
3. The High Sierra installer installs an older version of iTunes. You want to install the latest version of iTunes or you may have device connection issues. On High Sierra this should be 12.8.3. Get it here: Download iTunes 12.8.3 for Mac
4. Check the App Store software Updates section to see if the error is gone. If it's NOT gone, don't panic, just restart your system once, and check again.

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49 replies

a brody

Level 10

85,296 points

Oct 21, 2023 4:47 PM in response to Scott Bernard

There aren't any more updates for High Sierra. So fixing it won't make a difference. If you want the most up to date Mac OS for your Mac, those two updates will ensure you have the best of High Sierra.

a brody

Level 10

85,296 points

Oct 30, 2023 5:01 PM in response to Scott Bernard

Scott, I'm sorry, but we can't comment on installing unsupported software. My best adivce is to wipe and install the latest supported software. Unsupported software frequently yields kernel panics, and other undesirable conditions. Just because it works for you, doesn't mean its remnants won't create a problem for you later.

Oct 30, 2023 6:17 PM in response to a brody

I always appreciate the reply, but I don't think it applies, and I've already tried some of the solutions given as well. I still think this is my bigger unidentified problem causing all these errors.

a brody wrote:

NSURLErrorDomain - 1012" when enrolling devices with Apple Configurator. This error sometimes occurs because Apple Configurator has cached an expired certificate

This laptop has never been a managed device, nor used to manage other devices.

older files may have out of date certificates which can usually be bypassed by setting the system time to an older date.

Give me a date and I'l try it. How far back?

https://www.techinpost.com/nsurlerrordomain-error-1012-code/

1. Try using Wi-Fi Network –

2. Close your Netflix App & Restart –

3. Try Resetting or Changing your Wi-Fi or Internet Connection –

Already on WiFi, already tried secondary WIFI. Already restarted EVERYTHING multiple times and retried. I think I have been pulling my hair out for 3 weeks now.

ALSO, remember that High Sierra booting from a thumb drive, on the exact same laptop and network, doesn't have this, or the other errors I mentioned in earlier posts. Everything is normal. To me, that rules out the connection, the local network setup, and the laptop hardware. It would probably also rule out out of date certificates originating from Apple's High Sierra installer. But I can't find the problem, so I'm keeping an open mind to potential solutions, or even just finding new clues.

a brody

Level 10

85,296 points

Nov 1, 2023 4:08 AM in response to Scott Bernard

High Sierra will only do APFS on solid state drives. While you can format with Disk Utility HFS Extended GUID initially, you will want to reformat it APFS again before installing HIgh Sierra on a solid state computer. I've seen situations where that clears bugs in installers too.

Oct 21, 2023 3:24 PM in response to a brody

Yes, got both via Chrome 116.0.5845.187, You lost me on which browser I should have used. Hope that one is okay.

Do I go ahead and install these? I'm sure I already did originally when they came out.

High Sierra is my max OS, but I do have an unsupported Mojave install on a thumb drive to play with if that would be useful somehow.

Oct 21, 2023 4:35 PM in response to a brody

a brody wrote:

The combo and security update can give you same effect as using software update for your computer.

But I really want to find and fix the problem, not work around it.

Well, that's not what I expected for either. Maybe because they are already installed? Trying to install on "Macintosh SSD".

Oct 21, 2023 4:52 PM in response to a brody

a brody wrote:

There aren't any more updates for High Sierra. So fixing it won't make a difference.

Software update should still be pulling up all my other app updates.

But more importantly, whatever is causing this is likely causing the other 4 issues I mentioned in the first post. For all I know, there could be a lot more, but these are the only ones I've run into so far in the last few weeks.

a brody

Level 10

85,296 points

Oct 21, 2023 5:09 PM in response to Scott Bernard

There aren't any more App Updates. Software Update only downloads the ones Apple produces. And Apple hasn't produced anything for High Sierra in several years. The App Store is a separate facility.

Oct 21, 2023 5:17 PM in response to a brody

a brody wrote:

Software Update only downloads the ones Apple produces.

Not true. I don't know why nobody believes me. Here is a screenshot from my clean install High Sierra Software Update that works normally, showing 3rd party apps.

Here is the screenshot from my problem High Sierra Software Update showing other app updates that recently came out and I installed before it began acting up.

But again, I'm more concerned with whatever the underlying problem is.

a brody

Level 10

85,296 points

Oct 21, 2023 7:10 PM in response to Scott Bernard

That's a Mac App Store update, not the one that appears on Apple menu -> About This Mac -> Software Update screen. The error is likely because the said links on the App Store are going to old links on their third party publisher site that have not been updated from the High Sierra Mac App Store. Remember, many of these developers have dropped access for High Sierra. As long as their certificates are not up to date, errors like this will happen. You need to contact the third party developers directly, and see if they offer an alternative download that is still High Sierra compatible. The help menu on many of these titles will let you visit their website. You can frequently find these titles on

https://roaringapps.com/apps?platform=osx and see what release was last compatible with and the publisher website.

a brody

Level 10

85,296 points

Oct 21, 2023 7:27 PM in response to a brody

Apple's Preview application in the Applications folder offers PDF editing capability. It isn't as elegant as some of the more pro applications, but the icon in the toolbar enables many of the editing features:

This icon enables text box input

This icon enables modifying of text box font and color

Keep in mind all edits are final when you hit save, though you can take the white boxes to white trim on the boxes to blot out errors on former images.

I'm not aware of a substitute for Honey, but many discounts can be found through retailmenot website.

iBoostUp is actually malware. Any software that purports to optimize your Mac does the reverse. What it does is is deletes cache files the Mac uses on its own to optimize itself. Comparable optimizers are horrible because they delete the cache files used to launch applications.

Do not install MacKeeper - Apple Community

What do you do want to do to optimize your Mac is keep at least 15% of the disk space free, backup your data, and make sure that you keep an eye on the health of your older Mac drive.

http://www.binaryfruit.com/ DriveDX can tell you how much life is left on your hard drive.

If you need alternatives for other apps, let us know.

Oct 21, 2023 11:37 PM in response to a brody

a brody wrote:

That's a Mac App Store update, not the one that appears on Apple menu -> About This Mac -> Software Update screen. The error is likely because the said links on the App Store are going to old links on their third party publisher site that have not been updated from the High Sierra Mac App Store. Remember, many of these developers have dropped access for High Sierra. As long as their certificates are not up to date, errors like this will happen.

That's EXACTLY the update screen from AppleMenu>AboutThisMac>SoftwareUpdate. Maybe it's different in whatever OS you are on, but that's where it is on High Sierra.

As I mentioned, I also have a clean install of High Sierra, and the exact same Updates screen works flawlessly for both system updates and 3rd party app updates. The error has nothing to do with individual 3rd party apps support.

a brody wrote:

Plugins for Safari are also likely to no longer be supported, as Apple only supports Safari on Monterey, Sonoma and Ventura.

Again, I'm more interested in solving the underlying problem, as I think it's causing other issues elsewhere as well. I can't even remember how many apps I've downloaded or for what tasks I used them. Right now, their best use is just showing up (on my clean install update window), or not showing up (on my problem system update window). That way I can compare what is or isn't working yet.

a brody wrote:

http://www.binaryfruit.com/ DriveDX can tell you how much life is left on your hard drive.

Oct 22, 2023 10:03 AM in response to BDAqua

a brody wrote:

1. Delete PLISTs

/Users/<my username>/Library/Preferences/com.apple.appstore.plist

/Users/<my username>/Library/Preferences/com.apple.appstore.plist.lockfile

/Users/<my username>/Library/Preferences/com.apple.softwareupdate.plist

I do have com.apple.appstore.plist.

I DO NOT have com.apple.appstore.plist.lockfile

I DO NOT have com.apple.softwareupdate.plist

The only other "appstore" plist I have is "com.apple.appstore.commerce"

There are no "softwareupdate" plists at all.

Should I try the procedure, even though only 1 plist to delete?

Oct 22, 2023 11:06 AM in response to a brody

a brody wrote:

If after an erase and install (there is no such thing as a clean install), and switching users you get the same symptom, it is a systems issue. I'm suspecting it is networking not working right somewhere.

https://forums.ivanti.com/s/article/NSURLErrorDomain-1012-error-when-trying-to-enroll-a-DEP-registered-device?language=en_US

No, there is no button in the OS Installer that officially says "Clean Install"... I just meant 'NOTHING from the old system was used to install or set up the new system' (except the laptop hardware of course). I bought a blank thumb drive, formatted it, then installed High Sierra on it, and chose "Don't transfer any information now". I did not use the Migration Assistant after the fact, either. Sounds pretty clean to me.

The ivanti link is regarding MDM, and my device was never managed. I don't even see a resolution in their resolution section. What am I missing?

Oct 22, 2023 2:32 PM in response to Scott Bernard

My local IT guy suggested I look into my certificates. If I find any bad ones, I could download a new copy, or copy a new one off my clean install system.

Most of the bad certificates are bad on both my problem system, and my clean system, so no help there.

I did find a few that are bad on my problem system, but don't exist good OR bad on the clean system, so I'm inclined to rule those out (see attached pics anyway).

Does this info help anything? Can I delete these bad ones? LOL

Scott Bernard wrote:

a brody wrote:

1. Delete PLISTs

/Users/<my username>/Library/Preferences/com.apple.appstore.plist

/Users/<my username>/Library/Preferences/com.apple.appstore.plist.lockfile

/Users/<my username>/Library/Preferences/com.apple.softwareupdate.plist

I do have com.apple.appstore.plist.

I DO NOT have com.apple.appstore.plist.lockfile

I DO NOT have com.apple.softwareupdate.plist

The only other "appstore" plist I have is "com.apple.appstore.commerce"

There are no "softwareupdate" plists at all.

Should I try the procedure, even though only 1 plist to delete?

No verdict on trying this with only 1 plist mentioned?

Thanks

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Software Update failing on High Sierra: (NSURLErrorDomain error -1012.)