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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

49 replies

Oct 21, 2023 12:50 PM in response to a brody

a brody wrote:

Any Remote Management software in Apple menu -> System Preferences would access it. Talk to the school or company that you last worked with.

Thanks for the reply, but it's my own laptop. No school or work management. I bought it new and it never leaves my hands.

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 4:52 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

84,011 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.

a brody

Level 10

84,011 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.

BDAqua

Level 10

245,189 points

Oct 22, 2023 3:32 AM in response to Scott Bernard

To find out if it's system wide or user specific, try this...

Open System Preferences>Users & Groups, unlock the lock, click on the little plus icon, make a new admin account, log out & into the new account.

Does it work in the new account?

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?

BDAqua

Level 10

245,189 points

Oct 22, 2023 5:16 PM in response to BDAqua

I believe you can delete any with a red X because they're not going to work unless you override & self sign them, but do you have a backup?

I'd try adding the new ones first & see how that works.

Oct 22, 2023 5:59 PM in response to BDAqua

BDAqua wrote:

I believe you can delete any with a red X, but do you have a backup?

The last bunch are under "System Roots" and apparently require more work in Terminal than I am comfortable with, in order to remove them.

I had no problem removing the earlier ones that were under "login" and "System".

I always have a backup, btw.

Oct 30, 2023 4:28 PM in response to BDAqua

I'm still suffering, and looking for a solution.

From my testing it seems like High Sierra installed on a thumb drive will always be error free, but on an internal or external hard drive, it always has the errors. I can't explain it.

I've installed the unsupported Mojave multiple times on hard drives now, and they always work normal, free of the errors.

I've also used Migration Assistant to bring EVERYTHING over from an error High Sierra system, into a working Mojave system. The errors DO NOT migrate over.

I also tried cloning a working thumb drive High Sierra onto a hard drive, but it won't boot up.

I wanted to try a Sierra system out of curiosity, but I can't get the installer to work right.

a brody

Level 10

84,011 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 5:14 PM in response to a brody

a brody wrote:

Scott, I'm sorry, but we can't comment on installing unsupported software.

I just want my functional High Sierra back. I don't want Mojave. But I felt the results of that testing might provide some clue to somebody.

a brody

Level 10

84,011 points

Oct 30, 2023 5:21 PM in response to Scott Bernard

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

That's what Google comes up with. Certificates are attached security profiles that come on all downloaded software. Given Apple updates are no longer current in High Sierra and older, and for that matter Big Sur and older, any older files may have out of date certificates which can usually be bypassed by setting the system time to an older date.

But you may have to set the system time on routers, and any other network connectivity it taps into as well.

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

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

84,011 points

Oct 30, 2023 6:42 PM in response to Scott Bernard

Ultimately you may be right. The installer could be flawed in some way from Apple. How it originally downloaded.

Apple hosts its installers in the Cloud. What that means is it has multiple server farms in different part of the world. Whichever has the least network traffic at the time of download is tapped into.

I can tell you that I didn't get the High Sierra installer to work on an external hard disk of mine that was running Sierra. I expect because my 2015 MacBook Pro has a firmware installed on its SSD that blocks High Sierra or Mojave from being used. I need to at some point locate the original SSD that doesn't have the firmware on it.

It complains the firmware is wrong on the volume I am trying to install it on.

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