Getting stuck on 14.4.1 install at 30 minutes remaining

I've had better luck from the Safe Mode because I evidently had some 3rd party software that interfered 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 - download and run the installer from the Safe Mode.

I had the same issue.

To be able to install 14.4.1 – and any other future versions if the issue persist:

1. In the Apple menu select App Store
2. Search for "Sonoma"
3. Click the Get button

Il will download the installer app to your Applications folder (the installer app is about 14GB in size).

Once the download was completed I had to reboot the system as the automatic upgrade prevented somehow the installer to start – after rebooting I was finally able to upgrade by double clicking on the "Install Sonoma" app.

Hope this helps!

The size of the installer is 12,1 GB: do you have enough space to download the full installer?

Did the installer started automatically at the end of the download?

It should have started automatically if the file was downloaded completely.

Please note you need to run the installer instead following the standard update procedure from the Apple > System settings... > General > Software Update menu.

To run the installer open the Applications folder and look for the "Install Sonoma" icon: if you don't see the icon it means the download is not completed yet or you do not have enough space to download it. In such case delete some files (we all usually keep files in the downloads folder even when we don't need them anymore) and try to download the installer again.

Also, the full installation process takes at least 30/40 minutes to complete, so be patient.

MacBook Air 2020

I FINALLY am updated.

After letting it sit for over two hours at 20m remaining, then trying Safe Mode several times and having the same problem, I reinstalled iOS by holding down the black power button until my drive popped up, then clicked Options, followed the prompts, reinstalled iOS, once it was done reset once more, and the update had been completed. Nothing was removed from my comp and now I’m good to go. That was a lot of trial and error, and I haven’t read the updated messages on this thread, so maybe someone else already came to this conclusion, but hopefully this helps someone! What an unnecessary nightmare.

How much free space on you drive?

In Disk Utility>View, select Show all Devices, highlight the top left entry.

Run Disk First Aid on all items in the left panel, from top down.

I ended up reinstalling Sonoma and now I have the latest OS. My apps and documents didn't get wiped, everything is the same as before the reinstall. I'm not sure if this would be the same case for everyone.

I did the reinstall from the "Options" menu which pops up when holding down the power button on boot up, same method for getting option to boot in safe mode.

Thanks for the advice, reinstalling Sonoma (which if done from web also installs 14.4.1 version - obviously) fixed the problem.

Worth setting off overnight… it took a loooong time!:)

I had this too, on a 2018 Intel I7 15" Macbook Pro.

Going to safe mode and then running the update did the trick for me.

Hey there, had the same issue with a 2020 Intel iMac. I gave up trying to get 14.4 and decided to wait until 14.5. That didn’t work either. Did a complete clean install and everything else you can think of. Ended up giving up and taking it to the Apple Store. They ended up finding a glitch on the chip and had to reflash it. Once they did that, they were able to get 14.5 installed without any issues. Mine was a work system so I still had Apple care on it so there was no charge, just took them about a week to figure it out.

Do you have any of the following third party apps installed on your Mac?

·      Antivirus Apps

·      Cleaning Apps

·      Security Apps

·      VPN Apps

·      Maintenance Apps

Also had problems with 14.4.1 update. Reinstalling Sonoma fixed the issue. Thanks for the help.

just check my answer here above:

255549897

and let us know if it fixes the problem for you as well,

thank you!

just check my answer here above:

255549897

and let us know if it fixes the problem for you as well,

thank you!

Same problem as you all. And though I've tried installing in 'safe' mode several times now, Apple support first suggested using another wifi network (?), questioned modem vs router use (router), and then sent me instructions on how to open in Safe mode. Not super helpful.