MacOS 14.4.1 Update MAJOR issues - Can update be rolled back??

Ordered iMac 24 with M3 online, got it 4/11/24 - got through the setup - started update to MacOS 14.4.1 and it got stuck, showing even after 1 hr “30 minutes remaining” without any progress. Called Apple support twice and two Apple advisors tried the following: Restarting Mac and try update again - failed; Shutdown Mac and start in Safe Mode und try to update - failed; Wipe out everything that was entered, shutdown Mac, start Mac and try to update - failed. After more than 3 hrs on the phone, I got an appointment to my local Apple Store for the next afternoon. In the Apple Store I was told that it might be a hardware issue, but ordering a new Apple and having these issues on Day 1, I have lost my trust in Apple at this time and after reading online that many people had similar issues, I asked for a full refund. I wait until Apple will be reliable again, currently they are not in my experience. Very disappointed!

galaxygirl9 wrote:

I've been trying to do the update 14.4.1 all morning it keeps stopping at 30 min. It's been running fine on 14.4, maybe I should just stop trying?

Is this update absolutely necessary? I've looked at other threads and haven't seen anything saying it was urgent.

I've restarted 2 times. I have no third party VPN, and one third party software for writing designed for iOS.

2023 MacBook Air, 24GB/1TB. Space isn't the issue, at this point I'm worried about some weird glitch that could happen or maybe it'll cause it to crash if I keep trying. I imagine that's not great for your computer.

Mostly - I guess I'm hoping there isn't anything wrong with my computer. Every other update has gone perfectly.

You be the judge if the 14.4.1 is important and this is not intended as a flippant remark

About the security content of macOS Sonoma 14.4.1

As this computer is experiencing thhis much of difficulties in moving from 14.4 to 14.4.1

Would it not be possible, the same issue may occur moving from 14.4 to the next version after 14.4.1 ?

Again, you be the judge of this.

Moving forwards on getting 14.4.1 installed, Now.

Restart in Safe Mode. This will perform a Disk Repair, clear cache files and only load Apple Software, extensions and fonts.

The boot up will be slow and can take some time - Normal

While still in Safe Mode , Try Again using the Software Update Applet in System Preferences

Worst case - Restart in Recovery Mode and choose Reinstall macOS.

This in theory will pull the latest version of Sonoma ( 14.4.1 ) available and commence the installation.

This is an Apple issue. My Mac has plenty of memory and is running fine on OS 14.4. The update to 14.4.1 hangs at 30mins forever. I encourage you to wait to update until 14.4.2. as Apple will have reprogrammed the update, or how it is handled by late model Macs. Currently I am on a 2022 MacBook Air 16GB Ram, 1TB HD and have this hang issue. After resters, stopping the download, restarting the Mac and the download etc... issue persists. No performance issue prior calling for an update at this time. So updating with all of the jumping through hoops and safe made to get a problem update seems like a useless endeavor. Let Apple programers figure this out.. Way too many people complaining online about this. It should be fixed soon. Cheers!

Sweet Sitar wrote:

This is an Apple issue. My Mac has plenty of memory and is running fine on OS 14.4. The update to 14.4.1 hangs at 30mins forever. I encourage you to wait to update until 14.4.2. as Apple will have reprogrammed the update, or how it is handled by late model Macs. Currently I am on a 2022 MacBook Air 16GB Ram, 1TB HD and have this hang issue. After resters, stopping the download, restarting the Mac and the download etc... issue persists. No performance issue prior calling for an update at this time. So updating with all of the jumping through hoops and safe made to get a problem update seems like a useless endeavor. Let Apple programers figure this out.. Way too many people complaining online about this. It should be fixed soon. Cheers!

Most interesting assertion.

Have updated 1 M1 , 1 M2 and 1 M3 from Sonoma 14.4 to Sonoma 14.4.1 with absolutely zero issues outside of which machine to use at any given time

Thee are often time issues when there have been many Modification to the OS by either purposefully actions by the user and / or certain types of Hird Party application installed and used on the computer

A couple of noteworthy types of Third Party Application are Third Party Security Software, Third Party Disk Cleaners , Third Party Disk Optimizers and then running over a Third Party Commercial VPN

None of which add any value and in fact are detrimental to a smooth and trouble free update

Sweet Sitar wrote:

My only third party software since this is a fairly new Mac for me is the Adobe cloud Photoshop app. All other apps are included in the Apple software at purchase. Will look into this and any hidden non apple apps.

Hidden applications ?

Download the Application Etrecheck  ( External Link ) directly from the Developer.

The Application is Not a " Silver Bullet "  and is  only a tool to examine the Hardware / Software used on this computer 

This is a Diagnostic Tool that makes no changes to the computer Hardware / Software used on this computer 

The application is free or paid from added features. 

The Report will Not Reveal Any Personal Information. 

Post back the Full Report - copy and paste - >>>> using the Additional Text Icon ( 3rd Icon to last ) <<<<

Lastly - should you decide to use and post the Report now or at a later time, we are willing to have a very close look and offer some insights 

Before one " Drops the Hammer " on the new M3 machine and macOS 14.4.1 Sonoma.

" One Size does Not fit All "

If the new computer is going to be the Apple Silicon M1 / M2 / M3 Equipped Computer - would suggest Only Migrating the User Account and nothing more.

Some have had success.

These are usually the very experienced user who are well versed in trouble shooting and know how to blackout problems.

Others have been left with a mess when Migrating everything.

1 - Apple Silicon  Only Support everything 64 bit and there is no workaround.

2 - Issues that may exist on the older computer will be migrated to the New Computer.

This would badly pollute the new Original and Pristine installation of the new OS.

3 -  Applications, extensions and Software Drivers may or may not even work on the new computer.

4 - IMHO - it would be best to only install new application etc Directly from the Developer or the Apple Apps Store.

5 - Due Diligence on New Applications and make sure they are Sonoma / Ventura / Monterey / Big Sur compatible and factor in the ARMs CPU of the Apple Silicon Computer  

Please run Etrecheck and post its full report here. Use the "additional text" button and paste the report into the text box.

There could be many reasons for a crash, and we cannot ascertain what this may be without further information.

Specifically, for the "your system has run out of application memory" error, there are two most common causes:

1) A memory leak in an application that causes it to request more and more memory from the OS, without releasing it, resulting in no available virtual memory

2) The system drive being too full

Usually, it's the latter, but that report may enlighten us.

Self correction 😔

" There are often time issues when there have been many Modification to the OS by either purposefully actions by the user and / or certain types of Third Party application installed and used on the computer

My only third party software since this is a fairly new Mac for me is the Adobe cloud Photoshop app. All other apps are included in the Apple software at purchase. Will look into this and any hidden non apple apps.

I bought my computer in November 2023, since March 2024 I will get a message every day your computer restarted because of a problem. Kernel panic and a bunch of other words that mean nothing. I googled and it said software or hardware. I contacted my local apple brought it in they reset it to factory. Came home installed my stuff again brand new not from backup. Next day had a message again. Reset computer again, didn't install anything. No message. I installed one program...next day error message. Made another appointment with apple. They kept computer and replaced the entire logic board (so they say). Came home set up computer updating macOS. No messsge installed one program. Two days later error message, happened 2 more times. Now I have been trying things out... disconnected my usb-c hub (cause everything I own is USB), still got error message, now I have disconnected my external screen. So far no error message. This all started when I updated to 14.4. Still trying to determine if it's my external screen that I had been using with no issue since November.

most of my programs are 3rd party programs but have been using them on my old MacBook and my new one without issue for years until march 2024. My most used program is circuit design space and Microsoft excel

I've been trying to do the update 14.4.1 all morning it keeps stopping at 30 min. It's been running fine on 14.4, maybe I should just stop trying?

Is this update absolutely necessary? I've looked at other threads and haven't seen anything saying it was urgent.

I've restarted 2 times. I have no third party VPN, and one third party software for writing designed for iOS.

2023 MacBook Air, 24GB/1TB. Space isn't the issue, at this point I'm worried about some weird glitch that could happen or maybe it'll cause it to crash if I keep trying. I imagine that's not great for your computer.

Mostly - I guess I'm hoping there isn't anything wrong with my computer. Every other update has gone perfectly.

i have determined through testing that all of a sudden my computer doesn't like my monitor being used by the hdmi port on the computer. I can use other tv with no issue and I can use my monitor through the usb-c hub.

galaxygirl9 wrote:

I've been trying to do the update 14.4.1 all morning it keeps stopping at 30 min. It's been running fine on 14.4, maybe I should just stop trying?

You are posting in a thread started by someone else for a different problem. Suggest you start your own thread to customize responses to your particular issue. I will say this -- some of the updates to MacOS 14 have been known to "stay on 30 min remaining" for a lot more than 30 minutes. This time estimate is only very approximate and sometimes not accurate. The Mac will, multiple times, appear to shut down showing only a blank screen, then restart again. The time estimate is not to be relied on. When I did this on a 2019 MacBook Pro, it took a lot less than 30 minutes; I have heard from people at work with newer Macs that it took more than an hour to get past the "30 minutes" stage. It's best to leave it alone for at least a few hours. If you interrupted the update in the middle (how did you do that, by cycling power?), you might have left it in an unstable state. So this really requires a separate thread because your solution may be different.

Try starting up in Safe Mode.

If it works you have some third-party system extension causing the panics.

Thank you very much, I will investigate.

Take care