This update requires connection to a power source to install updates later, but no update to install

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This update requires connection to a power source to install updates later, but no update to install

We have an M2 MacBook Air running macOS 14.5 (23F79). I spends much of its time no connected to power, because the battery lasts for ages. We've had this laptop since November 2022, and it has been great. However, for the past few months (I can't remember when this started exactly), when I open the laptop and get into my user account, it displays the notification "Not Connected to Power. This update requires connection to a power source to install updates later". This seems self-explanatory. On my desktop there is a volume mounted called "Update". Here's my issue:

System Settings tells me that my Mac is up to date, which is what is shown if I select the notification.
Plugging in the laptop and restarting it temporarily fixes the issue, but I can almost guarantee that the next time I open the laptop when it is not plugged in, the notification will be back again.

Has anyone else encountered the same and, more importantly, knows how to make this stop? I could leave the laptop plugged in when not in use, but I don't really want to do that. Is there an update it is trying to install and having a problem that is not appearing in Software Update. I've tried looking at the Update volume but I am not seeing anything useful there.

MacBook Air

Posted on Jul 13, 2024 1:38 AM

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Answer 1

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Marcus Peaston Author

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119 points

Aug 6, 2024 4:13 AM in response to Marcus Peaston

I've continued to have this issue and posted the same to the MacRumors forum. A response to my post suggested the problem was caused by the Mountain app that I've used for many years to manage mounting/unmounting volumes, based on another thread that reported the same issue on a Mac Mini. It sounds like Mountain is abandonware, which is such a shame. I've quit the app, moved it to Trash, and restarted. I'm not expecting to see this issue back again, given the positive responses to the MacRumors thread saying that this fixed the problem.

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Answer 2

Aug 2, 2024 3:24 AM in response to leroydouglas

Further to my update from yesterday, I confirm the same issue is continuing today. I've opened the MacBook this morning and was greeted by the "Not Connected to Power" notification telling me that "This update requires connection to a power source to install updates later". This is definitely surprising given that I'd installed the latest macOS update probably not much more than 12-hours earlier. If this is indeed for "background and critical" updates, with which I have no issue, I'm wondering both why connection to power is needed when the battery has (this morning) 85% charge, and why this issue has not been a constant since we bought it. Something is not right here. The laptop was perfectly happy to install the macOS update yesterday without a connection to power, which I'm sure was a much bigger task.

I've restarted the MacBook (not connected to power) and the Update volume has disappeared from the Finder, and the notification is also not being shown. Does this mean that the update has been installed successfully, or will it (as I suspect) be back again later today? Time will tell.

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Answer 3

Aug 1, 2024 10:42 AM in response to leroydouglas

Thanks very much, Leroy, for the suggestions and apologies for not having replied. I had not taken any action until this evening, when I noted that the same issue was still occurring, so I have updated to 14.6 and then performed a restart cycle using Safe Mode. I'll see if that fixes the issue going forwards.

With regard to the battery, I confess I was still used to advice to not leave laptops plugged in all the time.

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Answer 4

Jul 13, 2024 7:51 AM in response to Marcus Peaston

Marcus Peaston wrote:

• We have an M2 MacBook Air running macOS 14.5 (23F79). I spends much of its time no connected to power, because the battery lasts for ages. We've had this laptop since November 2022, and it has been great. However, for the past few months (I can't remember when this started exactly),

when I open the laptop and get into my user account, it displays the notification "Not Connected to Power. This update requires connection to a power source to install updates later". This seems self-explanatory. On my desktop there is a volume mounted called "Update".

Here's my issue:

System Settings tells me that my Mac is up to date, which is what is shown if I select the notification.

• Plugging in the laptop and restarting it temporarily fixes the issue, but I can almost guarantee that the next time I open the laptop when it is not plugged in, the notification will be back again.

Has anyone else encountered the same and, more importantly, knows how to make this stop? I could leave the laptop plugged in when not in use, but I don't really want to do that. Is there an update it is trying to install and having a problem that is not appearing in Software Update. I've tried looking at the Update volume but I am not seeing anything useful there.

you can try a SafeBoot Use safe mode on your Mac - Apple Support will sort many anomalies

Apple uses its Software Update service as a mechanism for installing “background and critical” updates that are installed silently in the background with no notifications to the user.

The rule of thumb—if you are near the mains leave it plugged in, if you need the portability then run on the battery only—this is how you help optimize your battery charging and extend the working life of your battery by reducing the cycle count.

About BHM battery health management M1/M2/M3 SoC:

About battery health management in Mac notebooks - Apple Support

Determine battery cycle count for Mac notebooks

Determine battery cycle count for Mac laptops - Apple Support

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