softwareupdate --fetch-full-installer --full-installer-version 15.4.1 / Error

Is there any new information on this one?

I just started on a small project yesterday that relies on getting the latest installer using the 'softwareupdate --fetch-full-installer --full-installer-version <version>' command and regardless of OS version I'm seeing the (Install failed with error: Update not found) error as the OP. I've tried the command on 15.4.1, 15.3, and 13.7.4 all with the same result. I've also tried downloading different versions, 15.4.1, 15.4, and 15.3.2 all with the same error.

When I run the 'softwareupdate --list-full-installers' command I do see all of the versions available as expected but can't seem to get a successful download.

I can confirm " softwareupdate --fetch-full-installer --full-installer-version 15.4.1 " >> still fails

I have certain ideas as to why this is happening but that would be conjecture

Already running 15.4.1 on 1 M2, 1 M3 and this M4 Machine

A defect is a defect.

What is unproductive is saying otherwise and quoting license agreements, etc.

If functionality worked and now does not work, it is a defect.

It is a defect in the software if it should work and now does not work.

It is a defect in the software if it is no longer supported and:

• help has not been updated
• man page has not been updated
• error messages have not been updated
• command line options have not been removed

It is a defect in the documentation if it is no longer supported and has not been documented.

Functionality is typically deprecated first with a warning over multiple releases in the software and documentation before final removal usually in a major release.

Full installers can still be downloaded for all available versions on macOS 15.3.2 or lower.

Preface

This machine is Already running Sequoia 15.5

Finding available software

Software Update found the following full installers:

* Title: macOS Sequoia, Version: 15.5, Size: 15283299KiB, Build: 24F74, Deferred: NO

* Title: macOS Sequoia, Version: 15.4.1, Size: 15244333KiB, Build: 24E263, Deferred: NO

* Title: macOS Sequoia, Version: 15.4, Size: 15243957KiB, Build: 24E248, Deferred: NO

xxxxx@Mac ~ % softwareupdate --fetch-full-installer --full-installer-version 15.5

Scanning for 15.5 installer

Install failed with error: Update not found 

I have certain ideas why this happening

Though, it would be speculate at best

Therefore suggest taking this issue up directly with Apple

To start with an aside If you please

Like self, not getting Notifications of new replies like yours - in the same boot sort of speak

You are right in that the Terminal Commands cease to work

In which case, the appropriate request to our Host might be order ?

No Idea why this was done.

Things are usually done for some reason ?

Which only they could possible answer

toomm1 wrote:

the same error also occurs if you try version 15.3.2, for example.

As I said, 3-4 weeks ago it still worked normally. I had installed 15.3 then.

When I then installed 15.4, it no longer worked, but probably just a coincidence.

It seems that Apple has changed something here,

as @dialabrain wrote, either syntax, server, or whatever.... !?

" coincidence " ?

Apple is known to change things and is not always forthright unless one digs deep as you have 👍

Thank you for sharing this issue.

Otherwise I may have been suggesting that which no longer works

Owl-53 wrote:

Like self, not getting Notifications of new replies like yours - in the same boot sort of speak

Yes, however, I posted 5 minutes before yours so you should have seen my post, without getting a notification.

OP wrote " ie this is a defect introduced in 15.4 "

What we were used to and what is are not always one and the same thing

Apple Owns the Operating System

We users Lease the Operating System from Apple

SOFTWARE LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR macOS Sequoia

As such, Apple is well within their Ownership Rights to affect changes which we users are obliged to accept

Yes, it was great to use Terminal to Download Full Versions of Sequoia Pre version 15.4

But this all changed, for reasons Only Apple could possible answer

Conjecture or guessing as to why, is really unproductive

toomm1 wrote:

I still have a question about the script/Terminal command:

softwareupdate --fetch-full-installer --full-installer-version 15.4.1

I have been getting the error for about 3-4 weeks:

Scanning for 15.4.1 installer

Install failed with error: Update not found

It doesn't matter whether it's 15.4.1, 15.4, 14.7.5, 13.7.5, etc., it just doesn't work anymore.

At first I thought it was because I updated from 15.3 to 15.4, because it still worked with 15.3.2, but it seems to have been a coincidence, in any case it seems that Apple has a general problem here, why this command no longer works !??

Does anyone know more in the meantime ??

SteepedInGreatMystery wrote:

I can confirm the feature remains nonfunctional as of today.

Tried it on two different machines, both running 15.5.

Works fine for me…

dialabrain@iMac-M3 ~ % softwareupdate --fetch-full-installer --full-installer-version 15.4.1

Scanning for 15.4.1 installer

Installing: 2.0%

Can’t open .dmg or .zip files – “DiskImag… - Apple Community

It seems reasonable to start to believe

If this is an oversight by Apple where in Sequoia 15.3.1 released Feb 10, 2025, 15.4 released Mar 31, 2025, 15.4.1 released Apr 16, 2025 and 15.5 released May 12, 2025

Let is see what may or may not occur in the possible release of a Sequoia 15.6.

Unconfirmed reports of a Beta to Developers as of early this week

At the moment, it baffles me too

I hesitate to put forth some ideas as it would be speculative at best

As mentioned, what happens should 15.6 drop could be a good Tip Off.

Better I leave it at that

Still not received - notification

On separate Other Question

The OP replied 05:53 AM Today

Received Notification Today @ 11.21 AM

Enough said on this issue, OK

This error still persists. Anyone has found any work around for this?