Can't install MacOs Tahoe on Mac Studio M3 Ultra

I have an M3 Ultra Studio as well and ran into the exact same issues. Even tried it under safe boot with all peripherals removed and it still did the same thing with the install. What I noticed is that after the computer restarts to install, it holds at one spot on the progress bar for about 15-20 second and then the system restarts again, gives a process of "11 minutes remaining", and right back to the login for 15.7. I submitted the error report and logs while on chat with Apple last night and she stated that other Studio users were having issues and that was in the hands of Apple engineers at this point. Very bad look for a $4K computer when my iPhone, watch, and 2 Apple TVs all updated without issue.

TL;DR

I tested the "DFU Firmware Revive" with a second Mac, which allows to keep your data. The firmware installation was successful. The subsequent installation of Tahoe from 15.7 failed once again. I cannot confirm if in my system DFU Firmware Restore would work. Total duration of the process: 3-4 hours wasted!

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To anyone who wants to try "DFU Firmware Revive" (keeping data) instead of "DFU Firmware Restore" (wiping out ssd), below was my unsuccessful procedure:

1) Revive was successful: I did have a TM backup, but it was not necessary to wipe out ssd

2) I used this USB-C cable with power delivery - no Thunderbolt (as per directions in the guide)

3) The cable needs to go exactly in the back rightmost (TB1) port which is the DFU port for the Studio - see pic below.

4) Followed exactly what the procedure described in the article posted below by HWTech (How to revive or restore Mac firmware - Apple Support)

5) Studio appeared immediately in my MacBook Air (with Tahoe) and I hit "revive"

6) The process was very long - it downloaded the whole image 18GB

7) There is a blinking orange light on the front of the Studio during the download process.

8) While updating/verifying the firmware the light will become steady white

9) The Mac will restart in recovery mode: authenticate and it boots into 15.7

10) Performed the Software Update installation to Tahoe 26 - again very long process (re-download 18GB)

11) The installation failed like before, rebooting in 15.7

Hopefully Apple will step up by testing before releasing upgrades on their top of the line machine.

[Edited by Moderator]

26.0.1 is out and I just updated successfully the "normal" way through systems settings.

I then went ahead and wiped out everything with the "DFU Firmware Restore" - same setup as for "Revive". The procedure was much faster because my laptop had still the image.

This time the system rebooted into a fresh installation of Tahoe 26 (and now will have to reinstall everything).

At least there is a solution, even if it is a poor one - I used to have to do something like that and waste this much time with other OS, but never with a brand new MacOS.

I confirm the following on my system:

1) the only procedure working at the time of writing (12pm 9/19 Pacific) is Restore ("Revive" fails as I described below)

2) the procedure to get a fresh version of Tahoe (wiping out your data) is the same as shown in this link (just choose "Restore" instead of "Revive")

3) make sure to have a backup because this wipe out your hard drive - ideally Time Machine for faster recovery via Migration Assistant

4) the firmware DFU Restore is for me exactly as it was before

Hardware Overview:

  Model Name: Mac Studio

  Model Identifier: Mac15,14

  Model Number: MU973LL/A

  Chip: Apple M3 Ultra

  Total Number of Cores: 28 (20 performance and 8 efficiency)

  Memory: 96 GB

  System Firmware Version: 13822.1.2

  OS Loader Version: 13822.1.2

5) after the restore installed a fresh copy of Tahoe, when the system boot you will have the option to load back everything from the Time Machine backup with Migration Assistant:

I don't think there is any update in the firmware as culprit in my system, simply the "DFU Firmware Restore" force up a fresh installation via cable.

The bigger issue now is that I am not sure if there will be any of these problems with future updates on Ultra M3 so it would be nice if Apple figures out the real issue here.

[Edited by Moderator]

Quick update.

I end up going to the Apple Store today and doing the complete wipe and upgrade.

What I tried prior to go into Apple Store:

Multiple styles or upgrades via your system settings

Multiple upgrades by downloading their update in command line

Twice trying to install in safe mode

Once trying to install in recovery mode, it’s actually never pulled in Tahoe

I performed DFU revive and try to upgrade no luck

Finally, I decided to go to the Apple Store, hoping that they will do upgrade, but they attempted to do the upgrade and we’re not successful so they end up completely wiping the hard drive and doing a fresh install of Tahoe.

no based on my conversation with genius bar engineers and managers, they don’t even have the guidelines on how to respond to this issue from corporate.

Which actually enforces my suspicion that although it is on radar for engineers, but they have no clue when it will be rectified.

So what about this?

1) Time Machine the current 15.7

2) Restore the main Macintosh HD.

3) Install Tahoe 26

4) Boot up in Recovery and use Migration to transfer all files and app's to the Macintosh HD.

It's a little time consuming, but would that work?

Imagine wrote:

So what about this?

1) Time Machine the current 15.7

2) Restore the main Macintosh HD.

3) Install Tahoe 26

4) Boot up in Recovery and use Migration to transfer all files and app's to the Macintosh HD.

It's a little time consuming, but would that work?

Except for #4 (which I didn't have to use it), this is exactly what I did - procedure on this link

Because of the 'sort by rank' and not 'sort by date' of this forum, the message history is hard to follow - you can change that:

• at the top of the replies

• in your profile preference if you are registered as user

Note that #4 is not necessary because Migration Assistant is part of the reboot process on a fresh installation.

I may say that the system with DFU Restore works actually better (once the other Mac has downloaded the image) because it cleans up a lot of scurf from previous upgrades and TM can import only selected items. I bet this is what they do in the Apple Store when they refresh your machine.

The only draw back is that relies in fast connections - ideally done on a gigabit ethernet or even better thunderbolt direct connection. In my case the procedure lasted 20min vs wasted hours of reinstallation attempts.

I just want to add another data point here.

Ive had some issues with logging in lately so I had a relatively clean installation where I was not worried about doing a wipe.

I went the DFU restore route NOT revive using Apple Configurator and was able to boot up Tahoe.

No other method worked for me.

Spamo51 wrote:

I'm not a philosopher like you, and I installed MacOS Tahoe on my MacBook Air M4 and MacBook Pro M4. All applications work perfectly, and I only notice improvements in the performance of some (the graphics ones, which I use the most).

So why can't my most powerful computer, the Mac Studio Ultra M3, enjoy the benefits of a more powerful operating system?

According to a post I saw on this forum where a user looked more deeply into the error encountered, they claim to have discovered the installer for the Mac Studio Ultra M3 doesn't have the proper files/drivers for the new Apple Neural engine. Obviously Apple didn't perform enough testing on the publicly released installer. Apple now focuses more & more on bright shiny new baubles than on stability & reliability & fixing existing bugs and meeting self imposed release dates. That appears to be Apple's priorities.

Unfortunately since Apple doesn't usually announce updates to their installers, it will be anyone's guess when a fixed installer will be available to those using a Mac Studio Ultra M3. Just wait a while & try again. Unless you have a pressing need, just wait a month & try again.

I've just had to deal with Apple for 20+ years and I've learned that Apple has changed for the worse during that time. It is just experience knowing that all users can do is file official support requests with Apple to address the issue & hope Apple deems the issue to be worthy of being fixed. I for one have stopped contacting Apple for all but the most severe groundbreaking issues because I know the futility of dealing with Apple these days.

26.0.1 solved this issue for me and the upgrade was successful.

if you downloaded the Installer it is sitting in your Applications folder, you can launch it from there

try launching the installer from a SafeBoot and try again.

Applications/ "Install macOS Tahoe.app"

no resolve—

Call Customer Support (800) MY–APPLE (800–692–7753)

or on line https://getsupport.apple.com/

or call AppleCare Support at 1-800-APLCARE (800-275-2273)

Outside the USA—Contact Apple for support and service by phone

See a list of Apple phone numbers around the world.

Contact Apple Support - Apple Support

Hello.

Same issue here with my Mac Studio 2025 (M3 Ultra).

As other people have done, tried updating to Tahoe through system settings, creating recovery USB and installing through that but get the same issue every time.

It's obviously an issue with the build provided by Apple and their Studio M3 Ultra.

All my other Apple devices, including my MacBook, updated to Tahoe with no problems at all.

Could you please check which firmware version you have after Apple Store updated it?

You'll find it under About this Mac - More Info… and at the bottom click on System Report…

Under Hardware Overview: you will find your System Firmware Version:

In my case it is 13822.1.2

What is yours?

RaymondIdema wrote:

I also had this issue. Talked this morning with an engineer, and that one said it is on the radar. Also I mentioned this thread and particular that reply that you could bring you device to an apple store to fix it. He said we could do that also at home if you have another Apple device that is non-intel.

An Intel Mac running macOS 26 Tahoe should work as well. There are just a couple Intel models that can actually run Tahoe. Hopefully that is why the tech said that. Since Apple Configurator still seems to be at v2.18 for Sequoia, then there is a chance a Mac running macOS 15.x Sequoia may still be able to be used as well when using the Apple Configurator app if Sequoia's Finder is not sufficient.