macOS updates won’t download on my brand new Mac mini

1 - The standard boilerplate reply would be

If an error occurred while updating or installing macOS - Apple Support

2- A more involved approach

There are factors:

There are some things which are beyond your control and those with are totally under your control

Too many other people downloading at the same time and Apple  Servers are overloaded

Software on the computer interfering with the download process including AntiVirus Software

Notation: Disabling the AV Software may or may not solve the issue.

Removal of the AV Software may increase the chances of the download to perform as expected.

Running behind a VPN which may increase Packet losses or corruption of the download 

Turn Off any Third Party Two Way Firewall and try again 

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 

Try Again using the Software Update Applet in System Preferences / Setting 

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

This in theory will pull the latest version of macOS this computer qualifies to run 

Zara339 wrote:

Yeah well my 2023 Mac mini is really messed up. Tahoe at some point failed to finish up. The status bar is only about 10% and will go no further. I had to manually shut it down. Relaunched....I get a sign in page. I put my password in. I get the same progress bar and go nowhere. After a very frustrating couple of hours even Apple couldn't help me. It would have worked in Recovery mode only I didn't have enough space to do it. As I transfer most things to an exterior drive I can't figure out where all the space went. So their solution was for me to take it to an Apple Store (3 hours away) and have them take out the hard drive and wipe the whole thing. Yes I have backups for all but very recent work that I will lose. Not to mention all the apps that will have to be reinstalled if I even remember what they were. Doesn't matter how I feel about all this or how much time and money I've lost not being able to do anything. Figure in the travel time as well. What a waste. No more updates for me. This Tahoe downloaded on my older laptop and older iPad just fine but not on my newer Mac mini. Go figure.

OP wrote " It would have worked in Recovery mode only I didn't have enough space to do it."

The Stock " Off the Self " M2 Mac Mini comes configured with 8 GB Unified RAM and a small 256 GB SSD Drive Capacity Drive

I know this as fact as I do have a M2 " Off the Self " Mac Mini sitting in the Living-room for Only Live Streaming stuff

Updates or upGrades do require a Minimum of about 50 - 60 GB of Free Space

This is so, the update / upgrade can download ie the update for Tahoe 26.1 released Monday Nov 3 clocked in at about 13.xx GB

That 13 GB requires to Expand to possible 26 GB and only then, would the installation begin

OP wrote " and have them take out the hard drive and wipe the whole thing. "

I think you may have misunderstood what they had done

On Apple Silicon computers you can " Use Erase All Content and Settings " which will Not Touch the Operating System itself.

It will remove anything else associated with your user account which would include any Third Party Softwares you have installed plus all your Music, Videos, Pictures etc

Just to clarify

The Unified RAM and the Internal Drive are Soldered to the Logicboard making it near impossible to Only Remove the Drive

To close out my position

It is usually accepted good computer practice to keep between 15 % to 20 % of the Total Drive Capacity as Free Space

refer illustration below

unabatedshagie wrote:

Brand new Mac, like four days old. I'm trying to update it but every time the update downloads a few gig then I get a message "macOS could not be downloaded. Make sure you're connected to the internet and try again."

This happens on both wireless and wired connections and it's not my internet speed.

https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/05111fda-2f9e-4f44-9cc1-8ab6e7f2a417

There is plenty of space on the Mac, it's basically a fresh install with Firefox added to it.

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: OS updates fail to download

If this is a M3 Ultra— it is a known issue and you will have to wait for Apple to push out a patch.

I know of no M3 Mac Mini— it is possible the latest M4 Mac Mini may have an un-reported similar issue(?)

you can file a bug report / submit your Apple Feedback here: Product Feedback - Apple

if no insight or 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

unabatedshagie wrote:

I eventually managed to get the update to install. Took around 3-4 hours of trying on and off throughout the day.

Sometimes the update would fail after 2 gig, other times it would get almost to the end and fail.

I'm just semi-dredding the next time there is an update.

Thank you for the update on the progress.

Actually, this was not a update but rather an UpGrade

There has yet to be a Tahoe 26.1 . The only version available now, is Tahoe 26.0

The issue of the 16.xx GB Upgrade failing can happen for various reason as outlined earlier

Good luck on the next update

Yeah well my 2023 Mac mini is really messed up. Tahoe at some point failed to finish up. The status bar is only about 10% and will go no further. I had to manually shut it down. Relaunched....I get a sign in page. I put my password in. I get the same progress bar and go nowhere. After a very frustrating couple of hours even Apple couldn't help me. It would have worked in Recovery mode only I didn't have enough space to do it. As I transfer most things to an exterior drive I can't figure out where all the space went. So their solution was for me to take it to an Apple Store (3 hours away) and have them take out the hard drive and wipe the whole thing. Yes I have backups for all but very recent work that I will lose. Not to mention all the apps that will have to be reinstalled if I even remember what they were. Doesn't matter how I feel about all this or how much time and money I've lost not being able to do anything. Figure in the travel time as well. What a waste. No more updates for me. This Tahoe downloaded on my older laptop and older iPad just fine but not on my newer Mac mini. Go figure.

Thanks for the info. I should have had enough space! Yes, I guess I misunderstood the take the hard drive out part. By then I was very rattled by all the failed maneuverings and chat. My aging brain can't hold all this tech stuff anymore. This was kind of the last straw as I have unsolvable issues with my iPhone as well. Again, thanks.

Zara339 wrote:

Thanks for the info. I should have had enough space! Yes, I guess I misunderstood the take the hard drive out part. By then I was very rattled by all the failed maneuverings and chat. My aging brain can't hold all this tech stuff anymore. This was kind of the last straw as I have unsolvable issues with my iPhone as well. Again, thanks.

You are welcome

Should have enough space is not the same as Actually Having enough space

Lesson learnt

Just a follow up

Any progress ?

👍

As we know, user bylines are not always accurate

Mac mini, macOS 26.0 ??

🦉