Sequoia 15.7.1 Update Download Idled

Terminal command below will pull the Full Version of Sequoia 15.7.1

Which would be about 12 GB

softwareupdate --fetch-full-installer --full-installer-version 15.7.1

Third-Party Anti-Virus, Protecting, Cleaning Software and VPN's can block the Mac's ability to Update/Upgrade.

If you have any of those installed on your Mac, uninstall them as per the developers instructions.

The Safe Mode instructions are different if you have a newer Silicone Mac.

see > Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support

Hard to say if the problem is on your end or with the Apple Update Server.

1) Try updating in Safe Mode to rule out any problems on your end.

see > Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support

2) How long are you waiting before stopping ⊗ the download or closing System Settings > Software Update..?

If the servers are swamped, it could take 5 minutes or so for the server to respond to your request.

Well I went and checked the DNS settings that I had customized long ago to use Google. I removed those and added Cloudflare and things worked.

Now I added the Google Ones back and removed Cloudflare and checking -- and it works now.

Hope that helps others.

• Edit DNS and remove all.
• Retry, then add Cloudflare and Google to see if it helps.
• Or use your local network/router default.

The OpenVPN connection was what was needed to get the installation to complete.

Notes

• After the install I was on my main WiFi mesh (Nighthawk) connection through Spectrum Cable (500 Mbps down/10 up). I tried checking for updates in "System Settings" - get an error that it can't connect.
• I switch to my older Apple Time Capsule WiFi and get the same error.
• So maybe an Mac networking configuration that would be common between them.
• I use their WiFi to connect to the VPN tunnel and the update checks works like it should - no connection error.

I was hoping the 26.0.1 update would fix things so a VPN isn't needed.

Any suggestions?

MightyMurb wrote:

So far on the latest attempt... About 3+ hours!

The progress bar has now got to about 60% and the install is now "Preparing", but the estimated time remaining has remained stuck on "About 30 minutes" for the last 1-2 hours...

That is good progress.

Forget about the estimated time (it is not accurate) let it finish preparing and then install the update uninterrupted.

den.thed wrote:

MightyMurb wrote:

So far on the latest attempt... About 3+ hours!

The progress bar has now got to about 60% and the install is now "Preparing", but the estimated time remaining has remained stuck on "About 30 minutes" for the last 1-2 hours...

That is good progress.

Forget about the estimated time (it is not accurate) let it finish preparing and then install the update uninterrupted.

So True, it is very inaccurate

1. I am told in "System Settings" that an update is available. That should be 15.7.1 or 26.0.1 -- But when I select "System Settings" it never completes to show the updates.
2. I started in safe node (shift-key-down) on Startup -- nothing works here.
3. I can use Safari to go to Apple.com and other web sites with no problem.
4. But if I try the terminal command, "softwareupdate --fetch-full-installer --full-installer-version 15.7.1" (or 26.0.1) I get back the error "Didn’t get a response from the Software Update server ((null))." - though #3 still shows internet access.
5. I downloaded the full 26.0.1 installer and get an update during it running -- just says "failed to install".
6. I'm trying the 15.7.1 full installer download now and will also try an OpenVPN connection to my son's server 300 miles away.

You never really needed any of that junk-ware with the latest macOS versions.

see > Apple Platform Security - Apple Support

All it did was block-up your Mac's ability to update/upgrade and forced you to juggle that junk-ware.

Patience and more patience

Get up and walk around

From personal experience when the macOS 26 Tahoe 26.01 update was released

So you are not alone

Tahoe 26.0.1 update - Apple Community