How do i delete a downloaded (but not installed) software update file?

Look for "install macOS Tahoe" in your Applications folder. Drag it to the Trash. You may need to enter your administrator password.

Try looking in /library/updates

Finder->Go->Go to Folder-> /library/updates

If that’s all you see then I don't know where else to look. The file may have already cleared. Have you checked Storage to see if it has changed. Other than that maybe someone else will come along with better advice.

space34 wrote:

in my system settings>software update, it now shows i have tahoe 26.2 downloaded which is 9+ gigabytes, with the option to 'upgrade now'.

Predicated by this information and quote " with the option to 'upgrade now'. .

From my limited understanding .

The macOS 26.2 Tahoe is totally downloaded and can not be deleted, full stop

It is waiting for the user to action this " upgrade now "

There is no turinng back - full stop

Owl-53 wrote:

space34 wrote:

in my system settings>software update, it now shows i have tahoe 26.2 downloaded which is 9+ gigabytes, with the option to 'upgrade now'.

Predicated by this information and quote " with the option to 'upgrade now'. .

From my limited understanding .

The macOS 26.2 Tahoe is totally downloaded and can not be deleted, full stop

It is waiting for the user to action this " upgrade now "

There is no turinng back - full stop

If there is no "quit" option I wonder if a force restart of the computer (hold down the power button for a few seconds until it shuts down) would get out of this? Apparently nothing has been changed in terms of system files until the upgrade actually starts.

Limnos wrote:

Owl-53 wrote:

space34 wrote:

in my system settings>software update, it now shows i have tahoe 26.2 downloaded which is 9+ gigabytes, with the option to 'upgrade now'.

Predicated by this information and quote " with the option to 'upgrade now'. .

From my limited understanding .

The macOS 26.2 Tahoe is totally downloaded and can not be deleted, full stop

It is waiting for the user to action this " upgrade now "

There is no turinng back - full stop

If there is no "quit" option I wonder if a force restart of the computer (hold down the power button for a few seconds until it shuts down) would get out of this? Apparently nothing has been changed in terms of system files until the upgrade actually starts.

Hum , I do not know for certain if your suggest will or will not work

Can only suggest if OP gives this a try we shall know.

Though they should be prepared for the worst ie Thahoe 26.2 being installed

If the window presentation is the kind that an app would make with a window with the app name at the top left, see if there is a quit option under the file name. You'll understand that I do not want to start my computer upgrading in order to test this for you. ;-) It is possible that there is a quit option under the menu items even if there isn't a button. For that matter, if there installer app is showing in the Dock you should even find a force quit option if you click on the icon in the Dock and then go to Options.