Level 1

55 points

Macbook 2016 stuck in an update loop

Hello!

As the title says, I received my 2016 macbook pro 15' last week and everything was fine until today when my macbook shut down on its own and attempted to install an update. However, prior to completing the update, I get the following error message:

"A critical software update is required for your Mac, but an error was encountered when installing this update. Your Mac can't be used until this update is installed."

I am given the option to either try again or shut down which leads to the same situation and my laptop is now stuck in this loop. I was hoping someone would be able to assist me with this. Thanks!

MacBook Pro, iOS 10.1.1

Posted on Dec 8, 2016 11:01 AM

Top-ranking reply

Hyper-X2

Level 1

4 points

Posted on Jan 8, 2018 3:13 AM

I just experienced this problem on my TbMbp. When you boot into normal mode, it will present you the Network Connection screen to choose a WiFi access point or Ethernet. No matter what you do, it will always fail and leave you with the message where the Mac can't start up unless the critical update is installed. This was performed on a 2016 model 15 inch MBP (flagship model).

Here's what I tried:

- SMC and NVRAM reset
- Online Recovery, First Aid on internal SSD
- Mac Diagnostic Utility (showed no problems)
- Time Machine Backup from an earlier, working point in my backup history
- Delete Partition, reload OS from scratch via Internet Recovery

None of these worked. It will always present you with the description at the top of this posting.

Symptoms:

- Will boot into Safe Boot fine. (This is how I managed to save my files to an external HDD)
- Touchbar will not light up, no way to control brightness, volume, etc. from the touchbar.

What I found on the internet about this problem:

- The Mac's OS and the Touchbar's OS (two separate OS's) are having a problem recognizing each other. The T1 CPU for the Touchbar cannot start up because the Macbook's OS (OS X High Sierra) is unable to "see" the Touchbar.

Solution:

- After chatting with Apple online and trying a few things listed above, I asked to schedule my laptop for service at the nearest Apple Store Genius Bar.

- At the Genius Bar, the tech has never heard of this problem at his location, and connected my TbMbp (Touch bar Macbook Pro) to their in-house diagnostic server, and ran something called "Mac Resource Inspector" (MRI) from an iPad. MRI is some kind of Apple Tech-only diagnostic software which connects to a machine inside the store.

- After 15 minutes, I noticed the Touchbar light up, I could see some of the Touchbar controls show up. The diagnostics did not complete until 5 minutes later where it said it found no problems.

- The tech then restarted my machine but each time performed a NVRAM reset before allowing my computer to continue booting into Normal Mode. I noticed my Touchbar light up before finally showing me the login screen.

Final Thoughts:

- I read that some people had their machines shipped out for servicing or replacement. I can't be sure if the problem I experienced is the exact same thing as everyone else but it appears that the MRI software was able to either reset something or actually loaded something into my machine allowing the problem to go away.

- I would strongly suggest that you schedule an appointment and have the Apple Genius Bar technician run the MRI software on your machine.

I hope this helps.

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52 replies

CyWa228

Level 1

4 points

Jul 11, 2017 7:53 AM in response to prpshrt

Hi guys, please help..

I bought a 2017 13in MBP with Touchbar while on holiday in the USA 2 weeks ago. I brought it back to my home country (Indonesia) and promptly migrated everything from my 2011 Macbook Air...

A few days ago, I ran into this Critical Update Loop problem. I have disabled the firewall of my wifi router, and SOMETIMES it allows me to complete the update & log in normally (other times, it will keep looping and I have to hit RETRY several times until it completes or I give up and try some other time)

Even if it manages to complete, the next time I power off and on again, it will take like 2-3 minutes to boot & that is a sure sign the Critical Update loop is back.

I seriously doubt the local Apple engineers will have a clue. Even if they do, they may be unwilling to help coz I did not purchase my MBP from them... and thus returning my MBP for a replacement is also not an option 😟

My OS is already 10.12.5 btw..

@Alen Salamun: I don't have similar items under my /systems/library/extensions

@DiegoCAS: I tried an SMC reset, but the loop comes back if I reboot (or maybe I'm not doing the SMC reset properly)

How can I resolve this issue once and for all?

Thanx so much for any help...

Aug 8, 2017 6:34 AM in response to diegoCAS

Thx, that worked for me, too. Macbook Pro (2017) was stuck during shut down (High Sierra beta 4), when re-booting showing this weird screen I never saw before, re-istnalled, etc, no luck. After reading this thread and already dealing with returning the Macbook I tried the SMC reset and it worked, thx again!

Aug 18, 2017 2:20 PM in response to atifsaddique

Its the same for me.

The answer of technical service is

- Hard disk erasure and operating system installation is performed and failure persists

- Various software and hardware tests are performed and the fault persists

- Logic card must be changed, the hard disk is included.

- Unfortunately this piece is not in Chile and the time of arrival is estimated in 16 days approximately

Nov 16, 2017 4:49 AM in response to diegoCAS

This has solved the problem for me.

Before this incident my USB 3 hub (Anker) kept preventing my MBP from booting up. I have to unplug the hub in order for the machine to start. I am still through with the diagnostics as I need to find out if it is one of the USB devices plugged into the hub or the hub itself.

All I can say is that this MBP is the most unreliable so far. I had 3 before this, never ad many issues. Sorry Apple!

Oct 30, 2017 1:23 AM in response to prpshrt

In my case it was caused by several reasons, only when "Kensington SD 15500" dongle was connected, the message appear. I've fixed removing Mac Pro's old extensions, installed via Time Machine in the first user recovering. These extensions was in /Library/Extensions:

ACS6x.kext

ArcMSR.kext

ATTOCelerityFC8.kext

ATTOExpressSASHBA2.kext

ATTOExpressSASRAID2.kext

CalDigitHDProDrv.kext

HighPointIOP.kext

HighPointRR.kext

PromiseSTEX.kext

SoftRAID.kext

Removing they has resolved my problem.

Kappy

Level 10

362,007 points

Dec 8, 2016 11:03 AM in response to prpshrt

Your computer is new and in warranty. Use your 90-day free telephone support or make an appointment at the Apple Genius Bar for service. If needed find an Apple Store - Find a Store - Apple.

zimjhz

Level 1

16 points

Dec 17, 2016 6:57 AM in response to prpshrt

I had the same problem . It was fixed by doing an internet system software installation. Immediately after pressing the start button press option command r together. This caused a completely new system to be installed and it fixed the problem. It also did not delete the user info already transferred and it was nice that that step did not have to be repeated. I called Apple tech support and they set me on this path.

Dec 30, 2016 6:57 AM in response to zimjhz

Same thing happened to me. Had to reboot with Command-R MacOS Recovery and re-installed the OS. I didn't have to do internet recovery, good thing because I did not have Wi-Fi at the time. One problem I did experience - when it came back up I had a very difficult time reconnecting to my Wi-Fi and I had to go through diagnostics to get it to connect. Could this be the underlying problem with the update, it's not able to connect to Wi-Fi in the process?

prpshrt Author

Level 1

55 points

Dec 30, 2016 1:41 PM in response to prpshrt

Hey all thanks for the replies! Unfortunately I wasn't able to resolve the issue and Apple had to replace the entire machine. I'm hoping this doesn't happen again but I'll keep the internet recovery in mind if it happens again.

Feb 1, 2017 11:21 AM in response to AvailableName

I'm having this exact same problem today. Don't know exactly how to proceed

Feb 15, 2017 2:14 PM in response to grillorafae

Same issue what is the solution????

I can update the critical software it takes 2 min but the same screen is coming again after each reboot

I have already done a hard clean

Feb 15, 2017 9:54 PM in response to kaka_tahiti

I started having the same issue today. Where did you buy your Mac from? And how can it be an illegal version?

Moquette

Level 1

17 points

Feb 23, 2017 11:06 PM in response to AvailableName

So unfortunate.

Same here, new install, internet Recovery to no avail.

Phone support unable to help, Genius Bar scheduled. I believe I'll be met with the same system replacement fate.

Feb 24, 2017 2:08 AM in response to Moquette

I just gave mine to Apple Store Support.

Waiting for an updated from them

Apr 26, 2017 7:25 AM in response to Johankman

Thanks, this solved my problem, and I do not lose my files 🙂

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Macbook 2016 stuck in an update loop