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How to Stop High Sierra installer from restarting after install failure

After the install fails with error how do you stop the installer from restarting when you use the power button to restart the computer.

iPhone 5s, iOS 10.2

Posted on Apr 13, 2018 1:57 PM

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3 replies

Apr 13, 2018 7:20 PM in response to Jim Wanamaker

As I state that suggestion is not of my creation. However, I believe the answer to your question is to look under the Utilities’ menu at the top. If the suggestion doesn't help then you might follow this instead:


A Troubleshooting Procedure that may Fix Problems with macOS El Capitan or Later


You should try each, one at a time, then test to see if the problem is fixed before going on to the next.


Be sure to backup your files before proceeding if possible.


  1. Shutdown the computer, wait 30 seconds, restart the computer.
  2. Disconnect all third-party peripherals and remove any support software like drivers and plug-ins.
  3. Resetting your Mac’s PRAM and NVRAM
  4. Reset the System Management Controller (SMC)
  5. Start the computer in Safe Mode, then restart normally. This is slower than a standard startup.
  6. Repair the disk by booting from the Recovery HD. Immediately after the chime hold down the Command and R keys until the Utility Menu appears. Choose Disk Utility and click on the Continue button. Select the indented (usually, Macintosh HD) volume entry from the side list. Click on the First Aid button in the toolbar. Wait for the Done button to appear. Quit Disk Utility and return to the Utility Menu. Restart the computer from the Apple Menu.
  7. Create a New User Account Open Users & Groups preferences. Click on the lock icon and enter your Admin password when prompted. On the left under Current User click on the Add [+] button under Login Options. Setup a new Admin user account. Upon completion log out of your current account then log into the new account. If your problems cease, then consider switching to the new account and transferring your files to it - Transferring files from one User Account to another.
  8. Download and install the OS X El Capitan 10.11.6 Combo Update or 10.12.6 Combo Update or Download macOS High Sierra 10.13.4 Combo Update as needed.
  9. Reinstall OS X by booting from the Recovery HD using the Command and R keys. When the Utility Menu appears select Reinstall OS X then click on the Continue button.
  10. Erase and Install OS X Restart the computer. Immediately after the chime hold down the Command and R keys until the Apple logo appears. When the Utility Menu appears:
  1. Select Disk Utility from the Utility Menu and click on Continue button.
  2. When Disk Utility loads select the drive (out-dented entry) from the Device list.
  3. Click on the Erase icon in Disk Utility's toolbar. A panel will drop down.
  4. Set the Format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.)
  5. Click on the Apply button, then wait for the Done button to activate and click on it.
  6. Quit Disk Utility and return to the Utility Menu.
  7. Select Reinstall OS X and click on the Continue button.

Also, see What to do when a macOS update goes wrong and A Mac Troubleshooting Summary.

Apr 13, 2018 2:01 PM in response to Jim Wanamaker

How to abort a macOS installation loop

[A solution provided by user danbeacs. I have edited where needed.]


I noticed a lot of people having trouble with this.


When you've downloaded Mac OS Sierra on your MacBook but either the file is corrupted or you've run out of disk space, it's nearly impossible to get out of the loop by restarting your computer.


When you reboot, a dialogue box saying “Mac OS cannot be installed” may pop up. Click anywhere on the box and the top menu bar will appear. Open Disk Utility and select the grayed out Macintosh HD (or whatever you have named your startup disk,) then press “Mount” - this will take a few moments. If you want to hedge your bet, click on Mac OS Sierra and select “First Aid”, to try and repair any issues with it.


Once your startup drive appears as a mounted drive, go back into the top menu, click the Apple Menu and select “Startup Disk.” The Mac’s HDD should appear. Select it, and then you can click “Restart’” on the installation box.


A nightmarish problem with a fairly simple solution. I learned the hard way. I hope this helps.

Apr 13, 2018 3:29 PM in response to Kappy

Thank you Kappy. In my case it is an late 2010 iMac 27. The installer runs to about halfway and then the window cannot install appears. This window has a re-start button but that just runs the installer again. Using the power button also just re-starts the installer. I have 794GB available on the internal HD so tht is not an issue so I guess it was a corrupt download of the installer. I have a question on your answer. You say click anywhere in the cannot install window and you will get the top menu bar. What in the menu do you choose to open Disk Utility?

How to Stop High Sierra installer from restarting after install failure

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