Mac Can’t Update: Causes and Solutions

With some frequency new updates come from macOS, the operating system of Apple computers. If your Mac does not update, for whatever reason, it is evident that something is wrong, so in this article we help you find the source of the problem and enjoy the latest version available.

Why not ignore this problem

If you have this problem that your Mac is not updating, we recommend that you skip the subject, since it is very important to have the latest software update. Beyond aesthetic and functional innovations, each version of macOS incorporates performance improvements, bug fixes and security measures against malware and other vulnerabilities. It is true that sometimes corrections are more important than others, but it is always just as vital when it comes to keeping your Mac safe , since despite the false belief that macOS is safer than Windows, this is not really the case and both can be vulnerable.

Mac Can't Update: Causes and Solutions

Is your Mac compatible with the latest updates?

If there is no option to update your Mac, it could be due to two things. The first, that there is no more recent update and therefore you are already in the latest version. The other possibility is that your Mac has stopped receiving software support. If you have a more or less recent Mac, this is not the cause, but if you have a Mac from 2012 or even earlier, with almost all probability it is already obsolete and will not receive any more updates, except for some possible complementary that fixes a specific failure.

macOS Catalina

As of today, these are the Macs that continue to receive macOS 10.15 updates:

  • iMac : 2012 and later models.
  • iMac Pro : all models.
  • Mac mini : 2012 and later models.
  • Mac Pro : 2013 and later models.
  • MacBook : 2015 and later models.
  • MacBook Air : 2012 and later models.
  • MacBook Pro : 2012 and later models.

macOS 11 Big Sur

MacOS 11 will launch soon, reducing the list of compatible devices to the following:

  • iMac : 2014 and later models.
  • iMac Pro : all models.
  • Mac mini : 2014 and later models.
  • Mac Pro : 2013 and later models.
  • MacBook : 2015 and later models.
  • MacBook Air : 2013 and later models.
  • MacBook Pro : late 2013 and later models.

Check the free space

Almacenamiento Mac

If you have not been able to download the macOS update, it may be because you do not have available disk space to host the update. This is usually warned with a popup window. There are several ways to free up space, some of them proposed by the Mac itself from the Apple menu, going to “About this Mac” and clicking on the “Storage” tab. In any case, here are some tips that may be useful for this purpose:

  • Use iCloud , hiring a higher space rate if necessary. You can save a lot of files that take up a lot in the cloud, thus freeing up space on your Mac. Services such as Google Drive, Dropbox or any other can also serve you.
  • Use external devices to save these files if the cloud doesn’t convince you. Pendrives, external drives and NAS are a good option.
  • Organize your files : it is likely that not all the files you keep on your Mac will be useful to you, so doing a manual review could help you detect them and clean them.
  • Check the downloads , since they are usually files that take up a lot of space in the long run and we consider them forgotten. Not just documents, but songs, series and movies downloaded from streaming services, including podcasts.
  • Empty the trash because really what you have here is not automatically deleted and in fact it is possible to recover it at any time. Do not wait for the 30 days necessary for the automatic deletion to occur and proceed to delete these files completely.

If the download is very slow

Internet Mac

Downloading a new version of macOS can be exasperating when it takes a very slow process. A server crash is usually the main reason for this, especially if you are carrying out the update shortly after it is released. In any case, check your internet connection , either by cable or WiFi. You may have to reset the router sometime, perform a speed test or even contact your company if the results obtained are less than what was contracted. In any case, the best remedy for this problem is patience, even if it costs.

Error message when updating

Fallo actualizar Mac

If you get an error message when updating, we find that again the source could reside in a server crash. There are millions of Macs around the world and even though not all of them are going to be updated at the same time, the truth is that there will be tens of thousands who do it and this could cause that collapse. Try to obtain more information depending on what the error pop-up suggests, since in many occasions more precise data about the failure is provided and this helps to find the best solution.

Update your Mac in safe mode

Iniciar Mac modo seguro

If you haven’t been able to update your Mac despite everything, you may have to proceed with the installation in safe mode. To do this you must restart the Mac, and just when it turns on, hold down the shift key . You must hold down this key until the login options appear and then you can proceed to enter your user account and perform the update as in normal mode.

Format the Mac to update it

Restaurar Mac para actualizar

We recognize that this is the most tedious solution of all, no longer for the time it takes but for the inconvenience of having to completely restore your Mac. You can try to make a backup copy for it in case in case this update method doesn’t work, you want to recover your previous data.

To perform this formatting on the Mac you must follow these steps:

  • Fully shutdown your Mac.
  • Press the power button while pressing the Command + R keys. Do not stop pressing these keys until you see the Apple logo on the screen.
  • In the window that appears now you must click on “Disk Utility” . In this section you can find the different disks and partitions of these.
  • Click on “Erase” the disk or partition where you want to install macOS again.
  • Close the window, since you can go back to the previous one and click now on Reinstall macOS .
  • Follow the steps outlined to install the latest software.

Ultimate solution to update Mac

As a last resort to this problem, there is no one who can help you better solve it than Apple itself. We recommend you go to the company’s technical support website, where you will find different options to contact a professional or request an appointment at the technical service.