There’s no denying that Macbook Pro’s recent update Big Sur is a big hit. With the Big Sur update released recently, there has been a massive rush to get it downloaded and installed.
But instead of turning out to be a straightforward and hitch-free process, many users encountered difficulty downloading and installing the new update. A large number of them reported MacBook pro big sur update stuck.
Put simply; this means that the download process didn’t get completed. During the update, their device got stuck on the Apple screen. With several people coming up with the same complaints, it is necessary that a solution come up.
If you encounter the same issue with your MacBook Pro it’s better to wait a couple of hours before taking any step.
- After waiting long enough, if you think there is no progress, you should give a hard restart of your MacBook Pro. Press and hold the power button of your MacBook Pro for 10 seconds until the device gets to turn off.
- Now turn it back on to see whether the problem is resolved.
- If the problem persists, hold the power button again and wait until the device turns off and unplug all unnecessary accessories from your Mac device like printers, drivers, USB hubs, etc. Sometimes issues regarding these accessories are the main culprit that stuck the updates.
If the above mention step doesn’t solve your issues then this comprehensive guide will gradually take you to the right approach to fix this issue effectively.
What Do I Do If My Macbook is Stuck Updating?
In attempting to download and install a new macOS, the Apple logo comes up first. This happens when the device finds the user’s local start-up disk. This is an in-built disk that comes with every MacBook device.
As the installation process continues, the progress bar will come up. With the progress bar now occupying the Apple screen, the Apple logo will likely remain there or disappear. The chances are that the screen constantly alternates with a blank screen.
Precisely during an installation of a MacBook operating system, the progress bar or Apple logo might stay on the screen for a relatively long time.
As the process continues, the progress bar might reduce in speed and pause for a much longer time. Although this is not often the case, users need to know what to do should they find themselves in such situations.
Being aware of the situation, Apple has recommended that potential users download and install updates in the evening or before their sleep time. This is so that the process can get completed overnight.
However, if the waiting time is too long and the process remains stuck on the screen you need to do a hard reset to your MacBook Pro with three simple stages, below are the step you need to do.
First Stage:
Step 1: Hold and press the power button on the device for as long as ten seconds, until it turns off.
Step 2: Once it is certain it has gone off, turn it on again.
Step 3: The issue should get resolved after these couple of steps.
Second Stage:
Step 1: However, if the problem still persists, hold and press the power button again. This time, ensure to press it continuously until it goes off.
Step 2: Detach every other component that has been connected to it. These include USB hubs, drives, printers, and other non-essential accessories. Usually, the problem could have resulted from a fault in one or more of these components. The problem could also be with the cables.
Step 3: Put on the Macbook again. This second attempt should resolve the issue.
Third Stage:
After completing the second stage if the problem still persists, follow the below steps:
- Repeat the initial processes by long-pressing the power button.
- Ensure the device completely goes off at this stage.
- Begin the work from the start-up disk by using Disk Utility to repair it.
- The disk will likely find no error in the device. If this happens to be the case, it’s the right time to reinstall the macOS.
- On the other hand, suppose the disk discovered some errors; it will repair them. The device can be turned on after that.
NB. If the issue persists after restarting the device, macOS should be reinstalled. Perhaps all these steps have been carefully followed and executed, and the problem remains unresolved; users should consider contacting Apple Support.
MacBook Pro Big Sur Update Stuck: How Do I Fix It?
For every user desiring to see their macOS updates, what they seek only appears in the software update section. There’s no need to try to locate this section on the Apple screen. The Apple menu is where they will find it.
During updates or while downloading and installing a new version of macOS, users are to exercise a great deal of patience to complete the process.
Sometimes, it can take hours, and the big sur won’t get downloaded in the end. This only means one thing: something is likely wrong somewhere. To fix the Macbook pro big sur update stuck, below are some methods to adopt.
1. Restart The Device
Before attempting this, it is essential to note that there’s actually a stuck/pause during the installation process. Check the movement of the progress bar. If it refuses to move for a couple of hours, then the chances are that the process is stuck. So, restart the device by:
- Long pressing and holding the power button to put the device off.
- Restart the MacBook
- Things should get back to normal after these steps.
2. Check The Compatibility Of The Device
This version of the macOS update does not work with every Mac model. For instance, it doesn’t support some old Mac models, especially those that are macOS Catalina compatible.
Hence, before troubleshooting, restarting, or doing whatever it is that will be discussed in the next paragraphs, ensure the device is compatible with the Mac pro big sur update in the first place. For easy reference, consider the list of compatible models below.
- iMac Pro (2017 or later)
- iMac (2014 or later)
- Mac Mini (2014 or later)
- Mac Pro (2013 or later)
- Macbook PRI (2013 or later)
- MacBook Air (2013 or later)
- MacBook (2015 or later)
3. Use The Recovery Mode
The processes involved here are quite simple and relatable. They include the following.
- Put the device off
- Restart it, and without wasting time, press the option + command + R keys
- Select the desired language after successfully connecting to a Wi-Fi
- Go ahead to choose the option to reinstall the macOS update.
It is worth mentioning that a few users narrated coming across a screen with a globe when the update was stuck. If that is the case, give it some time for everything to load.
Also Read: How To Recover Deleted User Mac?
4. Restart The Macbook In Safe Mode
If pro big sur download and installation fails to complete as quickly as possible, consider restarting the device in safe mode. The processes include:
- Restart the device
- While restarting, hold and press the shift key
- During that process, users will be requested to log in to a safe mode
- These simple tricks resolve the problem, and the installation should continue from where it stopped.
5. Reset NVRAM on iMac, Macbook Pro, or Macbook Air
The next option might be to reset NVRAM if the previous options fail. If successfully carried out, users can rest assured their macOS update will get completed in due time. Many users narrated how this method saves them stress, so be sure to give it a trial.
The steps involved include the following.
- Turn off the device.
- Hold and long press option + command + P + R
- Continue to press the keys until a start-up sound pops up twice. If the sound doesn’t come up, the Apple logo might come up for the second time.
6. Reset SMC on Desktop and Laptops
Alternatively, users can resolve the MacBook pro big sur update stuck by resetting SMC on desktops and laptops. To do this, use the T2 security chip.
Access the Apple Menu to know whether the device has this tool or not. From there, click on About this Mac. After the System Report, the Controller should be visible. If the device has the chip, it will be right there.
To use the T2 chip to reset SMC on a Mac, follow the steps below.
- Turn off the device
- Ensure the cable is plugged in; hold and long-press Shift + Ctrl + Option. This should take about seven seconds.
- Hold and press the power button for about seven seconds one more time. This must be done while still holding the keys.
- Restart the device.
It is also possible to use the T2 chip to reset SMC on a desktop PC. To do that, the steps involved include:
- Shut down the PC
- Remove the power cord from the power source. Allow 15 seconds and plug it in again
- Give it some time and restart the device.
7. Boost the Internet Connection
Without mincing words, it’s somewhat tricky finding ways to resolve MacBook pro big sur update stuck. More often than not, this problem occurs as a result of failure to check whether the internet connection is stable and reliable or not.
In the case of an unreliable internet connection, Wi-Fi can serve as an alternative. When on Wi-Fi, the Wi-Fi Explorer app should be used to control the connection.
It remains the best network scanning tool to keep the connection controlled. Plus, it also helps troubleshoot some fundamental issues and offers insights on the internet signal.
8. Fix the Wrong macOS Version Downloading
There’s a high probability that some users end up downloading the wrong macOS version. For instance, while trying to download the big sur update, it might end up downloading macOS 10.15.6 after getting stuck. Below is a recommended solution to this issue.
- Access Terminal > sudo -I > and put in the root password
- Next, the following should be copied and pasted to the command
line: /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/Seeding.framework/Versions/A/Resources/seedutil
- The following should also be copied and pasted
/System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/Seeding.framework/Versions/A/Resources/seedutil unenrol
- For users who have been using a developer beta, copy and paste the following again to enroll in the DeveloperSeed Beta
/System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/Seeding.framework/Versions/A/Resources/seedutil enroll DeveloperSeed
- To this end, users can now close the Terminal.
- Make sure the Terminal has been closed, then open system preferences
- Check the software update section
- In this section, locate the new macOS version
Another issue that users are likely to face while downloading and installing MacBook pro big sur is the OS version appearing as 10.6 in the software update section. Notwithstanding, it’s the same profile, and users should not get confused by this.
9. Check the System Status Page
Whenever there’s a pause for long hours while trying to update macOS, users can check the system page available on apple.com to know if the apple servers are in operation at the time.
As the case might be (which is considerably rare), the user’s download server can be down. As a result, the pro big sur update will get stuck along the way. Although it is rare for something like this to happen, users should not cross this off their list.
10. Use Third-party Apps
Sometimes, a more in-depth cleanup is what users need to deal with Macbook pro big sur update stuck. The best way to go about this is by using third-party software. One such effective software is Mackeeper.
With a relatively high level of accuracy, this app can detect documents that are taking up space for no reason. It gets rid of leftover files, logs, cache, duplicates, and even apps that are no longer useful.
The only thing required of any user is to approve the action and exercise some patience for it to get completed.
Wrap Up
While Macbook pro big sur update stuck has become an issue that almost every MacBook user can relate to, it is quite easy finding ways to resolve it.
To fix the problem, users can restart the device, restart in safe mode, use the recovery mode, or try other solutions available in this piece.
Before doing all these, users should endeavor to check the compatibility of their devices. If not compatible, it can be a big deal to download and install new macOS versions.