How to Fix a Stuck Mac OS Sierra Installation

MacOS High Sierra - MacBook Pro
Quick Fix

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Updating your Mac with the new macOS Sierra is simple, but sometimes the installation process may get stuck. This can be caused by various reasons, such as power failure, insufficient space on your Mac, or other issues. However, there are several solutions available to fix this problem, and we’ll help you troubleshoot the issue step-by-step.

Prior to a Frozen High Sierra Installation

If you still haven’t got past through the download stage, here are a few solutions to try:

  1. Check the servers of Apple.

Whenever Apple releases an update for High Sierra, many Mac users will rush to download it. Because of that, Apple’s servers slow down. Thus, your first course of action should be to check the System Status page of Apple and see macOS Software Update to find out if there are problems.

  1. Switch to a wired network.

Believe it or not, downloading the update is much quicker when you use a wired connection than when you tap to a WiFi network.

  1. Cancel your download.

One of the possible fixes for a stuck download is to simply cancel it. Start by navigating to the Mac App Store. After which, look for the update you are downloading. Finally, press the Option/Alt key. There should now be an option to cancel your download. Click the Cancel button, and you should be able to restart your download without any problems.

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  1. Download the update from the support website of Apple.

If you are still having issues with downloading the update through the Mac App Store, visit Apple’s website instead.

How to Know If the Installation Has Stalled

Generally, if there is a problem with the software installation, it will show on the screen. In some cases, an Apple logo with a loading status bar will show. Sometimes, you will see a “spinning beach ball”. On some other Macs, the screen will turn white, black, or grey that one cannot tell if the Mac is switched on or not.

Alternatively, you may also find your Mac frozen on the installation page with a message saying, “macOS could not be installed on your computer.” And if you click the Restart button, the same message will show.

As you can see, your Mac has many ways of telling you that the installation of Mac OS has stalled. But before you take action, you have to be sure that the installation is no longer running in the background. Otherwise, you might lose your data when you interrupt the installation process with a forced reboot.

If you are uncertain whether or not your Mac has frozen during the installation, consider our advice below:

  1. Know if your Mac has really stalled.

Before you come up with a conclusion that your Mac has stalled during the installation, you have to be aware of certain things.

Sometimes, the High Sierra installation can take very long to the point that it looks frozen already, but when you leave it for hours, the process has eventually completed. So, it’s best that you leave your Mac overnight to complete the installation.

Generally, the installation of updates can be a lengthy process that could take 16 hours or more. The status bar you see during the installation merely provides an estimated duration, not the exact time.

  1. Check the Log to know if your Mac is still installing the update.

To bring up the Log, press the Command + L keys. It should show added information and details about the total time left for the installation. It will also give you a better idea of what files are currently being installed.

  1. Be patient.

If you think that the installation has not stalled, just be patient and wait for the process to be completed for a few more hours.

Fixes to a Stuck Mac OS Sierra Installation

Once you have checked everything and you are positive that your Mac has completely stalled, follow these steps:

  1. Restart your Mac.

Press and hold the Power button to switch off your Mac. Wait for a few seconds and restart your Mac.

  1. Visit the Mac App Store.

If you obtained the updates from the Mac App Store, go to the App Store and check Updates. The update or installation process should commence from where it has ended.

  1. Check the Log.

Once the progress bar shows, open the Log by pressing the Command + L keys. It should show what files have been installed and what are pending. If the Log screen shows that there have been no updates, proceed to the next step.

  1. Install the Combo update.

As mentioned earlier, you have other options to download the High Sierra update if you’re encountering issues with the Mac App Store, like directly from Apple’s website.

If you’re encountering problems with the installation, it might be worth considering downloading the update directly from Apple’s website. If you visit the website, you can find the Combo update, which contains all the files needed to update your OS. This update version will replace all your system files to ensure everything is up to date.

  1. Install the update in Safe mode.

To install the High Sierra update in Safe mode, press the Power button and hold down the Shift key. Once your Mac has restarted, go to the App Store and install the update in Safe mode. Then, reboot.

  1. Allocate more space.

One possible reason why the update failed is that there is not enough storage space available to perform the installation. While in Safe mode, you might as well start deleting some files.

  1. Reset your NVRAM.

If the installation in Safe mode still does not work, reset your NVRAM. Restart your Mac and then hold down the Command, Option, R and P keys. That should reset the NVRAM. Wait for a few seconds until your Mac restarts and wait if the installation starts.

  1. Start in Recovery mode to reinstall High Sierra.

You can also restart your Mac in Recovery mode by holding down the Command + R keys at startup. From here, you will be presented with a few options. But we suggest you select the Install new OS option.

While reinstalling your OS, your Mac will replace all the system files and overwrite the problematic ones which may cause the error.

  1. Install High Sierra from an external drive.

If you are still having problems with installing High Sierra, you can try installing it from an external drive.

  1. Once everything is updated, run Disk Utility.

After a successful High Sierra installation, it can be beneficial to run Disk Utility to identify and correct any potential issues that could have interfered with the process. As a precautionary measure to keep your Mac optimized and free of junk files, consider installing Mac repair app.

We hope this guide provides useful solutions to your issues with a stalled Mac OS Sierra installation. If you have done all the steps above and you are still having installation issues, we suggest you take your Mac to the nearest Apple Store and have an Apple technician check it.

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