What is Error 102 on Macs?

Mac is known for its stability, but it still encounters issues like the Mac error 102. Here are some ways to fix it.

What is Error 102 on Macs?

An error 102 Mac is commonly experienced when trying to update applications. It may also be caused by problems with Preference files, Kernel Panic issues, installed applications, or a full usage of start-up disk.

Here are some of the symptoms of error code 102:

• Corruption or change in the file structure without warning
• Slow and sluggish performance of a Mac
• Unexpected system crashes
• Annoying error messages such as “unable to find .dmg file”, “file not found” and “access denied”

Error 102 is one of the most common issues users face on the Mac system. Users experience this error message while updating the app or OS. This error usually pops up with a message:

The [program name] operation can’t be completed. An unexpected error occurred (error code 102)

Mac error code 102, is a common Mac issue that indicates a problem just happening on your computer, and it will not be disappeared until you get it fixed well.

In most cases, this error issue appears on the computer with a specific error message, such as:

• oTypeErr = -102, /*No object of that type in scrap*/
• crapFlavorNotFoundErr = -102, /* == noTypeErr*/
• sOldSystem = 102, /*System is too old for this ROM*/

This error 102 also occurred at the time of update showing messages like “Can’t Update MacBook Pro Error 102” or “Error 102 MacBook Air Update not possible”.

Also, for iTunes 12.4.3 update, it says an error iTunes 12.4.3 Error 102 has occurred or something went wrong with the update 102 as well as “Error 102 Mac Update 10.8 5 not possible”.

All these problems occur due to Mac Error Code 102. So, to fix these errors one needs to follow some methods to resolve it. These methods include both “Manual” and “Automatic” ways which are discussed one by one in the upcoming section.

Why You’re Getting the Error Code 102 on Mac?

Following are the most common reasons that may cause you to get this error message on your Mac system:

• Corrupted or damaged system files
• Performing incorrect operations on services, processes, applications and system
• Corrupted/damaged directories
• If you have not configured the system settings properly
• Virus/malware/spyware attack on your device
• If you have downloaded the suspicious files on your system
• Running outdated OS or apps
• If the installed applications are not compatible with your OS
• When there are disk permission issues on your Mac
• Due to the startup drive filled up with the junk and cache files

How to Fix the Mac Error Code 102?

How do you fix the Mac error code 102? Fixing the Mac error code 102 is not easy because of the many potential causes. One approach could be to use a Mac repair tool, for instance, a tool like Mac repair app.

How might a repair tool be useful? It can start by scanning your system for various types of junk files, including cache files from browsers and apps, broken downloads, and unnecessary log files. This clean especially broken downloads and updates cleanups might help prevent the error code 102 from appearing on your Mac.

A repair tool might also identify and delete unneeded apps. Such apps could potentially be causing conflicts within your system, potentially leading to the error code 102.

Are there any other ways of troubleshooting the error code 102 on Macs that don’t have a Mac repair tool? Sure, there are a few other ways of resolving the same issue. Let us look at a few of them:

1. Uninstall the Program That Is Causing the Error

Every computer program requires certain things to function effectively, and if the host environment is not up to the task, then it might cause problems.

Thus, if you started experiencing the error code 102 after installing a program on your Mac, the best option might be to remove it altogether. This is how to uninstall apps on a Mac:

1. Click on the Finder icon and look for the application that you need to uninstall.
2. If the app you want to uninstall is in a folder, check for an Uninstaller. Double-click on the Uninstaller, and follow the on-screen
3. In case the app is not in a folder, or doesn’t come with an Uninstaller, drag it from the Applications folder to the

2. Clean Associated Preference Files

macOS uses preference files to tell applications how they should work on a device. If the preference files are corrupted, the error code 102 may appear.

One scenario that causes preference files to be corrupted or overloaded is by uninstalling programs through the Trash. This method does not clean the system well and it has the unintended consequence of making useless files to accumulate. Here are the steps you can take to remove the preference files after removing an app:

1. Navigate to Finder > Go > Go to Folder.
2. Type “/Library/” in the search box, and press the Return key.
3. Open the Preferences folder and find the preference files that are associated with the app that you have just removed. Drag them to Trash.

3. Clean Start-up

Whenever your Mac reboots or starts, a dozen or so applications will also launch automatically. This is all good if the particular applications are of use to you, but if they are not, they are just wasting precious computing resources. At the same time, if any of the programs that is supposed to launch automatically is problematic, it may cause the error 102 Mac.

If this is the case, you can opt to remove the problematic app from the list of start-up items. Here is how to disable a start-up item on a Mac:

1. Click on the Apple icon and navigate to System Preferences on the sub-menu.
2. On the Users & Groups pane, you will find a list of the apps that launch automatically every time you launch your Mac.
3. Select the item that you want to remove. Click the minus sign button to remove it.

4. Clean Junk Files

There is no way of preventing junk files from accumulating on your computer because every time you use it, some ‘history’ of the usage is preserved. The accumulation of these files can cause all manner of problems on your computer, including the error code 102. To clear cache on a Mac, take the following steps:

1. Navigate to Finder > Go to Folder.
2. Type in ~/Library/Caches and hit enter.
3. Go into each of the folders and clean out all the cache.

Cleaning the cache this way will provide you with an additional hard drive space. It will also remove problematic preferences files that may be responsible for the error 102 on your Mac.

5. Check for Hardware Damage

Sometimes, your Mac may be behaving the way it is because of a hardware problem. Did it fall? Is the RAM okay? Are the hard drives damaged? These are some of the questions that you should be asking yourself, should all else fail.

You can get some answers to these questions by performing a hardware diagnostics test. Here is how to conduct one:

1. Disconnect all external devices except the keyboard, mouse, the AC cable, and Ethernet cable. If you don’t disconnect all other devices, the Apple Hardware Test might not help you.
2. Place your Mac on a hard, flat and stable surface.
3. Shut down your Mac.
4. Turn your Mac on and immediately press and hold the D key on your keyboard. Keep holding this key until you see the Apple Hardware Test icon.
5. Select your preferred language and click the right arrow.
6. To begin the test, press the letter T on your keyboard or Return. You can also select “Perform extended testing” before commencing the test. This will lead to a more thorough test.
7. When the test is completed, you will see the test results in the lower right section of the window.
8. To quit the Apple Hardware Test, simply restart your computer or shut it down.

6. Use Disk Utility to Fix Disk Permissions

The disk permissions issue can also be the reason for getting the error code 102 on Mac. Fixing the disk permissions is the best and common way to deal with the applications and files related issues.

So, if you are getting the Mac error 102 because of improper permissions, then you can run the Mac inbuilt Disk Utility. It will help you to scan the disk in order to fix the system permission issues that are causing this problem on your Mac.

Apart from fixing the permissions, you can also reset the permissions in the home folder, to ensure all the services, programs, and other things have proper permissions.

However, if you are stick to fixing the permissions, then follow these steps:

1. Open the Finder window > click on the Applications.
2. Double-click on the Utilities.
3. Next, double-click on the Disk Utility.
4. Choose the startup disk > go to the First Aid tab.
5. Click on the Repair Disk Permissions button.

7. Reinstall Mac OS to Fix Mac Error 102

Reinstalling the OS is another potential solution to fix Mac error 102. Doing this will preserve all the settings, apps, files and will replace the core files with fresh copies.

So, if you are getting this error due to damaged or corrupted system files, then reinstalling the Mac OS would be the best choice to overcome this problem as it will not only fix this particular error but will also prevent the operating system from the damage.

Follow these steps to reinstall the Mac OS:

1. Before moving ahead with the steps, make sure your system is connected to the Internet.
2. Now, restart the Mac.
3. After rebooting it, you will be shown a grey screen. Here, press and hold the Cmd + R keys.
4. Once you get the OS X Utilities menu, choose the Reinstall OS X option.
5. Now, follow the on-screen instructions to perform the reinstallation.
6. After reinstalling the OS, check if the error is removed or not.

8. Reset Mac PRAM and SMC

Sometimes, the Mac device starts malfunctioning for no reason. If you are getting the error code 102 even after trying all the possible fixes, then lastly you can perform a reset on your computer.

As this error can also be hardware related, performing the hardware-based solution can fix the error. Hence, you must try resetting the Parameter RAM (PRAM) and System Management Controller (SMC) on your Mac.

It is the best way to deal with the hardware related issues on the Mac device. But, before resetting the SMC & PRAM make sure to backup all of your data on the external drive as after resetting you will lose the data.

PRAM contains information about your Mac configuration, including things such as screen resolution, startup disk selection, speaker volume, & other control settings.

To reset the PRAM follow these steps:

1. First, turn off the computer, then press the Power button.
2. Press and hold the Command + Option + P + R keys together until the Mac reboots.
3. If you can hear the startup sound two times, then it means you have successfully reset the PRAM.

Now, coming to SMC, it controls most of the physical parts of the Intel-based Mac, such as keyboards, LED indicators, cooling fans, other peripherals, & power buttons.

To reset the SMC, follow Apple’s official SMC Reset page as the steps vary with the different types of computer. First, find the model name or number of your computer, and then follow the instructions to perform a reset.

9. Visit a Mac Clinic

If all the above steps fail to alleviate the issues that you are experiencing, we suggest that you visit a Mac clinic. Apple has an extensive and well-managed customer care system. The folks there will be glad to have you and will surely help resolve the issue with your Mac, especially if it is hardware related.

If you have anything to add, or need some clarification, please feel free to do so in the comment section below.