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Picture this scenario. Apple finally releases a major macOS update to the public, and you want to get your hands on it. You checked for updates but only got an error, “Unable to check for updates.” You brush it off and try again, but all you get is the same error. There are many potential reasons for getting this error. Fortunately, there are several easy fixes for it. Below, I will walk through each one.
Below are many potential reasons why your Mac is stuck on checking for updates and isnโt progressing. Since this issue is more common with significant updates, itโs possible that the error is due to insufficient storage space, an overloaded Apple server, or a poor internet connection that canโt handles the size of the download.
Aside from these, here are other possible causes:
Now that Iโve already laid out the potential issues, it’s much easier to fix them. Here are different ways to fix the “Unable to check for updates” error on your Mac.
Here are all the things you may try doing to help the update checking push through.
Updates canโt push through if you donโt have enough storage space. You can check how much storage space is available:
Since your Mac canโt fetch update data, you can do a quick search to learn how much space youโll need for the major macOS update.
Erase files and try checking for updates again.
Restarting your Mac solves a majority of minor bug issues. Since it wonโt take you a minute to restart your Mac, see if this will help fix the issue.
If you havenโt shut down your Mac for a long time, an alternative to restarting it is shutting it down. As someone who takes months before shutting down my Mac, Iโve found that shutting it down and letting it rest for a while helps solve many issues.
Itโs possible that you canโt retrieve updates because Appleโs software update servers are temporarily down. This is relatively rare but may occur, especially when a major update is released, as simultaneous downloads may overwhelm update servers.
You can go to the Apple System Status page to check the status of the macOS Software Update.
If itโs down, just wait it out until Apple fixes it. If not, proceed to the solutions below.
A weak or slow internet connection may cause your Mac to struggle to connect to Appleโs servers. Donโt attempt to update your OS on a poor connection, especially if itโs a major one.
Instead, find a stable internet connection before trying again.
A Mac stuck on checking for updates may just be a minor glitch that a simple refresh can fix.
While the Software Update window is open, press Cmd + R on your keyboard.
Wait for a while and see if the refresh helped.
Alternatively, you can head to the Activity Monitor to refresh it. This is especially helpful if you want to refresh a frozen window.
This will force quit the process. After that, you can try re-running the software update check.
Your system can get clogged up with temporary files you donโt need. Caches not only cause your device to slow down but also cause processes to become unresponsive. To clear the cache:
After this, restart your Mac and try checking for updates again.
If youโre using a VPN, disable using a proxy server before trying again. VPN can sometimes interfere with the update process as it changes your IP address and can cause your internet connection to slow down. Apple servers may also block some VPNs, causing problems while checking for updates.
Sometimes, disk cleaners, optimizers, antivirus, and uninstaller apps may cause havoc and interrupt your Macโs operations. It may even corrupt your OS, which leads to reinstallation.
If you have one running on your Mac, remove it. See if the update check progresses, and let you download the update for your Mac.
Itโs crucial to make sure that your deviceโs time is correct. Anything amiss on your end can prevent you from updating your macOS. Hereโs how to change it:
If all the above methods fail, you may want to boot into Safe Mode before checking for updates and downloading the new macOS.
Doing so will start your Mac in a basic state with minimal system extensions, disabled software, and disabled services. This can help rule out any software conflicts that may prevent your Mac from checking for updates.
Bugs in the NVRAM and SMC may disrupt the software update process. Read our guide on how to reset your NVRAM or PRAM on your Mac. Note that this is only for Intel-based Macs. For Macs with Apple Silicon, your device will reset your NVRAM automatically when you restart if it detects any errors.
If your Mac still gets stuck when checking for updates, you may want to try installing it from the Terminal. Do a Spotlight search for Terminal. Launch it and use the command โsoftware update -l.โ Youโll be prompted to enter your password. Youโll see a list of available updates. Enter the command โsudo software update -i [updateโs name].โ
Here are other codes that might work:
If nothing else seems to work, your last resort is to reinstall your macOS. This removes all the software issues and bugs that may be causing the error. Note that this process varies depending on whether you have an Intel-based or Apple Silicon Mac.
Wrapping upโฆ
This problem rarely requires a visit to the Apple store. Most should respond to one of the troubleshooting fixes above. Did any of these work for you? Share your experience below!