macOS Upgrade Stuck

macOS upgrades can take between 40 minutes to 3-4 hours to complete. If the installation seems stuck for a few minutes, let it run for a while and see if it completes or makes any progress. If the install fails to finish after several hours, try the steps below to troubleshoot or restore your computer from a Time Machine backup.

Troubleshooting Steps

  1. Hold the power button until the computer shuts down.
  2. Boot into Safe Mode
    1. Follow Apple's steps for the CPU that your computer has to boot into Safe Mode.
    2. If you reach a login screen, log in and let it load for a minute.
    3. Restart the computer normally and see if it boots into the new operating system. If not, continue below.
  3. Boot into Recovery Mode and run First Aid on your hard drive
    1. Turn off the computer.
    2. Turn the computer on and hold the Command and R keys until a loading bar appears. If you have an M1 Mac, hold down the power button until you see "Loading startup options" and click "Options"
    3. Select Disk Utility.

    1. Select Macintosh HD on the left and click First Aid.
  4. Reinstall macOS
    1. Close Disk Utility.
    2. Select Reinstall macOS and follow the steps. This will not delete any data on your computer.

If you are able to log in normally and see that your computer is running a new operating system, you should be all set.
If the install is still failing, you can restore from a Time Machine backup with the instructions below, or submit a ticket with the Service Desk or call us at (603) 646-2999.

Restore from Time Machine Backup

  1. Turn off the computer.
  2. Plug in the external drive with your Time Machine backup.
  3. Turn the computer on and hold the Command and R keys until a loading bar appears. If you have an M1 Mac, hold down the power button until you see "Loading startup options" and click "Options"

  1. Select Restore from Time Machine.
  2. Select your Time Machine backup drive as the source.
  3. Select the date of the backup that you would like to restore to.
  4. Select your computer's hard drive as the destination and click Continue.
  5. This will take a while. Once it finishes restoring, your computer should be back on the old operating system with your applications and data intact.

If you have any issues, please submit a ticket with the Service Desk or call us at (603) 646-2999.

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