Anyone having issues updating to MacOS Big Sur 11.3 on a iMac

[bige12]

I'm trying to update my 21.5 iMac to MacOS Big Sur 11.3 I do see the update pop up in system preferences and click on update and it starts downloading and its on 10 minutes left and its kind of been sitting there for a while I know sometime it take a while for to go.

 

[Lyons00]

I'm also having the same problem. Any help would be appreciated?
Thanks

 

[bige12]

Or maybe the servers are still over whelmed..........

 

[DeltaMac]

Yes
Be patient. Big Sur upgrades can take 30 minutes, to an hour or longer to complete.
The upgrade downloads, then sets up for the install. It all takes some time, and can show not much progress for several minutes.
It's probably one of those computer tasks that you don't want to sit and watch the progress.
Go for a cup of coffee or just a short walk. Let it continue for a bit without you.

 

[Lyons00]

Mines been stuck at 15 mins left for 45 mins. I have 1gb dl speed too

 

[bige12]

I just checked my and now its at 5 minutes left to download
and i have 500 mbps down and 10mbps up for internet

 

[Lvis_90]

I am having trouble updating. After several attempts I get an error that I am not connected to the internet (when in fact I am) so I tried to update from the end and it throws me this result.

I don't know anymore

iMac-de-Esteban:~ root# softwareupdate -iaR Software Update Tool Finding available software Downloading macOS Big Sur 11.3 Downloading: 100.00% Failed to download & prepare update: Error Domain=SUMacControllerError Code=7740 "[SUMacControllerErrorPrepareFailed=7740] Failed to perform Prepare operation: [MobileSoftwareUpdateErrorDomain(MSU):MSU_ERR_FILESYSTEM_DOESNT_VERIFY(3)_1_MobileSoftwareUpdateBOMErrorDomain:1|FullReplacementRequired|]" UserInfo={SUMacControllerErrorIndicationsSummary=|FullReplacementRequired|, SUMacControllerErrorIndicationsMask=2, SUMacControllerErrorIndicationsDescription=-> Full replacement is required [as opposed to incremental patch]., NSUnderlyingError=0x7fa968f0a400 {Error Domain=MobileSoftwareUpdateErrorDomain Code=3 "'./System/Library/Desktop Pictures/Reflection 3.jpg' did not verify and is not on the exception list." UserInfo={target_update=20E232, NSLocalizedDescription='./System/Library/Desktop Pictures/Reflection 3.jpg' did not verify and is not on the exception list., NSUnderlyingError=0x7fa968f0f9b0 {Error Domain=MobileSoftwareUpdateBOMErrorDomain Code=1 "contents of '/System/Volumes/Update/mnt1/System/Library/Desktop Pictures/Reflection 3.jpg' don't match bom (84444a0c vs 171ba04d)" UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=contents of '/System/Volumes/Update/mnt1/System/Library/Desktop Pictures/Reflection 3.jpg' don't match bom (84444a0c vs 171ba04d)}}, MSUFullReplacementRecommened=true}}, NSDebugDescription=[SUMacControllerErrorPrepareFailed=7740] Failed to perform Prepare operation: [MobileSoftwareUpdateErrorDomain(MSU):MSU_ERR_FILESYSTEM_DOESNT_VERIFY(3)_1_MobileSoftwareUpdateBOMErrorDomain:1|FullReplacementRequired|], NSLocalizedDescription=No se ha podido preparar la actualización de software. Inténtalo de nuevo.} iMac-de-Esteban:~ root#

 

[fteter]

On a MacBook Air rather than an iMac, but having all the issues described here. Reset PRAM and SMC, unplugged all peripherals, still no joy. Apple whiffed on this update in a big way. I've personally decided to sit this update out until they get it right.

UPDATE: finally managed to get the update done on my older Air (mid 2013 - it's generally a test platform). Reset Pram, reset SMC, unplug all peripherals, wired internet connection, start process and walk away for 3 hours. Testing now for glitches. Download was only 15 minutes. Preparing and installing took the remaining 2 hours and 45 minutes. Two observations already: 1) internet connection, even wired, is a little intermittent; 2) generally seems a bit "laggy". I'm still sitting out this update on my other boxes until I'm convinced that Apple has addressed issues.

 

[bige12]

Mine just got done updating

 

[jaymc]

Have a MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2018) and downloaded 11.3 but when it went to restart... it wouldn't. Could not restart at the popup menu nor restart or shut down from the menu; had to power down (pressing the Touch ID button for 5 seconds) to shut down. Waited a bit, then turned back on to continue to install the update. Installed from there with no problems and now on 11.3.

 

[DaveFromCampbelltown]

It might be a bit late for some of you, but I generally find it best to download a major update like that from the App Store (however long that might take), then run the upgrade using the downloaded installer file. That way your upgrade is not interrupted by overloaded servers.

You can also download the installer using MDS

 

[DeltaMac]

But, the update ultimately comes from Apple's download servers, so high load (thus somewhat longer than normal time for the download) regardless of the method you use for the download. The third-party MDS also gets the download through Apple's servers.
And, the install itself is not really affected by download speed, as it does not actually start installing until the update download is complete.

 

[gilby101]

And, the install itself is not really affected by download speed, as it does not actually start installing until the update download is complete.

But is does separate download issues from install issues.

 

[richimages]

Skip THIS update ... when I updated to 11.4 ... my experience was that it rebooted as a BRAND NEW MAC ... wiped out my login account, my wife's login account ... asking me how would you like to set this new Mac up ? Time Machine, Data Migration Assistant, or use as new Mac. I can't tell you how upset I was with 2 weeks worth of heavy customizations !

 

[Speed38]

I apologize for the length of this post; I wrote it for a number of folks (pity them) who rely on me to keep them advised about things such as is it safe to update to Big Sur 11.3.


I’ll start by directing you to this site, a great site for Mac users: https://eclecticlight.co

Then direct you to a page at that site regarding problems associated with updating to Big Sur:
https://eclecticlight.co/2021/04/28/that-macos-update-has-caused-havoc-what-do-i-do-next/

Then note this exchange in the comments appended to that page. The question is being asked by someone who installed the latest update to Big Sur and wanted to reverse his decision:

Q. What about regular TM Backups/Snapshots, can’t someone revert to them?

A. Yes you can, if TM is making them. In Mojave, you’re probably in luck; in Catalina, you might not be. In Big Sur, AFAIK it’s not possible to back up or make snapshots of the System volume. Also remember that TM automatically deletes snapshots once they’re 24 hours old.

This I did not know.

And now I have to admit that I am in unchartered waters and not sure of my facts but it appears to me that if you are running Big Sur, updated to the latest version of Big Sur, are using Time Machine for your backups, left Time Machine attached, had a problem with your update and that problem was transmitted to your Time Machine Backup, you cannot designate a specific Time Machine snapshot from which to revert. Your TM machine may be hosed/corrupted/whatever.

My new rule for future updates will be: eject and shut off Time Machine and any other backups when I choose to update my macOS.

On my 2015 iMac, my Big Sur update produced something unique and unusual: It placed 70 folders, 29 of them empty and the remainder completely full of sub-folders and files I have created over the years. Some of these files and folder came from my Home folder, and some came from my iCloud Drive folder. It appears that everything the update placed in the Trash still exists on my macintoshHD, so it looks like I am OK. But I am not in any hurry to empty the Trash.

When I posted my problem to the site I mentioned at the outset of this email, the response was:

I wonder if your boot disk had an APFS problem on it.

And there you have my saga. Good luck with your update & may it be trouble-free.

 

[ThAtCaRGuY]

Same Here

 

[Speed38]

Same Here

"Same here" what? Was your trash also full of files and folders? if so, you are the only person other than myself I have heard with this particular problem. It's good to know I am not the only one. A question: is your internal HD a HDD or SSD? Mine is a HDD/Fusion.

 

[Expos of 1969]

Just spent over 2 hours downloading 11.3 and it all looks great but when the downloading is finished it says it is preparing and seconds later a message pops up saying the download failed and check your Internet connection. There was/is nothing wrong with my Internet connection!!

A very unimpressive welcome back into the Mac OS world.

 

[ThAtCaRGuY]

Just spent over 2 hours downloading 11.3 and it all looks great but when the downloading is finished it says it is preparing and seconds later a message pops up saying the download failed and check your Internet connection. There was/is nothing wrong with my Internet connection!!

A very unimpressive welcome back into the Mac OS world.

I can not finish the part where you download it its been a hour and the bar has not moved

 

[Expos of 1969]

I can not finish the part where you download it its been a hour and the bar has not moved

Now my Apple Music crapped out a few minutes into loading my library. An error message about Genius. If this keeps up my Macbook Air M1 which I purchased 5 hours ago will be for sale tomorrow.

 

[ThAtCaRGuY]

Now my Apple Music crapped out a few minutes into loading my library. An error message about Genius. If this keeps up my Macbook Air M1 which I purchased 5 hours ago will be for sale tomorrow.

This is what's happening to me. It stays like this forever

 

[Expos of 1969]

This is what's happening to me. It stays like this forever View attachment 1766481

Mine went right to the 6.62GB in about 2 hours but then died when it started to prepare for installation.

 

[Expos of 1969]

This is what's happening to me. It stays like this forever View attachment 1766481

It finally worked for me. A long process.

 

[Mrkstr]

I'm trying to update my 21.5 iMac to MacOS Big Sur 11.3 I do see the update pop up in system preferences and click on update and it starts downloading and its on 10 minutes left and its kind of been sitting there for a while I know sometime it take a while for to go.

Same Problem, but I finally get an error message failed to download

 

[brianjames5]

I'm trying to update my 21.5 iMac to MacOS Big Sur 11.3 I do see the update pop up in system preferences and click on update and it starts downloading and its on 10 minutes left and its kind of been sitting there for a while I know sometime it take a while for to go.

2020 M1 8GB MBA. Gets a pink screen after a few minutes working with Microsoft software (Word, Excel) then restarts. 11.3 is very buggy so far. Internet, Word, Excel, Adobe Premiere Pro, etc. I am having issues with the screen freezing and then restarting. Only began happening after 11.3 installation. Might Time Machine this one back to 11.2 because it is noticeably bad on my machine.