macOS Sequoia 15.4 Beta 3 - Bug fixes, changes, and more

[Adora]

When I have a problem with Safari, I just do this, because I do it anyway every few days:

Before, I would recommend just to restart Safari and then reboot your Mac and maybe try if it's happening too with the Technology Preview, if the version isn't outdated like now.
It's not really good if every beta update could brake it. But you can try it anyway. It might crash because it's not intended to use in a beta with a newer version. Mine seems to work. It's already 18.4.
But sometimes just an older build number could break it too.

Resources - Safari - Apple Developer

Powered by the WebKit engine, Safari offers leading performance, compatibility, and a great set of built-in web development tools.

developer.apple.com

 

[Adora]

Full installer 15.4 Beta 3 (24E5228e)

https://swcdn.apple.com/content/downloads/04/08/072-96969-A_6927CROPT6/49vc8524v4szxbmkjz8afydcsozqcsy8t9/InstallAssistant.pkg

 

[Adora]

Am I doing something wrong or is the Terminal installer download broken?

If I remember correctly it always worked just with "softwareupdate --download 15.x" or "softwareupdate 15.x -d".

But since at least 15.4 Beta 1 it does not work anymore also it was always in the App Store at the same time when it appeared here:

user@mac ~ % softwareupdate --list-full-installers       
Finding available software
Software Update found the following full installers:
* Title: macOS Sequoia Beta, Version: 15.4, Size: 15220453KiB, Build: 24E5228e, Deferred: NO
* Title: macOS Sequoia, Version: 15.3.2, Size: 14890483KiB, Build: 24D81, Deferred: NO
* Title: macOS Sequoia, Version: 15.3.1, Size: 14891477KiB, Build: 24D70, Deferred: NO
* Title: macOS Sequoia, Version: 15.3, Size: 14889290KiB, Build: 24D60, Deferred: NO
* Title: macOS Sequoia, Version: 15.2, Size: 14921025KiB, Build: 24C101, Deferred: NO


user@mac ~ % softwareupdate --download 15.4
Software Update Tool

Finding available software
15.4: No such update
No updates are available.


user@mac ~ % softwareupdate 15.3.2 -d

Software Update Tool

Finding available software
15.3.2: No such update
No updates are available.
user@mac ~ %

I tried every compatible version back to 15.2 and it's always the same. I just tried it also on the M3 where more older versions are available.

Now while I am writing it became also available in the App Store, but still doesn't work in Terminal.

‎macOS Sequoia Beta

‎Get an early preview of the next major release of macOS. When you install the macOS beta, you can try out upcoming apps, features, and technologies and let us know what you think. It’s easy to send your feedback to Apple through the built-in Feedback Assistant app. The feedback you provide will...

apps.apple.com

 

[Adora]

Has someone else also problems with a missing cursor here in the forums, using Safari on a Mac? I haven't noticed it in Firefox yet, but I am rarely using that for MacRumors, so I can't say if it is there too. At least I can say it is on no other website.

Sometimes it's just gone and I have to click almost blindly when editing a sentence and then suddenly it's back again if I left Safari and come back or was in another tab or just haven't done anything for a few seconds.

I can type normally while it's gone.

It's very annoying, so I think it started not that long ago.

 

[WilliApple]

Full installer 15.4 Beta 3 (24E5228e)

https://swcdn.apple.com/content/downloads/04/08/072-96969-A_6927CROPT6/49vc8524v4szxbmkjz8afydcsozqcsy8t9/InstallAssistant.pkg

Hey quick question, how do you fetch the full installer link so I can just do it in the future?

 

[yukari]

Hey quick question, how do you fetch the full installer link so I can just do it in the future?

Click on the link, download the file, and when the "Installation" starts, just quit the App.

The Installer will be available whenever you want to install.

 

[WilliApple]

Click on the link, download the file, and when the "Installation" starts, just quit the App.

The Installer will be available whenever you want to install.

Oh I meant when beta 4 came out haha

 

[Adora]

Hey quick question, how do you fetch the full installer link so I can just do it in the future?

The quick answer is this link and this time the installer is very easy to find, because they posted everything at once at the end again.
Normally they add a part somewhere above a long list of languages or other stuff, exactly when the beta is released but the date could be a few days earlier and the installer is added later or never and you just have to look a few times per day, if you want to have it first.
It looks like they already started adding such a language list again with just English yet. So maybe you need to scroll up to March 12 if they add more.

https://swscan.apple.com/content/catalogs/others/index-15beta-15-14-13-12-10.16-10.15-10.14-10.13-10.12-10.11-10.10-10.9-mountainlion-lion-snowleopard-leopard.merged-1.sucatalog.gz

There is a trick I discovered to find out if you have the right installer. Just compare the build number with the version number in the InstallAssistant.pkm file (can be opened with TextEdit).

version="24.4.5228.5

Beta 4 build: 24E5228e

For the first big letter start from 0 counting in the alphabet and for the last small letter start normally from 1. So you get 4 for E and 5 for e.

But normally I don't need that, because there is only one new entry a few days earlier where I have to look if they added the installer link.

I wrote a longer answer before but it got so confusing that I saved the draft but don't like to send it. 🙈 It sounded all much more complicated as it is.

 

[Adora]

Private Relay is enabled on both Macs now even without any error message anywhere and I get this on every website. It's getting really annoying. 😠

In Firefox I can open everything and it's Nightly, an alpha version that I can use everyday since a year without any problems.

I think I ditch Safari soon completely and just use two Firefox based browsers. I wanted to switch from the standard one anyway. Or maybe just keep it and use the Developer Edition or Beta as second browser. Apple Passwords can be used here too with an extension.

 

[fisherking]

Private Relay is enabled on both Macs now even without any error message anywhere and I get this on every website. It's getting really annoying. 😠

In Firefox I can open everything and it's Nightly, an alpha version that I can use everyday since a year without any problems.

I think I ditch Safari soon completely and just use two Firefox based browsers. I wanted to switch from the standard one anyway. Or maybe just keep it and use the Developer Edition or Beta as second browser. Apple Passwords can be used here too with an extension.

View attachment 2491813
View attachment 2491812

View attachment 2491822


View attachment 2491820

router issue? i mean, private relay is working for a lot of us (here it's fine, and my collab on the west coast is using it on the current beta as well...) 🤔

 

[AxelFoley]

I am unable to apply the update Beta 3 for MacOS 15.4. The update downloads and begins the update and restarts. Once restarted, I see an error, “You computer was restarted because of a problem”. The update still appears in Settings ➡️ General ➡️ Software Update. I can start the process again and the results are the same. NOTE: If I simply restart the M1 MacBook Pro, then there is no error. The error only appears after an attempt to update with Beta 3.

I have tried the following:
1) Tried to update through normal process in System Settings app.
2) Tried updating while disconnecting ALL peripherals
3) Tried updating in SAFE Mode
4) I have no virus protection or VPN software installed.
5) Tried updating while using the fulll installer Pkg.

Any ideas how to complete applyin the Beta 3 update? Thanks.

Axel F.

 

[Adora]

I am unable to apply the update Beta 3 for MacOS 15.4. The update downloads and begins the update and restarts. Once restarted, I see an error, “You computer was restarted because of a problem”. The update still appears in Settings ➡️ General ➡️ Software Update. I can start the process again and the results are the same. NOTE: If I simply restart the M1 MacBook Pro, then there is no error. The error only appears after an attempt to update with Beta 3.

I have tried the following:
1) Tried to update through normal process in System Settings app.
2) Tried updating while disconnecting ALL peripherals
3) Tried updating in SAFE Mode
4) I have no virus protection or VPN software installed.
5) Tried updating while using the fulll installer Pkg.

Any ideas how to complete applyin the Beta 3 update? Thanks.

Axel F.

I don't know how much experience you have, so sorry in advance if those questions might sound stupid:

How did you use the full installer package? Just installed it? Or did you also run the real installer it puts in the Applications folder, called "Install macOS Sequoia Beta"?

And please check your main drive (standard name Macintosh HD) with DiskUtility. Best do it for everthing you see there from top to bottom while "show all devices enabled" in the view menu. You can leave out other drives if you have any.

I also had some strange things happening while the update, but in the end everything worked fine. There were just some strange looking boot screens, too much reboots and not moving strange looking progress bars.

 

[Adora]

I am unable to apply the update Beta 3 for MacOS 15.4. The update downloads and begins the update and restarts. Once restarted, I see an error, “You computer was restarted because of a problem”. The update still appears in Settings ➡️ General ➡️ Software Update. I can start the process again and the results are the same. NOTE: If I simply restart the M1 MacBook Pro, then there is no error. The error only appears after an attempt to update with Beta 3.

I have tried the following:
1) Tried to update through normal process in System Settings app.
2) Tried updating while disconnecting ALL peripherals
3) Tried updating in SAFE Mode
4) I have no virus protection or VPN software installed.
5) Tried updating while using the fulll installer Pkg.

Any ideas how to complete applyin the Beta 3 update? Thanks.

Axel F.

Please also look if you find the downloaded update in /Library/Updates there should be at least one folder that consists of digits only and includes the update installer as one or maybe two package files and some small info files.

Maybe it's damaged.

I would try to delete that one folder where the update is in. There could also be more then one from failed downloads. I can't try if Apple lets you delete that folder normally because I have SIP disabled.

But please check your drive before doing any update tries again.

 

[Adora]

router issue? i mean, private relay is working for a lot of us (here it's fine, and my collab on the west coast is using it on the current beta as well...) 🤔

It was fine shortly after that and today also nothing. I'll try some things when it appears again.

 

[_JT]

Hi! I have a MacBook Air M1 version. Ever since upgrading to Sequoia, my screen time for the Mac has been unrealistic. I just opened my MacBook Air M1 to do some work and within minutes minute it shows that my ScreenTime is 20HR+, I haven’t evens been up for so that long. 😂 anyone has idea of what is going on?

14 March 2025 Same problem persists
MacOS 15.3.2

Can you check if this problem has been fixed in the beta version?

Thanks

JT

 

[AxelFoley]

I don't know how much experience you have, so sorry in advance if those questions might sound stupid:

How did you use the full installer package? Just installed it? Or did you also run the real installer it puts in the Applications folder, called "Install macOS Sequoia Beta"?

And please check your main drive (standard name Macintosh HD) with DiskUtility. Best do it for everthing you see there from top to bottom while "show all devices enabled" in the view menu. You can leave out other drives if you have any.

View attachment 2492177View attachment 2492176

I also had some strange things happening while the update, but in the end everything worked fine. There were just some strange looking boot screens, too much reboots and not moving strange looking progress bars.

Thank You so much for your time and responses to my concern. Really appreaciate it.


1) I downloaded the Full Beta 3 Update package from

https://swcdn.apple.com/content/downloads/04/08/072-96969-A_6927CROPT6/49vc8524v4szxbmkjz8afydcsozqcsy8t9/InstallAssistant.pkg

Upon extracting the files, it put the Updater app in the Applications folder. I used that to get the update started, however was unsuccessful since the update continued to show in the System Settings app and the error, "Your Computer was restarted because of a problem".

2) I had run the First Aid option from the Disk Utility app while in Sequoia and also ran Disk Utility First Aid from the Options menu while botting up my M1 MacBook Pro. Disk(s) check out fine and OK.

Axel F.

 

[AxelFoley]

Please also look if you find the downloaded update in /Library/Updates there should be at least one folder that consists of digits only and includes the update installer as one or maybe two package files and some small info files.

Maybe it's damaged.

I would try to delete that one folder where the update is in. There could also be more then one from failed downloads. I can't try if Apple lets you delete that folder normally because I have SIP disabled.

But please check your drive before doing any update tries again.

Thank You for your response.

I checked the folder in /Library/Updates, however there was only a Folder named "Rosetta" was in it along with two files named index.plist and Productmetadata.plist. NOTE: I have deleted the Updater app from the Applications folder and that may have deleted the update files from this folder. Possilbe?
I have System Integrity Protection set to ON by default. Would SIP hide the update file(s) completely or will it show the files but greyed out?
If there is no other place to check, then I still believe that the update files were deleted once the installer was deleted from the Applications folder.

Axel F.

 

[mitchryan912]

Can anyone test/confirm that the SoundCheck option in the Music app doesn't work with AIFF files? I don't have an extra SSD I could throw the beta on at the moment, otherwise I would test this myself. I hope to hop on this soon to test it myself though.

 

[Adora]

Thank You so much for your time and responses to my concern. Really appreaciate it.


1) I downloaded the Full Beta 3 Update package from

https://swcdn.apple.com/content/downloads/04/08/072-96969-A_6927CROPT6/49vc8524v4szxbmkjz8afydcsozqcsy8t9/InstallAssistant.pkg

Upon extracting the files, it put the Updater app in the Applications folder. I used that to get the update started, however was unsuccessful since the update continued to show in the System Settings app and the error, "Your Computer was restarted because of a problem".

2) I had run the First Aid option from the Disk Utility app while in Sequoia and also ran Disk Utility First Aid from the Options menu while botting up my M1 MacBook Pro. Disk(s) check out fine and OK.

Axel F.

I am not sure if it makes a difference, but normally you just run that IntallAssistant by double click and it installs something and puts the installer into the Application folder by itself.

You don't need to extract it. Have you done that manually or is some file extractor associated with package files?

Maybe this was the problem because something was missing in the installer when you just extract it.

You could remove the installer app from your Applications folde rand try to just RUN the InstallAssistant package again. Then run the Intaller app in the Applications folder.

Should look like that, when you run InstallAssistant.pkg, like every installer for apps that don't just come as an APP file in a DMG or ZIP file.

This should only take several seconds until finished.

Thank You for your response.

I checked the folder in /Library/Updates, however there was only a Folder named "Rosetta" was in it along with two files named index.plist and Productmetadata.plist. NOTE: I have deleted the Updater app from the Applications folder and that may have deleted the update files from this folder. Possilbe?
I have System Integrity Protection set to ON by default. Would SIP hide the update file(s) completely or will it show the files but greyed out?
If there is no other place to check, then I still believe that the update files were deleted once the installer was deleted from the Applications folder.

Axel F.

Ok, then there is nothing to delete in there, no partly or damaged downloaded update to delete.

If there were files like that they are not hidden and disabling SIP will not unhide hidden files, you need a Terminal command or an app doing that for you, what is also working with SIP enabled. So you don't need to do anything there.

Looks the same here by the way:

If you want to get sure and want to see all hidden files on your Mac just paste or type that line into Terminal:

defaults write com.apple.Finder AppleShowAllFiles true

Then press Enter and restart the Finder, easiest way, when you are already in Terminal is just entering:

killall Finder

And press Enter again. Big letters always have to be big and small letters always have to be small. Everything in Terminal is case-sensitive.

You can undo this by just replacing true with false and restarting Finder again. Until then you will always see hidden files greyed out.

 

[brsilb]

NordPass not working properly. Settings-->General-->Autofill only allows the selection of Passwords App

 

[nmt1900]

If you want to get sure and want to see all hidden files on your Mac just paste or type that line into Terminal:

defaults write com.apple.Finder AppleShowAllFiles true

Then press Enter and restart the Finder, easiest way, when you are already in Terminal is just entering:

killall Finder

And press Enter again. Big letters always have to be big and small letters always have to be small. Everything in Terminal is case-sensitive.

You can undo this by just replacing true with false and restarting Finder again. Until then you will always see hidden files greyed out.

Command+Shift+. has been enabling/disabling this option in Finder for years without the need for tinkering in terminal

 

[AxelFoley]

I am not sure if it makes a difference, but normally you just run that IntallAssistant by double click and it installs something and puts the installer into the Application folder by itself.

You don't need to extract it. Have you done that manually or is some file extractor associated with package files?

Maybe this was the problem because something was missing in the installer when you just extract it.

You could remove the installer app from your Applications folde rand try to just RUN the InstallAssistant package again. Then run the Intaller app in the Applications folder.

Should look like that, when you run InstallAssistant.pkg, like every installer for apps that don't just come as an APP file in a DMG or ZIP file.

View attachment 2492776

This should only take several seconds until finished.






Ok, then there is nothing to delete in there, no partly or damaged downloaded update to delete.

If there were files like that they are not hidden and disabling SIP will not unhide hidden files, you need a Terminal command or an app doing that for you, what is also working with SIP enabled. So you don't need to do anything there.

Looks the same here by the way:
View attachment 2492777

If you want to get sure and want to see all hidden files on your Mac just paste or type that line into Terminal:

defaults write com.apple.Finder AppleShowAllFiles true

Then press Enter and restart the Finder, easiest way, when you are already in Terminal is just entering:

killall Finder

And press Enter again. Big letters always have to be big and small letters always have to be small. Everything in Terminal is case-sensitive.

You can undo this by just replacing true with false and restarting Finder again. Until then you will always see hidden files greyed out.

Thanks for your response again.

Just want to note that I had intially begun the update process by using the Software Update feature in the System Settings app. After several failed attempts from System Settings, I elected to download the full installer PKG file which installed the MacOS Installer in the Applications folder. This update method failed as well.

A new Beta update should be released within the next few days and I will attempt to udpate by System Settings at that time and check to see whether the upcoming verison will succeed installation.

Axel F.

 

[JUMA55]

Thanks for your response again.

Just want to note that I had intially begun the update process by using the Software Update feature in the System Settings app. After several failed attempts from System Settings, I elected to download the full installer PKG file which installed the MacOS Installer in the Applications folder. This update method failed as well.

A new Beta update should be released within the next few days and I will attempt to udpate by System Settings at that time and check to see whether the upcoming verison will succeed installation.

Axel F.

Are you by any chance running a malware program? If so, turn it off and try again.

 

[AxelFoley]

Are you by any chance running a malware program? If so, turn it off and try again.

Thanks for your response.
No, I am not running any Malware or Anit-Virus type software. I have been on the Beta train for a number of years. This is the first time I have had installation issues.

Axel F.

 

[AxelFoley]

Thanks for your response again.

Just want to note that I had intially begun the update process by using the Software Update feature in the System Settings app. After several failed attempts from System Settings, I elected to download the full installer PKG file which installed the MacOS Installer in the Applications folder. This update method failed as well.

A new Beta update should be released within the next few days and I will attempt to udpate by System Settings at that time and check to see whether the upcoming verison will succeed installation.

Axel F.

MacOS 15.4 Beta 4 was released today and I was able install via the System Settings app with success. No issues. Not sure what had gone wrong during the installation of Beta 3, however, all is well now.

Thanks for all your help. I have learned a few things from the responses to this subject. Thank You again!

Axel F.