Update error: A snapshot is currently set to boot that is not the currently booted snapshot

[bogdanw]

“A snapshot is currently set to boot that is not the currently booted snapshot.
Reboot to boot to the new snapshot to allow install to this volume.”
is the error message when trying to update a Ventura 13.1 virtual machine to 13.2.
What I’ve tried so far, without success:
- reboot
- disable SIP
- delete snapshots for Macintosh HD with Disk Utility in Recovery, until I ended up with only two: one Startup and one System Snapshoot
- update Preboot (sudo diskutil apfs updatePreboot disk1s5)
- bless Macintosh HD (bless --folder “/Volumes/Macintosh HD/System/Library/CoreServices" --bootefi --create-snapshot)

 

[Zaroff]

Did you ever find a solution to that? Exact same problem.

 

[bogdanw]

No, I didn't. From Recovery I was able to rename the bad update snapshot, delete it, but then it wouldn't boot at all. As it was a virtual machine, I just deleted it and made another one.
I haven't tried to use the full Ventura installer to perform the update. Might be worth considering.

 

[Zaroff]

Thanks. I guess both procedures will entirely wipe the content actually on the drive, though?

 

[bogdanw]

I haven't tried an update with the full installer on Ventura, but on Big Sur all the data was preserved. Except Apple's Command Line Tools, if you have them installed.

 

[Zaroff]

For those that meet the problem: going from the full installer doesn't solve the problem, it merely repeats the same damn message in a prettier popup.
Is there even a way to "reboot to the new snapshot" at all? Or am I screwed and have to reinstall the whole thing and Time Machine it?
Also, when you restore a Time Machine, does it bring back the APFS snapshots as well? Or is that independent?

 

[bogdanw]

Is there even a way to "reboot to the new snapshot" at all?

I wondered about that too, but haven't found any useful information.
The create new system snapshot command (bless --folder “/Volumes/Macintosh HD/System/Library/CoreServices" --bootefi --create-snapshot) didn't solve the problem.

bless – set volume bootability and startup disk options
https://keith.github.io/xcode-man-pages/bless.8.html
https://ss64.com/osx/bless.html

 

[rin67630]

I do not get that error, but my system permanantly presets Windows boot, albeit macOS Ventura is chosen from the preferences.
In diskutil list, i have an extra snapshot with a suspect extenstion .bless:

4: APFS Volume Ventura 9.4 GB disk2s4
5: APFS Snapshot com.apple.bless.8EEB... 9.4 GB disk2s4s1

could that be the cause?

 

[bogdanw]

My virtual machine had only macOS Ventura installed.

There seems to be another utility to make apfs snapshots bootable

/System/Library/Filesystems/apfs.fs/Contents/Resources/apfs_systemsnapshot -help
apfs_systemsnapshot: This utility is used to tag snapshots for boot and to declare new ones.
NOTE: ARV must be disabled before this tool can be used.
apfs_systemsnapshot usage: apfs_systemsnapshot [-r snapname] [-s snapname] -v <mount point>
-r: Tag specified snapshot as the one to root from on the next boot 
-s: Create snapshot with the specified name 
-v: Mount point on which to operate

Examples
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...9-fans-to-spin-in-sleep.2246387/post-28708419
https://grafxflow.co.uk/blog/mac-os-x/delete-ioplatformpluginfamilykext-macos-big-sur
https://andv.medium.com/making-wifi...d-macs-with-failed-with-66-error-36c98e3f7965

 

[banzai227]

Hello,
I know it is not a smart answer.
I use Carbon Copy Cloner to clone the disk that has a snapshot issue.
Duplicate my EFI to this new drive.
Reboot after exchange the disk.
This solves my issue.
Hope it can help someone.

 

[psymonryan]

I spent a while figuring this one out. Here is what I did to render it [Solved] on my Dad's new Sonoma iMac.
(BTW: I caused this problem in the first place by enabling his nfsd service, then adding and tagging the snapshot as bootable)

1. Boot into recovery mode, open the terminal and disable SIP
   • csrutil disable
2. Reboot at this point back into Recovery mode and this time open up DiskUtil
3. You should now be able to see the system snapshot that is causing the issue, however you will not be able to delete it. (since it is the active boot snapshot) So, instead, take careful note of the previous snapshot - it might have a name like: "com.apple.os.update-5E4DF785AD9E60757D57924284549E29EECDBFE5942B5587D41DEAD049A903BE"
4. Now exit DiskUtil and go back into Terminal, then mount the booting hard disk as rw:
   • mount -uw /Volumes/Macintosh\ HD
5. Now 'tag' the official snapshot as the next bootable one:
   1. /System/Library/Filesystem/apfs.fs/Contents/Resources/apfs_systemsnapshot -r "SnapshotName" -v /Volumes/Macintosh\ HD
   2. (replace SnapshotName with the name of your snaphot. (like the one I showed)
6. Now exit the terminal and go back into DiskUtil
   1. Now you can view the snapshot and should be able to delete the offending one if you want to. (select it and click the minus sign at the bottom left)
7. Exit DiskUtil and go back to the terminal (last time I promise) and re-enable SIP
   1. csrutil enable
8. Reboot back into MacOS and your apple sanctioned update should proceed without any errors

 

[Kramarow]

Now 'tag' the official snapshot as the next bootable one:

1. /System/Library/Filesystem/apfs.fs/Contents/Resources/apfs_systemsnapshot -r "SnapshotName" -v /Volumes/Macintosh\ HD

it can't find "/apfs_systemsnapshot" for me
Can I contact you somewhere? Maybe you can help with that

 

[psymonryan]

it can't find "/apfs_systemsnapshot" for me
Can I contact you somewhere? Maybe you can help with that

Are you in recovery mode when you try to find that binary?
Are you using Ventura or Sonoma? I was using the latter, but I think the path should be the same.
I've also posted this solution here: Fixing currently booted snapshot issue

 

[Kramarow]

Are you in recovery mode when you try to find that binary?
Are you using Ventura or Sonoma? I was using the latter, but I think the path should be the same.
I've also posted this solution here: Fixing currently booted snapshot issue

It Solved my issue. THANKS!

 

[psymonryan]

1. Now 'tag' the official snapshot as the next bootable one:
   1. /System/Library/Filesystem/apfs.fs/Contents/Resources/apfs_systemsnapshot -r "SnapshotName" -v /Volumes/Macintosh\ HD

I realise why some people were having trouble with this command, there is a typo (identified by frankle1)
'Filesystem' should be 'Filesystems' so the line should read:

• /System/Library/Filesystems/apfs.fs/Contents/Resources/apfs_systemsnapshot -r "SnapshotName" -v /Volumes/Macintosh\ HD