A Software Update Is Required to Use This Startup Disk

What does “A software update is required to use this startup disk” mean?

“A software update is required to use this startup disk” means you need to update macOS before booting from your startup disk. You would typically get this message if your current macOS version is either outdated or incompatible with some security features or system functionalities.

A note from our experts: 

 

Maintaining software updates can seem like a full-time job, but it's essential if you want your Mac to function at its best and reduce security risks from cyber criminals. Fortunately, you can cut back on the admin of Mac updates. MacKeeper’s Update Tracker finds available updates, including when a critical software update is required for your Mac, so you don’t have to—and simplifies the process to save you time and effort.

 

Why use MacKeeper’s Update Tracker? Clario Tech created the reliable program MacKeeper, which Apple notarized, making it a trusted solution.

 

Curious about what updates are available for your MacBook device? Follow the steps below to find out using MacKeeper’s Update Tracker:

1. Download and install MacKeeper on your MacBook Pro or MacBook Air device, and choose the Update Tracker feature from the left sidebar.
2. Click the Scan For Updates button and wait for the scan to finish.
3. You’ll notice that all updates are selected by default, but you can click on an app’s name to view its update details—including release notes, update requirements, and current version. Otherwise, click the Update All button at the bottom to immediately update all apps if your Mac meets all the requirements. Note that you may be asked to quit open apps before proceeding with the updates.

How to fix “A software update is required to use this startup disk”

You have a few options for fixing the “A software update is required to use this startup disk” issue. Restart your MacBook, boot into macOS Recovery, and reinstall macOS, or reset NVRAM/PRAM settings. You can also run First Aid in Disk Utility or adjust startup security utility settings.

See more details on implementing these solutions below.

1. Restart your MacBook

As with all Mac issues we encounter, our first solution is always to restart our devices. This is typically effective, saving us time and effort. Not to mention, it’s the simplest fix. Restarting a Mac can also help fix a full startup disk after freeing up space.

Follow this approach to restart your computer:

1. Navigate to the Apple menu and click on it.
2. Select the Restart option from the list.

2. Boot into macOS Recovery and reinstall macOS

When a simple restart isn’t effective, we move on to macOS Recovery. Recovery Mode helps you update the operating system or choose another startup disk when you can’t update macOS by giving you access to utilities that can reinstall it.

Now, check how to reinstall macOS via Recovery Mode.

On Intel Macs:

1. Use one of the following keyboard combinations, depending on your goal:
   • To reinstall the current version of the most recently installed macOS, press Command + R
   • To reinstall the latest macOS compatible with your Mac, use the combination Option + Command + R
   • To reinstall the macOS that came with your Mac or the closest version available, press Shift + Option + Command + R
2. Choose the Reinstall macOS option, and follow the prompts to complete the installation.

On Apple Silicon Macs:

1. Shut down your Mac and immediately hold down the power button until you see Loading startup options or the Options icon appears.
2. Release and click Options > Continue.

3. Resetting NVRAM/PRAM settings

NVRAM or PRAM resets help with software update errors by removing potentially corrupt startup disk settings, making the Mac rethink its boot options, and making sure the operating system can load correctly. Think about how clearing out cache files can help fix other software issues.

Here’s how resetting NVRAM/PRAM works on a Mac:

1. Click on the Apple menu in the upper-left corner > Shut Down and immediately hold down the power button.
2. Power on your device, hold down the Command + Option + P + R keys and release after 20 seconds.

A friendly reminder from our team: Please note that Apple Silicon Macs don’t use PRAM/NVRAM reset keys, so the steps above only apply to Intel models.

4. Run First Aid in Disk Utility

By detecting and fixing file system errors on the startup disk, First Aid can assist if your Mac isn't booting properly due to these issues. It can address underlying disk problems by establishing a stable environment in which the update process can be completed, even though we are aware that it might not always resolve the software update issues.

Take these actions to start First Aid in Disk Utility:

1. Open Disk Utility using Finder or Spotlight search.
2. Choose the disk from the sidebar and select First Aid > Run.

5. Adjust startup security utility settings

There’s one more option we may consider when nothing else works, and that’s adjusting startup security utility settings. However, consider that using this method means your confirmation to start from an external drive or an operating system that isn't the most recent version.

Here’s how to change startup security utility settings on your MacBook:

1. Turn on your Mac and press and hold the Command + R keys to enter Recovery Mode.
2. Choose the admin user, click Next, and input your password.
3. Choose Utilities > Startup Security Utility from the menu bar.
4. After choosing your admin account and entering its password, click Enter macOS Password.
5. Select Turn On Firmware Password if you want to, then follow the instructions. You can turn off booting from removable or external media for extra security.
6. Under Secure Boot, pick a security level that you feel comfortable with. Here’s what each option does:
   • No Security: Disables OS verification.
   • Medium Security: Just confirms that Microsoft or Apple has signed the operating system.
   • Full Security: Provides the highest level of protection by verifying macOS with Apple.

Fix the disk-related software problem on a Mac

Any user may find disk-related errors frustrating, but MacKeeper can assist. To resolve the startup disk error, follow the steps in our helpful guide. You can reset the NVRAM/PRAM settings, restart your MacBook, or boot into macOS Recovery and reinstall macOS. Additional choices include modifying startup security utility settings and launching First Aid in Disk Utility.

To simplify updates, we recommend using MacKeeper’s Update Tracker. It automates and fast-tracks updates, saving you the hassle of finding them yourself.

Before leaving our blog, we suggest you learn what to do when there’s no startup disk on your Mac, as knowing how to handle common startup disk issues can save you a lot of trouble later.