Preparing macOS Sonoma Stuck

Why is macOS Sonoma update stuck?

Your Mac can get stuck preparing macOS Sonoma for various reasons, including internet connection issues, lack of disk space, problems with Apple’s servers, and corrupted data in your system folders. These are all potential causes for software updates on Mac not working.

A note from our experts:

 

Hopefully, the tips in our article will solve your macOS Sonoma issues. However, if you need more support, our dedicated Mac experts are there for you, thanks to our Premium Services.

 

You can contact our specialists directly from the MacKeeper app:

1. Download and run MacKeeper. From the side menu, choose Premium Services.
2. Click the Chat Now button on the right.
3. Tell our team about your issue updating Sonoma. They’ll take it from there.

Premium Services isn’t just for Mac support. Our team can also help you with:

• Apple Watch.
• Android tablets.
• Printers, scanners, and cameras.
• iPads and iPhones.

They’ve already solved more than one million problems and fixed over 332,000 Macs, so you can trust them for reliable support.

How to fix preparing macOS Sonoma stuck

Often, you just need to wait longer, and the update will eventually complete. However, if “Preparing macOS Sonoma” is stuck for 30 minutes or more, you need to consider taking action to fix the problem. We’ve organized our advice below, starting with the most basic fixes, then progressing to more advanced methods.

1. Check Internet connection

You need a stable internet connection to download the update files and upgrade your OS. Run through our recommended steps to check and fix your connection:

1. Restart your Mac and your router.
2. Switch to a different network, if possible. If you have a MacBook, for example, try the update at a friend’s house.
3. If you’re on Wi-Fi, move closer to your router, or try a wired connection.
4. Use an online speed checker to ensure your connection isn’t running slowly.

If your Mac is still stuck checking for updates, proceed to our next step.

2. Make sure your Mac has enough free storage

macOS Sonoma is quite a large operating system, so we recommend having at least 25GB free, so you don’t run out of space during the installation, causing it to get stuck. Follow these steps:

1. Open your System Settings, and select General > Storage.
2. You’ll see a summary of what’s taking up your disk space. Click the information icon (i) next to one of them to access more options.
3. In Applications, for example, you can see currently installed apps and how much space they take up.
4. Repeat this with the other parts of the Storage menu to make room for Sonoma.

3. Confirm your Mac is compatible with Sonoma

If you find your Mac won’t update to Sonoma, it could be because it’s too old, which means it’s not compatible with the latest versions of macOS. The oldest Macs that work with Sonoma are:

• MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2018, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports)
• MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018)
• iMac (Retina 4K, 21.5-inch, 2019)
• iMac Pro (2017)
• Mac mini (2018)
• Mac Studio (2022)
• Mac Pro (2019)

Check out Apple’s site for a full list of Macs that can run Sonoma.

4. Use macOS Recovery Mode to complete update

Sometimes, third-party apps can interfere with the macOS update process, causing the Sonoma update process to get stuck. Thankfully, you can also update your Mac in Recovery Mode, which can get around this problem.

1. Restart your Mac.
2. If it’s an Intel system, immediately press and hold Opt+Cmd+R until you see the startup screen.
3. If you have an Apple Silicon Mac, turn it off, then press and hold the power button until you see the startup screen. Click Options > Continue.
4. Select Reinstall macOS Sonoma, then Continue.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation process.

5. Reinstall macOS Sonoma from scratch

Not having any luck with the normal update process? You can also install Sonoma on your Mac from scratch using a bootable USB drive. This takes some work, but the basic steps are:

1. Download the Sonoma installer from the App Store.
2. Format your external disk drive or pen drive to the Apple file system.
3. Use Terminal to create the bootable disk with the Sonoma installation files you downloaded earlier.
4. Boot your Mac with the bootable USB disk and install Sonoma.

Read our guide on creating a bootable USB drive for Mac to see how it’s done.

6. Check Apple System Status for update-related issues

Although it’s rare, Apple’s online services do sometimes experience issues—including problems with updating to Sonoma. Thankfully, it’s easy to check if Apple server issues are preventing your Sonoma update:

1. In your web browser, visit Apple’s System Status page at  www.apple.com/uk/support/systemstatus.
2. Scroll down and look for macOS Software Update.
3. If the dot next to it is green, the update service is working as expected. If it’s any other color, there’s an issue with the update server. We suggest trying the update later when the server issue has been fixed.

7. Reset PRAM and SMC

Intel Mac owners, our next tip is just for you. Your Mac has a System Management Controller (SMC) chip that manages low-level hardware functions. It will also have Parameter RAM (PRAM) or Non-volatile RAM (NVRAM) for storing certain user hardware preferences. Resetting these can often solve problems like Sonoma updates getting stuck.

Here’s what you need to do to reset PRAM and NVRAM on your Mac:

1. Turn off your Mac. Restart it, and immediately press and hold Opt+Cmd+P+R.
2. After around 20 seconds, you can release the keys.
3. Your Mac may restart again. When it’s done, try updating to Sonoma again.

How you reset your SMC differs depending on whether you have a desktop Mac or a MacBook, and whether it has an Apple T2 security chip or not.

To reset your SMC on a MacBook with a T2 chip:

1. Power off your Mac.
2. Press and hold right Shift, left Option, and left Control. After seven seconds, press and hold the power button too.
3. Hold all these buttons for seven seconds, then release. Turn the MacBook on and try installing Sonoma again.

How to reset the SMC on a MacBook without a T2 chip:

1. Power off your Mac.
2. Press and hold Shift+Opt+Control on the left side of your keyboard. Press and hold the power button too.
3. Hold them all for 10 seconds before releasing. Power up the MacBook and see if the problem is fixed.

Resetting your SMC on a desktop Mac (with or without a T2 chip):

1. Shut down your Mac and remove the power cord.
2. After 15 seconds, plug the power back in.
3. Wait another five seconds, then turn your Mac on and try installing the Sonoma update.

Eliminate your Sonoma updating issues

One of the biggest advantages of Apple technology is that everything is easy to do, and everything just works—at least most of the time. Unfortunately, no computer systems, including Macs and macOS, are ever 100% flawless, and that’s why you might experience your Sonoma upgrade getting stuck on preparing the update. As you’ve seen, there are many potential causes, and we’ve covered the most common solutions to get you back on track.

However, there are many other potential reasons why your Sonoma update isn’t working, some of which may require expert help to fix. MacKeeper’s Premium Services were created exactly for situations like this. Our Mac specialists offer technical expertise 24/7, helping you to understand your issue and find the right solution, fast. Get expert support at your fingertips today!