The Error 'An error occurred while downloading the updates (Update Failed)' prompt when attempting to install a newer version of macOS. This problem is typically reported to occur when the user attempts to install the Catalina and Large Sur versions of macOS.

An Fault Occurred while installing the selected updates (Update Failed)

Afterward investigating various user reports and attempting to replicate the issue on our machines, it turns out that there are several dissimilar underlying causes that might lead to the apparition of this mistake lawmaking. Here'due south a shortlist of potential culprits that might be responsible for this mistake code:

  • Apple Server issue – Equally information technology turns out, you can look to face this consequence if Apple is currently dealing with an issue in regards to the Software Update commitment infrastructure. If this scenario is applicative, the only affair you can do is place the server issue and await for Apple to fix the issue on their side.
  • Network inconsistency – A network glitch can likewise interfere with your attempts at installing the latest system update for your macOS figurer. If the problem is related to an IP or TCP data inconsistency, yous should be able to get the outcome resolved by restarting or resetting your router.
  • A Conflict caused by 3rd party kernel extension software – According to a lot of affected users, there are several tertiary party tools that might cause this mistake due to the fact that they interact with the kernel. To avoid this particular outcome, you'll need to uninstall kernel extension software like Parallels, CPU Gadget, or Little Snitch earlier attempting to install the pending update once again.
  • An issue with PRAM or NVRAM caches – Another scenario that might prevent your system from installing a pending system update is an issue with the NVRAM or PRAM caches. Several users dealing with the aforementioned problem have reported that they finally managed to get the issue fixed after resetting both of these caches.
  • Corrupted iTunes entry in the /hosts file – As it turns out, there are certain situations where your /etc/hosts file might become unusable due to a corrupted iTunes entry and interfere with the installation of a pending system update. If this scenario is applicable, yous should be able to ready the effect past removing the problematic iTunes entry from the hosts file manually.
  • Corrupted Os-related temporary files – Corrupted remnants from a previous attempt at installing the system Os version might interfere with any new attempts at making the leap to Big Sur. In this instance, you'll need to get-go by cleaning the caches folder earlier retrying the update.
  • Corrupted Software Update Catalog – MacOS Catalina and older versions might suffer from a glitch that affects the Software Update Catalog and 'convinces' your system that it doesn't actually need the pending update. In this case, you volition need to clear the software update catalog starting time before attempting to install the pending update in one case again.

Now that you are familiar with every potential reason that might cause the fault occurred while downloading the updates message pop-up when you effort to update your macOS to the latest version available, let's accept a await at a couple of fixes that other dealing with the same issue take successfully used:

Bank check for a Server Outcome

Before you become alee and follow the other methods below to troubleshoot a local issue that'south causing the update failed mistake, you should start by ensuring that Apple is not currently experiencing bug with their Software Update commitment function.

In the by (when the Big Sur update was officially released), at that place was a surge of "An mistake occurred while downloading the updates (Update Failed)"reports as the Software Update component of Apple effectively broke.

If you are encountering this issue due to a server issue, none of the methods beneath will piece of work in your case, and then accept the time to investigate if this is true or not.

Fortunately, there is an piece of cake way of checking if Apple is currently experiencing issues with the macOS Software update component – Simply access Apple's System Condition page and cheque if there's an Issue or Outage revolving around macOS Software Update.

Checking for an outage period

If this investigation has immune you to discover an underlying server issue, there'south cipher yous can really practice to set up the problem – All you tin exercise is wait for Apple's engineers to resolve their server issue.

On the other hand, if the status page is reporting no underlying issues or outages with the macOS Software Update component, y'all can conclude the trouble is not server-related – In this case, start post-obit the next potential fixes below.

Restart or Reset your Router

If yous see this error occurring every time you effort to download the awaiting system update for macOS, there's a very big take a chance you lot're dealing with a networking glitch that has afflicted a lot of Mac users in the by.

In case you are dealing with this problem, you'll terminate upwardly seeing the update failed error regardless if y'all're performing the update from the System Preferences tab or downloading it from the official download page.

Fortunately, the problem is most likely occurring due to a generic case of badly buried IP / TCP data that is forcing the Apple server to turn down the connectedness due to a security business organisation.

If this scenario is applicable, you should be able to fix the issue by performing a router restart or reset process.

Note: If you can go the issue fixed with a unproblematic router restart, do that instead of resetting your network

Restart your Router

A simple router reboot procedure will achieve the purpose of clearing the currently cached information for Net Protocol and Manual Control Protocol data.

To get for a router reboot on your network device, start by identifying the power push (it'southward typically located on the back of the device). When you come across it, press information technology once to cut off power.

As soon as ability is cut off from the device, go ahead and disconnect the power cable from the ability outlet and expect for one minute or more than before plugging information technology back in in gild to let the power capacitors enough time to drain themselves.

Restarting the router

Once the time catamenia has passed, start your router once again, endeavor to install the same update that was previously failing with the 'An error occurred while downloading the updates (Update Failed)' mistake prompt and meet if the problem is now stock-still.

If the trouble is even so non fixed, movement down to the next potential fix below.

Reset your Router Configuration

If the elementary router restart didn't prepare the issue for you, the next logical stride is to go for a complete network device reset to ensure that no network-related setting or cached data is currently preventing your macOS system from updating itself.

Important: Prior to resetting your network device, it's important to understand that this operation will affect your electric current network setup. Whatsoever forwarded ports, blocked items, and any other type of custom settings will be lost in one case you become through with this process. Even more, if you're using PPPoE, you volition need to re-practice the credentials before you can restore Internet admission.

If you understand the consequences, yous can initiate a router reset past locating the reset button on the back of your router.

Note: Typically, this is a built-in button that tin merely be reached with a sharp object (needle, toothpick, etc.) in order to prevent the accidental process.

One time you lot manage to locate the reset button, printing and hold it for 10 seconds or more or until you detect that the front LEDs all flash at the same time.

Restarting the router

After the router is successfully reset, go ahead and re-plant the connexion past re-inserting your PPPoE credentials and see if the trouble is now fixed.

If you're all the same unable to consummate the update on your macOS, motility down to the next potential set below.

Get rid of Kernel Extension Software (if applicative)

If you're seeing the 'An error occurred while downloading the updates (Update Failed)' while attempting to install the Big Sur update, one fairly common culprit is 3rd party software that works by installing kernel extensions.

Common culprits in this item case are software like Parallels, CPU Gadget, and Little Snitch.

If any of the 3rd party software mentioned above is currently installed on your Mac (or a similar tool), the only affair you have to practise to bypass the error is to temporarily uninstall them from your macOS in society to ensure that the Big Sur update can be installed with no roadblocks.

If you're looking for specific instructions on how to do this, follow the steps beneath:

  1. Open the Finder app from the Launchbar at the bottom of the screen.
    Open the Finder app
  2. In one case y'all're inside the Finder app, access the Applications tab and locate the kernel extension software that yous suspect might be conflicting with the Large Sur update.
  3. Afterwards yous locate the problematic software, right-click on information technology and choose Move to Trash (Move to Bin) from the context card that just appeared.
    Uninstalling the problematic macOS application
  4. If you get asked to insert your username and countersign, do so in order to grant the necessary permissions to uninstall the application.
  5. Once the uninstallation procedure is complete, reboot your macOS device and wait for the next startup to complete before attempting to install the Large Sur update once over again.

If the problem is even so not fixed, move downward to the adjacent method beneath.

Reset PRAM & NVRAM Caches

If none of the other fixes to a higher place have worked in your case, information technology's very likely that you're dealing with an NVRAM (Not-Volatile Random-Admission Memory) or PRAM (Parameter Random-Access Memory) issue that is preventing your system from properly dealing with temporary files.

Info: macOS computers volition use NVRAM to store sure settings data that tin be accessed quickly, while PRAM is used to shop information related to some cadre components of your MAC.

If yous're indeed dealing with an issue cause past either of these caches (NVRAM or PRAM), you should be able to fix the problem by resetting both the PRAM and NVRAM caches.

If you're looking for specific step by footstep instructions on doing this, here's what you need to do:

  1. Start by shutting down your MAC conventionally (regular shut downward, not hibernation mode).
  2. After you made sure that your Mac is turned off completely, turn information technology ON and immediately press and hold on the following keys:
    Option + Command + P fundamental + R key
  3. Keep all keys pressed for over xx seconds or more than.
  4. When your macOS gives the impression that it's preparing to restart, DON'T let go of the 4 keys yet.
    Resetting the NVRAM and PRAM caches on macOS
  5. Next, heed for the 2 startup tones. Once you hear the second beep, release all keys at once.
    Note: If yous're using a Mac with T2 Security chip implementation, you lot'll need to be releasing all 4 keys subsequently the Apple logo disappears for the 2d fourth dimension.
  6. Once the adjacent startup is complete, attempt to install the pending update in one case again and see if the problem is now fixed.

If the problem is even so not stock-still, move down to the next potential fix below

Remove iTunes entries from the /hosts File

Co-ordinate to some affected users, you tin look to meet this particular error code due to a bad /etc/hosts file that is interfering with the updating procedure.

Most likely, the problematic primal that is effectively blocking the update to the Big Sur iteration is 127.0.0.ane osxapps.itunes.apple.com.

Several afflicted users that were previously dealing with the aforementioned kind of consequence take confirmed that the problem was resolved once they accessed the /hosts file and removed the problematic entries that nosotros're interfering within the updating process.

If y'all're looking for specific instructions on accessing and modifying the hosts file on macOS, follow the instructions below:

  1. Use the Launchpad at the bottom of the screen to open the Finder app.
    Opening the Finder app
  2. Once you're inside the Finder, access the Applications tab, and so open up the Final app from the list of bachelor options.
    Opening the Terminal app
  3. Once you're inside the Terminal app, blazon the following command and press Return (Enter): 
    sudo nano /etc/hosts.
  4. When you're asked to enter the password for your active user account, enter the required information so you lot'll be granted access to the hosts file.
  5. Once the /hosts file is opened, scroll through the Hosts Database and locate the following entry:
    127.0.0.1 osxapps.itunes.apple.com.
  6. Once you come across it, simply delete the line from the hosts file to remove information technology completely and press Control + O to save the changes and ovveride the hosts file with this variant.
  7. Finally, go out the Nano Editor app and restart both your macOS and your router earlier attempting to install the pending update in one case once more.

If the problem is still non fixed, motility downwards to the next potential fix beneath.

Clean the Caches folder of macOS

As it turns out, this detail issue can occur due to a series of corrupted temp files that might reside in the Caches folder. Under certain circumstances, corrupted cache files can interfere with the installation of new pending system updates and cause the Update Failederror.

Several afflicted users that were also dealing with this problem have managed to fix it past accessing theLibrary binder and make clean the contents of this folder.

Notation: This process is perfectly prophylactic and volition not cause whatsoever problems with your macOS installation.

Keep in listen that in gild to do that, yous will need to outset by accessing the Organization Preferences carte du jour and disable the iCloud integration with Calendar in social club to exist able to remove the files from the Caches binder.

Of import: If you want to ensure that you don't terminate upwardly doing whatsoever collateral damage, we recommend that you commencement by doing Time Motorcar Backup before starting with the steps below.

Once you are gear up to get started, brainstorm following the steps below:

  1. Employ the ribbon at the top to click on the apple icon, then click on Organization Preferences from the listing of available options.
    Accessing the System Preferences screen
  2. Inside the System preferences menu, click on the iCloud entry (left-hand section) of the screen.
  3. Next, from the iCloud settings, move over to the right-hand section, then uncheck the box associated with Calendars.
    Accessing the Calendar apps
  4. Afterward iCloud calendar sync has been disabled, use the action bar at the bottom to click on your Finder app.
  5. Once you're finally inside the Finder app, press and hold on to the Selection key, then printing the Go entry from the ribbon menu at the pinnacle and select Library from the list of available items.
    Accessing the Library binder
  6. When you manage to arrive within the Library folder, offset by finding the Caches folder. Double-click on it to select information technology in one case you finally encounter it.
  7. Once y'all make it inside the Caches folder, printing CMD + A on your keyboard to select everything, then press CMD + Backspace to delete them (or right-click > Move to Bin).
    Deleting everything in the caches folder

    Note: Keep in mind that the Cache folder will only incorporate temporary files that various applications installed in your macOS ecosystem apply. Deleting them might prompt you to sign in again with some applications, but it won't break any applications.

  8. Restart your macOS car, then attempt to reinstall the awaiting Arrangement update once the next startup is consummate to see if the problem is now resolved.

If the same kind of event is still occurring, move downwards to the terminal potential fix below.

Clear the Software Update Catalog

If none of the fixes above take proven to be effective in your case, yous should kickoff considering a scenario in which there's a glitch affecting the Software Update Catalog of your macOS calculator.

Several macOS users facing the aforementioned kind of result take confirmed that they were finally able to bypass the 'An error occurred while downloading the updates (Update Failed)'error by opening the Terminal app and deploying a command that cleared the Software Update Catalog.

This operation will effectively re-generate the Software itemize and eliminate whatsoever type of glitch that is currently causing the fault bulletin.

If you observe yourself in this item state of affairs, follow the instructions below to open up a Final app and clear the software update itemize using a sudo command:

  1. Starting time past opening the Finder app using the action bar at the lesser of the screen.
    Accessing the Finder app
  2. Once you're inside the Finder app interface, click on the Go push (using the ribbon bar at the top), and then click on Utilities from the newly appeared context menu.
    Accessing the Utilities menu
  3. Once you're inside the Utilities screen, double-click on the Terminal app and insert your account password if asked for it.
  4. After y'all're finally inside the Terminal app, type the following command and printing Enter (Return) to effectively clear the Software Update Catalog on macOS:
    sudo softwareupdate --clear-catalog
  5. Afterwards the command is processed successfully, reboot your Mac and attempt to install the pending organization software in one case your computer boots back up.