Stuck on Preparing macOS Big Sur 11.1 Update

App & System Services Core OS macOS

Created Dec ’20

Replies 87

Boosts 0

Views 70k

Participants 84

I'm currently running MacOS Big Sur 11.0.1 on a MacBook Pro 16in and I'm trying to update to version 11.1 but I have been stuck on "Preparing macOS Big Sur 11.1 Update..." "About 10 minutes remaining" for a few hours. I have tried restarting my MacBook Pro multiple times but I keep running into the same problem. Please help!!

Boost

Earwiggle OP

Feb ’21

Please just sort it Apple.

Maecius OP

Feb ’21

Uninstalling Sophos or restarting and updating in safe mode does the trick.

Dirkjand OP

Feb ’21

After reading @Maecius message, I removed Eset Cyber Security. That was the trick for me.

JasonArnone OP

Feb ’21

Thanks @Dirkjand that worked for me too. OS 11.2.2 update.
I had to run Activity Monitor and search for ESET to quit all processes. Even if you force quit the app, there are residual processes running that need to be quit (i think).

tanoy OP

Mar ’21

Same here, Im using a MacBook Air 2019 model. The update process is stuck here and showing "About 10 minutes remaining" for last 8 hours.

Any Idea?

nsri22 OP

Mar ’21

The safe mode suggestion worked for MacOS BigSur 11.2.2 update. Recovery mode was also an option but that wouldn't be an "update" but a clean re-install so I think the "safe mode" option is better. Also, I think it's horrible that it's been months and Apple hasn't bothered to figure out a fix for this or at least give an assurance here that the issue is being looked at.

Zefloflo OP

Mar ’21

Same with 11.2.3

i have never been disappointed by Apple except for my last iMac bought less than a year ago, initially running in Catalina and now Big Sur.

it s always running slow or worse

blt480 OP

Mar ’21

Same issue on MacBook air 2020. Any fix available yet?

DDNAPUSER OP

Apr ’21

this one is easy. All you do is boot into safe mode. Look up how to do it. then perform the update.

_harshalgandhi_ OP

May ’21

i had the same issue for mac OS Big Sur 11.3 update and updating it in the safe mode worked for me.

GotProblems OP

May ’21

Same, 11.3.1 version.

abhishekkjain OP

May ’21

Facing same issue in 11.3.1 in my old Macbook Pro 2015 model.

hey_suburbia OP

May ’21

This is happening to me as well.

M1 Mac Mini and trying to update to 11.4

Oloksy OP

Jun ’21

I had the same issue, I left it for a long time connected to the internet and it worked

rmatt2000 OP

Jun ’21

Same problem here with 11.4. Late 2017 iMac. Installer stuck on "Preparing macOS Big Sur 11.4".