Critical Software update Required

Unfortunately, welcome to the club of all of us who have the same issue after doing the update. I just picked up my MacBook from the apple store after being there for 4 weeks with no resolution. They refused to fix it with the same old claim that liquid was spilled (untruths) and that once I did the update it “stressed” the logic board and that’s why it doesn’t work. Although my MacBook was working perfectly fine until I did the update. I was told to pay $1299 to get it fix which is literally the price to purchase the latest released MacBook. I wasted more than $2000 on the purchase of this MacBook that literally lasted 3 yrs. Apple apparently doesn’t have a solution for this issue and they refused to fix or replace it.

Same situation as Jerseygirl0128. Macbook Pro late 2016 model. Critical software update message randomly appeared one day in work when starting it up. Thankfully I had time machine backups and after exhausting all online help, I reinstalled MacOS.

Same issue after a reinstall - "a critical software update is required for your Mac". Brought to the Apple Store. To be honest they had no idea what the issue was or how to resolve it. They took it for evening repairs to do a system reinstall. Not sure what they done as it worked temporarily to the point of setting up the mac for the first time, then went down the same route/error after another restart. Because the issue was so intermittent they could only offer a trade in value to buy a new Mac or for me to pay for a logic board replacement.

Not great when it's something not evidently wrong with the hardware after their diagnostic tests. If the software/firmware is conflicting with the hardware, then I think it's their duty to at least offer some good will in replacing the part for free, rather than me paying for their mistakes.

Thankfully my work have offered to go with the trade in option, but again to their expense and not Apple's.

same situation as you guys only difference that my model is 15 inch 2017 maxed out version, I know :( Apple needs take responsibility and step up, I know for a fact that its a recurring issue in many MacBooks (Apple service center folks admitted). That too after the battery, butterfly keys, overthrottling, overheating and Touch Bar fiascos.

I have a 15" MacBook Pro A1707 (2017), i7-2.8G have the same issue after upgrading to Big Sur and the touchbar no more light up.According to some technician said, this is due to the upgrading process make the security chip dead. After replacing that chip will work fine but that chip is in shortage. There are too many same case in China that make the IC supplier doesn't have enough stock.

From other thread, a workaround solution is to downgrade your OS to 10.13 first, and then upgrade to Big Sur from app store. It works for my case. Just every time boot up will see a message of "about 2 minute remaining". After finish the loading will be working fine but my touchbar is still non-function. And also need to disable the sleep, otherwise will have a system panic in my case.

I experienced this same issue shortly after updating to Monterey.

if you had this same problem soon after updating comment below, we need apple to know about this!

I am still trying to find a fix for this. Just posted this thread on Apple Support Twitter.

Same problem here, with late 2016 model MacBook Pro. Had to format computer, and reinstall Monterey - and in the OS setup phase - gets stuck in the ”critical update” loop. Not luck whatsoever :-(

Encountered same problem today. I believe I solved it.

Bottom line: though my Mac was using Monterey - I prepared an install-disk (USB) for macOS Big Sur (not a mistake !) and installed it on the Mac (may require overwriting the Mac - I actually erased and formatted the disk...) - and all worked fine after that.

The touch-bar worked again, and and is great.

After using Big Sur for an hour, I safely upgraded (via Preferences > Update) to macOS Monterey - and after an addition three hours of work, reboots and all - it's still working great.

Try it - it may help you too...

All the best.

Same issue Dec 2022: After reboot OS update Safe mode functions Tried OS reinstall twice - fail

Took to Apple - With Tech tried OS reinstall, then left it for a couple of days at Apple. Senior Tech said it was his challenge. Tech tried original OS as shipped - still fail. Was unable to find solution except for logic board replacement. ($695.00 to fix or replace - nope too old) Apple did not charge me for the back room work attempts. Tech was apologetic.

Apple Tech stated his research found that the security chip for Touchbar is the issue. OS update corrupted it, has to be replaced.

What frustrating is that Apple replaced my board last week of Applecare two years ago, I replaced the screen 90 days ago. Machine was in fantastic shape, albeit no longer supported for new OS.

Apple accepts no responsibility :(

I ended up buying a new Macbook Pro 16” M1.

hi, i have been struggling on this point for 2 days now. I just got it working. hopefully this will help someone. a1707 model. suddenly got the critical update warning. reformortted drive and installed new software ventura still got same issue reset smc - no good - same issue tried the dhcp thing - no good - same issue finally did a factory reset (which I thought would not help as I thought wiping and reinstalling would be a total reset) anyways went to this video and followed along and my computer is now working and tool bar is back working https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gW0Qq_uB8M

hopefully it helps and big thanks to this dude who posted the video.

cheers.