Mac users have recently started encountering a problem that prevents them from using MacOS effectively: when they try to turn on their Macs, they get a message that says “A critical software update is required for your Mac, but an error occurred while installing this update ”, with an additional note warning: “Your Mac cannot be used until this update is installed.”
This often traps users in a loop of trying to install this “critical software update” that never seems to work, essentially locking up the Mac (it’s not the first time Macs have encountered problems). This is a serious problem, and when it occurs you are probably looking for a solution as soon as possible. Here are some possible causes of this error and solutions that can help you get back to normal.
Your Touch Bar update is not working
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This problem is often associated with MacBooks that have a Touch Bar. The Touch Bar works like a built-in accessory and has a special firmware dedicated to its operation. This can cause problems when it comes time to update MacOS, and a separate update for the Touch Bar needs to be included. Sometimes this Touch Bar update is particularly sensitive to internet connections or doesn’t respond well to other factors in the update process.
Fortunately, there is a relatively easy way to see if this is a problem and fix it. First, turn off your MacBook. If you have to, hold down the power button to force shut down the device in case nothing else responds.
Now connect your laptop to a wired network – don’t use Wi-Fi. You want a direct network connection, ideally without any access restrictions. Now reboot your MacBook and tell it to restart and try to update the software again. If the reboot takes a while, that’s okay. Let it work out all the kinks and see if it can now load MacOS successfully. It’s often just the special treatment that updating the Touch Bar needs.
A recent app is causing major problems
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Panic and kernel update issues can be caused by a recently downloaded app that works very poorly with MacOS. If you can access MacOS, even for a few minutes, you can try deleting recently installed apps and see if that fixes the problem.
Sometimes apps can interact with Apple’s updates and access Apple’s servers in strange ways, especially security and network control apps. Hands Off!, for example, is associated with these critical software update issues. If you’ve tried using this app or any similar app recently, go and uninstall them completely: they’re simply not compatible with Apple’s current update process.
You need to reinstall MacOS
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Sometimes an update problem indicates a more serious bug in MacOS. The best way to deal with this is to completely reinstall MacOS. Do not worry! You don’t need to wipe your drive to do this, which means you should be able to keep almost all of your saved data (which is unlikely to have caused this problem).
When you turn on your Mac, simply hold down the “Command” and “R” keys to start. This will launch the MacOS Utilities window. From here, select “Reinstall MacOS.” When prompted, select “Continue” and follow the instructions to complete the reinstallation. This will of course take some time, so start the process only when your Mac is connected to power and you have plenty of time when you don’t need to use that computer.
It’s time to take your computer to the Apple Store
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If none of these potential solutions work, it’s time to call your local Apple Store and arrange for a professional to take your Mac in for a closer look. Remember, this is a serious issue and the problem could be an internal bug that you are simply not equipped to deal with. The Apple Store will be able to find out what’s wrong or advise you on what to do (such as completely wiping your computer).
Because a problem like this can lie in the details, it’s often necessary to call in a professional to look and diagnose what’s going on. Be sure to check your schedule and make sure it’s okay to have your Mac in the store for a few days or longer!
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Source: newstars.edu.vn