This article explains how you can fix macOS Tahoe 26 beta update problem. More specifically, the focus of this article is on what you can do to fix the problem when you can’t install macOS Tahoe 26 beta on your Mac.
macOS Tahoe is the latest version of macOS, featuring Apple’s new Liquid Glass design, a more powerful Spotlight, and more. A number of Mac owners have rushed to get the macOS 26 beta for testing. Unfortunately, the software update has either failed or got stuck for many. If you have also run into the same probate and are unable to download and install macOS Tahoe 26 beta, this guide is for you.
How to install the public beta of macOS Tahoe 26
First, let’s go through the steps to download and install macOS Tahoe beta on Mac.
It is important that you back up your Mac before you do anything.
After backing up your Mac, here’s how you can install the beta:
- Open the System Settings
- Go to General ⇾ Software Update
- Click the ’i’ icon next to Beta Updates
- From the dropdown menu in the top-right, select the macOS Public Beta
- Hit ’Done’
- The update will then prompt you to install it.
How to Fix macOS 26 Tahoe Beta Stuck on Downloading Issue
Please try the tips below if you are unable to install macOS Tahoe beta on your Mac:
- Installing macOS Tahoe beta may take many hours. Just waiting may fix your problem. Do not put your Mac to sleep or closing its lid. Also ensure than your Macbook, if it is a Macbook, it is plugged it into AC power.
- Not all models can support macOS Tahoe. Is your Mac compatible? You can install macOS Tahoe 26 on the following Mac models:
- MacBook Pro M1 or later
- MacBook Pro 16-inch (Intel) 2019
- MacBook Pro 13-inch (Intel) 2020 with four Thunderbolt 3 ports
- MacBook Air M1 or later
- Mac Studio 2022 and later
- Mac Pro 2019 or later
- Mac mini 2020 or later
- iMac 2020 or later
- Make sure there is enough space to download and install macOS Tahoe beta update. If not, you may see error messages. To see if your computer has enough room to store the update, choose Apple menu > System Settings, click General in the sidebar, then click Storage on the right. If you need more space, you may want to delete old and unused apps, empty Trash, compress large files, etc. This will also speed up your Mac.
- Make sure that your Mac has a working and stable internet connection to install macOS Tahoe 26 beta.
- Restart your Mac (Apple menu > Shut Down) and then press the Power button to turn it back on. After restarting, check if you can download macOS Tahoe 26 beta now. If not, go to the next step.
- If the update does not complete, your computer may seem stuck or frozen, for an extended time, try to restart your computer by pressing and holding the power button on your Mac for up to 10 seconds.
- If you have any external hard drives or peripherals connected to your Mac, try removing them. And try to update now.
- It is possible that your Mac may unable to reach the update server. There could be two reasons for this:
- You may have a slow internet connection. You may want to restart your router and modem to fix this problem. If you are using a Wi-Fi connection, try a wired connection, if possible.
- Or there could be issues with Apple servers. It is possible that Apple servers are overloaded as a lot of people may be trying to update. You can check if Apple servers are experiencing issues.
If you are still having issues downloading macOS Tahoe 26 beta, then you may try the following:
Install in safe mode
Install macOS Tahoe 26 beta while your Mac is started up in safe mode. Here’s how:
- Shut down your Mac.
- Turn on your Mac and continue to press and hold the power button until you see the startup options window.
- Select your startup disk, then press and hold the Shift key while clicking “Continue in Safe Mode.”
- Log in to your Mac. You might be asked to log in again.
- Now your computer is in safe mode. Try to update now.
- Then exit safe mode when you are done (in either case). To exit safe mode, restart your Mac normally, without pressing the Shift key.
Delete macOS 26 Beta and Start Afresh
Many a time you can resolve the macOS software update stuck downloading problem by deleting the software update and starting afresh.
On your Mac, dive into the System Settings app -> General -> Storage -> Find the macOS beta and delete it.
After that, restart your Mac and try downloading the software from scratch.
