Trying to update your Mac to macOS Mojave 10.14 but the update gets stuck or fails to install? You’re not alone. While macOS updates are usually smooth, Mojave can sometimes hang during download, get stuck in a boot loop, or fail to install completely. If this sounds like your situation, don’t worry—here’s how to troubleshoot it.
✅ Pre-Update Checklist
Before diving into fixes, make sure:
- You’re connected to stable Wi-Fi
- Your Mac has at least 15–20 GB of free storage
- Your Mac is plugged in or has 50%+ battery
- You know your Apple ID and password
Also, disable any third-party antivirus or firewall temporarily—they can block the update process.
🔁 1. Restart Your Mac and Try Again
A simple restart often clears minor update hiccups.
- Click the Apple menu > Restart
- After reboot, go to the App Store, search for macOS Mojave
- Click Download, then follow the installation prompts again
🧯 2. Quit Running Apps Before Updating
Background apps can interfere with the update process.
- Press Option + Command + Esc to open the Force Quit window
- Quit all apps except Finder
- Then restart your Mac and retry the Mojave update
🌐 3. Refresh Your Internet Connection
macOS updates rely on a solid internet connection.
- Toggle Wi-Fi off and back on under System Preferences > Network
- Or power cycle your router by unplugging it for 30 seconds
- Then reconnect and reattempt the update from the App Store
💾 4. Check Available Storage
Mojave needs several gigabytes of free space to install properly.
- Go to Apple Menu > About This Mac > Storage
- If storage is tight, delete unused files or move them to an external drive
- Try to keep at least 20 GB free before starting the update
🛑 5. Cancel and Re-Download the Update
If the download is stuck, try deleting the installer.
- Open Launchpad
- Search for “Install macOS Mojave”
- Drag it to the Trash
- Reopen the App Store and re-download macOS Mojave
🧼 6. Boot Into Safe Mode and Update
Safe Mode disables third-party software that could be interfering.
- Turn off your Mac
- Turn it back on while holding the Shift key until the Apple logo appears
- After booting into Safe Mode, retry downloading and installing Mojave
💡 7. Use Terminal and Create a Bootable USB (Advanced)
If nothing works, you can create a Mojave bootable installer.
- Format a USB drive (at least 12 GB) using Disk Utility
- Download macOS Mojave from the App Store
- Use Terminal to create the installer:
bashCopyEditsudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Mojave.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/Untitled
- Replace “Untitled” with the name of your formatted USB
- Follow the prompts to complete installation from the USB drive