I have a 2019 iMac running on Catalina. I completely forgot to upgrade to Big Sur, and would like to update it to that OR Monterey. When I go into software update in system preferences, I get a spinning wheel. When I go to manually download Big Sur from the app store, I get a "finding updates" message with the blue progress bar stuck on full, nothing else happens. HELP! thank you.
iMac 27″, macOS 10.15
You original post mentioned "When I go to manually download Big Sur from the app store, ..." so I wasn't certain that you tried Monterey.
If neither of the methods in step 3 of How to upgrade to macOS Monterey - Apple Support will work, you may want to contact Apple Support. There is a Get Support link at the top right of this page.
Personally, I would use the following instructions and go directly to Monterey: How to upgrade to macOS Monterey - Apple Support
I would love to go right to Monterey, but my computer gets stuck on the "finding updates" dialog box. I also can't "get" Monterey from the app store because my computer keeps "finding update" with no progress... :-( I can't access the update at all.
I went ahead and called Apple support per your advice (didn't realize that was even an option) -- they walked me through a way to install Monterey via an internet recovery mode startup. It worked! Took a while but the hour+ call was well worth it. thanks!
Try starting up in Safe Mode and then try to update.
2019 iMac won't update to Big Sur OR Monterey
