Ventura download completes but install doesn't follow

I am attempting to upgrade an Apple 27-inch iMac Retina 5K, 3.6GHz 8-Core i9 "Early 2019" with Thunderbolt 3, 32GB DDR4, 2.0TB SSD, 802.11a/b/g/n/ac to macOS 13 (Ventura) from a clean install of macOS 10.15 (Catalina).

The download of macOS 13 stops at 12.15 GB of 12.15 GB with the progress bar still having about a half inch to go. There is no visible sign that anything is going on. It appears to be stuck.

I have gone through this twice on this new (to me) machine. What have I done wrong? What should I do now?

Posted on Nov 17, 2022 08:19 AM

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2 replies

Nov 17, 2022 09:44 AM in response to Frank Lowney1

First of all, you did not say how long it was "stuck". In my experience my downloads typically take about 45 minutes or so and the installations take another 45 minutes or so with several automatic restarts. The download time will vary depending on the speed of your internet connection. If the installation process has been stuck for two hours, for example, then there is a problem with the installation. Typically the problem is that the downloaded file is corrupted and cannot successfully install. The solution is to put the old file into the Trash, empty it and then do a new download using a wired Ethernet connection, not Wi-Fi which is too slow for these very large downloads. I hope that works for you.

Nov 18, 2022 06:10 AM in response to Ronasara

It was stuck for more than an hour.

A subsequent attempt after reseting NVRAM and SMC was successful.

BTW, the installer file does not download directly to the Applications folder. It downloads to a hidden folder and is only moved to Applications after a successful download. So even though Software Update showed the file fully downloaded with no time remaining, it did not appear in Applications. The initial "sign" that something was amiss was the unfilled progress bar and no further action.

I really cannot claim that resetting NVRAM and SMC was the solution as there are many other variables at work.

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Ventura download completes but install doesn't follow

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