Unable to Download macOS Tahoe? Here's the Fix

Since the release of macOS 26 Tahoe, many users, especially those with newer Apple Silicon devices such as the M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Ultra, have reported download errors, installation failures, and update loops. If you're excited to try out the new version but find it unable to download macOS Tahoe, this post can be the guide.

This guide explains the most common reasons why macOS Monterey won’t download and offers step-by-step fixes. Let’s dive in!

ANE Firmware/Driver Bug on Mac Studio M3 Ultra (Fixed in macOS 26.0.1)

It's not a coincidence that many Mac Studio M3 Ultra owners found it unable to download macOS Tahoe. When upgrading from macOS Sequoia to macOS Tahoe, the installer appeared to work normally: the Mac rebooted, the progress bar went down to ‘Less than a minute remaining’, and then the machine suddenly dropped back to the Sequoia login or lock screen. No error dialog appeared, but the upgrade never completed.

If you check the installation logs, you’ll see that during setup, the Tahoe installer tries to interact with a hardware register used by the Apple Neural Engine (ANE) and fails the validation step. The ANE is the part of Apple silicon that accelerates AI and machine-learning tasks, and in this specific case, the Tahoe 26.0 installer was loading a new ANE driver/firmware combination that didn’t pass its own safety checks on the Mac Studio M3 Ultra.

Because of this mismatch, every upgrade attempt, whether launched from System Settings, the full installer app, or Terminal, ended the same way: the Mac silently rolled back to macOS Sequoia after the final reboot.

Fortunately, Apple has addressed this installer bug in macOS 26.0.1. Here’s what to do next:

• If you’re still on macOS Sequoia on a Mac Studio M3 Ultra, skip the original 26.0 build and install macOS Tahoe 26.0.1 (or later) directly from System Settings > General > Software Update, or by using a fresh full installer
• If you already downloaded an older Tahoe installer, delete the old installer from Applications, then download the latest macOS 26.0.1 installer again so you get the fixed build.
• For best results, you can also start the upgrade from macOS Recovery (Options > Reinstall macOS), which always pulls the newest signed version from Apple’s servers.

Unsupported Mac Hardware

Apple regularly updates its macOS support matrix, and older Mac models may not be eligible for the latest macOS updates. If your Mac isn’t on the official list of supported devices, it won't receive the macOS Tahoe update, and even if you manage to download it, the installation will not proceed.

• Supported Apple Silicon Macs:

  • MacBook Air (2020 and later)
  • MacBook Pro (2020 and later)
  • iMac (2020 and later)
  • Mac mini (2020 and later)
  • Mac Studio (all models)
  • Mac Pro (2019 and later)

• Supported Intel-Based Macs:

  • MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019)
  • MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports)
  • iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2020)

Insufficient Free Storage Space

One of the most common and least obvious reasons for being unable to download or install a new macOS is simply not having enough free space. If you receive the error message ‘macOS Tahoe cannot be installed on Macintosh HD,' or ‘macOS Tahoe cannot be installed on this computer, ’ this could be the reason.

To avoid and troubleshoot this scenario, it’s best to treat the official space requirement as a minimum and aim for significantly more, around 25–40 GB of truly free space before starting the Tahoe upgrade. Cleaning large caches, uninstalling unused applications, and emptying the Trash can make the difference between a smooth one-shot update and a frustrating cycle of failed downloads.

However, if you want an effortless Mac cleaning experience instead of hunting for files manually, BuhoCleaner is such a dedicated Mac cleanup tool that can reclaim tens of gigabytes in just a few clicks. It’s capable of removing system junk, app caches, old logs, large files, etc., and it includes a duplicate finder and app uninstaller, so you can spot and delete space hogs without digging through folders one by one.

Apple’s Software Update Servers Under Heavy Load

Another frequent cause of macOS Tahoe download failures is congestion on Apple’s own update servers, especially in the first days after a major release. When millions of Macs check for updates at roughly the same time, the result can be slow download speeds, progress bars that sit at ‘Preparing…’ or ‘Calculating…’, and installers that seem to hang indefinitely.

If you suspect this is the case, the most effective workaround is patience and timing: try checking for updates during off-peak hours, such as late at night or early in the morning, when server load is lighter.

Inconsistent or Unstable Network

An unstable network connection can also prevent you from successfully downloading macOS Tahoe. If your Wi-Fi signal is weak or if there are interruptions during the download, it can cause the process to freeze, fail, or restart. Always make sure you are under a good network before downloading a new system.

Low Battery Power

Have you checked the battery power on your Mac, especially if you’re using a MacBook? macOS has a built-in safeguard that requires your Mac to be at least 50% charged before starting an upgrade or installation. This is to ensure that the system doesn't run out of power mid-update, which could result in data corruption or an incomplete download or installation.

To avoid low battery power, it’s suggested to keep your Mac plugged in while updating to avoid any interruptions during the installation process.

Software Update Misfunctioning

In most cases, Software Update works smoothly. However, if the update service gets stuck, fails to communicate properly, or if the update catalog becomes corrupted or outdated, the system might fail to fetch the available update or keep spinning without starting the download.

To fix this, you can reset the Software Update catalog by using Terminal, which will clear any potential issues with the update service:

1. Open Terminal from Finder > Applications > Utilities.
2. Enter the following commands, followed by Return and your admin password: sudo softwareupdate --clear-catalog

sudo softwareupdate --reset-ignored

3. Restart your Mac. Go back to System Settings > General > Software Update and try downloading macOS Tahoe again.

Conclusion

If you're struggling with being unable to download macOS Tahoe, several factors might be at play, ranging from hardware compatibility to network issues. Thankfully, most of these issues can be resolved with a few simple steps. Whether it’s clearing up storage space, ensuring your battery is charged, or dealing with hardware incompatibility, this guide has you covered.