Fix macOS Could Not Be Installed on Your Computer (8 Ways)

macOS could not be installed on your computer is a standard error. Various reasons lead to this problem. However, there are multiple solutions one can apply, such as cleaning up disk space, repairing disk issues, clean installation of macOS, etc.

Are you frustrated with the "macOS could not be installed on your computer" error? Well, you are not the only one! Several users have reported this issue in Mac and seek to resolve it immediately.

It is vital to understand that macOS updates take significant time. However, there are instances where the process cannot be completed, and the installation is halted midway. It doesn't mean that the installation has failed permanently. It is a temporary issue; users can resolve it by applying various methods.

In this article, we will talk about the different ways to resolve the "macOS could not be installed on your computer" error and the causes that lead to this issue.

Method 1. Verify and Repair Disk Issues Using Disk Utility

One of the best ways to resolve the installation error is to verify and repair disk issues. For that, you can use the Disk Utility. Check out the steps here -

1. Accessing Disk Utility from macOS Recovery mode

To access Disk Utility from macOS Recovery mode, follow these steps –

Step 1. Shut down the system.

Step 2. Turn it on.

Step 3. Press the Command and R keys and hold them. Release these keys when you see the Apple logo. (For Intel-based Macs)

Press the power button and hold it. Release it when you come across the startup options window. Select Options and Continue. (For Silicon-based Macs)

Step 3. On the macOS Utilities window, choose the Disk Utility option.

2. Checking and repairing disk errors

Now, you can check and repair disk errors. Here are the steps –

Step 1. Select "View".

Step 2. Choose "Show All Devices".

Step 3. You will see a list of Mac disks in the sidebar.

Step 4. Choose the disk you want to repair.

Step 5. Select the "First Aid" option.

Step 6. Click "Run".

Step 7. Wait for the process to finish. Select "Done".

3. Formatting or resizing the disk if necessary

If needed, you can format or resize disks. Check out these steps –

Step 1. Select "View".

Step 2. Choose "Show All Devices".

Step 3. Select the disk you want to format.

Step 4. Select "Erase".

Step 5. Choose the Format pop-up menu.

Step 6. Select the file system format you want.

Step 7. Enter name.

Step 8. Select "Erase".

Step 9. Click "Done".

Method 2. Re-Download and Create a New macOS Installer

Another method is to re-download and create a new macOS installer. Read the section below to know more.

1. Steps to re-download the macOS installer

To re-download the macOS installer, here are the steps to follow –

Step 1. Go to the App Store.

Step 2. Click on your name at the bottom left-hand corner of the App Store. It will open the Purchased section.

Step 3. Here, you will see the macOS installer you want to re-download.

2. How to create a new bootable installer

Creating a bootable installer might seem complicated. You can check out these steps -

Step 1. Connect the USB flash drive.

Step 2. Go to Terminal on Mac.

Step 3. Type - sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Ventura.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume (here, you need to enter the name of the downloaded macOS.

Step 4. Hit "Return".

Step 5. Type the admin password when asked.

Step 6. Type Y to erase the volume.

Step 7. Press "Return".

Step 8. When you see a pop-up asking permission to access files on the removable volume, click "OK".

Step 9. Quit the Terminal and disconnect the USB drive.

Method 3. Free Up Disk Space on the Target Drive

The simplest solution to resolve the "macOS Could Not Be Installed on Your Computer" error is to remove large files. Sufficient space on the disk is necessary for installation.

Identifying and removing large or unnecessary files

The process is straightforward. Follow these steps –

Step 1. Go to the Apple menu.

Step 2. Select System Settings.

Step 3. A new settings window will open, choose General option followed by Storage on the right-hand side.

Step 4. Now, you can select the category you want and know more. Select what you want to delete.

Step 5. Click Delete.

Method 4. Check for Hardware and Software Compatibility

Checking the compatibility between the device and the operating system is necessary. Trying updates on a computer that cannot support it is futile.

1. Ensuring your Mac model supports the desired macOS version

Go to the Apple menu to find out if your Mac model supports the desired macOS version. Select About This Mac. Here, you will see information about your device. Now, search online and get information about the updates that your model supports.

2. Updating or removing incompatible software before installation

Before installation, it is essential to either update or remove incompatible software. For updates, follow these steps –

Step 1. Go to the Apple menu.

Step 2. Select System Settings/System Preferences.

Step 3. Choose "Software Update".

Step 4. Here, you will find updates (if any)

To remove incompatible apps, check out these steps –

Step 1. Go to the Applications folder.

Step 2. Drag the software to Trash.

Step 3. You can also remove apps using Launchpad. Open "Launchpad".

Step 4. Select the software and hold it.

Step 5. Click on the X icon

Here are the other 4 fixes

5. Update Firmware and System Software

6. Ensure the Correct Date and Time Settings

7. Reset NVRAM/PRAM and SMC

8. Perform a Clean Installation of macOS

Method 5. Update Firmware and System Software

Checking firmware updates is an excellent solution to resolving the installation problem.

How to check for firmware updates

To check for firmware updates, you can follow these steps –

Step 1. Click on the "Apple menu".

Step 2. Choose "System Settings".

Step 3. Select "General".

Step 4. Go to "Software Update".

Method 6. Ensure the Correct Date and Time Settings

To check and modify the date and time in macOS Recovery mode, take a look at these steps –

Step 1. Enter the Recovery Mode.

Step 2. Go to Utilities.

Step 3. Open Terminal.

Step 4. Type the Date to check.

Step 5. If it is incorrect, type date {month}{day}{hour}{minute}{year}

Step 6. Press Enter.

When an OS requests an update to the Apple servers for an update or the App Store does it, the client time is checked before the download starts. If the time stamp doesn't match, the installation fails.

Apart from this, there are checks for security certificates (incorrect time could mean the certificate is tampered with), synchronization, and compatibility issues.

Method 7. Reset NVRAM/PRAM and SMC

1. How to reset NVRAM/PRAM on Mac

To reset NVRAM/PRAM on Mac, follow these easy steps –

Step 1. Turn off the system.

Step 2. Press the power button.

Step 3. Press and hold Cmd, Option, P, and R keys simultaneously.

Step 4. Release the eyes when you hear the startup sound or the Apple logo appears and disappears for the second time.

2. How to reset SMC on different Mac models

To reset SMC on Macs with Apple T2 Security Chip, here are the steps –

Step 1. Turn off the system.

Step 2. Press the power button and hold it.

Step 3. Restart it.

Step 4. If it doesn't work, press the right Shift key, left Control key, and left Option key and hold them.

Step 5. At the same time, press and hold the Power button.

Step 6. Release the keys.

Step 7. Restart the system.

Method 8. Perform a Clean Installation of macOS

There are various ways to conduct a clean installation of macOS. One of the methods is to do it via the Recovery Mode.

Step 1. Enter the Recovery Mode.

Step 2. Erase the Mac before reinstallation of macOS.

Step 3. Quit Disk Utility.

Step 4. Select Reinstall macOS from the utility window.

Causes of the "macOS Could Not Be Installed on Your Computer" Error

Multiple reasons explain the occurrence of the "macOS Could Not Be Installed on Your Computer" error. Let’s take a look -

• 💾Corrupted or incomplete macOS installer

Before the macOS installation, you need to download the installer. A damaged or corrupted installer can lead to this issue. An unstable internet connection can also be the cause of this error.

• 💽Insufficient disk space on the target drive

macOS updates need a massive amount of space. For that, you need to ensure sufficient space on the target drive. Lack of it can cause the error, stopping the installation in between.

• ⚙️Incompatible hardware or software

Compatibility of the system and operating system is of critical importance. If the hardware cannot support the update, users can get the "macOS Could Not Be Installed on Your Computer" error. For that, you can check the list of the models eligible for the update.

• 🗓️Incorrect date and time settings

You might be surprised but incorrect date and time can also cause this installation error. The ideal solution is to manually set the time and date and see if the issue is solved.

Recover Data from Corrupted macOS After Installing

"macOS Could Not Be Installed on Your Computer" is a common Mac error. And so is data loss. Surprised? You can indeed encounter data loss from a corrupted macOS after installation.

That is why it is critical to back up data before using any method to resolve the issue. However, if that is not something you have done, don't worry! There is another way to recover data. You can use professional data recovery software, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac!

The EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac is a powerful data recovery software. Irrespective of the cause of the data loss, users can easily retrieve data. It boasts a user-friendly interface and is popular among both experts and beginners.

Highlights:

• Easy data recovery from Mac-based devices such as SSD, HDD, fusion drive, memory card, camera, etc.
• Recover lost photos on Mac, music files, videos, emails, documents, etc.
• Send retrieved data to various cloud storage services like Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.
• File filter feature to locate files you want to recover quickly.

Check out EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac today!

Conclusion

The "macOS Could Not Be Installed on Your Computer" error is frustrating. However, some reasons explain why this occurs. Incorrect date and time settings or an incomplete macOS installer could be the reasons—fortunately, several solutions aid in resolving the problem.

For starters, you can ensure there is enough space on the disk. You also need to make sure the time and data are correct. Other solutions include updating firmware, checking software and hardware compatibility, etc.

If data loss occurs, the best solution is to use a reliable data recovery tool. For that, you can check out EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac. It is user-friendly, powerful, and has a wide range of features. Recovering data is now simple and hassle-free!

macOS Could Not Be Installed on Your Computer FAQs

There are multiple methods you can adopt to resolve the installation error. To know more, read the questions and answers listed below -

1. How do you fix macOS that could not be installed on your computer?

There are various solutions to fix macOS that cannot be installed on your computer. For instance, you can restart the system and reinstall the macOS. You can free space on the target drive or reset the NVRAM and PRAM.

2. Why is my Mac saying macOS could not be installed?

Your Mac is saying macOS could not be installed due to multiple reasons. It could be due to lack of space on the drive, incorrect date and time, or corrupted macOS installer.

3. How do I force install macOS?

To force install macOS, follow these steps –

• Start the system in Recovery mode.
• Now, choose Reinstall for your macOS release.
• Select Continue and follow the instructions on the screen.