macOS Sonoma Installation Failed | 4 Practical Methods to Fix it 2024

macOS Sonoma installation failed? This article will demonstrate four practical solutions for resolving the macOS Sonoma installation error and getting your Mac operating with the new OS.

The methods mentioned in this article will equip you with the tools to tackle installation issues head-on and get your Mac up and running with the latest macOS Sonoma release. Let's begin!

Why macOS Sonoma Installation Failed

Why macOS Sonoma installation failed? Because it's still in the testing phases. Insufficient disk space, mismatched hardware, damaged data, and network troubles may lead to installation failure on your Mac.

There are various probable causes for macOS Sonoma installation failure, including:

💾Low storage space: You must have adequate free storage space to download and clean install macOS Sonoma. The installation requires at least 20 GB of free space.

If your Mac deleted files not freeing space, you should know that moving files to Trash not really deleting data, and they still remain on your Mac. Read this article to delete files on your Mac and free up space permanently.

🤖Software incompatibility: Not all Mac models are supported by macOS Sonoma. Mac users can't install macOS Sonoma update if their Mac isn't on the list:

• iMac Pro in 2017
• MacBook Air, Pro, and Mac mini in 2018 and later
• iMac and Mac Pro in 2019 and later
• Mac Studio in 2022 and later

If your Mac is not on the list, don't worry, and read this article to install macOS 14 Sonoma on unsupported Mac models.

🍏Not registering as an Apple developer: macOS Sonoma is presently in beta, which is only accessible to registered developers with an Apple ID. You cannot download macOS 14 or install the update if you do not have a developer account.

😫No backup: Before installing any big update, backup your data with Time Machine if anything goes wrong. You may lose some crucial data or settings during the installation, and you can recover files after factory reset Mac.

❌Corrupted installer: The installation file can get corrupted or damaged during the download or transfer procedure. This might result in installation difficulties or failures. To resolve this, delete and reinstall the installation app from the App Store.

🌐Network problems: A sluggish or inconsistent internet connection might disrupt installation. While downloading or confirming the installation file, you can experience difficulties. To circumvent this, utilize your Wi-Fi or internet connection rather than a public or shared one.

⚠️System issues: Certain problems with your Mac's hardware or software might prevent the installation from succeeding. For example, you can disable FileVault or the Firewall, reset NVRAM/PRAM or SMC, and generate a new macOS Sonoma USB installer.

⏱️Temporary errors: The installation can sometimes fail owing to transitory issues unrelated to your Mac or the installer file. These issues can be fixed after some time, so hard restart MacBook and apply the update later.

How to Fix macOS Sonoma Installation Failed

The process of installing a new OS is normally straightforward. However, complications can arise on occasion. Don't panic if you're having macOS Sonoma issues; there are workable alternatives to get you back on track.

Here we'll go through four tried-and-true solutions to installation problems so you can have macOS Sonoma up and running on your Mac.

Fix 1. Restart Mac

A simple restart can sometimes cure numerous problems on your Mac, including installation troubles. When you restart your Mac, it will clean its memory and process stuff at regular speed. There are various ways to restart your Mac, which might be handy if you cannot use specific commands or apps due to computer troubles. Here's the easiest one:

Step 1. Click on the Apple logo in the toolbar of your Mac.

Step 2. Choose "Restart" from the menu. Click "Restart" again to confirm, and your Mac will instantly restart.

Fix 2. Check Mac Storage

You must have sufficient space on the Mac startup disk to download and install the macOS Sonoma update. At least 20 GB of free space is required for implementation. If you need space, remove or move unnecessary files. To check RAM on Mac storage space, follow these steps:

Step 1. Select "About This Mac" from the Apple logo in the upper-left corner of the screen.

Step 2. After selecting "Storage", the Mac estimates available capacity.

Fix 3. Check macOS Sonoma Compatibility

macOS Sonoma isn't going to work with every Mac out there. To see whether your device is compatible with Sonoma, follow the steps below:

Step 1. Click the Apple logo in the top left corner to open "About This Mac". A window will display your Mac's name, CPU, RAM, serial number, etc.

Step 2. Check the "Model Name" or "Model Identifier" to see whether your gadget works.

Share this article on social media to help others learn how to fix the macOS Sonoma installation failed error on their Mac.

Fix 4. Create Bootable Installer macOS Sonoma

You can construct a USB Installer Boot disk if you wish to install or upgrade to macOS Sonoma. This will expedite the OS installation process on Intel and M1/M2 Macs. The instructions below demonstrate how to create macOS Sonoma bootable USB:

Step 1. Download a file named InstallAssistant.kg. When complete, the file will be downloaded to your Downloads subdirectory.

Step 2. Install the InstallAssistant.pkg file that can be found in your Downloads folder. This Apple package installer will transfer the "Install macOS Sonoma Beta app" to the Applications subdirectory.

To Install macOS Sonoma from USB, create your USB Installer now that the Install macOS Sonoma application is in your Applications folder. The USB flash drive must be at least 16 GB in capacity, as the Sonoma installer is between 12 and 14 GB.

Step 1. Connect the USB flash drive.

Step 2. Click the "View" icon after launching Disk Utility. Select "Show All Volumes" and select the USB drive's name at the upper level.

Step 3. Typically, "Top-level drive" refers to the USB Drive. Click the "Erase" button to delete the contents of your USB Flash drive.

Step 4. Open Terminal from the /Applications/Utilities folder.

Step 5. Type sudo followed by a space.

Note: The installer application for macOS Sonoma should be dragged into the Terminal window.

Step 6. The complete command is sudo /Applications/Install macOS 14 Beta.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia.

Step 7. Add the –volume option before dragging your USB Flash Drive into the terminal window. When prompted, type in your account's password and press enter.

Note: The complete command will look like this:

Should You Install macOS Sonoma Beta

macOS Sonoma is the most recent iteration of Apple's Mac operating system. It includes many new features and enhancements, including Universal Control, AirPlay for Mac, Focus mode, and a redesigned Safari.

Installing the beta version of macOS Sonoma can result in software flaws, system instability, and even data loss on your Mac. If you still wish to test the beta version of macOS Sonoma, you must follow Apple's official instructions and ensure that your Mac meets the minimum requirements.

Or you can read the article below to downgrade Sonoma to Ventura.

Suppose you updated Mac and lost everything, don't worry; using professional data recovery software can help you retrieve your lost data and recover deleted files macOS Sonoma.

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac is a robust and trustworthy software that can recover lost data efficiently. It will aid you if you delete crucial files by error, experience data corruption, or encounter formatting problems with its user-friendly interface and sophisticated scanning algorithms.

It can recover permanently deleted files Mac, including photos, videos, documents, etc. And it can recover lost files after macOS Ventura update and macOS Sonoma upgrade. Check out the following steps:

Note: You can create a backup by clicking the "Disk Backup" on the left first. When the disk is damaged or the data on the disk is accidentally deleted or lost, you can get the data back from the backup image.

Step 1. Select the location

Select the disk where you lost data after updating to macOS Sonoma/Ventura/Monterey/Big Sur. Then, click "Search for lost files".

Step 2. Find lost data after the scan

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac will immediately scan your selected disk volume and display the scanning results on the left pane. Use the file type and file path to find wanted data on Mac.

Step 3. Recover data after macOS update

Select the target files that were unknowingly lost during or after the update and click the "Recover" button to get them all back.

Conclusion

The innovations of macOS Sonoma Beta are appealing, but users should be mindful of the dangers of encountering bugs, experiencing system instability, and losing data.

If you insist on moving on, you should equip yourself with a solid data recovery solution, such as EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac. During the beta testing of macOS Sonoma, you can rest easy knowing that EaseUS has your back with its robust and dependable recovery features.

macOS Sonoma Installation Failed FAQs

Here are some questions people frequently ask related to macOS Sonoma installation failure:

1. How to install macOS Sonoma on my Mac?

To install macOS Sonoma on your Mac:

Step 1. Go to the Apple Developer site and sign up for an account.

Step 2. Navigate to "Settings > General".

Step 3. Click the "Software Update" button.

Step 4. Choose the "i" symbol to the right of the Beta Updates section.

Step 5. Click the "macOS Sonoma Developer Beta" button. "macOS 14 Beta" should now display; choose "Upgrade Now".

Step 6. Select "Install Now" after it has finished downloading.

2. Why is macOS Sonoma failing to install?

There are multiple potential causes for macOS Sonoma installation failure. Common causes include insufficient disk space, hardware incompatibility, and network issues. Check the storage capacity of your Mac, ensure compatibility with Apple's official system requirements, and establish a stable internet connection.

3. Is my Mac too old to install Sonoma?

macOS Sonoma can have system requirements that restrict its compatibility with previous Mac models:

• iMac Pro in 2017
• MacBook Air, Pro, and Mac mini in 2018 and later
• iMac and Mac Pro in 2019 and later
• Mac Studio in 2022 and later

If your Mac is not specified, it does not meet the required specifications for Sonoma.