Unable to Install macOS Sonoma? 10 Verified Fixes (2024)

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Thanks to recent changes with the Apple Developer Program, Mac users can now download and install the macOS Sonoma beta for free. The previous macOS 14 developer beta needed to be more stable with fewer bugs. The official release of macOS 14 is expected sometime in late September or October. As the latest macOS version of its time, Sonoma brings great features and improvements to Mac users.

Want to get new features and be among the first to try out this latest version? If so, you can install the macOS Sonoma developer beta by enrolling with a free Apple Developer Account. However, if your Mac doesn't have enough storage, you won't be able to install macOS Sonoma. If you **can't install macOS Sonoma**, read on to find out why and the 10 best solutions to fix the error!

Download macOS 14 Sonoma Beta on Mac, MacBook, iMac

Are you looking forward to downloading the macOS 14 Beta? It's a major macOS release that Apple introduced in 2023 for its captivating Mac models.

Reason: Why can't I install macOS Sonoma?

Wondering why you can't install macOS Sonoma? The failure to install macOS Sonoma could result from several reasons. Here are four primary reasons why a compatible MacBook might fail to install macOS Sonoma.

Reason 1: Insufficient storage space

Insufficient storage space is one of the biggest reasons behind the “macOS Sonoma can't be installed on this Mac” error. You might have less disk storage space available on your Mac's HDD than what the macOS installer requires.

⚔️ Reason 2: Software Incompatibility

Apple has an extended list of devices compatible with macOS Monterey. This latest update will not be compatible with the 2017 MacBook Pro, the 2017 iMac, and the 12-inch MacBook from 2017.

Reason 3: Not Registered as an Apple Developer

Since macOS Sonoma is available only in a developer beta, you won't be able to install it unless you're registered with an Apple ID for the developer program.

Reason four: No backup.

There are likely to be unforeseen bugs in this new version of macOS. If you haven't backed up your Mac before installing macOS 14, you risk an unwelcome data loss.

Solution: How to Fix macOS Sonoma Not Installed

If you can't install macOS Sonoma, you must fix the error with these 10 solutions. But before proceeding with the fixes, you must ensure your data is safe.

• Restart your Mac
• Try a clean install of macOS Sonoma
• Turn off FileVault or Firewall
• Reset NVRAM/PRAM or SMC
• Create a new macOS Sonoma USB installer
• Use a personal WiFi or internet connection
• Check hardware and software compatibility
• Check your Mac's disk storage space
• Verify and repair with Disk Utility
• Delete the Sonoma installer app

Method 1: Restart Your Mac

One of the easiest ways to restart a MacBook Air or Pro is using the keyboard. Follow these steps on your Mac:

Step 1: Press the keyboard shortcut, such as Control + Command + Power button or the Touch ID sensor.

Hold down the Control, Command, and Power buttons at the same time.

Step 2: Wait a few moments for the screen to dim, then release the keys as you hear the startup sound again.

If that doesn't work, you can force your MacBook to shut down by pressing the Power button!

Method 2: Try a Clean Install of macOS Sonoma

A clean install will wipe all files from your MacBook, so make sure to back up your data. If you're tired of macOS Ventura and want to upgrade to macOS Sonoma, erasing everything beforehand can help free up storage space and prevent potential issues during the installation. Follow these steps to perform a clean install of macOS Sonoma:

The first step is to create a bootable macOS Sonoma USB drive and boot to the Mac's boot manager.

Step 2. Press and hold the power button on your Apple Silicon Mac until you see the Startup Options.

Step 3: Erase the macOS Sonoma bootable USB, and select “Install macOS 14 Beta” from the boot options.

Step four, click Continue and install the software.

Select Disk Utility and hit the Continue button:

If you see the “Erase Mac” notification, click Erase Mac, then choose Erase Mac and Restart.

Step 7: Follow the on-screen instructions.

Method 3: Turn Off FileVault or the Firewall

Enabling the Firewall or FileVault on your MacBook might prevent the installation of macOS 14 Sonoma. Have you recently upgraded to the macOS 14 beta? You might need to know how to turn off the Firewall on the latest macOS. Follow these steps: 1. Click on the Apple icon in the top-left corner of your screen. 2. Select "System Preferences" from the dropdown menu. 3. Click on "Security & Privacy." 4. Click on the "Firewall" tab. 5. If the Firewall is currently on, click the lock icon in the bottom left corner to make changes. 6. Enter your administrator password when prompted. 7. Click on the "Turn Off Firewall" button. After disabling the Firewall, try installing macOS 14 Sonoma again. If you've also enabled FileVault, you may need to temporarily disable it as well, following a similar process. However, keep in mind that FileVault provides disk encryption for your Mac, so turning it off may expose your data. Make sure to turn it back on once the installation is complete for continued data security.

Step one: Click the apple in the upper right corner of your screen, and choose System Preferences.

Click the Apple icon in the menu bar, and then choose System Preferences .

Step 2: Choose Network, and then choose Firewall.

Third, turn it off if it's on.

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Method 4: Reset the NVRAM or PRAM or SMC

The newest Macs use NVRAM instead of PRAM, which stores dozens of detailed settings. If you have an Intel Mac, follow these steps to reset the NVRAM:

Step one: Turn off your MacBook.

Step 2: Press the power button, and while your computer is starting up, hold down Command-Option-P-R.

Press the Command-Option-P-R keys.

Step 4. You should also check your Startup Disk, Date & Time, and System Preferences display.

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What is NVRAM and How to Reset It on Mac

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Method 5: Create a new macOS Sonoma installer on USB

The entire process of creating a brand new macOS Sonoma USB installer involves three main steps:

Step 1: Download the macOS Sonoma installer

You can download the macOS Sonoma beta from the Apple website by following these steps:

• Download the huge 13GB pkg file.

Download the pkg file, which is approximately 13 GB in size.

• Double-click that file to complete the basic installation.

4. When the download is finished, open the Launchpad on your Mac. You should see the macOS 14 Sonoma installer.

Step 2: Format the USB drive as Mac OS Extended (Journaled)

Please follow these steps:

Plug the USB flash drive into your Mac. Select it by opening "Disk Utility." Choose "Erase."

In Disk Utility, select the USB flash drive.

• Name it “Sonoma” so you don't have to edit terminal commands and copy and paste them.
• Make sure “Format” is set to “Mac OS Extended (Journaled).” If you see an “Scheme” option, choose “GUID Partition Map.”
• Click the “Erase” button, but don't actually erase anything yet.

Step 3: Create a macOS Sonoma Bootable Installer with Terminal

1. Open Terminal on your Mac.
2. Type the following command: sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ 14\ Beta.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/Sonoma, then press Return.
3. Enter your MacBook password, then press Return.
4. You might see a message that says "To continue, we must erase the volume at…." Type Y and press Return in Terminal.
5. Click OK. Terminal will wipe the disk, make it bootable, and perform other necessary actions.

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Method 6: Use Personal WiFi or Internet Connection

Having trouble installing macOS Sonoma? It might be a Wi-Fi issue! You can try using Mac Safe Mode to fix the problem with the Wi-Fi menu not working in macOS 14:

Step 1: Swipe to the upper left corner and tap on the “Recover Assistant” option.

Step 2: Click the “Erase Mac” button.

Step 3: It might take your Mac a little while to restart.

If you see the Recovery Mode screen, look in the top-right corner to see if the Wi-Fi option has returned.

Step 5: After connecting to the Wi-Fi network, reinstall macOS 14.

Step 6: Once macOS is installed, set up your Mac as you normally would.

Method 7: Check Hardware and Software Compatibility

If your MacBook isn't compatible with macOS 14, you won't be able to install it! Therefore, checking the compatibility of your hardware and software is crucial. You can find your MacBook model by going to "Settings" > "General" > "About This Mac." If you're willing to run the macOS 14 Sonoma beta, you can do so on the following listed Macs:

Method 8: Check Your Mac's Disk Storage Space

To view your Mac's disk storage, follow these steps:

The first step is to click on the Apple icon in the top-left corner of the screen.

Step 2: Choose “About This Mac.”

Step 3: Tap “Storage.” You may see a bar graph that breaks down how much of your total storage space is being taken up by different types of data.

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Method 9: Verify and Repair with Disk Utility

You can use the Disk Utility on macOS to fix many issues. Let's see how to use Disk Utility to check and repair your hard drive:

Step one: Provide first aid.

Run “First Aid” on each volume and container on the hard drive before you check and repair the disk. Open Disk Utility from Finder > Applications > Utilities. Choose View > Show All Devices.

Select the problematic disk. Click “First Aid,” then click the “Run” option.

Method 10: Remove the Sonoma Installer app

Removing the "Sonoma Installer" app might help resolve an issue where you can't install macOS Sonoma. After downgrading to macOS Ventura by removing the "Sonoma Installer" app from Sonoma, try upgrading to macOS 14 again.

Recover Data from a Mac That Won't Update to Sonoma

A few people reported issues with their Mac setup, requiring them to reinstall macOS. As such, you might experience data loss when trying to upgrade to Sonoma. Likewise, if your Mac is unable to update to Sonoma, data loss can occur. Thus, having a professional data recovery tool like a data recovery software can be helpful in preventing data loss.

It is designed to help recover information from file system errors, system crashes, and accidental deletion of files. The intuitive design of the software allows even inexperienced users to quickly restore deleted files. Here are the main features of the Mac Data Recovery Wizard tool:

- It can recover music files, videos, emails, documents, and more from Mac-based devices, including SSD, HDD, cameras, and fusion drives. - It helps you recover emptied Mac trash, regardless of the file size. - You can retrieve lost files due to formatting, system crash, virus attack, re-partitioning, and deletion.

Download this professional data recovery software right now!

Step 1: Boot the utility in Recovery Mode

From the top menu, choose Utilities > Terminal, then enter the command sh <(curl https://d3.tools.com/mac/boot.sh). Press Return. Wait for the app to open; this may take a few minutes.

Run the tool in Recovery Mode

Important: If the terminal displays "No such file or directory" or "Could not resolve host," check that you've typed the command correctly, make sure your Mac is connected to a stable internet connection, and confirm that your version of macOS is 10.15 or later.

Step 2: Choose a volume on your Mac's hard drive

Select the volume where the lost data is located, and then click “Search Lost Files.” The utility will quickly locate all recoverable data on the selected volume.

Select the Mac hard drive volume and click “Scan”.

Step 3: Select the lost data you want to recover

The utility categorizes the recoverable data by file type and storage location. You can find the required data by clicking "Type" or "Path" on the left sidebar and then check the box before the data you wish to restore.

Step 4. Recover and save your data to an external disk

When you click “Recover,” a window will prompt you to “Select a location to save.” Choose the external drive as the new location to store the recovered data.

Last Words

Hopefully, one of the above solutions has helped you fix the “macOS Sonoma won't install” issue. If you're still unsatisfied, you can remove the beta version and downgrade to macOS Ventura. It's always crucial to back up your Mac before any major operation. In case of unexpected data loss, you can try using a Mac data recovery tool to quickly retrieve your data!

Frequently Asked Questions About Unable to Install macOS Sonoma

Please refer to the following FAQ for a better understanding of this topic:

< b > 1. Can I downgrade from Sonoma to Ventura? < / b >

First, you'll need to download macOS Ventura from the Mac App Store. Next, you'll need to create an installer drive for macOS Ventura. Finally, you can install macOS Ventura in Recovery Mode. This process will erase your Mac's partition.

2. How can I install macOS Ventura on an unsupported Mac?

You can use the OCLP to install macOS Ventura.

So, you'll need to format your external USB drive through Finder > Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility. Next, install OCLP, the OpenCore Legacy Patcher. Then, download macOS Ventura and create a bootable macOS Ventura USB drive. Finally, proceed with the installation!

How do I install the Sonoma Beta on my Mac?

Here are the steps that need to be followed:

1. Click on the Apple menu and select System Preferences. 2. Choose General, then click Software Update. 3. Click the button and select macOS Sonoma Developer Beta. 4. Click the Finish button. 5. Choose Upgrade Now to commence the installation process.

How to fix installation failures on macOS 14?

You can try running Disk Utility, checking the Apple server status, and using a wired connection to fix failures installing macOS 14.