Fix: macOS Cannot be Installed on this Computer (8 Ways)

Are you frustrated with the "macOS Cannot be Installed on this Computer" error? You're not alone! Many users have reported encountering this issue on their Mac and are eager to fix it pronto.

Of course, I can help you translate English into Chinese. Please tell me what needs to be translated.

It is crucial to take your time when updating your macOS. However, there might be instances when the process doesn't go as planned, and the installation stops midway. This doesn't mean that the installation has failed permanently; it's just a temporary issue. Users can resolve this in several ways.

In this article, we will discuss different methods to fix the "macOS Cannot be Installed on this Computer" error along with the reasons that cause it.

Method 1: Use Disk Utility to Check and Repair Disk Issues

One of the best ways to resolve installation errors is to check and fix any issues with your disk. You can do this by using Disk Utility. Follow these steps:

Access Disk Utility from macOS Recovery Mode

To start Disk Utility from macOS Recovery, follow these steps:

Step one: Power down the system.

Step two: Plug it in.

Step 3. Hold down the Command and R keys until you see the Apple logo. (For Intel-based Macs)

Press and hold the Power button. Release when you see the Startup Options window. Choose “Options” and click “Continue.” (For Apple silicon Macs.)

Step 3: In the Utilities window, choose Disk Utility.

Launch Disk Utility from Recovery

2. Check and fix disk errors

Now, you can check and fix disk errors. Here's how:

Step one: Choose “View.”

Step 2: Select “Show all devices.”

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

Step 4: Select the disk you want to repair.

Step 5: Select the “First Aid” option.

Step 6: Click “Run.”

Step 7. Wait for the process to complete, and then choose Done.

Format or adjust the disk size if necessary

If needed, you can format or adjust the disk size. Please refer to the steps below –

Step one: Choose “View.”

Step 2: Choose “Show all devices.”

Step 3: Select the disk you want to format.

Step 4: Choose “Erase.”

Step 5: Choose the Format pop-up menu.

Step 6: Choose the file system format you want.

Step 7. Enter your name.

Step 8: Choose “Erase.”

Step 9. Click “Finish.”

Method 2: Download and create a new macOS installer

The other is to download and create a new macOS installer. Read on for more information.

Steps to Redownload the macOS Installer:

To download the macOS installer again, follow these steps:

Step 1: Open the App Store.

Step 2. Tap your name in the bottom left corner of the App Store. This will open the “Purchased” section.

Step 3: You should see the macOS installer that you want to redownload here.

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How to Create a New Bootable Installer

Creating a bootable installer might seem complicated. You can look at the steps involved –

Step one: Plug in the USB drive.

Step 2. Open the Mac Terminal.

Step 3. Type sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Ventura.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume, replacing “Ventura” with the name of the downloaded macOS.

Step 4: Press “Enter.”

Step 5: Type in the management password.

Step 6. Type Y to delete the volume.

Step 7: Press “Enter.”

Step 8. When prompted to allow access to files on the removable disk, click “OK.”

Step 9: Exit the terminal and remove the USB drive.

Method 3: Free up disk space on the target drive

The simplest way to fix the “macOS Can't Be Installed on This Computer” error is by deleting large files. The installation requires enough free space on the disk.

Identify and delete large files or unnecessary ones

It would be simple. Here's how it could work:

Step 1. Click the Apple menu.

Step 2: Select “System Settings.”

Step 3. A new settings window will appear. Choose “General” from the left-hand side, and then select “Storage” on the right.

Step 4. Now you can choose the categories you want to know about. Select the ones you want to get rid of.

Choose the app category to delete.

Step 5: Click Delete.

Method 4: Check Hardware and Software Compatibility

It will be important to check the compatibility of devices with the new operating system, lest upgrades be attempted on devices that cannot support them.

1. Make sure your Mac model is compatible with the version of macOS you want to install

Go to the Apple menu and check that your Mac model is compatible with the required version of macOS. Select "About This Mac." Here, you'll see information about your device. Now, go online and find out which updates are supported by your model.

2. Update or remove incompatible software before installing

Before you install, you'll need to update or remove any incompatible software. To update, follow these steps: –

Step 1: Click the Apple menu.

Step 2. Choose “System Preferences”/Mac System Preferences.

Step Three: Choose Software Update.

Step 4: Here, you'll see any updates that are available.

To remove incompatible apps, follow these steps:

Step 1: Go to the Applications folder.

Step 2: Drag the app to the Trash.

Step 3: You can also remove an app from Launchpad. Open Launchpad.

Step Four: Click on the program, and hold it.

Step 5: Click the X icon.

Next up, we just need to translate this sentence into American English:

Method 5: Update firmware and system software

Checking for firmware updates is a good first step in troubleshooting installation issues.

How to check for firmware updates

To check for a firmware update, follow these steps:

Step 1: Click the “Apple menu.”

Step 2: Choose “System Settings.”

Step 3: Choose “General.”

Step 4: Go to “Software Update.”

Method 6: Make Sure You Have the Correct Date and Time Settings

To check or change the date and time in macOS Recovery, follow these steps:

Step 1: Enter Recovery Mode

Step 2: Go to “Utilities.”

Step 3. Open Terminal.

Step 4. Enter the date to be checked.

Step 5: If the input is incorrect, please re-enter it in the following format: date {month}{day}{hour}{minute}{year}

Step 6: Press Enter.

When the operating system or the App Store requests an update, it checks the client's time before beginning the download. If the timestamps do not match, the installation will fail.

In addition, time errors can cause security certificate checks to fail (because the wrong time might indicate tampering), synchronization problems, and compatibility issues.

Method 7: Reset the NVRAM/PRAM and SMC

How to Reset the NVRAM/PRAM on a Mac

To reset the NVRAM/PRAM on a Mac, follow these simple steps:

Step 1: Shut down the system.

Step two: Press the power button.

Step 3: Hold down the Command-Option-P-R keys.

Step 4: Release the Home button when you hear the startup sound or when the Apple logo appears for the second time and then disappears.

How to Reset the SMC on Different Models of Mac

For Macs with an Apple T2 Security Chip, the steps to reset the SMC are as follows:

Step 1: Power down the system.

Step 2: Press and hold the Power button.

Step Three: Restart it.

If that doesn't work, hold the right Shift key, the left Control key, and the left Option key.

Step 5: Hold down the Power button.

Step 6: Release the keys.

Step 7: Restart the system.

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Method 8: Perform a Clean Install of macOS

There are several ways to do a clean install of macOS, and one way is through Recovery Mode.

Step 1: Boot into recovery mode.

Step 2: Erase your Mac before reinstalling macOS.

Step 3: Exit Disk Utility.

Step 4: Choose Reinstall macOS from the Utilities window.

Use "Recovery" to reinstall macOS

Reasons for the "Unable to Install macOS" Error on Your Computer

The “macOS Cannot Be Installed on This Computer” error can occur for several reasons. Let's look at them –

• A damaged or incomplete macOS installer

Before you can install macOS, you need to download the installer. A damaged or corrupted installer might cause this issue. An unstable internet connection can also trigger this error.

"Target drive disk space is insufficient"

MacOS updates require a lot of space. Make sure that you have enough space on the target drive for it. A lack of space can cause errors that stop the installation process.

• ⚙️ Incompatible Hardware or Software

System and operating system compatibility is crucial. If your hardware isn't supported, you might see an “macOS cannot be installed on this computer” error. In that case, you can check the list of supported models that can be updated.

• Incorrect date and time settings

Surprisingly, the wrong date and time can also cause this installation error. The best solution is to set the time and date manually and see if that resolves the issue.

Recover data from a damaged macOS after installation

"Unable to install macOS" is a common error message on a Mac, and so is losing data. Surprised? It's true that you can lose data due to a damaged macOS installation after an update.

Therefore, it's recommended to back up your data before trying any of these methods. But if you don't have a backup, don't worry! There's another way to recover your data. You can use professional data recovery software, such as the Mac Data Recovery Wizard tool!

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The bottom line?

The “macOS Cannot Be Installed on This Computer” error is frustrating. However, there are several reasons why this might happen. Incorrect date and time settings or an incomplete macOS installer could be to blame—fortunately, there are a few solutions that can help fix the problem.

First, make sure that there is enough space on the disk. You should also confirm that the date and time settings are correct. Other solutions include updating firmware, checking compatibility between software and hardware, and so on.

In case of data loss, the best solution is to use a reliable data recovery tool. For this purpose, you can check out the Mac Data Recovery Wizard. It's user-friendly, powerful, and packed with features. Now, retrieving your data is a simple and hassle-free process!

"Frequently Asked Questions: 'macOS Cannot Be Installed on This Computer'"

There are several ways to fix installation problems. For more information, read the questions and answers listed below:

**1. How do I fix issues with installing macOS on your computer?**

There are several ways to address an issue where macOS can't be installed on your Mac. You can try restarting and reinstalling macOS, freeing up space on the target drive, or resetting the NVRAM or PRAM.

Why does my Mac show that macOS cannot be installed?

There can be several reasons why your Mac displays an inability to install macOS. It could be due to insufficient disk space, incorrect date and time settings, or a damaged macOS installer.

How do I force-install macOS?

To install macOS by force, follow these steps:

• Start up your system in Recovery Mode.
• Then, choose to reinstall your version of macOS.
• Click Continue and follow the onscreen instructions.