Waiting for FileVault encryption to finish to install macOS updates


If you notice you can’t install new macOS updates on a Mac, it could be that it’s still in the process of FileVault encrypting.

For example, here’s a machine that’s on macOS 10.13.4.

softwareupdate can’t find any updates.

And even if you try to manually install the 10.13.6 combo update, you get macOS High Sierra 10.13.6 Update can’t be installed on this disk. This volume does not meet the requirements for this update.

And, yup—lo and behold! The FileVault encryption is still in progress. Once that’s done, the 10.13.6 update should install just fine.


4 responses to “Waiting for FileVault encryption to finish to install macOS updates”

  1. But the question is why Apple does it ? Why the disk is getting encrypted ? I am upgrading from El Capitan to Catalina. There are videos on Youtube to manually stop this process using Terminal and few commands but the reason for disk getting Encrypted at the first place is unknown to me.

  2. Hi Guys!
    I changed my NVME, because the original gave a problem, but I’m having problems with the boot.
    I’ve already installed several and versions, but it doesn’t boot, any installation above high sierra, detects nvme, but it doesn’t start.
    Any idea?

Leave a Reply to Malay Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.