Home > Apple > Mac

A required firmware update cannot be installed on Mac [Fixed]

In this guide, we will show you various methods to fix the “A required firmware update cannot be installed” error on your Mac. A slew of reports have been lined up across various forums wherein users have voiced their concern that they are unable to update their Mac from Big Sur to Monterey. Whenever they are trying to carry out the update process, they are instead greeted with the aforementioned error message.

a required firmware update cannot be installed fix

If you are also in the same boat, then fret not. In this guide, we will make you aware of some nifty workarounds that shall help you fix the “A required firmware update cannot be installed” error on your Mac. So without any further ado, let’s get started.

Fix A required firmware update cannot be installed on Mac

a required firmware update cannot be installed fix

It is recommended that you try out each of the below-mentioned workarounds and then see which one spells out success for you. So with that in mind, let’s get started.

FIX 1: Take the Help of Apple SSD

Going through the numerous user reports, we found out that there was one thing common in all of them- the users weren’t using the original Apple SSD but rather a third-party one. So to rectify this issue, you will have to get hold of the original SSD and upgrade it to Monterey, then remove it and put in the desired third-party SSD and your Mac will now be able to easily download and install the update without any errors. Here’s how it could be done:

  1. To begin with, remove the third-party SSD and put in the original Apple SSD.
  2. Then update this Apple SSD to Monterey from About this Mac > Software Update.a required firmware update cannot be installed fix
  3. Once done, remove this Apple SSD and put back your own third-party SSD.
  4. Now restart your computer with NVRAM Reset [press and hold Command-Option-P-R].a required firmware update cannot be installed fix
  5. Finally, try upgrading your Mac. You should no longer get the “A required firmware update cannot be installed” error this time around.

NOTE:  If your Mac is unable to load Monterey on the Apple SSD (giving out the Boot ROM error), then you’ll need to load Catalina or Big Sur on the Apple SSD first and then upgrade to Monterey on the Apple SSD. Once that is done, you can put your NVMe back and try the upgrade as already explained above.

Moreover, while it might be relatively easier to carry out the aforementioned steps on a Macbook, it could prove to be quite a challenging task in an iMac as you would have to get to the motherboard and swap the internal NVMe drive. But as of now, this seems to be the best method to bypass what we assume is the new official hardware verification check put in place by Apple.

FIX 2: Use ‘downloadassets’ Flag

  1. It is recommended that you use the ‘downloadassets’ flag when creating the bootable USB.
  2. Doing so will directly put the firmware updates on the USB drive.
  3. As a result of which, the installer wouldn’t have to go out and fetch them.
  4. So execute the below command in the Terminal Window
    sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Monterey.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/Untitled --downloadassets
  5. Now check if it fixes the “A required firmware update cannot be installed” error on your Mac.

FIX 3: Verify USB Drive File Size

While it may sound like an obvious fix, but we would recommend you double-check the size of the USB Drive. In some cases, it might not be big enough to accommodate the additional assets. The createinstallmedia command listed in FIX 2 above will create the bootable USB first, and then attempt to download the assets.

Even if the assets fail due to insufficient storage space, the bootable USB will still work. However, you just won’t have all the assets and would instead require an active internet connection. instead. So to avoid all these fiasco, it is recommended to have a USB drive with sufficient free storage space.

FIX 4: Using Recovery Mode

  1. First off, make a backup on a flash drive and copy Monterey to a different flash drive.
  2. Then put in the Apple SSD on your Mac and boot into Recovery.a required firmware update cannot be installed fix
  3. Now install Mojave via the internet but don’t transfer any of your saved files.
  4. Then use the flash drive that had the copy of Monterey and install the new OS using it.
  5. Check if it fixes the “A required firmware update cannot be installed” error on your Mac.

So these were the four different methods that shall help you fix the “A required firmware update cannot be installed” error on your Mac. In my case,e the first fix involving the use of the original Apple SSD was enough to resolve this issue. Do let us know which one spelled out success for you. Likewise, if you have any queries concerning the aforementioned steps, do let us know in the comments. We will get back to you with a solution at the earliest.


Share: