Apple’s macOS Big Sur is finally available for public download now! However, reports say that macOS Big Sur fails to download on Mac. Some owners get the “Update not found” message while trying to download the update. Don’t worry, here is how to fix errors with macOS Big Sur downloading.
How to Fix macOS Big Sur Download Problems

There are times when macOS Big Sur update fails to work properly . While some users get the “Installation failed” error message, others have to deal with network error when trying to download macOS Big Sur. Here is the list of other download-related errors users have reported recently:
- “Installation of macOS could not continue”.
- “Installation requires downloading important content”.
- “That content can’t be downloaded at this time. Try again later”.
This is probably because a lot of users are trying to download macOS Big Sur at the same time. So, if you think this is the case, try again later on a non-peak time to see if the download works. Also, you can check the “macOS Software Update” status on Apple Server to make sure everything is alright before downloading.

Additionally, another reason could be the lack of space on your Mac. Make sure you have at least 16GB free for this update. If none of these work, you can open “View My Account” in the App Store to see if there is anything in the “Unfinished Downloads” section and restart the download from there.
How to Fix “Gateway timeout” Error
We also heard that many Mac users encounter “gateway timeout” or “bad gateway” error. If you’re facing this issue, we suggest you put your Mac in Safe Mode by holding down Shift on the keyboard while booting. Then, you can try downloading macOS Big Sur again.
Installation Fails Due to Low Disk Space

If you encounter the “installation fails due to low disk space” issue while trying to update your Mac, simply restart your Mac and press Control + R while it’s booting up to enter the Recovery mode. Select ‘Disk boot’ to boot normally, then remove unnecessary files to create more space.
macOS Big Sur is Stuck on “Setting Up Your Mac”
If your Mac gets stuck on the “Setting Up Your Mac” message after installing macOS Big Sur, follow these steps:
- Force reboot of your Mac. Don’t worry, the “Setting Up Your Mac” message means the update is finished. So, you won’t lose any data.
- To do so, press and hold down the power button for a few seconds until your Mac turns off.
- Wait for a few more seconds, then turn your Mac back on.
- Now, your Mac should boot into macOS Big Sur successfully.
However, if your Mac still fails to boot, follow these Apple’s instructions.
How to Fix Login Problems

If you’re having trouble logging into your Mac or MacBook after installing macOS Big Sur, or you’re stuck in a loop of logging in and out over and over again, these steps might help:
- Restart your Mac.
- When it’s booting up, hold down the Command + S keys.
- This will boot you into a command prompt. Now, enter the following:
/sbin/mount -uw /
- Press Enter on your keyboard, then type this:
rm /var/db/.applesetupdone
- Press Enter again and finally restart your Mac. After that, you will be asked to create a new admin user account. Don’t worry, your personal files stay safe.
Read more: How to Fix the Most Common macOS 11 Big Sur Issues
Are you experiencing errors with macOS Big Sur downloading? Did these troubleshooters work for you? Let us know in the comments!