How To Fix MacOS Sonoma Stuck At 5 Minutes

Are you struggling with your macOS Sonoma update getting stuck at 5 minutes? You’re not alone. 

Many users encounter this issue when trying to update their Mac operating system.

Fortunately, there are proven fixes and troubleshooting steps to resolve this issue and get your update back on track.

In this blog, we’ll explore effective solutions to help you fix the macOS Sonoma stuck at 5 minutes problem and get your Mac running smoothly again.

How To Fix MacOS Sonoma Stuck At 5 Minutes?

To fix macOS Sonoma Stuck at 5 minutes you can check your internet connection, wait patiently, and check and empty the trash bin. Additionally, you can restart in safe mode, and reset NVRAM.

1. Check Your Internet Connection

A stable internet connection is crucial for downloading and installing macOS updates.

An interrupted or slow connection can cause the update process to stall or fail.

• Verify that your Mac is connected to the internet. Open a web browser and try to visit a website.
• If the website doesn’t load, check if your Wi-Fi is turned on and you are connected to the correct network.

• If you are using a wired connection, ensure the Ethernet cable is securely connected to your Mac and the router.
• Check your router and modem. Restart them if necessary by unplugging them, waiting for a few moments, and plugging them back in.
• If you’re on Wi-Fi, try moving closer to the router to improve signal strength, or use a wired connection for more stability.
• If the problem persists, contact your internet service provider to ensure there are no outages or account issues affecting your connection.

2. Wait Patiently

Sometimes, the MacOS Sonoma update may appear to be stuck but is still processing in the background.

Interrupting the update prematurely can cause issues, so it’s important to give it adequate time to complete.

• Do not restart or shut down your Mac immediately.
• Allow more time than the estimated remaining time, as it can take longer than what is displayed, sometimes over an hour.

3. Check And Empty Trash Bin

A full trash bin might occasionally interfere with system updates due to insufficient free space for the update files to be processed properly.

• Click on the Trash Bin icon in the Dock to open it.
• Review the contents to ensure you want to permanently delete them.
• Right-click on the Trash Bin icon in the Dock.
• Select “Empty Trash” to permanently delete the files.

4. Restart In Safe Mode

Booting into Safe Mode can help resolve issues that prevent MacOS Sonoma from updating by running a check of your startup disk and only loading essential kernel extensions.

Restart in Safe Mode (Apple Silicon):

• Shut down your Mac.

• Press and hold the power button until the startup options window appears.
• Select your startup disk.
• Press and hold the Shift key, then click “Continue in Safe Mode.”
• Log in to your Mac (you may need to log in twice).

Restart in Safe Mode (Intel-based Mac):

• Restart your Mac.
• Immediately press and hold the Shift key as it begins to start up.
• Release the Shift key when the login window appears.
• Log in to your Mac (you may need to log in twice).

5. Reset NVRAM

Resetting the NVRAM (non-volatile random-access memory) can resolve issues related to settings stored in this area, which may affect the update process.

Reset NVRAM on Intel-based Mac:

• Shut down your Mac.
• Turn on your Mac and immediately press and hold Option + Command + P + R.
• Hold the keys for about 20 seconds; release after the second startup sound or Apple logo appears and disappears for the second time.

Reset NVRAM on Apple Silicon Mac:

Apple Silicon Macs automatically manage NVRAM settings and do not provide a user method to reset NVRAM like Intel-based Macs. If you encounter issues that would typically suggest an NVRAM reset, simply restart your Mac:

• Shut down your Mac.
• Turn on your Mac and allow it to boot normally.

6. Install MacOS Sonoma From A Bootable USB

If downloading macOS Sonoma directly to your Mac is not working, using a bootable USB installer is a reliable alternative.

Install macOS Sonoma from a Bootable USB (Apple Silicon):

• Insert the bootable USB drive with macOS Sonoma installer.
• Shut down your Mac.
• Press and hold the power button until you see the startup options window.
• Select the bootable USB drive from the startup options.
• Follow the on-screen instructions to install macOS Sonoma.

Install macOS Sonoma from a Bootable USB (Intel-based Mac):

• Insert the bootable USB drive with macOS Sonoma installer.
• Restart your Mac and immediately hold down the Option (Alt) key.
• Release the Option key when you see the startup manager window.
• Select the bootable USB drive from the list of startup disks.
• Follow the on-screen instructions to install macOS Sonoma.

7. Check And Repair Your Disk

Disk issues can prevent an update from proceeding, so checking and repairing your startup disk can be a crucial step.

Check and Repair Your Disk (Apple Silicon):

• Shut down your Mac.
• Press and hold the power button until you see the startup options window.
• Select the gear icon labeled Options, then click Continue.
• If asked, select a user you know the password for, then enter their administrator password.
• In the macOS Recovery, choose Disk Utility from the utilities window.
• Select your startup disk (usually named “Macintosh HD”) from the sidebar.

• Click the “First Aid” button, then “Run” to check and repair the disk.

Check and Repair Your Disk (Intel-based Mac):

• Restart your Mac.
• Immediately press and hold Command + R to boot into macOS Recovery Mode.
• In the macOS Recovery, choose Disk Utility from the utilities window.
• Select your startup disk (usually named “Macintosh HD”) from the sidebar.
• Click the “First Aid” button, then “Run” to check and repair the disk.

8. Restart Your Mac And Try Again

Sometimes, a simple restart can resolve temporary glitches that might cause the update process to get stuck.

Restart Your Mac (Apple Silicon):

• Click the Apple menu and choose “Shut Down.”
• After your Mac shuts down, press and hold the power button until the startup options window appears.
• Click your startup disk, then press “Continue” to finish starting up.

Restart Your Mac (Intel-based):

• Click the Apple menu and choose “Restart.”

• Wait for your Mac to shut down and start up again.

9. Reinstall MacOS Sonoma

If other solutions fail, reinstalling the MacOS Sonoma update can overcome issues with the initial installation process.

Reinstall macOS Sonoma from macOS Recovery (Apple Silicon):

• Turn off your Mac.
• Press and hold the power button until you see the startup options window.
• Select the gear icon labelled Options, then click Continue.
• Select “Reinstall macOS Sonoma” and follow the on-screen instructions.

Reinstall macOS Sonoma from macOS Recovery (Intel-based Mac):

• Restart your Mac.
• Immediately press and hold Command + R until the Apple logo appears.
• Select “Reinstall macOS” from the utility window.
• Choose “macOS Sonoma” and follow the on-screen instructions.