{"code":"var Component=(()=>{var p=Object.create;var a=Object.defineProperty;var g=Object.getOwnPropertyDescriptor;var u=Object.getOwnPropertyNames;var f=Object.getPrototypeOf,m=Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty;var y=(t,e)=>()=>(e||t((e={exports:{}}).exports,e),e.exports),w=(t,e)=>{for(var o in e)a(t,o,{get:e[o],enumerable:!0})},l=(t,e,o,r)=>{if(e&&typeof e==\"object\"||typeof e==\"function\")for(let i of u(e))!m.call(t,i)&&i!==o&&a(t,i,{get:()=>e[i],enumerable:!(r=g(e,i))||r.enumerable});return t};var k=(t,e,o)=>(o=t!=null?p(f(t)):{},l(e||!t||!t.__esModule?a(o,\"default\",{value:t,enumerable:!0}):o,t)),b=t=>l(a({},\"__esModule\",{value:!0}),t);var h=y((I,s)=>{s.exports=_jsx_runtime});var v={};w(v,{default:()=>c});var n=k(h());function d(t){let e={a:\"a\",code:\"code\",h2:\"h2\",h3:\"h3\",img:\"img\",li:\"li\",ol:\"ol\",p:\"p\",pre:\"pre\",span:\"span\",strong:\"strong\",ul:\"ul\",...t.components};return(0,n.jsxs)(n.Fragment,{children:[(0,n.jsx)(e.p,{children:'You flipped the switch, agreed to the terms, and watched your Mac say it was getting Apple Intelligence ready, only for it to sit on \"Preparing\" for what feels like forever. Or maybe the download bar crept up to some random percentage, froze, and never moved again. Hours later you check back and it is still there, spinning quietly, promising a feature that never arrives. If Apple Intelligence is stuck on Preparing or the model download is stalled on your Mac, this is one of the most common and most fixable problems with the whole system, and this guide walks you through every reason it happens and the exact steps to get the download moving.'}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.p,{children:(0,n.jsx)(e.img,{alt:\"Apple Intelligence stuck on Preparing on a Mac\",src:\"/images/blog/apple-intelligence-stuck-preparing-downloading-mac-fix-2026/hero.webp\",width:\"1024\",height:\"541\"})}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.p,{children:'The important thing to understand up front is that a stuck \"Preparing\" state is almost never a sign that your Mac is broken or that Apple Intelligence will never work for you. It is a download-and-provisioning problem. Apple Intelligence runs its core features on models that live directly on your Mac, and those models are a multi-gigabyte download that has to complete, unpack, and finish provisioning before the feature turns on. Anything that interrupts, throttles, or blocks that process, from low free storage to a VPN to Low Power Mode, can leave you staring at \"Preparing\" indefinitely. Fix the underlying condition, kick the download, and it finishes.'}),`\n`,(0,n.jsxs)(e.p,{children:[\"This article is specifically for people who are eligible and have already enabled Apple Intelligence but cannot get the model to finish downloading. If instead the feature is dimmed, missing entirely, or you cannot even turn it on, that is a different problem with different causes, and we cover it in depth in our companion guide on \",(0,n.jsx)(e.a,{href:\"/blog/apple-intelligence-not-available-grayed-out-mac-how-to-enable-fix-2026\",children:\"Apple Intelligence grayed out or not available on Mac\"}),\". Below, we will explain how the download works, help you tell the two problems apart, and then walk down a fix ladder in the order that resolves the most cases fastest.\"]}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.h2,{id:\"key-takeaways\",children:\"Key Takeaways\"}),`\n`,(0,n.jsxs)(e.ul,{children:[`\n`,(0,n.jsxs)(e.li,{children:[(0,n.jsx)(e.strong,{children:'\"Preparing\" is a download and provisioning state, not an error.'}),\" The Apple Intelligence on-device models are several gigabytes (size varies), and the status only changes to ready once the download completes and unpacks in the background.\"]}),`\n`,(0,n.jsxs)(e.li,{children:[(0,n.jsx)(e.strong,{children:\"Storage and network are the two biggest culprits.\"}),\" Not enough free space, a VPN or content filter blocking Apple's model servers, or a slow connection will stall the download silently without ever showing you a real error message.\"]}),`\n`,(0,n.jsxs)(e.li,{children:[(0,n.jsx)(e.strong,{children:\"Power settings matter more than people expect.\"}),\" Low Power Mode and running on battery can pause the download in the background, so keep your Mac plugged in, awake, and connected to Wi-Fi while it finishes.\"]}),`\n`,(0,n.jsxs)(e.li,{children:[(0,n.jsx)(e.strong,{children:\"A clean reset fixes most truly stuck downloads.\"}),\" Turning Apple Intelligence off, restarting the Mac, and turning it back on forces the system to discard a corrupt or paused download and start fresh.\"]}),`\n`,(0,n.jsxs)(e.li,{children:[(0,n.jsx)(e.strong,{children:\"Sometimes it is Apple, not you.\"}),\" Right after a macOS update or right after you enable the feature, server-side rollout can take time, so if everything on your end checks out, giving it several hours to a day often resolves it on its own.\"]}),`\n`]}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.h2,{id:\"how-the-apple-intelligence-model-download-actually-works\",children:\"How the Apple Intelligence Model Download Actually Works\"}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.p,{children:'Before you start troubleshooting, it helps to know what your Mac is actually doing while it says \"Preparing.\" Understanding the process tells you where it can get stuck and why the fixes below target the things they do.'}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.h3,{id:\"on-device-models-not-a-cloud-toggle\",children:\"On-device models, not a cloud toggle\"}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.p,{children:`Apple Intelligence is built around models that run locally on Apple silicon. When you enable the feature, macOS does not simply flip a server-side flag and light up the buttons. Instead, it queues a download of the on-device model files, pulls them from Apple's content delivery network, verifies them, and provisions them for your specific machine. Only after all of that finishes does the interface stop saying \"Preparing\" and let you use writing tools, notification summaries, and the other on-device features.`}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.p,{children:'Because these models are a genuine multi-gigabyte payload (the exact size varies by release and is not something Apple publishes as a fixed number), the download behaves like any other large background transfer. It competes for bandwidth, it needs free disk space to land and unpack, and it can be paused by the system under certain conditions. That is why a stuck \"Preparing\" almost always traces back to one of a handful of environmental problems rather than a bug in Apple Intelligence itself.'}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.h3,{id:\"why-it-downloads-in-the-background-and-silently\",children:\"Why it downloads in the background and silently\"}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.p,{children:'Apple designed the model download to be unobtrusive. It runs in the background, it does not show a big progress dialog by default, and it is deliberately polite about system resources. The upside is that you can keep working while it downloads. The downside is that when something goes wrong, the system rarely throws a loud error. It just keeps saying \"Preparing\" or freezes the percentage, giving you no obvious clue about what is blocking it.'}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.p,{children:\"This silent behavior is the single biggest reason people think the feature is broken. In reality the download has quietly paused because the Mac went to sleep, dropped off Wi-Fi, switched to battery, ran low on space, or hit a network filter. The system is waiting for conditions to improve before it resumes, and if those conditions never improve, it waits forever.\"}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.h3,{id:\"the-provisioning-step-after-the-bytes-arrive\",children:\"The provisioning step after the bytes arrive\"}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.p,{children:\"Even after the raw model files finish downloading, there is a short provisioning and verification step where macOS unpacks the models, checks their integrity, and registers them for use. On a busy or low-storage machine this final step can appear to hang because it needs temporary working space and CPU time. If your free storage is right at the edge of what the download needs, the transfer might complete but provisioning stalls, which looks identical to a stuck download from the outside.\"}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.p,{children:\"Keep this three-part process in mind, download, verify, provision, because the fixes below are really about clearing the way for each stage: enough space to land and unpack, an unblocked network to pull the bytes, and enough uninterrupted awake time to finish.\"}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.h3,{id:\"what-a-healthy-download-actually-looks-like\",children:\"What a healthy download actually looks like\"}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.p,{children:'It helps to know what normal progress looks like so you can tell a slow-but-working download from a truly stuck one. On a healthy download, the Apple Intelligence panel shows a \"Preparing\" or \"Downloading\" label that, over the course of anywhere from several minutes to an hour, eventually gives way to the feature being ready. You may see the label change without a visible percentage for a while, then activity, then completion. That is normal. macOS is deliberately understated about it.'}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.p,{children:'A stuck download, by contrast, has one of two signatures: a percentage that has not moved at all in a long time, or a \"Preparing\" label that persists for many hours with no sign of the feature ever turning on. If you have watched the same number for 30 minutes under good conditions, or the label has sat unchanged for several hours, you are almost certainly looking at a stall rather than slow-but-steady progress, and it is time to intervene rather than wait. The distinction matters because intervening too early on a download that was simply slow can restart progress you did not need to lose, while waiting too long on a genuine stall just burns your afternoon.'}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.h2,{id:\"preparing-vs-grayed-out-telling-the-two-problems-apart\",children:'\"Preparing\" vs \"Grayed Out\": Telling the Two Problems Apart'}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.p,{children:\"The single most common mistake people make is applying grayed-out fixes to a Preparing problem, or the reverse. They are different situations, and confirming which one you have saves you from chasing the wrong solution.\"}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.h3,{id:\"you-have-the-preparing-or-stuck-download-problem-if\",children:'You have the \"Preparing\" or stuck-download problem if'}),`\n`,(0,n.jsxs)(e.ul,{children:[`\n`,(0,n.jsxs)(e.li,{children:[\"You can open \",(0,n.jsx)(e.strong,{children:\"System Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri\"}),\", the toggle is available, and you were able to turn Apple Intelligence \",(0,n.jsx)(e.strong,{children:\"on\"}),\".\"]}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.li,{children:'The panel shows a status like \"Preparing,\" \"Downloading,\" or a percentage, and it either stays there indefinitely or freezes partway.'}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.li,{children:\"You accepted the terms and the feature is clearly in the middle of setting itself up, it just never finishes.\"}),`\n`]}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.p,{children:\"That is the problem this article solves. Work down the fix ladder below.\"}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.h3,{id:\"you-have-the-grayed-out-or-not-available-problem-if\",children:'You have the \"grayed out\" or \"not available\" problem if'}),`\n`,(0,n.jsxs)(e.ul,{children:[`\n`,(0,n.jsxs)(e.li,{children:[\"The Apple Intelligence toggle is \",(0,n.jsx)(e.strong,{children:\"dimmed and cannot be tapped\"}),\", or the section is missing from System Settings entirely.\"]}),`\n`,(0,n.jsxs)(e.li,{children:[\"You get a message that Apple Intelligence is \",(0,n.jsx)(e.strong,{children:\"not available\"}),\" in your region or language.\"]}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.li,{children:\"Your Mac is an Intel model, or you have not signed into an Apple Account, or a work or school profile is blocking the feature.\"}),`\n`]}),`\n`,(0,n.jsxs)(e.p,{children:[\"If any of those describe your situation, you cannot even start the download yet, so the steps here will not help. Head to our dedicated guide on \",(0,n.jsx)(e.a,{href:\"/blog/apple-intelligence-not-available-grayed-out-mac-how-to-enable-fix-2026\",children:\"Apple Intelligence not available or grayed out on Mac\"}),\" instead, which walks through eligibility, region and language requirements, and managed-device restrictions. It is also worth checking your hardware against our \",(0,n.jsx)(e.a,{href:\"/blog/apple-intelligence-compatibility-guide\",children:\"Apple Intelligence compatibility guide\"}),\" so you know for certain your Mac supports the feature before you spend time troubleshooting a download.\"]}),`\n`,(0,n.jsxs)(e.p,{children:[\"A quick note on hardware, because it shapes expectations: Apple Intelligence requires Apple silicon, meaning an M1 chip or later. If you are on one of the newest AI-heavy features in the macOS 27 era, some of the more advanced on-device experiences have their own memory and chip expectations, which we break down in \",(0,n.jsx)(e.a,{href:\"/blog/macos-27-siri-ai-which-macs-full-experience-m3-12gb-requirement-2026\",children:\"which Macs get the full Siri AI experience\"}),\". For the basic model download that this article is about, any supported Apple silicon Mac should complete it once the environment is right.\"]}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.p,{children:(0,n.jsx)(e.img,{alt:\"Checking storage and language settings for Apple Intelligence\",src:\"/images/blog/apple-intelligence-stuck-preparing-downloading-mac-fix-2026/content-1.webp\",width:\"1024\",height:\"541\"})}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.h2,{id:\"the-fix-ladder-get-the-download-moving\",children:\"The Fix Ladder: Get the Download Moving\"}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.p,{children:\"Work through these in order. They are arranged so the fastest, most common fixes come first. Most stuck downloads resolve within the first three or four steps.\"}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.h3,{id:\"step-1-make-sure-you-have-enough-free-storage\",children:\"Step 1: Make sure you have enough free storage\"}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.p,{children:\"Insufficient free space is the number one reason the Apple Intelligence download stalls. The models are several gigabytes, and macOS needs additional headroom to unpack and provision them on top of the raw download. If your disk is nearly full, the download can start, run partway, and then silently pause because there is nowhere for the files to land.\"}),`\n`,(0,n.jsxs)(e.p,{children:[\"Check your free storage in the interface first: open \",(0,n.jsx)(e.strong,{children:\"System Settings > General > Storage\"}),\" and look at the bar at the top. As a rule of thumb, you want a comfortable buffer well beyond the model size itself, ideally well over 10 GB free, and more is better because macOS uses free space for temporary working files during provisioning.\"]}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.p,{children:\"You can also check precisely from the Terminal. Open the Terminal app and run:\"}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(n.Fragment,{children:(0,n.jsx)(e.pre,{className:\"shiki shiki-themes github-light github-dark\",style:{\"--shiki-light\":\"#24292e\",\"--shiki-dark\":\"#e1e4e8\",\"--shiki-light-bg\":\"#fff\",\"--shiki-dark-bg\":\"#24292e\"},tabIndex:\"0\",icon:'<svg viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path d=\"m 4,4 a 1,1 0 0 0 -0.7070312,0.2929687 1,1 0 0 0 0,1.4140625 L 8.5859375,11 3.2929688,16.292969 a 1,1 0 0 0 0,1.414062 1,1 0 0 0 1.4140624,0 l 5.9999998,-6 a 1.0001,1.0001 0 0 0 0,-1.414062 L 4.7070312,4.2929687 A 1,1 0 0 0 4,4 Z m 8,14 a 1,1 0 0 0 -1,1 1,1 0 0 0 1,1 h 8 a 1,1 0 0 0 1,-1 1,1 0 0 0 -1,-1 z\" fill=\"currentColor\" /></svg>',children:(0,n.jsx)(e.code,{children:(0,n.jsxs)(e.span,{className:\"line\",children:[(0,n.jsx)(e.span,{style:{\"--shiki-light\":\"#6F42C1\",\"--shiki-dark\":\"#B392F0\"},children:\"df\"}),(0,n.jsx)(e.span,{style:{\"--shiki-light\":\"#005CC5\",\"--shiki-dark\":\"#79B8FF\"},children:\" -h\"}),(0,n.jsx)(e.span,{style:{\"--shiki-light\":\"#032F62\",\"--shiki-dark\":\"#9ECBFF\"},children:\" /\"})]})})})}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.p,{children:'Look at the \"Avail\" column for your main volume. If it reports only a few gigabytes free, that is almost certainly your problem. For a fuller breakdown of what is on the disk, run:'}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(n.Fragment,{children:(0,n.jsx)(e.pre,{className:\"shiki shiki-themes github-light github-dark\",style:{\"--shiki-light\":\"#24292e\",\"--shiki-dark\":\"#e1e4e8\",\"--shiki-light-bg\":\"#fff\",\"--shiki-dark-bg\":\"#24292e\"},tabIndex:\"0\",icon:'<svg viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path d=\"m 4,4 a 1,1 0 0 0 -0.7070312,0.2929687 1,1 0 0 0 0,1.4140625 L 8.5859375,11 3.2929688,16.292969 a 1,1 0 0 0 0,1.414062 1,1 0 0 0 1.4140624,0 l 5.9999998,-6 a 1.0001,1.0001 0 0 0 0,-1.414062 L 4.7070312,4.2929687 A 1,1 0 0 0 4,4 Z m 8,14 a 1,1 0 0 0 -1,1 1,1 0 0 0 1,1 h 8 a 1,1 0 0 0 1,-1 1,1 0 0 0 -1,-1 z\" fill=\"currentColor\" /></svg>',children:(0,n.jsx)(e.code,{children:(0,n.jsxs)(e.span,{className:\"line\",children:[(0,n.jsx)(e.span,{style:{\"--shiki-light\":\"#6F42C1\",\"--shiki-dark\":\"#B392F0\"},children:\"diskutil\"}),(0,n.jsx)(e.span,{style:{\"--shiki-light\":\"#032F62\",\"--shiki-dark\":\"#9ECBFF\"},children:\" info\"}),(0,n.jsx)(e.span,{style:{\"--shiki-light\":\"#032F62\",\"--shiki-dark\":\"#9ECBFF\"},children:\" /\"}),(0,n.jsx)(e.span,{style:{\"--shiki-light\":\"#D73A49\",\"--shiki-dark\":\"#F97583\"},children:\" |\"}),(0,n.jsx)(e.span,{style:{\"--shiki-light\":\"#6F42C1\",\"--shiki-dark\":\"#B392F0\"},children:\" grep\"}),(0,n.jsx)(e.span,{style:{\"--shiki-light\":\"#005CC5\",\"--shiki-dark\":\"#79B8FF\"},children:\" -i\"}),(0,n.jsx)(e.span,{style:{\"--shiki-light\":\"#032F62\",\"--shiki-dark\":\"#9ECBFF\"},children:' \"free\\\\|available\"'})]})})})}),`\n`,(0,n.jsxs)(e.p,{children:[\"If you are low on space, free some up before doing anything else. The two heaviest offenders on most Macs are large media libraries and a bloated System Data category. If your System Data is enormous and will not shrink, we have a focused fix for that in \",(0,n.jsx)(e.a,{href:\"/blog/macos-tahoe-system-data-storage-huge-wont-shrink-fix-2026\",children:\"System Data storage is huge and will not shrink\"}),\". For a broader cleanup, our \",(0,n.jsx)(e.a,{href:\"/blog/macos-tahoe-storage-management-optimization-guide-2025\",children:\"storage management and optimization guide\"}),\" covers emptying caches, removing old iOS backups, clearing large downloads, and offloading files to iCloud so the download has room to complete.\"]}),`\n`,(0,n.jsxs)(e.p,{children:[\"After freeing space, go back to \",(0,n.jsx)(e.strong,{children:\"System Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri\"}),\" and the download often resumes on its own within a few minutes. If it does not, do a clean reset (Step 5).\"]}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.h3,{id:\"step-2-confirm-your-language-and-region-are-a-supported-combination\",children:\"Step 2: Confirm your language and region are a supported combination\"}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.p,{children:\"Apple Intelligence only downloads and provisions when your device language, Siri language, and region are set to a combination it supports. A mismatch here can leave the feature stuck because the system is waiting for a language or region model that does not match your setup, or it quietly refuses to complete provisioning.\"}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.p,{children:\"Check three things:\"}),`\n`,(0,n.jsxs)(e.ol,{children:[`\n`,(0,n.jsxs)(e.li,{children:[(0,n.jsx)(e.strong,{children:\"Mac system language.\"}),\" Go to \",(0,n.jsx)(e.strong,{children:\"System Settings > General > Language & Region\"}),\" and confirm your primary language is a supported one (English variants are the most broadly supported; other languages have been rolling out over time).\"]}),`\n`,(0,n.jsxs)(e.li,{children:[(0,n.jsx)(e.strong,{children:\"Siri language.\"}),\" Go to \",(0,n.jsx)(e.strong,{children:\"System Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri\"}),\" and check the Siri language. If your Siri language does not match a language Apple Intelligence supports in your region, the download can stall.\"]}),`\n`,(0,n.jsxs)(e.li,{children:[(0,n.jsx)(e.strong,{children:\"Region.\"}),\" Still under Language & Region, confirm your region is set correctly. An unusual or unsupported region can block the feature.\"]}),`\n`]}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.p,{children:\"If you find a mismatch, the safest approach is to align them: set the system language, Siri language, and region to a known-supported combination, such as an English variant matched to your actual country. After changing any of these, restart the Mac, then return to the Apple Intelligence panel. Changing language or region settings sometimes triggers a fresh, clean download attempt, which is exactly what you want if the previous one was stuck.\"}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.p,{children:\"One caution: change region only to reflect where you actually are or a legitimately supported setting. Do not spoof a region you are not in, because that can cause other problems with the App Store, Apple Account, and services, and it is not a reliable long-term fix.\"}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.h3,{id:\"step-3-rule-out-your-network-vpn-and-content-filters\",children:\"Step 3: Rule out your network, VPN, and content filters\"}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.p,{children:\"Because the models come from Apple's content delivery network, anything that blocks, throttles, or reroutes that traffic can stall the download. This is one of the most under-diagnosed causes, especially for people on managed, corporate, or heavily filtered networks.\"}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.p,{children:\"Work through these network checks:\"}),`\n`,(0,n.jsxs)(e.ul,{children:[`\n`,(0,n.jsxs)(e.li,{children:[(0,n.jsx)(e.strong,{children:\"Turn off any VPN.\"}),\" A VPN can route your traffic through a region or server that interferes with Apple's model CDN, or simply slow it to a crawl. Disable the VPN entirely, then check the download. This alone fixes a surprising number of stuck downloads.\"]}),`\n`,(0,n.jsxs)(e.li,{children:[(0,n.jsx)(e.strong,{children:\"Disable custom DNS, content blockers, and firewalls temporarily.\"}),\" Custom DNS providers, network-wide ad or content blockers (including router-level ones), and third-party firewall apps can block the hosts Apple uses. Turn them off long enough to let the download complete.\"]}),`\n`,(0,n.jsxs)(e.li,{children:[(0,n.jsx)(e.strong,{children:\"Switch networks.\"}),\" If you are on a restrictive office, school, or public network, try a different one, such as a personal hotspot or home Wi-Fi. If the download suddenly moves on a different network, you have found your culprit and it is the original network's filtering.\"]}),`\n`,(0,n.jsxs)(e.li,{children:[(0,n.jsx)(e.strong,{children:\"Check that you are on Wi-Fi or Ethernet, not a metered or unstable link.\"}),\" A flaky connection will keep pausing and resuming the transfer.\"]}),`\n`]}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.p,{children:\"You can do a quick reachability sanity check from the Terminal to confirm you have general internet connectivity to Apple:\"}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(n.Fragment,{children:(0,n.jsx)(e.pre,{className:\"shiki shiki-themes github-light github-dark\",style:{\"--shiki-light\":\"#24292e\",\"--shiki-dark\":\"#e1e4e8\",\"--shiki-light-bg\":\"#fff\",\"--shiki-dark-bg\":\"#24292e\"},tabIndex:\"0\",icon:'<svg viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path d=\"m 4,4 a 1,1 0 0 0 -0.7070312,0.2929687 1,1 0 0 0 0,1.4140625 L 8.5859375,11 3.2929688,16.292969 a 1,1 0 0 0 0,1.414062 1,1 0 0 0 1.4140624,0 l 5.9999998,-6 a 1.0001,1.0001 0 0 0 0,-1.414062 L 4.7070312,4.2929687 A 1,1 0 0 0 4,4 Z m 8,14 a 1,1 0 0 0 -1,1 1,1 0 0 0 1,1 h 8 a 1,1 0 0 0 1,-1 1,1 0 0 0 -1,-1 z\" fill=\"currentColor\" /></svg>',children:(0,n.jsx)(e.code,{children:(0,n.jsxs)(e.span,{className:\"line\",children:[(0,n.jsx)(e.span,{style:{\"--shiki-light\":\"#6F42C1\",\"--shiki-dark\":\"#B392F0\"},children:\"ping\"}),(0,n.jsx)(e.span,{style:{\"--shiki-light\":\"#005CC5\",\"--shiki-dark\":\"#79B8FF\"},children:\" -c\"}),(0,n.jsx)(e.span,{style:{\"--shiki-light\":\"#005CC5\",\"--shiki-dark\":\"#79B8FF\"},children:\" 4\"}),(0,n.jsx)(e.span,{style:{\"--shiki-light\":\"#032F62\",\"--shiki-dark\":\"#9ECBFF\"},children:\" apple.com\"})]})})})}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.p,{children:\"If that fails or times out while other sites work, something on your network is selectively blocking Apple's traffic, which is a strong signal to change networks or disable the filter. After clearing the network obstacle, return to the Apple Intelligence panel and give the download a few minutes to pick back up.\"}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.h3,{id:\"step-4-fix-power-settings-and-keep-the-mac-awake\",children:\"Step 4: Fix power settings and keep the Mac awake\"}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.p,{children:\"This step catches a lot of people because it is so easy to overlook. macOS is conservative about large background downloads when you are on battery, and it will pause or throttle them under certain power conditions. If your Mac keeps going to sleep, or you enabled Low Power Mode, the Apple Intelligence download may never get uninterrupted time to finish.\"}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.p,{children:\"Do all of the following while the download completes:\"}),`\n`,(0,n.jsxs)(e.ul,{children:[`\n`,(0,n.jsxs)(e.li,{children:[(0,n.jsx)(e.strong,{children:\"Plug in the power adapter.\"}),\" Keep the Mac on AC power for the duration. Background model downloads are far more reliable plugged in.\"]}),`\n`,(0,n.jsxs)(e.li,{children:[(0,n.jsx)(e.strong,{children:\"Turn off Low Power Mode.\"}),\" Go to \",(0,n.jsx)(e.strong,{children:\"System Settings > Battery\"}),\" and make sure Low Power Mode is set to Never, or at least off while you download. Low Power Mode deliberately defers background transfers.\"]}),`\n`,(0,n.jsxs)(e.li,{children:[(0,n.jsx)(e.strong,{children:\"Prevent sleep.\"}),\" Keep the lid open on a laptop, or adjust \",(0,n.jsx)(e.strong,{children:\"System Settings > Displays\"}),\" or \",(0,n.jsx)(e.strong,{children:\"Battery\"}),\" settings so the Mac does not sleep while plugged in. If the Mac sleeps, the download pauses.\"]}),`\n`,(0,n.jsxs)(e.li,{children:[(0,n.jsx)(e.strong,{children:\"Stay signed in and on Wi-Fi.\"}),\" Do not switch users or disconnect from the network mid-download.\"]}),`\n`]}),`\n`,(0,n.jsxs)(e.p,{children:[\"If you want to be certain the Mac stays awake without changing your permanent settings, you can use the built-in \",(0,n.jsx)(e.code,{children:\"caffeinate\"}),\" command in Terminal. This keeps the system awake for two hours (7200 seconds), which is plenty of time for the download to finish:\"]}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(n.Fragment,{children:(0,n.jsx)(e.pre,{className:\"shiki shiki-themes github-light github-dark\",style:{\"--shiki-light\":\"#24292e\",\"--shiki-dark\":\"#e1e4e8\",\"--shiki-light-bg\":\"#fff\",\"--shiki-dark-bg\":\"#24292e\"},tabIndex:\"0\",icon:'<svg viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path d=\"m 4,4 a 1,1 0 0 0 -0.7070312,0.2929687 1,1 0 0 0 0,1.4140625 L 8.5859375,11 3.2929688,16.292969 a 1,1 0 0 0 0,1.414062 1,1 0 0 0 1.4140624,0 l 5.9999998,-6 a 1.0001,1.0001 0 0 0 0,-1.414062 L 4.7070312,4.2929687 A 1,1 0 0 0 4,4 Z m 8,14 a 1,1 0 0 0 -1,1 1,1 0 0 0 1,1 h 8 a 1,1 0 0 0 1,-1 1,1 0 0 0 -1,-1 z\" fill=\"currentColor\" /></svg>',children:(0,n.jsx)(e.code,{children:(0,n.jsxs)(e.span,{className:\"line\",children:[(0,n.jsx)(e.span,{style:{\"--shiki-light\":\"#6F42C1\",\"--shiki-dark\":\"#B392F0\"},children:\"caffeinate\"}),(0,n.jsx)(e.span,{style:{\"--shiki-light\":\"#005CC5\",\"--shiki-dark\":\"#79B8FF\"},children:\" -dimsu\"}),(0,n.jsx)(e.span,{style:{\"--shiki-light\":\"#005CC5\",\"--shiki-dark\":\"#79B8FF\"},children:\" -t\"}),(0,n.jsx)(e.span,{style:{\"--shiki-light\":\"#005CC5\",\"--shiki-dark\":\"#79B8FF\"},children:\" 7200\"})]})})})}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.p,{children:\"Leave that Terminal window open while the download runs. When it is done you can close it or press Control-C. Between plugging in, disabling Low Power Mode, and preventing sleep, you remove the most common reasons the system pauses the transfer.\"}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.p,{children:(0,n.jsx)(e.img,{alt:\"Apple Intelligence and Siri settings panel on macOS\",src:\"/images/blog/apple-intelligence-stuck-preparing-downloading-mac-fix-2026/content-2.webp\",width:\"1024\",height:\"541\"})}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.h3,{id:\"step-5-force-a-clean-reset-of-the-download\",children:\"Step 5: Force a clean reset of the download\"}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.p,{children:'If storage, language, network, and power all check out and the download is still stuck, the download itself is probably corrupt or wedged. The fix is to make macOS throw it away and start over. This is the single most effective step for a genuinely stuck \"Preparing,\" so do not skip it even if it feels drastic.'}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.p,{children:\"Follow these steps in order:\"}),`\n`,(0,n.jsxs)(e.ol,{children:[`\n`,(0,n.jsxs)(e.li,{children:[\"Open \",(0,n.jsx)(e.strong,{children:\"System Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri\"}),\".\"]}),`\n`,(0,n.jsxs)(e.li,{children:[\"Turn \",(0,n.jsx)(e.strong,{children:\"Apple Intelligence off\"}),\" with the main toggle.\"]}),`\n`,(0,n.jsxs)(e.li,{children:[(0,n.jsx)(e.strong,{children:\"Restart your Mac\"}),\" completely (Apple menu > Restart). A full restart, not just closing the lid, is important here because it clears the stuck background process.\"]}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.li,{children:\"After the Mac boots back up, make sure you are plugged in, on stable Wi-Fi, with Low Power Mode off, as covered in Step 4.\"}),`\n`,(0,n.jsxs)(e.li,{children:[\"Go back to \",(0,n.jsx)(e.strong,{children:\"System Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri\"}),\" and turn \",(0,n.jsx)(e.strong,{children:\"Apple Intelligence on\"}),\" again.\"]}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.li,{children:\"Leave the Mac awake, plugged in, and connected, and let the fresh download run. Do not keep opening and closing the panel, just let it work in the background.\"}),`\n`]}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.p,{children:\"Toggling off, restarting, and re-enabling forces the system to discard any partial or corrupt download and begin cleanly. In the majority of stubborn cases, this is the step that finally gets the model to complete. Give the fresh download a solid chunk of uninterrupted time, ideally leaving the Mac alone for an hour or more.\"}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.h3,{id:\"step-6-check-your-apple-account-and-icloud-sign-in\",children:\"Step 6: Check your Apple Account and iCloud sign-in\"}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.p,{children:'Apple Intelligence provisioning is tied to your Apple Account, and a sign-in problem can leave the download unable to finish. If you recently changed your Apple ID password, got signed out, or see a nagging \"Sign in to iCloud\" or account-verification prompt, that can be what is blocking things.'}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.p,{children:\"Do the following:\"}),`\n`,(0,n.jsxs)(e.ul,{children:[`\n`,(0,n.jsxs)(e.li,{children:[\"Open \",(0,n.jsx)(e.strong,{children:\"System Settings\"}),\" and check the account banner at the top. Resolve any warning that says your Apple Account needs attention or that you need to sign in again.\"]}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.li,{children:\"Make sure you are fully signed in to iCloud and that there are no pending verification prompts.\"}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.li,{children:\"If your account looks fine but the download is still stuck, sign out of your Apple Account and back in, then restart. A clean re-authentication can clear a provisioning block. Only do this if you are comfortable signing back in and have your password and two-factor device handy.\"}),`\n`]}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.p,{children:\"After confirming a healthy, signed-in account, redo the clean reset from Step 5 so the download starts fresh with a valid account state.\"}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.h3,{id:\"step-7-update-macos-then-be-patient-with-the-rollout\",children:\"Step 7: Update macOS, then be patient with the rollout\"}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.p,{children:\"Two things live in this final step: making sure your software is current, and accepting that some delay is normal and on Apple's side.\"}),`\n`,(0,n.jsxs)(e.p,{children:[\"First, update macOS. Bugs in the Apple Intelligence download and provisioning flow do get fixed in point releases. As of this writing, the latest stable macOS is \",(0,n.jsx)(e.strong,{children:\"26.5.2 (25F84)\"}),', and macOS 27 \"Golden Gate\" is in public beta on Apple silicon. Go to ',(0,n.jsx)(e.strong,{children:\"System Settings > General > Software Update\"}),\" and install any available update, then retry the download. If you are on a beta and hitting persistent download problems, updating to the newest beta build, or moving back to the current stable release, can resolve provisioning bugs specific to a particular build.\"]}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.p,{children:`Second, understand that a stuck-looking \"Preparing\" is sometimes just Apple's servers taking their time. Provisioning can take time, especially just after you first enable the feature or right after a macOS update, when a lot of devices are requesting the same models at once. Server-side rollout throttling right after a release is real, and it is not something you can fix from your end. If you have worked through every step above and everything on your machine is correct, the best move is genuinely to wait. Leave the Mac plugged in, awake, and connected, and check back in several hours or the next day. Many \"permanently stuck\" downloads quietly finish overnight once the environment is right and the servers catch up.`}),`\n`,(0,n.jsxs)(e.p,{children:[\"For a fuller picture of what you will actually be able to do once the download finishes, and which features are on-device versus server-backed, see our \",(0,n.jsx)(e.a,{href:\"/blog/apple-intelligence-mac-complete-feature-guide-2026\",children:\"complete Apple Intelligence feature guide for Mac\"}),\".\"]}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.h2,{id:\"troubleshooting-common-issues\",children:\"Troubleshooting Common Issues\"}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.p,{children:\"Beyond the main ladder, a few specific scenarios come up often enough to call out directly.\"}),`\n`,(0,n.jsxs)(e.p,{children:[(0,n.jsx)(e.strong,{children:\"Problem: The percentage climbs to a number like 40% or 80% and freezes there forever.\"}),\" This is the classic signature of an interrupted or throttled download rather than a failed one. The bytes stopped arriving, usually because of sleep, a battery switch, a flaky network, or a filter that kicked in partway. \",(0,n.jsx)(e.strong,{children:\"Solution:\"}),\" Plug in, disable Low Power Mode, and keep the Mac awake with \",(0,n.jsx)(e.code,{children:\"caffeinate\"}),\" as shown in Step 4, then switch to a clean, unfiltered network with the VPN off. If the frozen percentage still will not move after 20 to 30 minutes of good conditions, do the clean reset in Step 5 to discard the partial file and start over.\"]}),`\n`,(0,n.jsxs)(e.p,{children:[(0,n.jsx)(e.strong,{children:'Problem: It says \"Preparing\" but never even shows a percentage or download activity.'}),\" When there is no visible progress at all, the download often has not truly started, which points to a network block, an account issue, or a language and region mismatch preventing the system from requesting the model. \",(0,n.jsx)(e.strong,{children:\"Solution:\"}),\" Verify your Apple Account is signed in and healthy (Step 6), confirm your language, Siri language, and region form a supported combination (Step 2), and rule out network filtering (Step 3). Then toggle Apple Intelligence off and on with a restart in between.\"]}),`\n`,(0,n.jsxs)(e.p,{children:[(0,n.jsx)(e.strong,{children:\"Problem: The download finishes but the features still are not available, or it loops back to Preparing.\"}),\" This usually means the bytes arrived but provisioning failed, frequently because of tight free storage during the unpack step, or a partially corrupt download. \",(0,n.jsx)(e.strong,{children:\"Solution:\"}),\" Free up more storage so there is generous headroom beyond the model size (Step 1), then do a full clean reset (Step 5). The extra space gives provisioning the temporary working room it needs to complete instead of looping.\"]}),`\n`,(0,n.jsxs)(e.p,{children:[(0,n.jsx)(e.strong,{children:\"Problem: It downloaded fine on your iPhone or iPad but is stuck on the Mac.\"}),\" Each device downloads and provisions its own copy of the on-device models, so success on one device does not carry over to another. A Mac has its own storage, network path, and power behavior that can differ from your phone. \",(0,n.jsx)(e.strong,{children:\"Solution:\"}),\" Treat the Mac independently and run the full ladder on it. In particular, check Mac-specific factors like whether it is on battery, whether it is on a different (possibly filtered) network than your phone, and whether it has enough free space.\"]}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.h2,{id:\"faq\",children:\"FAQ\"}),`\n`,(0,n.jsxs)(e.p,{children:[(0,n.jsx)(e.strong,{children:\"How long should the Apple Intelligence download normally take on a Mac?\"}),`\nOn a good connection with the Mac plugged in and awake, the model download usually completes within roughly 15 to 60 minutes, though it varies with your internet speed and how busy Apple's servers are. If it has genuinely made no progress for several hours, treat it as stuck and start the fix ladder rather than waiting longer.`]}),`\n`,(0,n.jsxs)(e.p,{children:[(0,n.jsx)(e.strong,{children:\"Is it safe to use my Mac while Apple Intelligence is downloading?\"}),`\nYes. The download runs in the background and you can keep working normally. Just avoid the things that pause it: do not let the Mac sleep, do not switch to Low Power Mode or unplug into battery for long stretches, and try not to drop off Wi-Fi or disconnect from your network while it is provisioning.`]}),`\n`,(0,n.jsxs)(e.p,{children:[(0,n.jsx)(e.strong,{children:\"Why did it get stuck right after I updated macOS?\"}),`\nRight after a macOS release, a huge number of devices request the same on-device models at once, so server-side rollout can be throttled and provisioning slows down. This is normal and outside your control. Make sure your environment is correct, then give it several hours to a day. It very often completes on its own once the initial rush passes.`]}),`\n`,(0,n.jsxs)(e.p,{children:[(0,n.jsx)(e.strong,{children:\"Will turning Apple Intelligence off and on delete anything or lose my settings?\"}),`\nNo. Toggling Apple Intelligence off and back on in System Settings simply stops and restarts the feature setup. It does not erase your documents, your Apple Account, or your other system settings. It is a safe, reversible step, and it is the most reliable way to force a stuck download to start over cleanly.`]}),`\n`,(0,n.jsxs)(e.p,{children:[(0,n.jsx)(e.strong,{children:\"Do I need Apple silicon, and does my exact chip matter for the download?\"}),`\nApple Intelligence requires Apple silicon, meaning an M1 chip or newer, so an Intel Mac cannot download the models at all. For the basic on-device model download this article covers, any supported Apple silicon Mac will complete it. Some newer, more advanced AI features carry their own higher memory and chip expectations, which we detail separately, but those do not change the basic download.`]}),`\n`,(0,n.jsxs)(e.p,{children:[(0,n.jsx)(e.strong,{children:\"A Terminal trick to unlock the new Siri or force the download, does that work?\"}),`\nNo. Skip any Terminal command that claims to unlock the revamped, personal-context Siri or force-complete the download. The fully revamped Siri is gated behind a separate, later, English-first beta and a waitlist, and the early command-line loophole was closed. For the model download, stick to the legitimate steps here: storage, language and region, network, power, and a clean reset.`]}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.h2,{id:\"when-none-of-this-works-deeper-resets-and-apple-support\",children:\"When None of This Works: Deeper Resets and Apple Support\"}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.p,{children:\"If you have genuinely worked through every step, storage, language and region, network, power, clean reset, account, updates, and patience, and the download still refuses to complete after a day or more, a few deeper measures are worth trying before you conclude something is wrong.\"}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.h3,{id:\"try-a-different-known-good-network-end-to-end\",children:\"Try a different, known-good network end to end\"}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.p,{children:\"Network problems are so common with this specific download that it is worth being methodical. Rather than just turning off your VPN, test the download on a completely different connection with no filtering at all. The cleanest test is your iPhone's Personal Hotspot on cellular data, because it bypasses your home router, your ISP's DNS, and any content filter on your usual network. If the download suddenly completes on the hotspot, you have definitively proven the problem was your primary network, and you can then work with whoever manages that network to unblock Apple's services. If it still stalls on a totally independent connection, the problem is not your network and you can stop chasing it there.\"}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.h3,{id:\"restart-with-a-clean-boot-and-check-for-background-interference\",children:\"Restart with a clean boot and check for background interference\"}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.p,{children:\"Third-party security software, network extensions, and DNS or firewall utilities can quietly interfere with the download even after you think you have disabled them. Fully quit any such apps, not just toggle them, and if you have a network-level content blocker configured on your router, temporarily disable it there too. Then do one more full restart and re-enable Apple Intelligence. Starting from a genuinely clean state, with no background utility second-guessing Apple's traffic, resolves a subset of the most stubborn cases that survive everything else.\"}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.h3,{id:\"free-up-dramatically-more-storage-than-you-think-you-need\",children:\"Free up dramatically more storage than you think you need\"}),`\n`,(0,n.jsxs)(e.p,{children:['If you have been hovering just above your storage threshold, be aggressive. Provisioning wants generous temporary working room, and a download that keeps looping back to \"Preparing\" is often quietly running out of space during the unpack step. Clear well beyond the model size, aiming for tens of gigabytes of free space, then reset one more time. Our ',(0,n.jsx)(e.a,{href:\"/blog/macos-tahoe-storage-management-optimization-guide-2025\",children:\"storage management and optimization guide\"}),\" has the fastest ways to reclaim large amounts quickly, and if your System Data is the thing eating your disk, the targeted \",(0,n.jsx)(e.a,{href:\"/blog/macos-tahoe-system-data-storage-huge-wont-shrink-fix-2026\",children:\"System Data will not shrink fix\"}),\" addresses that directly.\"]}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.h3,{id:\"contact-apple-support-with-specifics\",children:\"Contact Apple Support with specifics\"}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.p,{children:'If every one of those fails, contact Apple Support. Come prepared with the specifics that will save time: your exact macOS version (for example, whether you are on stable 26.5.2 or a macOS 27 beta build), your Mac model and chip, how much free storage you have, what the panel shows (frozen percentage versus endless \"Preparing\"), and the fact that you have already tried a clean reset, a different network, and a fresh Apple Account sign-in. A genuinely stuck provisioning state that survives all of the above is uncommon, and at that point it is a case for Apple rather than another round of the same steps. It can also be a sign of a build-specific bug that a future macOS update will fix, which is another reason to keep Software Update checked.'}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.h2,{id:\"conclusion\",children:\"Conclusion\"}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.p,{children:`A Mac stuck on \"Preparing\" or a frozen Apple Intelligence download looks alarming, but it is one of the most predictable and fixable problems in the whole system. It is not a broken feature, it is an interrupted download, and once you clear the thing that is interrupting it, the model finishes and the features light up. In practice, the vast majority of cases come down to a short list: not enough free storage, a VPN or filtered network blocking Apple's servers, Low Power Mode or sleep quietly pausing the transfer, or a wedged download that just needs a clean off-restart-on cycle to start fresh.`}),`\n`,(0,n.jsx)(e.p,{children:\"Work down the ladder in order. Free up generous storage, confirm your language, Siri language, and region form a supported combination, drop the VPN and switch to a clean network, plug in and keep the Mac awake, and if it is still stuck, do the full clean reset by toggling Apple Intelligence off, restarting, and turning it back on. Verify your Apple Account is healthy, keep macOS updated, and when everything on your end checks out, give Apple's rollout a little patience. Between those steps, nearly every stuck download completes.\"}),`\n`,(0,n.jsxs)(e.p,{children:[\"If you get through all of this and Apple Intelligence still will not even let you start, the problem is not the download at all, and you should switch over to our guide on \",(0,n.jsx)(e.a,{href:\"/blog/apple-intelligence-not-available-grayed-out-mac-how-to-enable-fix-2026\",children:\"Apple Intelligence grayed out or not available on Mac\"}),\" to sort out eligibility, region, and managed-device issues first. And once your download finally finishes, dive into everything the feature can do with our \",(0,n.jsx)(e.a,{href:\"/blog/apple-intelligence-mac-complete-feature-guide-2026\",children:\"complete Apple Intelligence feature guide for Mac\"}),\" so you can actually put all those freshly downloaded gigabytes to work.\"]})]})}function c(t={}){let{wrapper:e}=t.components||{};return e?(0,n.jsx)(e,{...t,children:(0,n.jsx)(d,{...t})}):d(t)}return b(v);})();\n;return Component;","toc":[{"title":"Key Takeaways","url":"#key-takeaways","depth":2},{"title":"How the Apple Intelligence Model Download Actually Works","url":"#how-the-apple-intelligence-model-download-actually-works","depth":2},{"title":"On-device models, not a cloud toggle","url":"#on-device-models-not-a-cloud-toggle","depth":3},{"title":"Why it downloads in the background and silently","url":"#why-it-downloads-in-the-background-and-silently","depth":3},{"title":"The provisioning step after the bytes arrive","url":"#the-provisioning-step-after-the-bytes-arrive","depth":3},{"title":"What a healthy download actually looks like","url":"#what-a-healthy-download-actually-looks-like","depth":3},{"title":"\"Preparing\" vs \"Grayed Out\": Telling the Two Problems Apart","url":"#preparing-vs-grayed-out-telling-the-two-problems-apart","depth":2},{"title":"You have the \"Preparing\" or stuck-download problem if","url":"#you-have-the-preparing-or-stuck-download-problem-if","depth":3},{"title":"You have the \"grayed out\" or \"not available\" problem if","url":"#you-have-the-grayed-out-or-not-available-problem-if","depth":3},{"title":"The Fix Ladder: Get the Download Moving","url":"#the-fix-ladder-get-the-download-moving","depth":2},{"title":"Step 1: Make sure you have enough free storage","url":"#step-1-make-sure-you-have-enough-free-storage","depth":3},{"title":"Step 2: Confirm your language and region are a supported combination","url":"#step-2-confirm-your-language-and-region-are-a-supported-combination","depth":3},{"title":"Step 3: Rule out your network, VPN, and content filters","url":"#step-3-rule-out-your-network-vpn-and-content-filters","depth":3},{"title":"Step 4: Fix power settings and keep the Mac awake","url":"#step-4-fix-power-settings-and-keep-the-mac-awake","depth":3},{"title":"Step 5: Force a clean reset of the download","url":"#step-5-force-a-clean-reset-of-the-download","depth":3},{"title":"Step 6: Check your Apple Account and iCloud sign-in","url":"#step-6-check-your-apple-account-and-icloud-sign-in","depth":3},{"title":"Step 7: Update macOS, then be patient with the rollout","url":"#step-7-update-macos-then-be-patient-with-the-rollout","depth":3},{"title":"Troubleshooting Common Issues","url":"#troubleshooting-common-issues","depth":2},{"title":"FAQ","url":"#faq","depth":2},{"title":"When None of This Works: Deeper Resets and Apple Support","url":"#when-none-of-this-works-deeper-resets-and-apple-support","depth":2},{"title":"Try a different, known-good network end to end","url":"#try-a-different-known-good-network-end-to-end","depth":3},{"title":"Restart with a clean boot and check for background interference","url":"#restart-with-a-clean-boot-and-check-for-background-interference","depth":3},{"title":"Free up dramatically more storage than you think you need","url":"#free-up-dramatically-more-storage-than-you-think-you-need","depth":3},{"title":"Contact Apple Support with specifics","url":"#contact-apple-support-with-specifics","depth":3},{"title":"Conclusion","url":"#conclusion","depth":2}],"estimatedTime":26}