You started a macOS update, walked away, and came back to a progress screen that just says "Gathering information…" — no percentage, no spinner movement, nothing. It can sit there for what feels like forever. Below is why this screen appears and the fixes to work through, in order, from "just wait" to "reinstall from Recovery."
What "Gathering information" actually means
Right after you click Update, macOS contacts Apple's servers to figure out exactly which update package your specific Mac needs, checks that you have room, and prepares the download. That handshake is the "Gathering information" phase. It is almost always a network or server step, not a hardware one — which is good news, because the fixes are simple.
It legitimately takes 1–3 minutes on a good connection. It hangs when the Wi‑Fi drops, Apple's update servers are busy (huge spikes on release day), your Mac's clock is wrong, or an earlier half-finished update left a stuck file behind.
Fix 1 — Actually wait, then confirm it is really stuck
On release day, Apple's servers get hammered and "Gathering information" can genuinely crawl for 5–10 minutes. Before you touch anything, give it a real chance:
- Wait a full 10 minutes without clicking.
- Make sure the Mac is plugged into power — a laptop that sleeps will freeze the screen.
- Check your Wi‑Fi is connected. If the menu bar is hidden, move the pointer to the top of the screen; if you can reach the Wi‑Fi icon, confirm it shows connected to your network.
If it has genuinely not moved in 10+ minutes, move to Fix 2.
Fix 2 — Fix your network (the #1 cause)
"Gathering information" is a server call, so a flaky connection stalls it instantly.
- Restart your router — unplug it for 30 seconds, plug it back in, wait for it to come fully online.
- Switch networks — if Wi‑Fi is unreliable, connect the Mac to your router with an Ethernet adapter, or tether to your phone's hotspot just to get the update information through.
- Turn Wi‑Fi off and back on from the menu bar to force a clean reconnect.
Fix 3 — Force restart, then retry
If waiting and network fixes do not help, the update process itself is hung. Force a restart:
- Press and hold the power button for about 10 seconds until the Mac shuts off completely.
- Wait 10 seconds, then press power to boot normally.
- Open System Settings → General → Software Update and start the update again.
A clean reboot clears the stuck server handshake most of the time. This is safe at the "Gathering information" stage because no files have been written yet — you are still in the pre-download phase.
Fix 4 — Set the date and time automatically
A wrong clock breaks the secure connection to Apple's servers, and "Gathering information" hangs because the certificate check fails. Fix it:
- Open System Settings → General → Date & Time.
- Turn "Set time and date automatically" on.
- If it is already on, toggle it off and back on to force a resync.
Then retry the update. This single fix clears a surprising number of "stuck" and "damaged installer" errors.
Fix 5 — Delete the stuck update and start clean
An earlier attempt can leave a corrupt, partially-downloaded update file that makes every new attempt hang. Clear it out:
- Open Software Update and let it try once. If it hangs, cancel.
- In Finder, press ⌘⇧G and go to
/Library/Updates. Move the items inside to the Trash (you may be asked for your password). - Restart the Mac and start the update from Software Update again.
You are not deleting anything you need — macOS will re-fetch a fresh, clean copy.
Fix 6 — Update in Safe Mode
Safe Mode loads a minimal macOS and clears some system caches, which lets the update information come through cleanly.
Apple silicon (M1/M2/M3): Shut down. Hold the power button until "Loading startup options" appears. Pick your disk, then hold Shift and click "Continue in Safe Mode."
Intel: Restart and immediately hold Shift until the login window appears.
Once booted in Safe Mode, run Software Update again, then restart normally.
Fix 7 — Reinstall macOS from Recovery (last resort)
If nothing above gets past "Gathering information," reinstall macOS from Recovery. This keeps your files — it only replaces the system itself.
Apple silicon: Shut down, hold the power button until "Loading startup options," click Options → Continue.
Intel: Restart and hold ⌘R until the Apple logo appears.
In Recovery, choose Reinstall macOS and follow the prompts. Have a good network connection ready, since Recovery downloads the installer fresh. If you want a full walkthrough of updating macOS the normal way afterward, see our step-by-step guide to updating macOS.
Still stuck? It may be the hardware, not the update
If the Mac hangs on "Gathering information" even after a Recovery reinstall — or it freezes, restarts, or shows disk errors during the process — the drive or logic board may be failing. On older Intel MacBooks especially, a dying SSD often shows up first as updates that will not complete.
At that point, weigh the repair cost against a clean, reliable replacement. A refurbished Apple‑silicon Mac from LuxuriousComputers arrives already updated, runs current macOS fast, and comes with our own warranty — M1 MacBook Airs start at $450, the M2 Air at $549, and a Mac Mini M2 at $599. Browse current deals on our Apple clearance page, or if your old Mac still has value, get a trade-in quote — even a broken one can knock money off your next machine.
Frequently asked questions
How long should "Gathering information" take?
Usually 1–3 minutes. On macOS release day it can stretch to 5–10 minutes because Apple's servers are overloaded. If it has not moved in 10 minutes, treat it as stuck and start with the network fix.
Will force-restarting during "Gathering information" break my Mac?
No. At this phase the update has not written any system files yet — it is still contacting Apple and preparing the download. A force restart here is safe and usually the fastest fix. (Force-restarting during the actual install, when the progress bar is moving, is riskier — there, wait it out first.)
Is this the same as an app being stuck at "Verifying" or "Installing"?
They are related but different screens. If a single App Store app — not a macOS update — hangs at "Verifying…" or "Installing…", see Mac app stuck at Verifying or Installing. If a macOS update's progress bar is stuck on a time estimate, see MacBook update stuck on "Less than a minute remaining."
The update will not download at all — different problem?
If you get "damaged," "can't be verified," or a download that never starts, that is a download/installer error rather than the gathering phase. Work through MacBook won't download or install macOS.
Do I need to plug in during the update?
Yes. Keep a laptop on power the whole time. If the battery dies mid-update the install can corrupt and leave you needing a Recovery reinstall.