We all know the drill. Apple pushes out a slick new MacOS update, and we're eager to get those new features and security patches. Most of the time, it's a smooth road. But sometimes, you may hit a minor bump – a not-so-friendly message that reads, "Unable to Verify MacOS Update," or "macOS (version) could not be verified." It can be so frustrating and daunting at the same time.

The cause for this message can vary, and sometimes, it's temporary and goes away on its own. However, if it doesn't, it isn't as tough as it looks, and there are reliable fixes to get out of this maze and back into smooth sailing on your Mac. Let's dive in, shall we?

1. Check the System Status Page

Before spending your energy on trying any fixes, make sure that there isn't an issue at Apple's end. Go to Apple Support's System Status page, and make sure that the dot next to 'macOS Software Update' is green, i.e., the service is available.

If it isn't, wait for it to get back online, as there's nothing you can do. If it is, then you can start going through the fixes listed below.

2. Restart your Mac

Call on the Old Faithful: Restart! That's right! The beloved "turn it off and on again" strategy isn't a tech legend for no reason. Rebooting your Mac can miraculously clear the cobwebs in the system and solve this little snag.

Navigate to the Apple icon nestled in the top-left corner of your screen, and then click on 'Restart'. Once your Mac springs back to life, give that update another shot.

3. Check Your Internet Connection

"Internet, Do We Have a Problem?" In today's world, it's all about connections. A shaky Wi-Fi connection might be the sneaky culprit disrupting your MacOS verification process. Even if you aren't macOS from the Internet, the installer does need it to get information about your firmware and any other information specific to your Mac.

So, make sure you are connected. Take a moment to check if your Wi-Fi is stable and the signal strength is good. If there's an issue, reset your router or try switching to a more reliable network.

4. Toggle the Date and Time Settings

Curiously, some users were able to solve this issue by tinkering with the 'Date and Time' settings on their Macs.

On your Mac, go to 'Settings'. Then, click the 'General' option from the menu on the left.

Next, from the panel on the right, go to the 'Date and Time' settings.

Turn off the toggle for 'Set time and date automatically'. Wait for a few seconds, then turn the toggle back on.

These steps for accessing the Date and Time Settings are for macOS Ventura and above (where Apple changed the interface completely). For older versions, the gist is the same; you need to toggle the Date and Time Settings from your System Preferences.

Now, restart your Mac from the Apple menu.

Once your Mac restarts, try installing the update again. If you are one of the lucky ones, you need not go further down this guide.

5. Scrub and Redownload: Delete the Installer and Try Again

Sometimes, the digital stork delivering your MacOS update might stumble and drop the bundle, leading to a corrupted file. Don't worry, it happens! The fix? Throw it out and get a new one.

First, go to your 'Applications' folder and find the installer file. It might look something like "Install macOS Ventura.app" (The name would vary depending on your version). Then, cast it into the Trash, empty the bin, and start afresh.

To download a new update, go to 'Settings' (or 'System Preferences' on older versions).

Then, go to 'General' from the sidebar, click the 'Software Update' option, and try downloading and installing the update again.

If you can't find the update, go to the App Store and download the installer for the version you're trying to install (for example, macOS Ventura). The App Store will have the latest version for installation.

Fingers crossed, the verification process should run smoothly this time around!

6. Install in Safe Mode

Safe Mode boots your Mac with the minimum required drivers and checks your disk to prevent potential issues. Sometimes, a third-party software could be interfering with the installation, and booting in Safe Mode will stop its interference.

Depending on your processor, follow the steps for booting in Safe Mode.

For Apple Silicon:

First, shut down your Mac. Then, turn it on again but don't release the Power button; keep pressing it until you see the 'Startup options' window.

Then, select your startup disk, such as Macintosh HD.

Then, press and hold the Shift key and click the 'Continue in Safe Mode' option while pressing the key.

If you're asked to log in again, provide the credentials.

For Intel Processor:

Turn your Mac on or restart it. Then, press down the Shift key immediately and keep pressing it until you see the login screen.

Log in to your Mac (you might need to provide the login credentials twice).

Then, click the 'Safe Mode' option in the upper-right corner of the window.

Once you enter the Safe Mode, try updating your Mac again. Your Mac will run in normal mode after it restarts if the update is installed. If you still weren't able to install the update, restart your Mac to return to normal boot and move on to the next fix.

7. Repair Your Disk and Install the Update

If nothing else has worked till now, you can try repairing your disk and then installing the update. Disk Utility is an in-built Mac feature that can detect and repair formatting and directory structure errors on your Mac disk. If there is such an error, it could be preventing the macOS update from installing.

Note: Before you begin, make sure to back up your data. Disk Utility can fix certain disk problems, but it can't recover lost data.

Now, first, you need to open Disk Utility. Go to the 'Applications' folder from the Finder.

Then, click the 'Utilities' folder.

Next, click the option for 'Disk Utility'.

Now, click the 'View' button and select 'Show All Devices' (if available) from the menu.

The sidebar will display each available disk or storage device on your Mac, starting with the Startup Disk. This is the disk we want to repair.

Your startup disk might have containers and volumes. For example, in this screenshot, the startup disk (APPLE SSD) has one container and two volumes (Macintosh HD, Macintosh HD - Data). It's not necessary that your disk will have a container, and the number of volumes might be different too.

But depending on the containers or volumes you do have, this is the order you need to follow: Repair the volumes first, then the container, and then the startup disk.

First, click on the last volume on your startup disk to select it, and then click 'First Aid' from the toolbar.

Then, click 'Run' to start repairing the volume.

Once the process is complete, you'll see a report. If it says, "The volume [your disk] appears to be OK," there are no issues with your disk. However, if it says "Overlapped extent allocation" errors, it means there are multiple files trying to use the same space on your hard drive, and you'll need to back up your disk and reformat it.

Once this volume is complete, repeat the steps with the other volumes going upward, then the container, and finally, the Startup Disk.

After repairing the Startup Disk, quit Disk Utility.

Navigate to Software Update from Settings and try to complete the installation now.

8. Install the Update from MacOS Recovery

If all else till now has failed, it's time to explore the Recovery Mode option. It's like a digital sanctuary where you can perform certain system repairs, including a MacOS update.

To enter the Recovery Mode, follow these steps based on your processor:

For Apple Silicon:

First, shut down your Mac. Then, turn it on again but don't release the Power button; keep pressing it until you see the 'Startup options' window.

Then, select 'Options' and click 'Continue' to enter the Recovery mode.

Next, select your user account for which you know the password (in case there's more than one).

Enter the password for your account and click 'Continue'.

Now, select the 'Reinstall macOS' option and follow the onscreen instructions to complete the installation.

For Intel Processor:

Turn your Mac on or restart it. Then, press down the Command + R keys immediately and keep pressing them until you see the Apple logo. Provide your credentials if you are asked to log in.

Now, from the Utilities window, select the 'Reinstall macOS' option and follow the onscreen instructions to complete the installation.

9. Erase your Mac and Install the Update

If nothing else has worked till now, the last thing you can do is erase your Mac and then reinstall macOS or restore from a backup.

To erase your Mac, go to Settings (on macOS Ventura) and select 'General' from the left sidebar. From the menu on the right, click on the 'Transfer' or 'Reset' button.

Then, click the 'Erase All Content and Settings' option.

Enter your credentials and click 'Unlock' to continue to the Erase Assistant.

You'll be asked to create a backup of your Mac. If you want to, you can use Time Machine and create a backup on an external device. Otherwise, click 'Continue' to proceed without making a backup.

Click 'Continue' on the screen to Erase All Content & Settings. Then, follow the instructions on the screen to reset your Mac.

When your Mac is restarting, enter the recovery mode as explained in the previous section and reinstall macOS which will upgrade you to the latest OS.

Those were our top fixes for tackling the dreaded "Unable to Verify MacOS Update" issue. While some of these are simple enough, they might not offer relief, and you might have to try the more complex ones. But before you get on to the complex ones, back up your data. We're navigating some tricky terrain, and while the journey should be safe, it's always good to be prepared for the unexpected.