Apple’s macOS 15 Sequoia is the newest desktop operating system for Macs, recently released and generating attention for its notable new features, such as iPhone mirroring, while also experiencing some initial challenges, including a significant SSD-related bug.
If you have encountered issues with macOS Sequoia, you are in the right place: this article outlines the most common problems faced by Mac users along with potential solutions. Moving forward, we will ensure that this article is regularly updated with any new bugs or glitches that arise, along with their corresponding solutions – so it may be beneficial to bookmark this page in your web browser.
Here is the Most Common Problems on Your macOS 15 Sequoia and how to Diagnose macOS 15 Sequoia issues and Restore Its Functionality.
macOS Sequoia won’t download or install
Some users are reporting difficulties in downloading and installing macOS Sequoia.
If you are experiencing this issue, the first step is to verify that your Mac is compatible with Sequoia. Ensure your internet connection is stable and that you have sufficient drive space available for the upgrade (25GB). It is advisable to review Apple’s system status dashboard to confirm that the ‘macOS software update’ service is operational (indicated by a green light).
Assuming everything mentioned is functioning correctly, you may still face an issue where the installation fails, presenting the message that it ‘failed to personalize the software update,’ which can be perplexing.
In this situation, it may be beneficial to consider a couple of potential solutions: either disable ‘Find My Mac’ or sign out of your Apple ID, or, for thoroughness, do both actions—then attempt the installation again. Numerous online reports indicate that implementing one or both of these adjustments will enable Sequoia to install successfully.
If you continue to experience difficulties, some recommend utilizing the ‘revive’ feature with your Mac. Another final tip: ensure that you are updating from Sonoma 14. 7. If you are using an earlier macOS version, update to v14. 7 and try again.
macOS Sequoia Spotlight Drive Usage Bug
Have you noticed an unusual spike in your drive usage since installing macOS 15? There was a bug in the beta testing phase where Spotlight was incorrectly reading and writing unnecessary data, which not only filled up the drive but also caused wear and tear on the SSD – a concerning issue.
Apparently, this problem persists for some users who have upgraded to the final version of macOS Sequoia, which should not be the case – Apple should have resolved this, though we only have reports of its occurrence, not any official recognition.
It is advisable to monitor your SSD activity using the Activity Monitor app on your system. If you notice high levels of writing to your drive without a clear reason, consider disabling Spotlight for your system drive and check if the situation improves. (check here for instructions on how to exclude a drive from Spotlight searching).
For the time being, if you’re impacted by this bug, the best course of action is to keep Spotlight disabled until we receive confirmation from Apple regarding the issue and a subsequent fix, which we hope will follow soon. Rumor has it that the upcoming Sequoia update may address this issue.
macOS Sequoia VPN Issues
Sequoia appears to be causing problems with VPNs, with numerous reports indicating connectivity challenges, particularly with iMessage and iCloud sync failing while a VPN is active.
As reported by Bleeping Computer, security firm CrowdStrike has noted that Apple implemented some networking changes in macOS 15, which are responsible for the VPN-related issues. Due to the mentioned networking adjustments, you may experience inconsistent outcomes with other security applications as well.
The impacted VPNs are reportedly developing solutions, as evidenced by at least two cases we have encountered – specifically Mullvad and Private Internet Access, and possibly others. You can patiently await those fixes or a possible solution from Apple.
However, there are some simple potential remedies based on reports, one of which is to disable the macOS firewall to see if that alleviates any connectivity issues – it has worked for some users. Alternatively, instead of disabling the firewall entirely, review its settings to ensure that any applications causing issues are not blocked.
Additionally, regarding the iMessage conflict, modifying certain VPN settings has reportedly resolved the issue for some macOS 15 users—try disabling the kill switch and changing your VPN protocol. Hoping that one of these solutions proves effective.
macOS Sequoia Bluetooth Issues
Bluetooth connectivity has become problematic for some users following the upgrade to macOS Sequoia. There are reports of Bluetooth mice, keyboards, speakers, headphones, and other devices either experiencing connection failures or exhibiting significant lag. Mice exhibit jitteriness instead of smoothly moving the cursor, speakers are experiencing stuttering, or the audio is intermittently cutting out, among other issues.
Currently, there are limited satisfactory solutions; however, in some reported cases, turning the peripheral off and then on again or removing the Bluetooth hardware and re-pairing it with the Mac appears to resolve the issues. Therefore, try those standard tricks, but aside from that, hope that this issue is on Apple’s radar for a prompt patch.
macOS Sequoia causing problems with web browsers
There are various reports of web browsers in general having issues with macOS Sequoia. For those encountering a protocol error when trying to load websites in their favored browser, turning off the firewall may cure this.
There are more worrying reports of Google’s Chrome browser failing to work at all on macOS 15 – but an easy enough cure appears to be simply uninstalling, and then reinstalling Chrome (the browser should keep all your settings).
macOS Sequoia disables the Touch Bar
If you have a MacBook with a Touch Bar, this is certainly one to monitor. Following the macOS 15 upgrade, some users are reporting that the touch bar has become unresponsive and no longer functions.
A Reddit user advises that the following remedy may be effective: open the Terminal app (located in Finder under Applications/Utilities) and execute the subsequent command:
sudo pkill touchbarserver;
Afterward, restart your MacBook and hope for the best, as this solution has not worked for everyone—yet it appears to be successful for some.
macOS Sequoia USB issues
Some users running macOS 15 are encountering connectivity problems when utilizing USB sticks or chargers. There are reports of the Mac taking an extended period to recognize a thumb drive or even failing to detect it altogether.
It appears that this issue is not prevalent; however, if you are impacted by the bug, it is certainly going to be quite frustrating. This is a challenging issue, and there are limited potential solutions available, except for one suggestion.
Reports indicate that a USB device may function in a different port on the Mac, so consider connecting it to all available USB connectors and hope for a different outcome with one of them. In the meantime, we can only await acknowledgment from Apple regarding this specific issue.