Fix Mac Software Update Not Showing in System Preferences

Is the Mac software update not showing in system preferences? Please keep reading this article so you can learn more about this error and the top 4 fixes to solve this. If you have lost data while fixing this error, installing EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac would be the best decision!

A MacBook user reported, "The symbol for mac software update not showing in system preferences. It was the first spot a few weeks ago with OS X 10.9. The latest upgrade to OS X 10.10 hasn't fixed the issue. With this option missing, I can't upgrade my MacBook with the newest system patches and app software. Utilizing the top Apple menu item 'About this Mac' gives a 'software update' button; however, this only launches the 'App Store' application. The file 'SoftwareUpdate.prefPane' can't be found in the folder /System/Library/PreferencePanes. Although the System Application cannot be launched, the System Preferences logo can be seen when this file is recreated using a copy from another Apple PC; the error text states: "Preferences Error: could not load Software Update preference pane." 

Fix 1. Check if Your Software Update Servers Are Down to Fix Update Not Showing

Apple's software update servers might be temporarily down, so waiting some time might fix the issue. The software update will reappear when the software update preference panel is loaded on the MacBook. This is rare, but it happens when a brand-new update is released, and the update servers are overwhelmed sometimes.

Moreover, the software update servers are down for maintenance or because of some issue on the server end. Hence, you may verify the status of the macOS software update servers on the Apple System Status page to ascertain whether this is the issue. Follow the steps below to verify if your software update servers are down:

Step 1. Navigate to the "Apple System Status" page.

Step 2. Search for the "macOS software update" status.

Step 3. The server is working if the light shows green.

Step 4. The server might be having issues if the light isn't green. Hence, you will have to wait for it to be fixed.

Fix 2. Create Software Update Plist File Again to Solve Update Not Showing in System Preferences

You may try creating a plist file on Mac via TextEdit with the steps below:

Step 1. Go to "Finder" > "Applications" > Scroll down to rummage "TextEdit," and launch it.

Step 2. Hit "New document" > Select "Format" > From the top menu, select "Make plain text."

Step 3. Type your PLIST data in XML format.

Step 4. Opt for "File" > "Save," and type a name for your file.

Step 5. Opt for "Unicode (UTF-8) in the Plain Text Encoding and hit "Save."

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Fix 3. Reload the Software Update Panel to Solve Mac Update Won't Show in the System Preferences

If no software update can be found, or you notice an "unable to search for update" error text, you can reload the software update control panel from within Activity Monitor. Go through the steps below to reload the software update panel to solve the problem:

Step 1. Launch "Activity Monitor" from within the "Utilities" folder by navigating to "Finder" > "Applications" > "Utilities."

Step 2. Type the following command softwareupdate in the top-right area in the search bar, and hit "Return."

Step 3. Opt for every item from the list and Force Quit them by hitting the "X" button on the top left.

Step 4. Try installing the software update again by launching it from System Preferences/System Settings.

Fix 4. Update the macOS in Safe Mode to Solve Mac Software Update Not Showing

The final tip is to update the macOS in safe mode, a leading mode that loads the most crucial processes and system extensions. The steps to boot into safe mode for Apple Silicon Macs are the following:

Step 1. Shut down your Apple Silicon Mac and wait for 10 seconds.

Step 2. Press & hold the power button of your MacBook until you notice the startup option window.

Step 3. Opt for a startup disk.

Step 4. Hit the "Shift" key and "Continue" in safe mode.

Step 5. Release the "Shift" key.

Step 6. Head to "System Settings" > "General" > "Software Update," and see if any updates are available.

Pro Tips: Recover Lost Data During the Mac Update

"Mac software update not showing in system preferences" error often leads to data loss. You may encounter data loss after trying the fixes. You may restore your data fast with a third-party, expert data retrieval tool called EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac.

This data recovery program from EaseUS can assist you with recovering lost information if you have recently upgraded to macOS Sequoia. Install the professional data recovery software now!  

 

If you have deleted or lost critical files during the Mac update, this data recovery tool for Mac will also help you get your files back. You can also restore unsaved documents and other types of files like videos or photos with the help of this software.

Final Words

The aforementioned steps should fix the Mac software update not showing in system preferences issue. If you have encountered data loss while trying the fixes above, kindly install EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac now!

FAQs

These are the FAQs to understand the topic better:

1. Why doesn't my Mac have Software Update in System Preferences?

A number of variables, including compatibility, internet connectivity, storage capacity, Apple servers, and software bugs, are the leading causes of this issue.

2. Why does my Mac not show Software Update?

Your MacBook won't see a software update as your MacBook is no longer compatible with the newest macOS version.

3. How do I update a MacBook with System Preferences?

To update a MacBook with System Preferences, you may go through the steps below:

• Launch "System Preferences" from the Apple icon.
• Hit "General" in the sidebar.
• Hit "Software Update" on the right.
• Hit the "Update" or "Upgrade" button if new software is available.
• Type your admin password to start the installation.