Quick Summary
The "Installation Failed" error on macOS indicates that the software installation process was interrupted or encountered a problem, preventing the successful installation of the application or software package. This could be due to various reasons, including insufficient permissions, corrupted files, or compatibility issues.
Common Causes
- Insufficient Permissions: The current user account might not have the necessary administrative privileges to install software on the system.
- Corrupted Downloaded File: The downloaded package file (.dmg, .pkg) may be incomplete or corrupted during the download process.
- Disk Space Issues: There may not be enough free space on the target volume to install the application.
- Conflicting Software: Existing software on the system may be interfering with the installation process.
- macOS Security Settings: macOS security features like Gatekeeper might be blocking the installation of applications from unidentified developers.
- Damaged Disk: There may be physical problems on the drive you are attempting to install to.
Step-by-Step Fixes
Method 1: Run the Installer as an Administrator
Step 1: Locate the installer package (.dmg or .pkg file).
Step 2: Right-click (or Ctrl-click) on the installer file and select "Open".
Step 3: If prompted, enter an administrator username and password to authorize the installation.
Method 2: Verify Application Source and Security Settings
Step 1: Go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy.
Step 2: Under the "General" tab, check the "Allow apps downloaded from:" section.
Step 3: If "App Store and identified developers" is selected, but the app is from an unknown developer, you may see a prompt stating the app was blocked. Click "Open Anyway" (if available) to bypass Gatekeeper for that specific app. You might need to first unlock the settings pane by clicking on the padlock icon in the bottom left corner and providing your administrator credentials.
Method 3: Check Disk Space
Step 1: Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select "About This Mac".
Step 2: Click on the "Storage" tab.
Step 3: Ensure you have sufficient free space on your hard drive (at least twice the size of the application you're trying to install is recommended).
Step 4: If necessary, free up space by deleting unnecessary files or applications.
Method 4: Download the Installer Again
Step 1: Delete the existing installer file.
Step 2: Download a fresh copy of the installer from the official website or trusted source.
Method 5: Run Disk Utility
Step 1: Open Disk Utility (Applications > Utilities).
Step 2: Select your startup disk in the left pane.
Step 3: Click "First Aid" and then "Run" to repair any potential disk errors.
Method 6: Restart your Mac in Safe Mode
Step 1: Restart your Mac.
Step 2: Immediately after your Mac starts up, press and hold the Shift key.
Step 3: Release the Shift key when you see the login window.
Step 4: Try installing the application again while in Safe Mode. If the installation succeeds, restart your Mac normally to exit Safe Mode. This will allow you to determine if a piece of software is causing the problem.