macOS 15.4: 2025 Macs cannot cope with release candidate
Developers who want to test the almost finished next Sequoia update have a problem with MacBook Air M4 and Mac Studio M3 Ultra and M4 Max.
(Image: Apple)
The release candidate version of macOS 15.4, which has been available since Monday, does not run on Apple's latest computers. This is reported by affected participants in the beta test program for developers on Reddit and elsewhere. According to them, the installation fails on the MacBook Air M4 as well as on the Mac Studio M3 Ultra and the Mac Studio M4 Max. The three machines were introduced at the beginning of March.
Confusing error message
According to those affected, an error message appears during the download or at the latest before the start of the installation stating that the update cannot be downloaded. You should check your internet connection or contact Apple's support. Using the IPSW package to install the DFU also fails. Some beta testers tried three times in a row – none of them succeeded. On older Macs up to the latest versions of the MacBook Pro from last fall (with M4, M4 Pro and M4 Max), however, the release candidate runs without any problems.
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The reason for the difficulties seems to be that Apple has apparently failed to provide the necessary keys for the new Macs, which can be used to decrypt and then install the update packages. This is Apple's way of ensuring that no malware or faulty software is installed – and the signature is also checked in this way. As Macrumors reports, the necessary key is currently still missing on Apple's own download server. The error message is therefore confusing.
Server-side solution conceivable
There is currently no solution to the issue. It is unclear whether Apple can implement a simple server-side fix (i.e., provide the key) or whether the release candidate of macOS 15.4 will have to be reissued. There do not appear to be any problems with other new devices from spring 2025 – i.e., iPad 11 and iPad Air M3 – and their software update (iPadOS 18.4 RC), only Macs are affected.
A release candidate version is always one of the last versions of an update before the final version is made available – It is not uncommon for the RC version to also be the final version. macOS 15.4 will be delivered in German by Apple Intelligence, among others.
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