Installation Issues Encountered During macOS 26 Tahoe Setup on Mac Studio
In a recent development, some Mac Studio M3 Ultra users have reported encountering issues while attempting to install the latest macOS version, 26, codenamed Tahoe. The issue seems to be related to the ANEHWDevice, a component associated with the Neural Engine in the M3 Ultra.
The problem arises during the installation process, causing an unexpected reboot and leaving users back at the login screen of the previous version, macOS Sequoia. Despite the error, no lasting damages have been reported, but the Tahoe installation remains unsuccessful.
Contrary to expectations, upgrading to macOS 15.7 beforehand does not resolve the issue. Apple is aware of the problem and has confirmed that the security-related fixes available in macOS 26 are not included in macOS 15.7, and are only available in macOS 26.0. However, no official statement has been made regarding the resolution of this specific issue.
Many professionals often wait before installing new Mac operating systems to avoid compatibility issues or unfixed bugs. Given the current predicament, these users are advised not to install macOS 26 on Mac Studio M3 Ultra for now to avoid potential damages.
Users have tried downloading and installing the macOS 26 installer manually, but to no avail. It's possible that Apple is serving an incompatible build of macOS 26 for the Mac Studio M3 Ultra. A new build of macOS 26 may be needed to resolve the issue, and the system should signal this through a new download via software update.
On a positive note, later versions like macOS 26.2 may be more stable and compatible with the Mac Studio M3 Ultra. The exact release date for the corrected version of macOS 26, which addresses the installation issues on Mac Studio with the M3 Ultra chip, is not explicitly mentioned. However, macOS 26, the official release of which was on September 15, 2025, regularly receives updates from Apple aimed at improving stability and compatibility.
It's always recommended to create a backup before any update to ensure data safety. As the situation develops, users are encouraged to keep a close eye on Apple's official communication channels for updates regarding the resolution of this issue.
