Mac Autoupdate Failure for Version 4.80 - Error Message on Update Attempt.

Question

Mac Autoupdate Failure for Version 4.80 - Error Message on Update Attempt.

Mark Rustad 80

A recent update sent a new autoupdate to my Mac. Since then, the autoupdate fails with "Update error...". I downloaded the installer from the troubleshooting page and get the same result. Clearly nothing will ever update until it is resolved. The version I have is 4.80.

For what it is worth, I never enable autoupdate, but approve updates as they arrive. That is inconvenient, as the autoupdater nags me about enabling autoupdate every 2 hours. I have complained about that behavior more than once in the past from a work account. Clearly no one tests using it without enabling autoupdate, which I will not do - I want to know what is updating and when. In this case, I know that the last thing updated was autoupdate, so it broke itself with the latest version.

I am running the latest released macOS Sequoia 15.6.1 on an M3 MacBook Pro.

Madhukar Govindaraju 0 Reputation points

2025-09-25T16:26:34.53+00:00

I have all the latest MacOS Updates - MacOS Tahoe 26. There are NO VPNs or Proxies Configured. I have also done the Safe Mode Reboot to clear all Caches. I have manually un-instaled and re-installed MAU Version 4.80 with a fresh update. I have refreshed the Microsoft 365 Subscription Licenses as well for the Apps. The Apps are all working fine. However, Microsoft AutoUpdate 4.80 Latest Version "STILL ERRORS OUT". Error Code: "Cannot connect to Update Server". So what do I need to do now?
Colin Sutton 0 Reputation points

2025-09-29T08:11:46.17+00:00

I'm getting "autoupdate cannot connect to the update server". with Sequoia 15.7. and autoupdate app 4.80 (the issue started when I updated the app, I think)
Steffen Borrmann 10 Reputation points

2025-10-17T09:17:07.73+00:00

Same issue here - what is please going on?
Mark Rustad 80 Reputation points

2025-10-17T16:49:16.9333333+00:00

In Library/Application\ Support/Microsoft I renamed HVI1.0, MERP2.0 and Office\ Converter\ Support and Silverlight all by prepending xx to the names. That got rid of the things that update was complaining about, but now I get a complaint about OneDrive 25015.0126 saying "Check error..." and the ? button only says "Download error...". It also says AutoUpdate cannot connect to the update server, yet it has been updating other components. Very weird inconsistent behavior.
Steffen Borrmann 10 Reputation points

2025-10-18T09:32:19.7+00:00

Same issue with Microsoft AutoUpdate 4.81 here...
Colin Sutton 0 Reputation points

2025-10-18T09:40:08.1766667+00:00

4.81 no longer gives an error but no longer lists onedrive at all.
Dave Garratt 25 Reputation points

2025-10-18T13:15:08.1033333+00:00

I have a number of Macs - I have found that the 2 which are running Macos Tahoe 26.01 cannot connect to the update server and they have been updated to the latest microsoft updater, whereas the Mac which is running Sequoia is still updating ok.
redleh 30 Reputation points

2025-10-20T14:48:47.1633333+00:00

Microsoft said the issue was with an older version of Defender due to tamper protection configuration. Here is a workaround that may work for you (they will send me extra instructions for using with an MDM so if necessary I'll share):

The following assumes you have Microsoft Defender installed and the update errors are related also to Microsoft Defender.

In the terminal, run mdatp health, this is just to show the various configs from Defender. The tamper_protection line is probably saying block.

Run this to temporarily disable it and then run the Microsoft Autoupdate.

mdatp config tamper-protection enforcement-level --value audit

After it updates everything and assuming it updated to the latest then run this to make the value block again:

mdatp config tamper-protection enforcement-level --value block

It worked in the machine I had the most issues with.
Mark Rustad 80 Reputation points

2025-10-21T21:22:19.68+00:00

Hmm. I removed defender so those commands are not available. I wonder if that is affecting the autoupdater
redleh 30 Reputation points

2025-10-22T09:11:38.3633333+00:00

Another thing that may help. Microsoft provided this link for people who use MDM's.

https://github.com/microsoft/mdatp-xplat/blob/master/macos/upgrade_from_2506_helper/JAMF09122025.pdf

At some point in the instructions there's a link to download a "upgrade_from_25062_helper.pkg" file which contains a "upgrade_helper-1.0.1.pkg" that they recommend installing (if you use Defender you still need to disable tamper protection temporarily).

I have not used the helper file yet so don't know if it works.
Mark Rustad 80 Reputation points

2025-10-22T20:08:40.6266667+00:00

That doesn't seem to apply to me as it is my personal machine and has never been associated with any managed environment.
Sabehia Mohamed 5 Reputation points

2025-11-07T15:56:43.1533333+00:00

I was experiencing the same error message (Auto updater cannot connect to the update server" on one of my MacBook Pros which has auto updater 4.81. In the Auto updater I clicked Advanced and selected the Beta Channel and tried to update again. It came up with a message 'Some apps have encountered errors' but then successfully downloaded and installed Outlook, Excel, & Powerpoint. I've now reverted to Current Channel. It might be worth a try!😁
RixNvegas 0 Reputation points

2025-11-25T16:18:09.22+00:00

This worked for me - In System Settings>General>Login Items & Extensions, scroll down to App Background Activity and turn on the button for Microsoft AutoUpdate.

9 answers

Your answer

Madhukar Govindaraju 0 Reputation points

2025-09-25T16:26:34.53+00:00

I have all the latest MacOS Updates - MacOS Tahoe 26. There are NO VPNs or Proxies Configured. I have also done the Safe Mode Reboot to clear all Caches. I have manually un-instaled and re-installed MAU Version 4.80 with a fresh update. I have refreshed the Microsoft 365 Subscription Licenses as well for the Apps. The Apps are all working fine. However, Microsoft AutoUpdate 4.80 Latest Version "STILL ERRORS OUT". Error Code: "Cannot connect to Update Server". So what do I need to do now?
Colin Sutton 0 Reputation points

2025-09-29T08:11:46.17+00:00

I'm getting "autoupdate cannot connect to the update server". with Sequoia 15.7. and autoupdate app 4.80 (the issue started when I updated the app, I think)
Steffen Borrmann 10 Reputation points

2025-10-17T09:17:07.73+00:00

Same issue here - what is please going on?
Mark Rustad 80 Reputation points

2025-10-17T16:49:16.9333333+00:00

In Library/Application\ Support/Microsoft I renamed HVI1.0, MERP2.0 and Office\ Converter\ Support and Silverlight all by prepending xx to the names. That got rid of the things that update was complaining about, but now I get a complaint about OneDrive 25015.0126 saying "Check error..." and the ? button only says "Download error...". It also says AutoUpdate cannot connect to the update server, yet it has been updating other components. Very weird inconsistent behavior.
Steffen Borrmann 10 Reputation points

2025-10-18T09:32:19.7+00:00

Same issue with Microsoft AutoUpdate 4.81 here...
Colin Sutton 0 Reputation points

2025-10-18T09:40:08.1766667+00:00

4.81 no longer gives an error but no longer lists onedrive at all.
Dave Garratt 25 Reputation points

2025-10-18T13:15:08.1033333+00:00

I have a number of Macs - I have found that the 2 which are running Macos Tahoe 26.01 cannot connect to the update server and they have been updated to the latest microsoft updater, whereas the Mac which is running Sequoia is still updating ok.
redleh 30 Reputation points

2025-10-20T14:48:47.1633333+00:00

Microsoft said the issue was with an older version of Defender due to tamper protection configuration. Here is a workaround that may work for you (they will send me extra instructions for using with an MDM so if necessary I'll share):

The following assumes you have Microsoft Defender installed and the update errors are related also to Microsoft Defender.

In the terminal, run mdatp health, this is just to show the various configs from Defender. The tamper_protection line is probably saying block.

Run this to temporarily disable it and then run the Microsoft Autoupdate.

mdatp config tamper-protection enforcement-level --value audit

After it updates everything and assuming it updated to the latest then run this to make the value block again:

mdatp config tamper-protection enforcement-level --value block

It worked in the machine I had the most issues with.
Mark Rustad 80 Reputation points

2025-10-21T21:22:19.68+00:00

Hmm. I removed defender so those commands are not available. I wonder if that is affecting the autoupdater
redleh 30 Reputation points

2025-10-22T09:11:38.3633333+00:00

Another thing that may help. Microsoft provided this link for people who use MDM's.

https://github.com/microsoft/mdatp-xplat/blob/master/macos/upgrade_from_2506_helper/JAMF09122025.pdf

At some point in the instructions there's a link to download a "upgrade_from_25062_helper.pkg" file which contains a "upgrade_helper-1.0.1.pkg" that they recommend installing (if you use Defender you still need to disable tamper protection temporarily).

I have not used the helper file yet so don't know if it works.
Mark Rustad 80 Reputation points

2025-10-22T20:08:40.6266667+00:00

That doesn't seem to apply to me as it is my personal machine and has never been associated with any managed environment.
Sabehia Mohamed 5 Reputation points

2025-11-07T15:56:43.1533333+00:00

I was experiencing the same error message (Auto updater cannot connect to the update server" on one of my MacBook Pros which has auto updater 4.81. In the Auto updater I clicked Advanced and selected the Beta Channel and tried to update again. It came up with a message 'Some apps have encountered errors' but then successfully downloaded and installed Outlook, Excel, & Powerpoint. I've now reverted to Current Channel. It might be worth a try!😁
RixNvegas 0 Reputation points

2025-11-25T16:18:09.22+00:00

This worked for me - In System Settings>General>Login Items & Extensions, scroll down to App Background Activity and turn on the button for Microsoft AutoUpdate.

Answer 1

Sabehia Mohamed 5

I was experiencing the same issue when trying to update Microsoft apps 'Auto updater cannot connect to update server'. So at the updater window I clicked 'Advanced' and selected the Beta Channel and tried to update again. This time the error message was "Some apps have encountered errors' BUT it did update and successfully install all the apps - Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel, Word and One Note. I've now reverted to Current Channel. It's worth a try! 😁

0 comments

Answer 2

PeteoBC 16

Is this happening to anyone using setup manager to install Office during ADE?

0 comments

Answer 3

Tim Cartwright 5

I had the problem of the latest macOS Microsoft updater failing to find downloads for “Microsoft Error Reporting 2.2” and “Microsoft Help Viewer 1.1”, while not blocking other updates. I found the problematic apps in:

/Library/Application Support/Microsoft/MERP2.0/Microsoft Error Reporting.app
/Library/Application Support/Microsoft/HV1.0/Microsoft Help Viewer.app

The timestamps on all files within the MERP2.0 directory were from 2012 and within the HV1.0 one from 2008, so I deleted both the MERP2.0 and HV1.0 directories entirely. My updater app is happy now.

Microsoft, if you are listening: Please clean up your old garbage from my filesystem, instead of making me search for it and do it myself.

Anthony Clark 0 Reputation points

2025-10-20T15:13:46.82+00:00

As a precaution, I renamed the above mentioned files by tagging them with 'xx' (didn't want to delete them outright yet). I no longer get the error message with the autoupdate. This fix works. Thanks Tim Cartwright!!

Answer 4

Ant-5478 6

Yay, it working again right now! I didn’t do anything to fix it too. So, it was MS’ fault. :D What about the rest of you?

0 comments

Answer 5

Ant-5478 6

Hello.

This might be related since I just upgraded my client's unsupported macOS Ventura v13.7.8 to Sequoia v15.7.1 because Apple and Microsoft dropped support recently. I'm currently unable to upgrade his installed Mac Office (university's 365 subscription) v16.101 to v16.102. It queues the updates and then "Download error..." I tried rebooting and trying another macOS account. Nothing helped. croppedscreenshot

How do I fix this?

:( Thank you for reading and hopefully answering soon.

redleh 30 Reputation points

2025-10-20T09:34:04.2566667+00:00

It is definitely related as I also got that error among other errors. I raised an official ticket with Microsoft, waiting for them to schedule a call.
Ant-5478 6 Reputation points

2025-10-20T12:04:21.0933333+00:00

Where did you raise the ticket so we can do the same? I used the Assistant report option in AutoUpdater app with the logs.
redleh 30 Reputation points

2025-10-20T12:08:05.5966667+00:00

I opened through Entra ID, enterprise support.
Ant-5478 6 Reputation points

2025-10-20T12:13:44.9633333+00:00

I assume that's not free. I am just a regular consumer user. :( How long ago did you report it?
redleh 30 Reputation points

2025-10-20T12:28:16.51+00:00

It's not free :). I opened it on Friday, I have a call with them today. I'll insist for them to look at this forum as it is affecting many people, different OS'es, enterprise and non-enterprise users.
Ant-5478 6 Reputation points

2025-10-20T13:16:44.31+00:00

Thank you. Please keep us posted. :)
redleh 30 Reputation points

2025-10-20T14:42:07.9+00:00

Microsoft said the issue was with an older version of Defender due to tamper protection configuration. Here is a workaround that may work for you (they will send me extra instructions for using with an MDM so if necessary I'll share):

The following assumes you have Microsoft Defender installed and the update errors are related also to Microsoft Defender.

In the terminal, run mdatp health, this is just to show the various configs from Defender. The tamper_protection line is probably saying block.

Run this to temporarily disable it and then run the Microsoft Autoupdate.

mdatp config tamper-protection enforcement-level --value audit

After it updates everything and assuming it updated to the latest then run this to make the value block again:

mdatp config tamper-protection enforcement-level --value block

It worked in the machine I had the most issues with.
Anthony Clark 0 Reputation points

2025-10-20T14:59:44.7566667+00:00

@redleh mdatp terminal command does not exist on macOS.
redleh 30 Reputation points

2025-10-20T15:03:36.5633333+00:00

This command requires you to have Microsoft Defender installed. If you do not have Defender and are not having update issues also related to Defender then this does not apply to you and you will have to find another solution. I have edited the instructions to reflect that it assumes Microsoft Defender is installed. I also noticed that a new version of MAU was released since Friday, so try updating to that version and run the updates again.