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We have noticed an issue with the new 10.12.4 update and 13" MacBook Pro (w/ touchbar). In order to block this update, without blocking the App Store, we are pushing the following script in a policy:

#!/bin/bash

sudo softwareupdate --ignore "macOS"
sudo softwareupdate --ignore "macOS Sierra"
sudo softwareupdate --ignore "macOS Sierra Update"
sudo softwareupdate --ignore "macOS Sierra Update-10.12.4"

If you need to allow the users to update, after testing, running the following script will reset the software update to allow this:

#!/bin/bash

sudo softwareupdate --reset-ignored

Has anyone had any luck updating from 10.12.3 to 10.12.5 without the device being stuck in the reboot loop?

10.12.5 has fixed the issue for us. I booted from an external bootable drive and installed the 10.12.5 combo updater. The computer to a LONG time at the boot progress screen, but eventually logged in as the user just fine.

@mbezzo When you updated to 10.12.5 were you computers on 10.12.3? Can you elaborate on combo updater please?

@mbezzo answered my own question, nvm.

2016 15" MBP w/ TB worked fine for 3 months before 10.12.4. After a clean install of either 10.12.4 or even 10.12.5, it still will enter a startup loop after a few normal restarts. I've resorted to using 10.12.2 for now until a definitive fix arrives.

I always have FileVault turned on.
I don't use any Belkin adapter.
I've never noticed an issue with the date going to the year 2040, etc.

AppleCare knows about the issue but wouldn't provide their in-house tracking number regarding it; don't think it's a Campaign as of yet, since they have no published fix so far.

Hi everyone, it sucks to have an update causing the boot loop issue, but good to see that I'm not alone. From my understanding jamf is a website for IT professionals but I'm not one. I saw mbezzo mentioned installing 10.12.5 from an external bootable drive to fix the issue. I would like to know if anyone has luck fixing the 10.12.4 boot loop by installing 10.12.5 update from the App Store? Thanks!

@knnuui the only thing that worked consistently for me was the same thing suggested by @YoshiiZee

1.) Boot into single user mode
Run the commands:
mount -uw /
kextcache -u /
exit

2.) As it continues to boot, it will look like it's stuck but it isn't. Just wait a while and it will eventually reach the login

3.) Disable File Vault encryption and let it completely decrypt

4.) Re-enable FV

Sometimes booting to something else and fixing time would work for a bit but not always. Also booting from an external drive and trying to install the combo update for 10.12.5 to the regular boot drive would not work. Once the update had finished running it would just be back into the reboot cycle.

10.12.5 update worked on my first test machine so far. I used the App Store update to go from 10.12.3 to 10.12.5. This one machine I had tried to go to 10.12.4 but kept getting the time bug, so I wiped and reinstalled 10.12.3 and kept it at that version until today. I'm glad to have this issue resolved.

@Jeffery_Anderson Good to know!

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