You can try to kickstart the software update process

Also, just a note, you may have to relaunch System Preferences after running that command

.

Unfortunately it didn't work.

Did it work?

I've passed the info onto our support team who will work with user to validate.

it did not work unfortunately

Give this thread a read: https://community.jamf.com/t5/jamf-pro/big-sur-11-6-x-software-update-hangs/m-p/257912/emcs_t/S2h8ZW1haWx8dG9waWNfc3Vic2NyaXB0aW9ufEtaOExOQU1LRTRZWlJHfDI1NzkxMnxTVUJTQ1JJUFRJT05TfGhL#M238747

The command should help: sudo launchctl kickstart -k system/com.apple.softwareupdated

thanks.  I've had the command running every day for a couple weeks now.  will uncheck the box in inventory and see if that makes a diff

FWIW, I had an M1 mini in this state as well, and was stumped.  The directions in the screenshot above almost did it, but the process I had to kill was actually com.apple.NRD.UpdateBrainService -- the one mentioned in the snippet wasn't running.

So we finally figured this problem out.  Our security team requires all laptops...mac and windows to use Zscaler, and while working with them I found the issue.

In the Zscaler admin console, they had whitlelisted Apple's entire IP range of 17.0.0.0... however they had it set to 17.0.0.0/24 ...which is only 256 addresses.

I noticed this and had them change it to 17.0.0.0/8, and voila!  All macs could see and download all updates.

What a big hassle.  I knew they had whitelisted apple IP in the past, so never thought anything of it.  But thanks now to my keen eye, it's fixed!

Thanks everyone who tried to help. I appreciate it your time.

P.S.  Zscaler is the devil.  don't ever use it!!!