I have macOS Mojave and accidently clicked to update the operating system to Big Sur, now i can't delete the files i downloaded , I have tried to delete it several times but when i click on delete after i select "Install macOS Big Sur" under system preference -> Storage -> manage ( screen shot below) , nothing happens.

how to delete this , the file is 12.45 GB.

CodePudding user response：

My first guess would be that the program is still running in the background.

Try opening your Activity Monitor (either by searching for it with Spotlight or navigating to /Applications/Utilities/Activity Monitor). You'll see a list of currently running processes and some info about them. Scroll through the list for something with a name similar to "Install macOS Big Sur".

If you see it, double-click on the process and click Quit or Force Quit. Then try deleting the file again.

https://support.apple.com/guide/activity-monitor/quit-a-process-actmntr1002/10.14/mac/11.0