Mac OS Tahoe started giving error code -8062 on copy to external drives

Question

paulgranone Author

Level 1

8 points

Mac OS Tahoe started giving error code -8062 on copy to external drives

I switched to Mac OS Tahoe 26 on my two Mac computers. An M1 Max Mac Studio & M2 MacBook Air.

Now when I try to write file to an external drive I keep getting this error:

The operation can’t be completed because

an unexpected error occurred (error code -8062)

Basically this has made both computers unusable. There is no way to copy off files I create for backup, or sharing.

This occurs with multiple destination drives. It is not cable related as swapping to new USB4 cables or another other cable I have makes no difference as the error still occurs. It seems random. One time it will work; then the next time fail. So I cannot trust using my Mac anymore.

This may have started after the Mac OS Tahoe 26.1 update.

Am I being forced to go back to the dreaded MS Windows to get reliable file transfer to an external drive? Or go back to a previous version of Mac OS prior to Mac OS Tahoe 26?

Mac Studio, macOS 26.1

Posted on Dec 1, 2025 6:11 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

paulgranone Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 1, 2025 9:38 PM in response to paulgranone

I took the MacBook Air back to Mac OS Sequoia using recovery (erase drive, then recover gives option for Mac OS Sequoia). I just logged into Sequoia and stopped.

Then connected the exact same drives that failed in Mac OS Tahoe 26.1

The result? No issues or errors copying the files.

I will avoid Mac OS Tahoe 26 and specifically OS Tahoe 26.1

What I learned? Avoid the temptation to update the latest Mac OS. Give it time to see what issues others are having.

Reply

Answer 2

den.thed

Level 10

90,706 points

Dec 2, 2025 8:26 AM in response to paulgranone

Again, How are the external drives formatted..?

To find out Control (right) click on the external drives icon and select Get Info.

It sounds like Tahoe is having a problem with the way these external drives are formatted.

To dig deeper into external drive formats for Mac's & PC's and cross-platform sharing.

see > https://www.owc.com/blog/what-is-the-best-drive-format-apfs-hfs-ntfs-exfat-explained

and > https://www.crucial.com/articles/external-ssd/how-to-format-external-hard-drive-mac?

Reply

Answer 3

Dec 1, 2025 7:06 PM in response to paulgranone

I have seen reports of this error occurring with iCloud sync of Desktop & Documents enabled, do you have that active?

Also with other files not downloaded from iCloud. Is there a cloud icon next to any of the items (folders/files) you are trying to copy?

This or one like it with a downward-pointing arrow?

If so, try

Reply

Answer 4

den.thed

Level 10

90,706 points

Dec 1, 2025 8:07 PM in response to paulgranone

How are the external drives formatted..?

Do you have Read & Write Permissions for both external drives..?

How large are the files, that you are trying to copy from one external drive to the other..?

Reply

Answer 5

paulgranone Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 1, 2025 7:46 PM in response to neuroanatomist

no that is not it. The files are from one external drive to another. The files were not on icloud. I am not including the Library folder where local icloud copy is stored.

it sure looks like Mac OS Tahoe 26.1 started the error

Reply