Update macos software install#

Whether or not you want to use this feature likely depends on how you use a Mac, how often you backup, if you prefer a hands-on approach to maintenance, whether you install updates through System Preferences or by using Combo Updates, and other personal preferences. Obviously a feature like this requires internet access, so if the Mac is not on the internet then automatic updates will not work. So if youвЂ™re reading this article and wishing you had the feature on your Mac with an earlier MacOS release, you probably do, itвЂ™s just in a different settings location. This is largely because system software updates no longer come through the Mac App Store, but instead through the System Preferences again.

Update macos software mac os x#

Much like the process of updating MacOS system software manually is different in macOS Mojave 10.14 onward compared to prior versions of Mac OS X, the setup for enabling automatic MacOS software updates is different now too compared to auto-update in prior Mac OS X versions too. To be clear, auto system updates is not a new feature, though it is different now in MacOS 10.14 onward compared to prior releases. WeвЂ™re focusing on enabling automatic system software updates to MacOS here, however. That setting can also be enabled or adjusted through the Mac App Store settings directly. * The option for вЂњInstall app updates from the App StoreвЂќ can be enabled here as well if you want Mac OS to automatically update your Mac App Store applications as well. You can still manually check for MacOS software updates with this setting enabled if desired, though the necessity for doing so is diminished since this sets the process to be automated. This process tends to happen in the middle of the night if the Mac is left on, otherwise it aims to happen when the computer is not in use. Once you have automatic MacOS updates available, the Mac will periodically check for any available system software update, and if one is found it will download and install it automatically.

Exit out of System Preferences when finished.

To only auto-update MacOS updates to system software and security updates, click the вЂњAdvancedвЂќ button then check the boxes for: вЂњCheck for updatesвЂќ, вЂњDownload new updates when availableвЂќ, вЂњInstall macOS updatesвЂќ and вЂњInstall system data files and security updatesвЂќ *.

To automatically update both MacOS system software and Mac App Store apps, check the box for вЂњAutomatically keep my Mac up to dateвЂќ.

Select the вЂњSoftware UpdateвЂќ preference panel, then choose either of the following options:.

Go to the пЈї Apple menu and choose вЂњSystem PreferencesвЂќ.

Want a Mac to automatically update system software itself? Here is how you can enable that:

Update macos software how to#

How to Enable Automatic MacOS System Software Updating Without regular backups, there is a chance that an automatic update could go awry and lead to hassle or data loss, thus if you are considering using automatic macOS updates then it is important to use Time Machine for backups too. Enabling automatic MacOS software updates is great for convenience, but itвЂ™s really only recommended if you also have setup Time Machine for regular Mac backups, which are also automated once that setup has been complete.