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    How to Update macOS and Your Mac Apps

    Keeping your Mac updated protects it from security threats and ensures everything runs as expected.

    4 min read · 5 steps · Checked April 2026

    1. Step 1. Check for macOS updates

      Click the Apple icon in the top left corner of your screen. Select "System Settings" (macOS Ventura or later) or "System Preferences" (older versions). Click "General" in the left sidebar, then "Software Update." Your Mac will check for available updates and display them on this screen.

      Quick Tip

      If you see both an "Update Now" and an "Upgrade Now" button, "Update Now" installs a smaller maintenance update and "Upgrade Now" installs a full new version of macOS. You can do either — but back up first for major upgrades.

    2. Step 2. Back up with Time Machine before major upgrades

      Connect an external hard drive to your Mac. Open System Settings, tap General, then Time Machine. Click "Select Backup Disk" and choose your external drive. Time Machine will begin backing up automatically. Wait for the first backup to complete before installing a major macOS upgrade.

      Warning

      A backup is your safety net. If something goes wrong during a major upgrade — which is rare but possible — a Time Machine backup lets you restore everything.

    3. Step 3. Install available updates

      On the Software Update screen, click "Update Now" to install minor updates, or "Upgrade Now" for a full macOS version upgrade. Your Mac may need to restart to complete the installation. Updates usually take 20 to 45 minutes — your Mac will be unavailable during this time, so plan accordingly.

    4. Step 4. Update your App Store apps

      Open the App Store app from your Dock or Launchpad. Click "Updates" in the left sidebar. You will see a list of apps with available updates and descriptions of what each update includes. Click "Update All" to install all updates at once, or click the individual "Update" button for apps you want to update one at a time.

    5. Step 5. Turn on automatic updates

      On the Software Update screen in System Settings, click the small (i) information button next to "Automatic updates." You will see individual toggles for downloading updates, installing macOS updates, installing app updates from the App Store, and installing security responses. Turn on at minimum the security responses toggle — these are small, critical patches that Apple releases between major updates.

    Keeping your Mac's software up to date is one of the most important things you can do to protect your computer and keep it running well. Software updates include security patches that close vulnerabilities that hackers could otherwise exploit, as well as bug fixes for issues that affect performance and stability. Apple releases macOS updates regularly, and App Store apps receive their own updates separately.

    There are two types of updates to manage on a Mac. The first is macOS itself — the operating system that runs everything. The second is App Store apps — the individual programs you have installed from Apple's App Store. Both are handled through different parts of your Mac's settings.

    To check for macOS updates, click the Apple menu (the Apple icon in the top left corner of your screen), then click "System Settings" on macOS Ventura or later (or "System Preferences" on older versions). Click "General" in the left sidebar, then "Software Update." Your Mac will check for available updates and display them here. If an update is available, you will see a description and an "Update Now" or "Upgrade Now" button.

    Minor updates — like a security patch numbered 14.4.1 — are usually quick to install and are safe to apply right away. Major OS upgrades — like going from macOS Sonoma to macOS Sequoia — involve a larger download and more significant changes. Before a major upgrade, it is wise to back up your Mac using Time Machine.

    Time Machine is Apple's built-in backup tool. Connect an external hard drive, open System Settings, click General, then Time Machine, and select your drive. Once set up, Time Machine automatically backs up your Mac hourly. This gives you a full restore point before any major update.

    To update App Store apps separately, open the App Store app from your Dock or from the Applications folder. Click "Updates" in the left sidebar. Here you will see any apps with available updates. Click "Update All" to install everything at once, or click "Update" next to individual apps.

    To enable automatic updates for both macOS and App Store apps, go to System Settings, click General, then Software Update, and click the information (i) button next to "Automatic updates." From here, you can turn on automatic downloads and installs for both security updates and app updates.

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