Apple frequently releases software updates that include many important changes that should be applied as soon as possible. Besides patching security holes that can leave your Mac vulnerable to attacks, these updates improve general system stability and sometimes add new features.

Apple also releases updates specific to bits of hardware, like your MacBook's trackpad, or changes to the recovery partition. These are all tailored to your specific hardware, so your Mac won't download anything you don't need.

So, how can you ensure that your Mac is completely up-to-date? There's no one-size-fits-all maintenance solution, so let's look at how macOS updates work.

How to Update to the Latest Version of macOS

The method to update your Mac depends on which version of macOS you're currently running. Updates used to be done through the Mac App Store, but Apple now uses the System Settings app to deliver macOS updates. We've covered both methods below.

Before you apply any updates, we recommend creating a Time Machine backup in case anything goes wrong.

Update via System Settings or System Preferences (macOS Mojave or Later)

If your Mac is running macOS Monterey or later, you can update it from the Software Update section in System Settings. This will ensure that both your operating system and all default software are running on the latest version.

Here's how to do it:

  1. Open System Settings or System Preferences on your Mac. You can do this by clicking the Apple menu in the menu bar and selecting System Settings.
    Open System Settings on Mac Screenshot
  2. Next, select General on the left pane and choose Software Update on the right.
    Software Update in System Settings Screenshot
  3. Your Mac will check for all available updates for your system. If any are available, click Update Now to download and install them. You can view the details about each update and select specific updates to install by clicking on More Info.
  4. You can also toggle on Automatic Updates in the same menu.
    Software Update menu in macOS Ventura

When the Software Update page says your Mac is up-to-date, macOS and all the built-in apps are up-to-date. These apps include Safari, Messages, Mail, Music, Photos, FaceTime, and Calendar. For all other apps that you downloaded using the App Store, updates are available using the Updates section in the App Store.

You can also choose to upgrade your Mac to the next major version of macOS using the same method.

Update macOS via the Mac App Store (macOS High Sierra and Earlier)

If your Mac is running any version of macOS prior to Mojave, you won't see the Software Update option in System Preferences. Instead, updates are available from the Mac App Store.

Launch the Mac App Store with Spotlight or by clicking it from your Applications folder, click on the Updates tab, and look at the top of the list.

Mac App Store Updates

Apple's own updates will always appear above everything else. They're often grouped together, and you can click on More to see each pending update or choose to install them individually. Click on Install, after which the update will be downloaded and applied.

Updating Your Mac Apps

The methods covered above allow you to update your version of macOS. However, apps need to be kept up-to-date as well. For software installed via the Mac App Store, you can simply launch the App Store app and click on Updates from the left-hand pane.

Mac App Store Updates Screenshot

By default, automatic updates are turned off, so you'll need to update manually via this method. To enable automatic updates for apps installed using the Mac App Store, go to App Store > Settings from the top menu, and enable Automatic Updates.

Automatic Update Settings Mac App Store Screenshot

If you installed software from anywhere other than the Mac App Store, you'll need to update the software by launching it and checking for available updates. You can go to About [App] for some apps to see if you need to download an update; we'll use Spotify as an example.

Update Spotify App on Mac Screenshot

Most apps will tell you when there's an update available, and many will install new versions automatically—like Google Chrome. Some older software may, however, require that you manually download the latest version.

Delaying Major macOS Updates

There are valid reasons for delaying major updates and provided you have the latest security updates installed for your current version of macOS, you'll only be missing out on the new features. The main reason for delaying an upgrade is software compatibility.

If you're using a piece of software that you simply can't live without, ensure it works with the next version of macOS before installing it. We recommend checking with the developer, or testing on a spare Mac if you have one.

Every year, Apple rolls out a major upgrade, and every year apps stop working until their developers can patch them. Although this is rare now, it still happens. So, be smart and think ahead.

About the macOS Public Beta Program

Apple's public beta program has been running for a few years now, allowing users to test software updates before they're ready for a full public release. You can opt into the program on Apple's Beta Software Program website. Sign in with your Apple ID, download the public beta access utility to enroll your Mac, then check the Software Update section in System Settings.

Apple's public betas are far more stable than the early versions they seed to developers, but beta software is still unfinished. As such, you might want to avoid using beta software on a Mac you depend on for work, study, or other important daily tasks.

You can check out the differences between Apple's public and developer software beta releases in a separate guide.

If you don't regularly back up your Mac, with Time Machine or otherwise, it is risky to install beta OS updates automatically. If something goes wrong, you might wake up to a black screen and an unresponsive Mac. You might even need to reinstall macOS via the recovery partition, and you'll lose anything you haven't backed up by doing so.

The Risk of Malware Hidden in Updates

black skull and bones flag on laptop screen

In March 2016, Mac torrent client Transmission became infected with malware; well, ransomware to be precise. The app was hit again with yet more malware in August of the same year. The primary method for spreading the included malware was by including it in a software update.

Transmission acted quickly on both occasions but blindly trusting the installer had consequences for more than a handful of users.

The main problem is that there's no way of knowing if the app you're about to update has been compromised until it's too late. It's a rare occurrence and even rarer for it to happen twice, but it's never impossible. This is another great reason to back up your system regularly.

Mac App Store updates are scrutinized by Apple themselves. So, these shouldn't pose too much of a threat. Software downloaded from the store is sandboxed too, a measure put in place to protect your system from unwanted changes.

If in doubt, we recommend you wait a week or more before installing any new updates. Then, check the news regarding that software to find out how the update is performing. You can also consider antivirus software for your Mac.

Keep Your Mac Updated

We can't stress this enough—you should ensure your Mac is updated to the latest version available, whether it's for the operating system or for third-party apps. This will allow you to use all of the latest features and avoid any security vulnerabilities.

The only reason to temporarily avoid an update is software compatibility, which should also only be for a short time. So, do your fair bit of research before you update your Mac to the latest version of macOS.