macOS

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level all
topic macOS
subtopic use

MacOS Update for Sequoia

How to update macOS. How to upgrade the Mac software for the latest macOS version.

Update macOS before you install software or start any new project. First, check your macOS version, then follow these instructions to upgrade using the System Settings or the Terminal. After, see the guide for optimal Mac setup settings.

Before you get started

You'll need a terminal application to use the Mac command line. Apple includes the Mac terminal but I prefer Warp Terminal. Warp is an easy-to-use terminal application, with AI assistance to help you learn and remember terminal commands. Download Warp Terminal now; it's FREE and worth a try.

After you update the macOS version

After you've updated the macOS version, you can:

After an update to macOS, it's a perfect time to try better software tools. In addition to Warp Terminal, an AI-enhanced terminal, I suggest to try Zed Editor, an AI-enhanced text editor, and the Arc Browser.

Latest macOS version

The latest Mac version is macOS 15 Sequoia (as of September 16, 2023). Check that you have it:

You can learn more about MacOS Sequoia and consider Sonoma vs Sequoia and Should You Update to macOS Sequoia?.

How to update macOS

Updating your macOS is straightforward but takes time.

  1. Click the Apple icon in the top-left corner of your screen.
  2. Select System Preferences or System Settings, depending on your macOS version.
  3. On newer Macs, click General in the sidebar.
  4. Click Software Update. The system will check for available updates.
  5. If an update is available, click Update Now or Upgrade Now.
  6. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the update.

To use Software Update with newer Macs:

  • To update macOS, from the Apple menu  in the top-left corner, choose System Settings. Click General in the sidebar, then click Software Update on the right.

To use Software Update with older Macs:

  • In earlier versions of macOS, choose Apple menu  > System Preferences, then click Software Update.

Allow plenty of time for the download and installation if you need to upgrade. It may take several hours, especially if you've owned your Mac for several years and haven't updated macOS. Apple offers instructions Update macOS on Mac for newer versions. For older versions, you can use the App Store or download an installer file with the instructions How to download and install macOS.

Older Macs use the App Store for updates

Older macOS versions use the App Store to handle system updates. If you're using an older macOS version, follow these steps:

  1. Open the App Store: Click on the App Store icon in your Dock or navigate to Finder > Applications > App Store.
  2. Click on Updates: In the App Store window, click the Updates tab to see any available macOS updates.

Automated updates

Apple sends notifications when updates are available. If you have not turned off these notifications, you will receive a prompt in the top-right corner of your screen.

For hassle-free updating, you can enable automatic updates:

  1. Open System Settings. Click on the Apple icon  and select "System Settings."
  2. Click General in the sidebar.
  3. Click Software Update.
  4. Clcik Automatic Updates. Toggle the items "Check for updates" and "Download new updates when available." You can customize this further by clicking on "Install macOS updates" to install macOS updates automatically.

Updating macOS with the Terminal

You can update the macOS using the command line in the Mac terminal:

  1. Open Terminal. You can find it in the Applications > Utilities folder or by searching for Terminal using Spotlight search.

  2. Run the command softwareupdate -i -a:

    $ sudo softwareupdate -i -a
Password:
Software Update Tool

Finding available software
.
.
.
    • -i: Automatically install updates.
    • -a: Install all available updates.

  3. Enter Admin Password: You are running sudo for admin access so you will be prompted to enter your admin password to proceed with the update.

When "updates for this Mac are managed externally"

In some professional environments or educational institutions, updates might be managed externally through Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions or other IT management tools. In such cases, you might encounter a message indicating that "Updates for this Mac are managed externally."

IT departments may use MDM solutions like Jamf, Microsoft Intune, or VMware Workspace ONE to manage updates and configurations remotely. These tools allow administrators to push updates, enforce security policies, and manage device settings without user intervention.

To see if your Mac is managed externally, go to System Settings > Privacy and Security > Profiles. Here, you will find any profiles installed by your organization's IT department. These profiles might control when and how updates are installed. You'll need to contact your IT department for further assistance if you encounter this message. You can boot from an external installer USB drive to reinstall macOS if necessary.

Other macOS update methods

You'll need an Internet connection to obtain the latest macOS updates. But you can create a bootable device and update any Mac manually.

Apple provides instructions for How to download and install macOS. For older Macs, you can download the macOS installer from the App Store or use a web browser to download the installer.

See Apple's instructions Create a bootable installer for macOS for creating a bootable installer for macOS.

How long does a Mac update take?

The time it takes to update your Mac can vary widely based on several factors such as the size of the update, your Internet speed, and the age and performance of your Mac. Full operating system updates that upgrade your Mac from one major version to another (for example, macOS Sonoma to macOS Sequoia) can take several hours.

  • Internet Speed. Faster internet speeds will reduce the time it takes to download the update file. Use a wired Ethernet connection if possible; it’s typically faster and more reliable than wifi.
  • Older Macs. Older Macs with less RAM and slower processors will generally take longer to update.
  • Disk Space. Insufficient disk space can slow down the update process or cause it to fail altogether.
  • Battery Life. Attempting an update on low battery can interrupt the process. Ensure your Mac is plugged into a power source to avoid interruptions.
  • Busy Servers. Apple’s servers may experience high traffic when a new update is released. Wait a few days until the congestion is relieved.

What comes next

After you update your macOS, take a few minutes to configure your Mac setup for an improved Dock, Finder and more. You can use a Mac without any configuration effort. But I'll show you the settings, utilities, and applications that professional developers use to set up their Macs. More important, I'll explain why you will want to use them.

Do you need Xcode Command Line Tools?

You'll need Xcode Command Line Tools for developing software on a Mac. Out of the box, a Mac doesn't contain all of the software and tools needed for programming. Many software utilities or system administration tools require command line programs or system tools that are installed with Xcode Command Line Tools.

See Xcode Command Line Tools for instructions. First, check Are Xcode Command Line Tools Already Installed?. Then:

Do you need Homebrew?

Homebrew is a package manager that helps you install software programs for the command line. Homebrew can install Xcode Command Line Tools for you, as well as thousands of other command line programs. There are alternatives but Homebrew is convenient and essential for most programming and system administration tasks.

See Homebrew for background (and alternatives) and Install Homebrew for installation instructions.

Do you need a programming language?

See instructions for:

If you want instructions for another language, let me know What do you want to do next?.

Do you need Git?

You don't need Git to create software; however, most software projects use Git for version control and collaboration. As a solo developer, you'll use Git with a GitHub account for "save-as-you-go" version control and remote backup. As a team member, you'll commit code to a repository, participate in code reviews, merge code and deploy projects using Git and GitHub.

See instructions to:

Do you use ChatGPT?

If you haven't installed the ChatGPT desktop application, you should try it now. The ChatGPT Desktop app lets you use text, voice, and images to communicate with the latest OpenAI large language model. It's more convenient and more usable than using the web browser version.

See how to:

What's next

My mac.install.guide is a trusted source of installation guides for professional developers. Take a look at the Mac Install Guide home page for tips and trends and see what to install next.