macOS

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Upgrade to macOS 27 Golden Gate

How to upgrade macOS to macOS 27 Golden Gate. How to check the macOS version, confirm your Mac is compatible, and upgrade the Mac OS to the latest version.

Upgrade to macOS 27 Golden Gate before you install software or start any new project. macOS 27 was released on September 14, 2026, and it is a free upgrade for every compatible Mac. First, check your macOS version, then follow these instructions to upgrade using System Settings or the Terminal. Before you upgrade, read about what to expect in the article macOS 27 Golden Gate.

After you've upgraded to macOS 27 Golden Gate, you can Set Up Your Mac Like a Pro.

Before you get started, install a better Terminal

To get the most out of your Mac, and level up your skills, I show how to use terminal commands in these guides. If you're not using it yet, I recommend Warp Terminal, with modern features and built-in AI help for remembering commands. Download Warp for free before you continue.

Check that your Mac can run macOS 27

macOS 27 Golden Gate runs only on Apple Silicon Macs. It is the first macOS version to drop every Intel Mac, so if your Mac has an Intel processor, you cannot upgrade to macOS 27 at all.

If you have an Intel Mac, macOS Tahoe 26 is your final macOS version, and Apple is expected to provide security updates for it into 2028. Stay on Tahoe and skip the rest of this page.

macOS update or macOS upgrade?

The terms "macOS update" and "macOS upgrade" appear similar but have distinctly different meanings. A macOS update is a minor revision (like Sequoia 15.4 to 15.5) that delivers bug fixes and security patches without changing functionality. Read about macOS updates here. A macOS upgrade, on the other hand, is a major version jump (like macOS Tahoe 26 to macOS 27 Golden Gate) with new features and functionality. This guide covers the upgrade to macOS 27 Golden Gate from older versions.

If you want to learn more about configuring macOS automatic updates, see:

Over the top or clean install?

This guide shows you an over the top upgrade, layering the new OS over your existing one, keeping apps, settings, and files intact. In contrast, a clean install erases the startup disk first, usually via macOS Recovery or a bootable installer, then writes a fresh copy of the latest macOS, leaving you to restore data and reinstall apps from backup or the cloud.

If you want a clean install, see Reinstall macOS.

If you want to create a bootable installer, see Create a Bootable USB Installer for macOS.

Most users prefer the over the top approach for moving to a major macOS release, while clean installs are typically reserved for troubleshooting serious problems or preparing a Mac for a new owner.

It is difficult to return to an earlier version

There is no undo button for a macOS upgrade. To go back to an earlier version, you must erase your Mac, install macOS from a bootable USB installer, and restore your files from a backup made before you upgraded. Migration Assistant does not move data from a newer macOS to an older one. You will likely want to stay on macOS 27 but any regrets are difficult to undo, so make backup files and prepare a bootable USB installer if you might have regrets.

Latest macOS version

The latest Mac version is macOS 27 Golden Gate (as of September 14, 2026). Check what version you have:

Before upgrading, you can read about what's in the new release, macOS 27 Golden Gate.

Steps to upgrade macOS

Upgrading 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 upgrades.
  5. If an upgrade is available, click Update Now or Upgrade Now.
  6. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the upgrade.
  7. The Mac restarts several times; that’s normal.

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 upgraded macOS.

Newer Macs

To use Software Update with newer Macs:

  • To upgrade macOS to macOS 27 Golden Gate, from the Apple menu  in the top-left corner, choose System Settings. Click General in the sidebar, then click Software Update on the right.

Apple offers instructions Upgrade macOS on Mac for newer versions.

Older Macs

To use Software Update with older Macs:

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

Big Sur or older use the App Store for upgrades

Really old macOS versions (Big Sur or earlier) use the App Store to handle system upgrades. 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 Upgrades: In the App Store window, click the Updates tab to see any available macOS upgrades. Click "Get" or "Install" to begin the installation process.

You can also download an installer file with the instructions How to download and install macOS.

Automated updates

Apple sends notifications when updates (minor versions) 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. Click the info circle in Automatic Updates. Toggle the item "Download new updates when available." You can customize this further by clicking on "Install macOS updates" to install macOS updates automatically. It's good to also toggle "Install Security Responses and system files" for enhanced protection.

Automatic installation happens during low-usage periods to minimize disruption.

Updating macOS with the Terminal

You can upgrade macOS using the Software Update Tool in the Mac terminal. It works just as well as clicking in the System Settings UI and is easier for some users. The softwareupdate command manages all system updates from the command line.

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

First, check for available updates:

$ softwareupdate --list

The command shows all pending updates or "No new software available."

The sudo grants administrative privileges to the softwareupdate command. To install updates, run the command sudo softwareupdate --install --all:

$ sudo softwareupdate --install --all
Password:
Software Upgrade Tool

Finding available software
.
.
.

You can use the command flags or the full arguments.

  • -i or --install: Automatically install upgrades.
  • -a or --all: Install all available upgrades.

The system prompts for your administrator password before proceeding. You are running sudo for admin access so you must enter your admin password to proceed with the upgrade. Installation progress appears in real-time within the Terminal window.

When updates 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 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. If you don't see Profiles, it means no management profiles are installed on your Mac. If you see Profiles, it means your Mac is managed externally, either legitimately because of workplace rules, or if not wanted, from lingering enterprise profiles after job changes, NVRAM settings from previous management systems, or incomplete MDM removal. Most users can resolve these restrictions without IT assistance.

You can also check if your Mac is managed externally by running the following command in Terminal:

$ profiles status -type enrollment

Or run:

$ profiles list

If the output shows that your Mac is managed externally, for legitimate reasons, you will need to contact your IT department to find out when an update will be available.

If you don't want your Mac blocked by management profiles, you can disable them from System Settings.

  1. System Settings → Privacy & Security → Profiles (if visible)
  2. Select the profile you want to remove
  3. Click "Remove Profile" or the minus (-) button
  4. Enter your admin password when prompted

Alternatively, from the command line:

$ sudo profiles remove -all

You cannot remove certain profiles:

  • DEP (Device Enrollment Program) profiles from corporate enrollment
  • Profiles marked as "non-removable" by administrators
  • Profiles installed through MDM that have removal restrictions

If removal fails, try:

  • Restart the Mac. Apple Silicon Macs have no key combination to reset NVRAM or the SMC; a restart does the equivalent.
  • Contact IT support if this is a work/school machine
  • Reinstall macOS

Restart your Mac after profile removal to clear cached restrictions.

Warning: Only remove profiles you understand. Corporate profiles often provide network access, security certificates, and email configuration. Removing them might break connectivity in a workplace or school.

Alternative macOS upgrade methods

If the System Settings or command line approaches don't work, you have alternatives. See the article How to download macOS for details.

macOS Installer

You can download the full macOS installer directly from Apple's servers, as described in How to download macOS. Since macOS Tahoe 26, the current version is no longer offered in the Mac App Store, and that remains true for macOS 27 Golden Gate. This method works well for upgrading several Macs, and it is the starting point for a clean install: see Reinstall macOS. The standalone installer creates bootable media or performs upgrades without Internet connectivity during installation.

Recovery Mode Updates

To open macOS Recovery on a Mac with Apple Silicon, shut down the Mac, then press and hold the power button until you see "Loading startup options." Click Options, then click Continue. The recovery environment can download and install the latest compatible macOS version directly. This approach helps when your current system won't boot properly or Software Update fails repeatedly.

How long does a Mac upgrade take?

Your Mac's storage type makes the biggest difference. Solid-state drives (SSDs) complete upgrades 2-3 times faster than traditional hard drives. Available storage space also matters. Ensure you have at least 35 GB free before starting because the system needs extra space for temporary files during installation. Internet connection speed affects download time but not installation duration. Once downloaded, the upgrade proceeds offline.

  • Internet Speed. Faster internet speeds will reduce the time it takes to download the upgrade 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 upgrade.
  • Disk Space. Insufficient disk space can slow down the upgrade process or cause it to fail altogether. Running short of space is the most common reason an upgrade fails, so move large files to backup before you start.
  • Battery Life. Attempting an upgrade 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 upgrade is released. Wait a few days until the congestion is relieved.

What to Expect During Installation

Your Mac restarts multiple times during the upgrade process. Each restart advances the installation to the next phase. You'll see a progress bar with time estimates, though these estimates can vary significantly. Don't worry if progress appears to stall, because complex operations happen behind the scenes. The final restart takes you to the upgraded macOS desktop with all your files and applications intact.

What comes next

After you update macOS, you can:

The upgrade does not turn on Siri AI. To request it, open System Settings > Siri and click Try Siri AI (Beta), which adds you to a waitlist. See macOS 27 Golden Gate for details.

If you upgrade from a macOS version older than macOS Tahoe 26, Launchpad is gone, and Where Is Launchpad in macOS 27 shows how to open your apps with Apps, its replacement.

macOS for software developers

If you are developing software on the Mac, Set Up Your Mac is a family of free macOS apps from the author of the Mac Install Guide. Each app does one job reliably: it checks what you already have, installs and configures what is missing, and then proves the result works in a fresh terminal. You finish with a working setup, not just a download.

The apps do everything the written Mac Install Guide articles cover, but faster and with a verified result. They are free. There is no paid upgrade, no trial period, no account to create. Every app is signed and notarized by Apple, shows each change before executing, and does not run in the background after you quit.

Here are the apps you can use for setting up your Mac after updating macOS:

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.