macOS

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topic macOS
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MacOS Upgrade to Sequoia

How to upgrade macOS to Sequoia. How to check the macOS version and upgrade the Mac OS to the lastest version.

Upgrade 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. Before you upgrade, you can read about what to expect in macOS Sequoia.

Before you get started

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After you upgrade the macOS version

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

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. A macOS upgrade, on the other hand, is a major version jump—like macOS 14 Sonoma to macOS 15 Sequoia—with new features and functionality. This guide covers the upgrade to macOS Sequoia from older versions.

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.

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.

Latest macOS version

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

Before upgrading, consider Sonoma vs Sequoia and Should You Upgrade to macOS Sequoia?. You can read about what's coming in the next release, macOS Tahoe 26, coming in September or October 2026, and install the macOS beta if you wish.

Steps to upgrade 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 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, 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."

To install updates, run the command softwareupgrade -i -a:

$ 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

Some organizations manage Mac updates through Mobile Device Management (MDM) systems or enterprise tools. Users in education or corporate settings may see Updates for this Mac are managed externally.

IT departments use MDM solutions like Jamf, Microsoft Intune, or VMware Workspace ONE to manage upgrades and configurations remotely. These tools allow administrators to push upgrades, 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 upgrades 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.

Alternative macOS upgrade methods

If the System Settings or command line approaches don't work, you can try alternatives.

macOS Sequoia Installer

You can download the full macOS installer from Apple's website or the App Store. This method works well for clean installations or multiple Mac upgrades. The standalone installer creates bootable media or performs upgrades without Internet connectivity during installation.

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.

Recovery Mode Updates

Hold Command-R during startup to access macOS Recovery. 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.
  • 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—complex operations happen behind the scenes. The final restart takes you to the updated macOS Sequoia desktop with all your files and applications intact.

What comes next

After you upgrade 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:

I'll add instructions for other programming languages in the future.

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.