If you're sick of waiting for the progress bar to complete every time you reboot after a macOS software update, then you'll be pleased to learn there's another way to update your Mac that could potentially reduce your downtime.
Users with older Macs in particular will likely appreciate this tip, as it saves having to fire up the Mac App Store altogether, which can be slow-going and sometimes even downright unresponsive. Read on to find out how it's done.
Before following these steps, ensure you have a full backup of your system, which should be par for the course when performing any update. Note that the following procedure only lists stock Apple system updates (iTunes, Photos, printer drivers the like), but not updates for other Apple apps that aren't installed with macOS (Xcode, for instance), and not third-party updates from the Mac App Store.
The asterisked line denotes the individual software update package that's available for your Mac to download. This line is also known as the identifier.
The second line offers a more detailed description of the update, including the version number (usually in brackets) and the download file size in kilobytes. [Recommended] means the update is recommended for all users, and [restart] indicates that your Mac needs to reboot for installation to complete.
To download and install a specific update in the list, use the following format, but replacing NAME with the update's identifier:
softwareupdate -i NAME
Or:
softwareupdate --install NAME
Note that if the package name you’re trying to install has spaces in it, you'll need to enclose the whole thing in single quotes. So for example:
softwareupdate --install 'macOS High Sierra 10.13.3 Supplemental Update-'
Also, be alert for spaces at the end of the package names. If present, they also need to be included within the quotes.
Moving on, to download a specific update for your system without also installing it then and there, you can use:
softwareupdate -d NAME
Updates downloaded in this way can be subsequently installed with the same -i or --install command above, or even through the Mac App Store. These updates are downloaded to a folder located in /Library/Updates, but they aren't designed to be installed by double-clicking the packages in that directory. You'll need to use the --install command or visit the Mac App Store to actually initiate the install.
Lastly, to download and install all available updates for your system, type the command:
softwareupdate -i -a
Using these commands, you'll be able to leave the update to download and continue to install in the background while you get on with other things. All being well, Terminal will eventually prompt you to restart your machine manually so that the full installation procedure can complete. (Note that the softwareupdate utility requires admin authentication for all commands except the -l or -list command. If you run softwareupdate as a normal admin user, you will be prompted for a password where required.)
As some users will no doubt be aware, there are several additional options that can be used in conjunction with the softwareupdate utility. For example, -schedule on/off enables/disables your Mac's scheduled background check for updates. More adventurous readers can use man softwareupdate and softwareupdate -h for a summary list of commands.
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How to check for app updates in the Mac App Store. Launch the Mac App Store from your Dock or Finder. Click on Updates in the menu on the left side. Click on the Update button next to the app you want to update or click Update All to update all apps in the queue. Luckily, the normal Software Update mechanism that most Mac owners are already familiar with can be used to check and update your Mac’s firmware, since Apple distributes most updates that way. Go to the Apple menu in the main menu bar and choose Software Update. Installing, reinstalling, and updating Mac OS; If you’re using a Combo Update to update Mac OS system software; Major new releases of Mac OS are available from the Mac App Store, whereas software updates to an existing release can be found from the Software Update control panel, or the Updates tab of the Mac App Store.
The process involves a simple Terminal command, and allows you to continue using your Mac as the update downloads and the initial software installation takes place in the background. In our tests, we found that this method was capable of shaving off several minutes of idle time during installation restarts, but that the time-saving depends on the machine and the update in question. Users with older Macs in particular will likely appreciate this tip, as it saves having to fire up the Mac App Store altogether, which can be slow-going and sometimes even downright unresponsive. Read on to find out how it's done.
How to Update macOS From the Command Line
Before following these steps, ensure you have a full backup of your system, which should be par for the course when performing any update. Note that the following procedure only lists stock Apple system updates (iTunes, Photos, printer drivers the like), but not updates for other Apple apps that aren't installed with macOS (Xcode, for instance), and not third-party updates from the Mac App Store.
- To update macOS from the command line, first launch Terminal, which can be found in the Applications/Utilities folder. This will open a Terminal window and a command prompt for you to begin typing.
- Input the following command and press Enter: softwareupdate -l
- Wait as your Mac searches Apple's servers for any macOS software updates currently available for your system. If no updates are available, you'll be returned to the command prompt.
The asterisked line denotes the individual software update package that's available for your Mac to download. This line is also known as the identifier.
The second line offers a more detailed description of the update, including the version number (usually in brackets) and the download file size in kilobytes. [Recommended] means the update is recommended for all users, and [restart] indicates that your Mac needs to reboot for installation to complete.
To download and install a specific update in the list, use the following format, but replacing NAME with the update's identifier:
softwareupdate -i NAME
Or:
softwareupdate --install NAME
Note that if the package name you’re trying to install has spaces in it, you'll need to enclose the whole thing in single quotes. So for example:
softwareupdate --install 'macOS High Sierra 10.13.3 Supplemental Update-'
Also, be alert for spaces at the end of the package names. If present, they also need to be included within the quotes.
Moving on, to download a specific update for your system without also installing it then and there, you can use:
softwareupdate -d NAME
Updates downloaded in this way can be subsequently installed with the same -i or --install command above, or even through the Mac App Store. These updates are downloaded to a folder located in /Library/Updates, but they aren't designed to be installed by double-clicking the packages in that directory. You'll need to use the --install command or visit the Mac App Store to actually initiate the install.
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Lastly, to download and install all available updates for your system, type the command:
softwareupdate -i -a
Using these commands, you'll be able to leave the update to download and continue to install in the background while you get on with other things. All being well, Terminal will eventually prompt you to restart your machine manually so that the full installation procedure can complete. (Note that the softwareupdate utility requires admin authentication for all commands except the -l or -list command. If you run softwareupdate as a normal admin user, you will be prompted for a password where required.)
As some users will no doubt be aware, there are several additional options that can be used in conjunction with the softwareupdate utility. For example, -schedule on/off enables/disables your Mac's scheduled background check for updates. More adventurous readers can use man softwareupdate and softwareupdate -h for a summary list of commands.
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Is your Mac up to date with the latest version of the Mac operating system (macOS or OS X)? Is it using the version required by some product or feature? Which versions are earlier (older) or later (newer, more recent) than the version currently installed? To find out, learn which version is installed now.
Download audible for mac. If your macOS isn't up to date, you may be able to update to a later version.
Which macOS version is installed?
From the Apple menu in the corner of your screen, choose About This Mac. You'll see the macOS name, such as macOS Mojave, followed by its version number. If some product or feature requires you to know the build number as well, click the version number to see it.
Usb wifi adapter setup. New operating systems for mac. This example shows macOS Catalina version 10.15 build 19A583.
Which macOS version is the latest?
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These are all Mac operating systems, starting with the most recent. When a major new macOS is released, it gets a new name, such as macOS Catalina. And as updates that change the macOS version number become available, this article is updated to show the latest version of that macOS.
How To Check Mac Update Version
Winscp for mac. If your Mac is using an earlier version of any Mac operating system, you should install the latest Apple software updates, which can include important security updates and updates for the apps installed by macOS, such as Safari, Books, Messages, Mail, Music, Calendar, and Photos.
How To Check For Mac Ios Updates
macOS | Latest version |
---|---|
macOS Catalina | 10.15.1 |
macOS Mojave | 10.14.6 |
macOS High Sierra | 10.13.6 |
macOS Sierra | 10.12.6 |
OS X El Capitan | 10.11.6 |
OS X Yosemite | 10.10.5 |
OS X Mavericks | 10.9.5 |
OS X Mountain Lion | 10.8.5 |
OS X Lion | 10.7.5 |
Mac OS X Snow Leopard | 10.6.8 |
Mac OS X Leopard | 10.5.8 |
Mac OS X Tiger | 10.4.11 |
Mac OS X Panther | 10.3.9 |
Mac OS X Jaguar | 10.2.8 |
Mac OS X Puma | 10.1.5 |
Mac OS X Cheetah | 10.0.4 |
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How To Check For Mac Updates 2017
- Always use the macOS that came with your Mac, or a compatible newer version.
- Learn how to reinstall macOS from macOS Recovery.