How To Update Your Mac Os

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Apple provides free OS updates and these updates could fix bugs and glitches that slowing down your Mac. There is no reason to stay at old version of Mac OS at all! Below are detailed steps of how to update to latest Mac OS. Locate the version of Mac you require, check if your Mac is supported and if there is enough room for your Mac. That will give your Mac a basic system cleanup, but CleanMyMac is going to come in handy after the update as well. It monitors your Mac's health, helps you speed up the system and remove unnecessary apps (Trashing doesn't fully uninstall apps, by the way). Thus, if you want to run any 32-bit application, do not update Mac operating system to macOS Catalina. On the contrary, if those 32-bit applications are of no use to you anymore or the key applications on your Mac are of 64-bits, you can just update the device directly. Open System Preferences (you can click on the Apple logo in the menu to find it). Click on Software Update. Your computer will check for updates, and show that an update is available for your Mac.

© Apple It should only take a few clicks to update your Mac. Apple
  • To update your Mac, open the System Preferences app, which has its own 'Software Update' menu.
  • You can also check for updates through the 'About This Mac' menu, which can be found by clicking the Apple logo in the top-left corner of your screen.
  • If your Mac is still running macOS High Sierra or earlier, however, you'll need to go through the App Store.
  • With the new macOS Big Sur release, you should update your Mac as soon as you can.
  • Visit Business Insider's Tech Reference library for more stories.

In many ways, Macs are built for convenience: They have backlit keyboards, there's a variety of ways to take and save screenshots, and they come with a wide assortment of shortcuts that can speed up your work.

But like all devices, they also require updates from time to time. And although updates can be annoying and time-consuming — Who hasn't put off an update until the very last moment? — they're also incredibly important.

An outdated Mac is more susceptible to bugs, crashes, and even viruses (yes, Macs can get them too). And if you leave updates waiting for too long, your favorite apps might stop working altogether.

In November 2020, Apple released macOS Big Sur, the latest version of its famous operating system. And if you're currently working on a Mac, now is a good time to update your computer.

How to update your Mac computer

There are two major ways to update your Mac, and which one you use will depend on what macOS version you're currently running. For information on how to check which macOS version you currently have, read our article, 'How to check which version of macOS your Mac computer is running and check for new updates.'

How To Update Your Mac Os X

Before going forward with updates, it's a good idea to backup your computer to ensure no data is lost in the process. You'll also need to be connected to the internet.

After that, keep in mind that the updates may take several minutes to install, depending on how many of your apps are due for updates.

How to update a Mac running macOS Mojave or later

If you've bought or updated your Mac since 2018, chances are that you're in this category.

1. In the top-right corner of your screen, click the Apple icon to open a drop-down menu.

2. There are two menus here that you can use to check for updates. Click either 'System Preferences' or 'About This Mac...'

3. No matter which one you pick, in the menu that opens, click 'Software Update.'

© William Antonelli/Business Insider There are multiple ways to reach the updating screen. William Antonelli/Business Insider

3. Wait a few moments for your Mac to connect to the internet and check for updates. If an update is available, you'll be shown what it's called — just click 'Update Now' to install it.

You can also choose to enable automatic updates from this screen by checking the 'Automatically keep my Mac up to date' box. This will ensure that whenever a new update is available, you'll be told without having to open this screen.

© Apple; Business Insider Click 'Update Now' to update, and check the box pictured to enable automatic updates. Apple; Business Insider

How to update a Mac running macOS High Sierra or earlier

High Sierra was released in late 2017. If you haven't updated since then, you should be sure to update as soon as you can to keep your computer safe.

1. Click the Apple icon in the top-left corner of your screen.

2. Select 'App Store…'

© Devon Delfino/Business Insider Open the App Store. Devon Delfino/Business Insider

3. Click 'Updates' in the left sidebar of the App Store.

© Devon Delfino/Business Insider Navigate to the Updates page. Devon Delfino/Business Insider

From the above screen, you'll be given the option to update your Mac. Any Mac computer released in 2012 or later should be able to update to at least macOS Catalina. If your Mac is so old that it can't even do that, it might be time to buy a new model.

And, for future reference, don't worry about accepting an update and then having your computer unexpectedly restart — you'll be notified beforehand if a restart is required.

Related coverage from Tech Reference:

Have you been using the older versions of Mac for a while now? Are you on an outlook to upgrade Mac operating system and switch to an effective, smoother Mac system? Just read through the post to know the details of the latest version - macOS 10.15 Catalina, including what ‘s new in this version, whether you should update and the right ways to install it. Let's keep reading!

Frequently Asked Questions About macOS 10.15 Catalina

Before you find out the ways on how to update Mac, we would like to share with you some bits and pieces regarding the latest version i.e. the macOS 10.15 Catalina. It is the latest Mac operating system that functions on the Mac devices. The new version is name after the Santa Catalina Island, majorly called as Catalina and one of the Channel Islands off the coast of Southern California, which is apparently, is the inspiration behind the systems.

Q1: What ‘s New in macOS 10.15 Catalina

The macOS Catalina has a range of novel, more appealing features than of those we have experienced in the previous upgrades of the macOS. There is a multitude of latest applications and some other apps with key new aspects and UI modifications. The performance of Mac has been boosted exceptionally, and an increase in the usability has been reported.

Below we present a quick list of the points that would give some insights regarding the latest applications and features found in the mac OS x latest version.

  • Three new features in Apple Mail: mute a thread, block a sender, and unsubscribe.
  • Photos app has been redesigned with new user interface.
  • Music, Podcasts, and Apple TV apps that replace the iTunes app.
  • A new Find My app that combines the features of Find My iPhone and Find Friends.
  • Sidecar allows you to use an iPad as an external monitor.
  • Screen Time for Mac.
  • Enhancements to the Notes app.
  • Safari updates.
  • A restyled Reminders app.
  • Enhancements to the Photos app.

Q2: Should I Update to macOS Catalina or Not

How To Update Your Mac Os

In order to assist you to make a choice on whether to install it or not, we would like to make you mindful of one of the key modifications that have been done in the macOS Catalina. The key change that this version includes is that it will support apps that are of 64-bits. Hence, apps consisting of 32-bits would not work on macOS Catalina.

To see if the most important apps on your disk are 64-bit or not, do as follows:

  1. Hit the Apple menu, click and hold the key Option and select System Information.
  2. On the left end of the display, select Software and Click on Applications.
  3. On the right end of the page, the application name, version, development, last changed day, will be shown. It will also show whether your app version is 64-bits or not.
  4. Thus, if you want to run any 32-bit application, do not update Mac operating system to macOS Catalina. On the contrary, if those 32-bit applications are of no use to you anymore or the key applications on your Mac are of 64-bits, you can just update the device directly.

Q3: If I Want to Update to macOS 10.15 Catalina, Will Catalina Work on My Mac

To answer your question, we have listed down the Macs that are compatible with macOS Catalina. These include the:

  • MacBook (2015 or newer)
  • MacBook Air (2012 or newer)
  • MacBook Pro (2012 or newer)
  • Mac mini (2012 or newer)
  • iMac (2012 or newer)
  • iMac Pro (2017 or newer)
  • Mac Pro (2013 or newer)

If you can find the model of your Mac on this list, you may proceed to macOS 10.15 Catalina.

What Do You Need to Do Before Installing macOS 10.15 Catalina

If you plan to upgrade your Mac with the latest macOS version, we suggest you first follow the following steps just to double check:

How To Update Your Mac Os System

1. Create A Backup for Your Mac

Before downloading and installing any vast macOS upgrade on your Mac, you need to get a thorough, updated backup of all the information and folders on your hard drive. If something goes wrong after the installation, there is a backup in hand. You can use Time Machine app to backup your Mac, which is the most common way for Mac users.

2. Check Your Free Space on Mac

How To Update Your Mac Os Version

Installing the macOS Catalina requires space big time! It occupies nearly 6.5 GB of your Mac. Apple suggests you have a minimum of 20 GB of vacant disk storage in order to launch and run the macOS 10.15 Catalina. In order to upgrade to macOS Catalina, you need to have at least 20GB of hard drive space free. If your Mac does not have the required space, we suggest you clean up your device or achieve the storage through any effective Mac cleaning application. If you are unaware of any such app to clean your Mac but still want to do so, I would recommend the Umate Mac Cleaner, a popular Mac cleaning tool currently in the market. It is an ideal choice for cleaning up your Mac and getting more available space.

Some of the reasons why this app is the ideal choice to clean your Mac are that:

  • Runs efficiently to clean up more than 40 types of junk files, duplicate, unused and large files from your hard drive, which eventually generates more disk space.
  • Fast-speed and easy process of cleaning in just one click!
  • Safe to use, for it will never reach out to your essential folders on Mac.

The most important point is that Umate Mac Cleaner can help you to get 4X free space back for your Mac after using it!

Then, below is a step-by-step guide on how to use the app. It is very easy to use with simple operations.

  1. Download, install and launch Umate Mac Cleaner on your Mac.

  2. Select the appropriate feature for cleaning and releasing space on your Mac, and then hit the 'Scan' button for scanning.

  3. After scanning, then follow the on-screen instructions to operate accordingly.

3. Update Your Apps on Mac

With launching macOS Catalina, Apple closes the doors for any 32-bit app that could possibly be there on your device. This means that in case your device has an older application, for instance the Microsoft 11 for Mac, you will have to make sure you have a 64-bit version of that prior to launching the latest Mac operating system. In case you are not able to install the 64-bit version of that application, you could either catch an alternative to your current macOS, thus you can continue using the software.

Here We Go! Download and Install macOS 10.15 Catalina Now!

There are three main ways to get the latest version. If you are using macOS Mojave, the previous version before macOS Catalina, then you can get the update via this way:

Way 1: Apple menu → System Preferences → Software Update

  1. Choose Apple menu on your Mac, then choose System Preferences.
  2. Then click Software Update and Hit on the Update Now button next to the macOS 10.15 Update.
  3. After you do this, an installer will appear in span of a few seconds. Select Continue to keep on going and obey the instructions being given on screen.

Way 2: Download and Install macOS Catalina from App Store

  1. Open the App Store on your Mac, then search for macOS Catalina.
  2. Click the button to install, and then a window will appears, hit 'Continue' button to begin the installing process.

Way 3: Visit The macOS Catalina Website

The third way to download the macOS Catalina is to visit its official website, which comes with a download link for those compatible devices. When you click the link and it will download the software into your Applications folder on your Mac. And then you can follow the onscreen instructions to install macOS Catalina on your Mac.

Then, How to Delete The Old Software Update Files on Mac

On top of telling you how to update Mac, we also support you to learn to delete the old iOS software updates from your Mac. Below are the steps to get it done:

  1. Open 'Finder' and hit on the 'Go' option via the Menu bar.
  2. Click and hold the Option key and click the Library option.
  3. Check for it under the Go menu and select it.
  4. Search the iTunes file in the search bar and open it.
  5. Now open the file 'iPhone Software Updates' and delete the folders whose title begin with 'Restore.ipsw'.

And it's done! This is how you can delete the existing software updates on your Mac. However, there is a one-click solution to do the same thing, that is Umate Mac Cleaner. The app can also delete old software update on your Mac with just one click.

How To Update Your Mac Os To 10.13

Conclusion:

Now that you have reached the final part, we hope the article has been resourceful enough to clear out your qualm on whether to update your Mac or not, and further how the Umate Mac Cleaner plays its part as a great helper for cleaning your Mac.





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