Updating your Mac is easy. And if all you do is download apps from the Mac App Store, keeping those updated is easy , too. But if you want to make sure everything on your Mac has the most recent features and security fixes, we have a few tips that can help you out.
How to keep macOS updated to the latest version
Your Mac should let you know when you need to install updates. However, you can always check by clicking on the Apple icon in the top-left corner of your screen, clicking on System Preferences, and clicking on Software Update.
Make sure that box is checked so your Mac will download and attempt to install updates for you. You should also click on Advanced and make sure everything is checked there, too:
What about beta updates?
If you want to live on the wild side and try out newer macOS features (and fixes) before everyone else, you have two options.
- Apple’s public beta for macOS
First, sign up for the official Apple public beta for macOS. You’ll have to download and install a beta utility on your Mac—as easy as installing an app—and you’ll then run a Software Update to install the latest public beta version. This might be slightly less stable than a regular version of macOS, but it’ll likely give you less grief than .
- Apple’s developer beta for macOS
I like running the developer beta because I have no fear and I have yet to encounter a Mac-destroying bug (knock on wood). Normally, getting access to a developer beta requires you to give Apple $99 a year as part of its Apple Developer Program. Or you can do what I do: Visit betaprofiles.com and download the macOS beta profile. Install it on your Mac, run a Software Update, and you’ll have the latest preview version of macOS that developers get to play with. Apologies, in advance, if something screws up.
How to keep your Mac’s apps updated to the latest versions
If you install apps on your Mac from the App Store, all you have to do is launch the App Store app and click on the Updates tab. In fact, you’ll see a big, red notification on the App Store icon in your Dock whenever you have updates that you need to download and install. This process seems pretty easy, but don’t blow it off.
@timbrookes
Aug 28, 2020, 8:00 am EST | 5 min read
App updates deliver new features, security fixes, and improve the stability of existing software. Unfortunately, not every Mac app is updated the same way. Some take care of themselves, while others need a nudge from you. Here’s what you need to know to keep all your Mac software up to date.
How to Update Mac App Store Apps
Apps installed via the Mac App Store are updated using the same storefront. You don’t need to worry about doing this manually, provided you’ve turned on automatic updates. Your Mac will periodically check for updates, and then download and apply them as necessary.
You can still manually check for updates if you want, though. To do so, open the Mac App Store by either clicking it in the Dock or “Applications” folder, or searching for it in Spotlight. Click “Updates” in the sidebar to see any that are pending.
You’ll see an “Update” button next to any apps with pending updates; click it to manually trigger the update. If there aren’t any updates, the Mac App Store will show you the most recently installed apps, along with a brief description of what was changed. Click “More” next to each entry for more information.
You can enable automatic updates by launching the Mac App Store, clicking Mac App Store > Preferences in the menu at the top, and then selecting “Automatic Updates.”
How to Update Apps You Didn’t Purchase in the App Store
Apps you’ve installed outside of the Mac App Store may or may not update themselves. This varies from app to app. However, the most common, like Chrome, popular free apps, like the Transmission BitTorrent client, and paid apps that are actively being developed will likely notify you of any pending updates.
You might see a notification when you launch an app telling you there’s a new version available. You can often just click “Update” to close the app and update it. You might also have the option to delay or opt out of the update, altogether. Not all apps will notify you about a pending update, however.
For some, you’ll have to look through the menus at the top to find a “Check for Updates” option. Most frequently, you can click Help > Check for Updates, but it might also be in the menu with the app’s name. In Transmission, for example, you’d click Transmission > Check for Updates.
Some apps don’t actively check for updates, and there’s not a lot you can do beyond remembering to do it yourself. Not all apps update gracefully, either. Some will offer to download and apply the update, while others will take you to the app’s homepage so you can manually download the new version.
Sometimes, you’ll be notified when a new version of an app is available, but you’ll have to download it yourself. This will also require that you replace the old version manually. For the best results, right-click the old version in your “Applications” folder, and then choose “Move to Trash” (don’t empty the Trash yet, though).
After you download the new version, copy the APP file into the “Applications” folder, and then run the app to make sure it works as expected. If you see an error like the one shown below, you might have to circumvent Gatekeeper’s restrictions.
If the new version isn’t working or the changes aren’t ideal for your workflow, you can delete the new version and restore the old one from the Trash. To do so, just right-click the file, and then choose “Put Back”.
When the app is working as expected, you can empty the Trash—just right-click the icon in the Dock.
