How to Update macOS: Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Published: May 15, 2025
Last Updated: May 15, 2025
By: macOSUpdate Team

Table of Contents

Introduction

Keeping your Mac updated with the latest macOS version ensures you have the latest features, security patches, and performance improvements. This guide covers everything you need to know about updating your Mac safely and efficiently, from preparation to troubleshooting common issues.

Current macOS Version: macOS Sonoma 14.4 (released March 18, 2025)

This guide applies to all recent macOS versions, including Sonoma, Ventura, Monterey, and Big Sur.

Before Updating

Preparation is key to a smooth update experience. Follow these important steps before proceeding with your macOS update.

Check Compatibility

Not all Macs can run the latest macOS version. Check if your Mac model is compatible:

Mac compatibility checker tool showing compatible macOS versions

Use our compatibility checker to verify if your Mac supports the latest macOS.

If your Mac isn't compatible with the latest version, you may still be able to install an older version that's still receiving security updates.

Back Up Your Mac

The most important step before any macOS update is creating a full backup. This ensures you can restore your system if anything goes wrong.

How to back up using Time Machine:

  1. Connect an external storage device with sufficient space
  2. Go to System Settings > Time Machine (or System Preferences > Time Machine in older versions)
  3. Click "Select Backup Disk..." and choose your external drive
  4. Check "Back Up Automatically" if you want ongoing backups
  5. Click "Back Up Now" to create an immediate backup

Note: A full Time Machine backup may take several hours if it's your first time backing up.

Free Up Storage Space

macOS updates require substantial free space — both for the download and the installation process.

Required Free Space:

  • macOS Sonoma: At least 20GB of free storage
  • Update download size: ~3-12GB (depending on update type)
  • Additional temporary installation space: ~10GB

Quick ways to free up space:

  1. Go to System Settings > General > Storage (or Apple menu > About This Mac > Storage > Manage in older versions)
  2. Review recommendations to optimize storage
  3. Empty Trash and Downloads folder
  4. Remove unused applications
  5. Offload large files to external storage

Prepare Your Apps

Some applications may need updates to work correctly with a new macOS version.

Before updating macOS:

  1. Update all apps through the App Store or their built-in updaters
  2. Check for compatibility issues with critical applications you rely on
  3. Close all running applications before starting the update

Standard Update Method

There are two primary ways to update macOS through Apple's official channels.

Using System Settings

This is the recommended method for minor updates (like 14.3 to 14.4) and security updates.

Steps to update via System Settings:

  1. Connect your Mac to a power source and stable internet connection
  2. Click the Apple menu () in the top-left corner
  3. Select "System Settings" (or "System Preferences" in older macOS versions)
  4. Click "General" in the sidebar, then "Software Update"
  5. Wait for your Mac to check for updates
  6. If an update is available, click "Update Now" or "Upgrade Now"
  7. Enter your administrator password if prompted
  8. Wait for the download and installation to complete (your Mac will restart during this process)
macOS Software Update screen showing an available update

The Software Update screen will show available updates for your Mac.

Tip: You can enable automatic updates by checking "Automatically keep my Mac up to date" in the Software Update preferences.

Using the App Store

Major macOS updates (like from Ventura to Sonoma) are typically available through the App Store.

Steps to update via App Store:

  1. Open the App Store from your Dock or Applications folder
  2. Click on the "Updates" tab
  3. If a macOS update is available, it will appear in the Updates list
  4. Click "Update" or "Get" next to the macOS update
  5. Sign in with your Apple ID if prompted
  6. The update will begin downloading
  7. Once downloaded, the installer will launch automatically
  8. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation

Alternative Update Methods

If the standard methods aren't working or you need more control over the update process, try these alternatives.

Terminal Method

For those comfortable with the command line, Terminal offers a way to update macOS using Apple's Software Update tool.

# List available software updates
softwareupdate --list

# Install all recommended updates
softwareupdate --install --recommended

# Install a specific update (replace IDENTIFIER with actual update identifier)
softwareupdate --install IDENTIFIER

Note: Terminal updates work best for smaller updates, not major OS upgrades.

Direct Installer Download

You can download the full macOS installer directly from Apple for a clean install or for updating multiple Macs without redownloading.

How to get the macOS installer:

  1. Visit the App Store or Apple's website for your macOS version
  2. Download the full installer (it will be saved to your Applications folder)
  3. The file will be named something like "Install macOS Sonoma.app"
  4. Once downloaded, run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions

Direct Links to Official macOS Installers:

macOS Version Link Size
macOS Sonoma App Store Link 12.46 GB
macOS Ventura App Store Link 12.12 GB
macOS Monterey App Store Link 12.01 GB

Bootable USB Installer

Creating a bootable USB drive with the macOS installer allows for clean installations and can help solve stubborn update problems.

This method requires:

  • A USB drive with at least 16GB of storage
  • The macOS installer app downloaded from the App Store
  • About 30 minutes of preparation time

For detailed instructions on creating and using a bootable installer, see our dedicated guide: How to Create a Bootable macOS USB Installer.

Troubleshooting Update Problems

If you encounter issues during the update process, try these common solutions:

  1. Check your internet connection
  2. Try connecting to a different network or use an ethernet connection
  3. Apple's servers may be overloaded during major releases; try updating during off-peak hours
  4. Restart your Mac and try again
  5. Try downloading the full installer from the App Store instead
  1. Be patient - this step can sometimes take over an hour depending on your Mac
  2. If it's been more than 2 hours, force restart your Mac by holding the power button
  3. Boot into Safe Mode (hold Shift while starting up) and try the update again
  4. Reset the NVRAM by restarting and holding Option+Command+P+R for 20 seconds
  5. Try using the Terminal method or a bootable installer instead

For more detailed steps, see our guide: Fix for "Stuck on Preparing Update" Issue

  1. Restart your Mac and try again
  2. Ensure you have enough free storage space (at least 20GB recommended)
  3. Boot into Recovery Mode (restart while holding Command+R)
  4. Run Disk Utility and use First Aid to check for and fix disk issues
  5. Try a bootable installer as a last resort
  1. Wait at least 20 minutes - first boot after an update can take a long time
  2. Force restart by holding the power button for 10 seconds
  3. Try Safe Mode (hold Shift while starting up)
  4. Boot into Recovery Mode (Command+R at startup) and use Terminal to check disk status
  5. If all else fails, restore from your Time Machine backup

Warning: If you can't boot your Mac at all, contact Apple Support or visit an Apple Store for assistance before attempting advanced recovery methods.

After Updating

Once you've successfully updated your Mac, take these steps to ensure everything is working properly:

  1. Verify the update was successful by checking the macOS version (Apple menu > About This Mac)
  2. Check that your important apps are working and update any that require newer versions
  3. Run Disk Utility's First Aid on your startup disk to ensure system integrity
  4. Reset PRAM/NVRAM if you notice any odd behavior (restart and hold Option+Command+P+R)
  5. Create a new backup of your freshly updated system

Tip: The first few days after a major update, your Mac may seem slower as Spotlight reindexes your files and other background processes run. This is normal and performance should improve after 1-2 days.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a macOS update take?

Update times vary based on your Mac's speed, internet connection, and the update size:

  • Minor updates (14.3 to 14.4): 20-40 minutes total
  • Major updates (Ventura to Sonoma): 1-2 hours or more
  • Clean installations: 30-45 minutes plus time to restore data

Will I lose my files when updating macOS?

No, standard macOS updates preserve all your files, apps, and settings. However, it's always good practice to back up before updating in case something goes wrong during the process.

Can I stop an update once it's started?

You can cancel a macOS update during the download phase by clicking the "X" button in the Software Update window. However, once the actual installation begins (after restart), you should not interrupt it as this could damage your macOS installation.

Should I update to the latest macOS right away?

If you use your Mac for critical work, it's often best to wait 1-2 weeks after a major release to let Apple fix initial bugs. For minor updates that include security fixes, updating promptly is recommended.

How can I update my Mac if it's no longer supported?

If your Mac can't run the latest macOS version, you can still:

  • Install the latest compatible macOS version
  • Continue to receive security updates for your current macOS version (Apple typically provides security updates for the current macOS and two previous versions)
  • Consider using third-party tools like macOS Patcher (use with caution and at your own risk)