How to Update macOS

Apple ships free macOS updates several times a year. Small ones patch security holes and fix bugs; big ones are whole new versions with a new name. Both install through the same Software Update screen, so once you know where it lives you are set for years. As of August 2026 the current version is macOS Tahoe 26, while the previous versions macOS Sequoia 15 and macOS Sonoma 14 still receive security updates for Macs that stay on them.

Step 1 — Check for and install an update

1. Save your work and close any apps you do not need open.
2. Back up your Mac (see the caution above).
3. Click the Apple menu () in the top-left corner of the screen and choose System Settings.
4. Click General in the sidebar, then click Software Update on the right — the same route Apple gives in the macOS User Guide. The path is:

   Apple menu  >  System Settings  >  General  >  Software Update

5. Wait a moment while your Mac checks Apple's servers. If an update is available, you will see a button:
   • Update Now — installs a minor update on the version you already run.
   • Upgrade Now — installs a new major version (a bigger download).
6. Click the button, agree to the licence terms if asked, and enter your Mac's login password (or administrator password) when prompted.
7. Leave the Mac plugged in and let it work. It will download, then restart one or more times to finish. Do not close the lid or cut the power.

Step 2 — Turn on automatic updates

The easiest way to stay current is to let macOS handle it. On the Software Update screen:

1. Click the info button (ⓘ) next to Automatic Updates.
2. Turn on the options you want. Apple's own list of automatic-update settings names Download new updates when available, Install macOS updates and Install Security Responses and system files; on recent macOS the full set is:
   • Check for updates
   • Download new updates when available
   • Install macOS updates
   • Install application updates from the App Store
   • Install Security Responses and system files
3. Click Done.

If you would rather keep things simple, some macOS versions show a single Automatically keep my Mac up to date switch that enables the whole set at once. Either way, your Mac must be connected to power to install updates on its own, and it will usually wait until it is idle.

Minor update vs. major upgrade — what's the difference?

Both live behind the same button, but they are not the same thing:

• Minor update — the version number changes after the dot, for example 26.5 to 26.6. These are small, quick, and low-risk: security patches and bug fixes for the version you already run. Install them promptly.
• Major upgrade — a whole new release with a new name and a new first number, for example macOS Sequoia 15 to macOS Tahoe 26. These are multi-gigabyte downloads that can change how apps behave. There is no rush; it is fine to wait a few weeks for third-party apps to catch up before you jump to a brand-new major version.

Check compatibility before a major upgrade

Every major macOS version supports a specific list of Mac models. If your Mac is not on that list, Software Update simply will not offer the upgrade — but it usually keeps offering security updates for the version you already have, which is why older Macs stay safe on Sequoia or Sonoma. Before upgrading:

1. Find your model: Apple menu () > About This Mac.
2. Check Apple's compatibility list for the version you want. If your Mac qualifies and Software Update shows Upgrade Now, you are good to go.
3. Make sure you have enough free storage. A major upgrade needs a fair amount of free space to download and install; free some up first if the installer complains.

What to do if an update gets stuck

A progress bar that seems frozen is usually not frozen — big updates can sit on a screen for a long time while they work in the background. Give it real time (up to an hour on older hardware) before assuming something is wrong. If it genuinely will not move:

1. Confirm power. Plug into mains power; do not run a stuck update on battery.
2. Wait, then check activity. On some updates you can press Command+L to see an estimate of remaining time. A download that stalled may just need patience or a better network.
3. Force a restart. Press and hold the power button for about ten seconds until the Mac shuts off, then press it again to start up. macOS will normally pick the update back up where it left off.
4. Start in safe mode to clear caches, then try Software Update again. How you get there depends on your chip, and Apple documents the two routes separately. On Apple silicon, shut the Mac down completely, then press and hold the power button until Loading startup options appears, select your startup volume, hold Shift and click Continue in Safe Mode. On an Intel Mac, turn it on or restart it and immediately hold Shift until the login window appears. To confirm it worked, open System Information, select Software in the sidebar and check that Boot Mode reads Safe.
5. Reinstall from Recovery. If the update still fails, boot into macOS Recovery and choose Reinstall macOS. This reinstalls the system without erasing your files — and because you backed up first, you are covered either way.