Mac update: How to upgrade macOS the right way

Key takeaways: 

• To check for an update, go to Apple menu > System Preferences > Software Update. Alternatively, search for software update in Spotlight.
• Back up your Mac before updating with Time Machine or third-party tools like Get Backup Pro.
• To update apps installed on your Mac, use the App Store. You can also update apps with CleanMyMac X.
• Check your internet signal with WiFi Explorer before initiating an update of your macOS.

Every year, Apple makes improvements to macOS, the operating system that runs on your Mac. The annual Apple Mac update cycle often brings iterative improvements, but some years have major changes.

Your macOS (or OS X for older versions) can be updated every fall, as long as Apple still supports your machine. In this guide, we'll show you how to prepare your Mac for an update, the right way to update to the latest version of OS X or macOS, and some handy apps that make the process much smoother. You'll also find out if it's worth it to upgrade to Sonoma, the latest macOS version.

• How to update a Mac
• How to turn on automatic updates 
• Update all your Mac software instantly
• How to install a new macOS Sonoma 
• How to install macOS updates on an unsupported Mac
• How to update a Mac running macOS High Sierra or earlier
• How to run Catalina on an older Mac 
• How to run Mojave on an older Mac
• How to prepare your Mac for an OS update
• FAQ about how to update macOS

How to update a Mac

If you're wondering, "how do I upgrade my Mac operating system?" don't worry, we've got you covered. Updating your Mac to a newer macOS version is a straightforward process. Just follow these simple steps:

1. On the top left, choose Apple menu > System Settings.
2. Click General on the left side of the System Settings window, and then click Software Update on the right side.
3. Or, from the Apple menu, choose > System Preferences, and then click Software Update.

   

That's all you need to do. Your Mac will tell you if there's an upgrade available for you. Next time you're thinking "how do I upgrade my operating system on my Mac?" remember this simple process.

How to turn on automatic updates

You can trigger your Mac to update automatically, but first, a word of caution. Many set their Mac to update automatically so they don't ask themselves "how do I update mac os?" every few months. It's typically fine to have your Mac update automatically, but there have been some features that break old apps in newer macOS builds. We would caution you to consider your needs; if you can't risk apps not working or perhaps files being shifted around, we would advise against automatic updates.

But for most, it's fine to automatically upgrade your Mac. Here's how to do that on macOS Ventura and macOS Sonoma:

1. On the top left, choose Apple menu > System Settings.
2. Click General on the left side of the System Settings window, and then click Software Update on the right side.
3. Next, click on the info button next to Automatic Updates.
4. There you'll see options for "Check for updates," "Download new updates when available," "Install macOS updates," and "Install application updates from the App Store." Toggle what you want to do for automatically updating your system. Click Done. And that's it.

As you can see, you have a bit of control here. You can choose to have your Mac check for updates automatically, but not download them. This is a smart choice for those who want a bit more control over when their Mac updates, and we prefer this option as it allows you to create a backup with Get Backup Pro to secure your files before running the update. You'll find the instructions in this guide.

If your Mac runs macOS 13 Ventura and later, you have the privilege of receiving real-time security updates separately from regular macOS updates. Apple introduced this change to ensure your Mac always complies with the latest security standards and is less vulnerable to security breaches and malware, even if you don't update your macOS in time.

Update all your Mac software instantly 

One thing to remember when you update your Mac is that the next step should be updating your apps for them to work properly on a new system. You will find some pending software updates in the App Store (if you install your apps from App Store) but not all. The most effective solution is to bulk update all apps with CleanMyMac X.

CleanMyMac X has a dedicated software Updater feature. Here's how to use it:

1. Install and open CleanMyMac X.
2. In the left sidebar, click Updater.
3. Then click View Updates.
4. Select the ones you want to update and click Update.

   

How to install a new macOS Sonoma

In September 2023, Apple released a new macOS Sonoma that brings multiple improvements and new features to your Mac. If you're eager to update to Sonoma, we'll show you how. 

1. Go to Apple menu > System Settings > General > Software Update.
2. Here you'll find the latest information about which software updates you can download.
3. If your Mac is compatible and able to download Sonoma, you should see a macOS Sonoma icon in the Software Update menu with a large "Upgrade Now" button next to it. Click on the button to upgrade to macOS Sonoma. Your Mac will then download and install the update. You may need to restart your Mac to complete the process.

You can also clean install macOS Sonoma. Check out our guide for more details. 

How to install macOS updates on an unsupported Mac

Every year when Apple releases a new operating system, it usually drops support for at least one older Mac model, meaning the new macOS can't be installed on that Mac. Unfortunately, replacing a Mac is not as easy as replacing macOS, so you may be looking for a workaround to install a macOS update on an unsupported Mac.

There is such a workaround, but we must warn you that we don't encourage anyone to try it. Especially if you don't have a solid technical background, it's better to avoid the risk. But if you do want to take this step, you'll need to install macOS with a third-party patcher. 

To install macOS Sonoma on an unsupported Mac, you should download a patcher from the OpenCore Legacy Patcher. You'll find all the instructions on how to install Sonoma with this patcher on their website. Just to explain the process shortly, you'll need to load the Sonoma installation files to an external USB, then run the patcher, and install macOS Sonoma. Note that this method doesn't guarantee success, some Mac models won't be able to install Sonoma even with the patcher.

To install macOS Big Sur, Ventura, etc. on an unsupported Mac, you'll have to go through a similar process, except you need to download a different patcher  from GitHub, and then run it through your Mac's Terminal.

How to update a Mac running macOS High Sierra or earlier

Unlike recent macOS, High Sierra and earlier versions can’t be installed directly from the Software Update pane in the Mac menu. Here's how to run updates for old (or shall we say ancient) versions: 

1. Open the App Store on your Mac.
2. Search for macOS.
3. Once you find the right version, click the Get or Download button.
4. Wait for the installer to finish downloading.
5. Once the download is complete, click Continue.
6. Wait for the installation to complete (feel free to continue your work with your update running in the background).

How to run Catalina on an older Mac

To run Catalina on an older Mac, you can use the patcher. Download the Catalina patcher from the website of the developer, DOSDude1. On the website, you’ll find a detailed video tutorial on how to install Catalina using this patcher. Make sure you prepare a flash drive for a bootable installer — this will be necessary to carry out the installation.

How to run Mojave on an older Mac

Similar to Catalina, you can install Mojave on an unsupported Mac with a patcher. Download the Mojave patcher from DOSDude1's website here. It also contains all the requirements and a step-by-step guide on how to use the patcher. By the way, these websites usually have a Donate link, so feel free to reward the devs for their hard work creating the patchers! 

How to prepare your Mac for an OS update

Knowing how to update the latest Mac system is one thing – preparing your machine is equally important. To prepare your Mac for an upgrade, you'll want to make sure your files are organized properly, all of your system settings are correct, and that your file system is backed up. It's also important to know if your Mac is eligible for an update.

Check the general requirements (and hardware)

To see what specs your Mac has, follow these steps:

1. From the menu bar on your Mac, select the Apple icon on the top left.
2. Select About This Mac from the drop-down menu.

This will tell you what year your Mac was made, the version of macOS or OS X you're currently on, the computer's RAM (Memory), processor, and which graphics card your Mac has. These are important to know, as upgrading macOS can require up to 44 GB of storage available on your Mac. 

When you want to upgrade macOS, keep in mind the Mac models this macOS version is compatible with.

Back up your Mac

When it's time to back your Mac up, Apple has an official method dubbed Time Machine. When you use Time Machine, it keeps what's called an "image" of your Mac, which is what a backup really is.

The purpose of creating a backup is most often to have a recent safe point you can reboot from. It's important to run backups as often as possible. The problem is, Time Machine creates too many redundant copies and often backs up the files you don’t want to back up. There's a much better way to back up your Mac: Get Backup Pro.

Get Backup Pro makes the backup process simple, and you remain in total control. One issue many have with Time Machine is it often starts backing up during the day, which consumes resources on your Mac, and things you're working on may not save in your backup. Get Backup Pro lets you back your Mac up to any device you like, and you can set the schedule you want for backing your Mac up. 

You can even choose how many backups you want to keep; Time Machine doesn't allow such customizations. 

Make sure you have sufficient space for macOS Update

Apple recommends you have a minimum of 26 GB of available storage when upgrading your Mac from macOS Sierra and even more — 44 GB — for older macOS versions. (It's also wise to have a strong internet connection, as the download can take quite a bit of time!)

Here's how to check your system to see if your Mac is eligible for an Apple OS update:

1. From the menu bar on your Mac, select the Apple icon on the top left.
2. Select About This Mac from the drop down menu.
3. Click More Info.
4. Scroll down to Storage and check if you have enough storage space available.

Clean your Mac

When you think "how do I update my Mac operating system?," you should also be thinking about how to prepare your Mac for the update. Remember that if you need to boot your Mac from a backup, it will load exactly what you have on your Mac at the time of the update. Now is a great time to delete apps, re-organize your files, and make sure your settings are optimized.

There's just no better app for this than CleanMyMac X. It leaves your Mac running in peak condition, and like Get Backup Pro, it can be set to alert you on a schedule that it's time to clean up your Mac. All you have to do is open CleanMyMac X on your Mac, select the Smart Scan module, and the app scans your system and cleans up unnecessary files, scans for malware, and ensures your settings are set to keep your Mac running as fast as possible by doing things like freeing up RAM and running maintenance scripts.

If you want to really dial your Mac in, CleanMyMac X has a module for uninstalling apps, which also removes their associated files. You can also run the Maintenance module to take the Smart Scan feature a step further with a more detailed scrubbing of your Mac.

Check your internet

While your macOS will remind you to plug in your device if the charge is not high enough for the update process, the quality of your internet connection will remain overlooked as long as it's there.

This means you are better off checking your WiFi with tools like WiFi Explorer and do your best to help everything work nicely for your large update to fully download without a hitch. This WiFi analyzer and monitor can help you check your connection parameters.

Get a small toolkit to ensure smooth macOS updates

New versions of macOS are exciting for Mac enthusiasts, but don't rush to download them. Always make sure you've cleaned your Mac using CleanMyMac X, and back up your machine with Get Backup Pro. Another great app to download is Disk Drill, which can help you recover files you thought were lost.

All these apps are available for free as part of a seven-day trial of Setapp, a platform of high-performance, best-in-class web, iOS, and macOS apps. Alongside Disk Drill, Get Backup Pro, WiFi Explorer, and CleanMyMac X, you'll get unlimited access to the full Setapp library of more than 240 excellent tools.

FAQ about how to update macOS