Software Update settings on Mac

On your Mac, use Software Update settings to update your macOS software and set whether your Mac checks for and downloads new updates automatically.

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Browse through the options below for details about customising your settings.

To open these settings, choose Apple menu > System Settings, click General in the sidebar (you may need to scroll down), then click Software Update on the right.

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Option	Description
Automatic updates	Set update options for installing system software and updates automatically. Click the Info button next to Automatic updates, then turn on the options you want: To have your Mac check for updates automatically, turn on “Check for updates”. To have your Mac download updates without asking, turn on “Download new updates when available”. To have your Mac install macOS updates automatically, turn on “Install macOS updates”. To have your Mac install app updates from the App Store automatically, turn on “Install application updates from the App Store”. To have your Mac install system files and Rapid Security Responses automatically, turn on “Install Security Responses and system files”.
Updates Available	To immediately install all the available system software and other updates shown, click Update Now. To install downloaded updates overnight, click Update Tonight and make sure your Mac is turned on, not in sleep mode, and connected to the internet overnight. If an update button isn’t shown, your Mac is up to date. If multiple updates are available, click “More info” to view information about them, then do any of the following: To show details about an update, select the update. To install updates, select the tick boxes of the updates you want, then click Install Now.

Option

Description

Automatic updates

Set update options for installing system software and updates automatically. Click the Info button next to Automatic updates, then turn on the options you want:

To have your Mac check for updates automatically, turn on “Check for updates”.
To have your Mac download updates without asking, turn on “Download new updates when available”.
To have your Mac install macOS updates automatically, turn on “Install macOS updates”.
To have your Mac install app updates from the App Store automatically, turn on “Install application updates from the App Store”.
To have your Mac install system files and Rapid Security Responses automatically, turn on “Install Security Responses and system files”.

Updates Available

To immediately install all the available system software and other updates shown, click Update Now.

To install downloaded updates overnight, click Update Tonight and make sure your Mac is turned on, not in sleep mode, and connected to the internet overnight.

If an update button isn’t shown, your Mac is up to date.

If multiple updates are available, click “More info” to view information about them, then do any of the following:

To show details about an update, select the update.
To install updates, select the tick boxes of the updates you want, then click Install Now.

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macOS User Guide

Software Update settings on Mac

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