How to Update MacBook (All Versions & its Software)

If you don’t know how to update your MacBook, then you are at the right place. Here, you will learn some handy knowledge about updating methods and the requirements for updated versions. You may even know about automatically setting your Mac to update to avoid inconvenience.

Apple makes improvements to macOS every year, the operating system (OS) which you use on your Mac. Apple’s Mac update cycle offered yearly iterative adjustments in the past. But starting a few years ago, Apple made some significant modifications. It indicates that Apple is still providing support for your device.

Hence, it is essential to regularly check for and install software updates on your Mac also. Because bringing macOS up to date might add new features to your computer, improve power efficiency, or fix software bug issues.

Another key point is updating software on a Mac boosts its performance. It seems quite enough to discuss the importance of bringing Mac up to date. So, let’s move to the following part to see the detailed knowledge.

You Need to Fill Few Requirements for Updating Hardware & Software

The latest version of macOS is macOS Big Sur (11.0). So, if you want to update your MacBook Pro to macOS Big Sur, then you need MacBook Pro that was launched in late 2013 or later.

The same goes for upgrading to later versions of macOS or its predecessor, OS X. You must meet a few conditions.

• macOS Catalina (10.15) needs MacBook Pro from mid-2012 or later, OS X Mavericks (10.9) or later.
• Requirements for macOS Mojave (10.14) are MacBook Pro produced in mid-2012 or, more recently, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8) or later.
• For Sierra and OS X Mountain Lion (10.8) in the case of High Sierra, you need macOS High Sierra (10.13) or macOS Sierra (10.12) MacBook Pro from mid-2010 or later, OS X Lion (10.7) or later.
• OS X El Capitan (10.11) requires MacBook Pro from mid-2007 or later, OS X Snow Leopard (10.6) or later.
• OS X Yosemite (10.10) needs MacBook Pro from mid-2006 or later, OS X Snow Leopard or later.

MacBook: Keep your all versions of macOS Up-to-Date

Before starting an update, it is better to keep a backup of your Mac. So you will not lose any data. After that, apply the steps to find and download available software upgrades.

1. Select the Apple icon from the Menu bar on your Mac on the top left. Then, move to the System Preferences

   

2. Select the Software Update Your Mac will let you know if there is an upgrade available for you. Otherwise, use the Updates tab of the App Store app to get app updates.

   

3. Click on the Update Now or Upgrade Now

Well, Update Now installs the recent updates for the currently installed version, like an update from macOS Big Sur 11.5 to macOS Big Sur 11.6.

While Upgrade Now installs a major new version with a new name like macOS Monterey, Software Update displays only upgrades that are compatible with your Mac. Well, it is feasible to use the App Store to get updates for the apps that you have downloaded from the App Store.

Moreover, when software updates say that your Mac is up to date, it means your macOS and all your apps it installs are up to date, including Messages, Mail, Safari, Music, Photos, FaceTime, and calendar.

Set Your MacBook to update macOS (Automatically)

It seems feasible that you can activate your Mac to update automatically, but consider some cautious things as well. Usually, it is fine to have your Mac update automatically, but there have been some features that break old apps in newer macOS builds.

However, it seems like a good idea that your Mac tells you about macOS updating. So you don’t need to worry about missing an important update.

1. On your Mac, choose the Apple menu, then the System Preferences After that, click Software Update.
2. To install macOS updates automatically, choose Automatically keep my Mac up to date.

   

• To enable advanced update options, click the Advanced tab and then use any of the following:
  Select the Check for updates tab to have your Mac check for updates automatically.
• Select Download new updates when available to have your Mac download updates without asking.
• Select Install macOS updates to have your Mac install macOS updates automatically.
• Select Install app updates from the App Store to have your Mac install app updates from the App Store automatically.
• Select the Install system data files and security updates option to have your Mac install system files and security updates automatically.

  

3. Click the Ok

Hence, to receive the latest updates automatically, it is suggested that you choose the option Check for updates, download new updates when available, and Install system data files and security updates.

Note: You must plug in the power adapter to the MacBook, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air to download updates automatically.

How to Update All Your MacBook Software at Once

Remember, after updating your Mac, the next step is to update the software to work correctly on a new system. Therefore, installing your software from the App Store might not discover all the outstanding software updates there.

Hence, the most effective and quickest solution is the massive update of all apps with CleanMyMac X. Because it has an exclusive software updater feature, let’s go through the steps for using the updating feature:

1. Navigate to Updater in CleanMyMac X.
2. Tap on Select All.
3. Click on the Update

As a substitute, you may also choose the apps individually to update. That is particularly useful if you do not have the internet bandwidth to install too many updates simultaneously.

Moreover, you can also use the other update trackers as well, like MacKeeper. This useful tool scans all your apps and then checks those apps against MacKeeper’s database to find out if you are running the recent updates.

Conclusion

You don’t need a professional to update your MacBook; you can do it easily by yourself with this handy guide. Well, for better performance of your Mac, it is better that you also update its software, whether one by one or entirely.

Therefore, comment with your thoughts on the macOS version you are using and the value of this article for you.