The App Store continues to be where you download updates to Mac App Store apps however, so as part of a general update and maintenance routine you’ll want to be sure to check for system software updates as well as the Updates tab of the Mac App Store still. Where does Update Assistant Download and Store Windows 10 Setup Files? - Last updated on October 21, 2017 by VG. Whenever Microsoft releases a new feature update for Windows 10, it provides an official tool to easily upgrade existing Windows 10 machines to the new Windows 10 version. It may seem quite simple to download an update for macOS by going to System Preferences Software Update. But, the size of these updates varies based on your Mac. This means that what you download.

Each year, Apple makes improvements to macOS, the operating system (OS) you use on your Mac. The annual Apple Mac update cycle often brings iterative tweaks, but some years have major changes.

Your macOS operating system – or OS X, for older versions of macOS – can be updated each Fall, so long as Apple is still supporting your device. Here we’ll show you how to prepare your Mac for an update, the right way to update MacOS to the latest version of OS X or macOS, and some apps that make the process much smoother.

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 to the latest version of macOS – macOS 11 Big Sur – requires the following:

• macOS 10.10 or later
• 4GB RAM (Memory)
• 15-20GB of available storage.

Note: To see how much available storage space you have, follow the two step process above, then “Storage” tab at the top of the window.

When you want to upgrade MacOS, keep in mind the latest version of macOS is only available for these models:

• MacBook (Early 2015 or newer)
• MacBook Air (Mid 2012 or newer)
• MacBook Pro (Mid 2012 or newer)
• Mac mini (Late 2012 or newer)
• iMac (Late 2012 or newer)
• iMac Pro (2017)
• Mac Pro (Late 2013 or newer)

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. When you backup your Mac, you’re making a compressed version of your entire operating system.

Learn more about time machine backup.

The purpose of creating a backup is most often to have a recent save point you can reboot from. It’s important to do as often as possible.

Here’s how to create a backup of your Mac using Time Machine:

1. Connect an external drive. This is where your backup will be stored.
2. From your Mac menu bar, go to Apple > System Preferences > Time Machine
3. Click “Select Disk”
4. Select the external drive you connected to your Mac
5. Select “Use Disk” in the new popup window

There’s a much better way to backup your Mac, though: Get Backup Pro.

Get Backup Pro makes backing up your Mac 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 4GB RAM, or Memory, and 12.5GB available storage when upgrading your Mac. (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 – this shows you how much Memory (RAM) you have
3. Select the “Storage” tab
4. Under “Macintosh HD,” ensure you have at least 12.5GB storage 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.

How to update a Mac

You may be wondering “how do I upgrade my Mac operating system?” Now that we’ve told you how to backup your Mac and optimize it, here’s how you update your Mac:

1. From the menu bar on your Mac, select the Apple icon on the top left
2. Select “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 two-step 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:

1. From the menu bar on your Mac, select the Apple icon on the top left
2. Select “Software Update”
3. Select “Advanced”
4. Make sure all boxes are checked

Note: for a Mac to automatically update, it must be connected to power.

Keep in mind you have a bit of control here, too. 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 run CleanMyMac X before a backup with Get Backup Pro. Backing up before an update is always a smart move.

How Can I Update Drivers on Apple OS?

Drivers are what allow your Mac to communicate with peripherals like graphics cards, speakers, or printers. You can’t directly update drivers on a Mac; your best bet is to update your operating system, which has all the necessary drivers.

If you’re using a specific app to communicate with peripherals, like an app for a printer, updating the app itself may install new drivers.

Mac Won’t Update?

If your Mac simply won’t update, it’s likely a hardware issue. As we noted, you’ll need 4GB RAM and 12.5GB storage to update your Mac. If you don’t have at least that, you will be unable to run the latest version of macOS.

Your Mac may also be too old. Though the system requirements help avoid this, Apple only supports older machines for a certain amount of time; this is often because other specs, like graphics cards, are no longer adequate for newer versions of macOS.

It’s also possible the update was interrupted; this is why we advise you have a strong internet connection before updating your Mac. These are core issues with a Mac which won’t update. If you’re experiencing issues, get hold of Apple for support.

Conclusion

Mac Software Update 10.10.5

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 your machine up with Get Backup Pro. Another great app to download is Disk Drill, which can help you recover files you thought were lost.

All three apps are available for free as part of a seven day trial of Setapp, a robust suite of productivity apps for your Mac. Alongside Disk Drill, GEt Backup Pro, and CleanMyMac X, you’ll get unlimited access to the full Setapp library of nearly 200 excellent Mac apps.

Where Do Mac Software Updates Download To

When the trial ends, Setapp is only $9.99 per month to retain unlimited access to the full suite of apps. For families, Setapp’s $19.99 monthly plan allows full access to Setapp on up to four unique Macs. An incredible deal – give Setapp a try today!

Meantime, prepare for all the awesome things you can do with Setapp.

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Nov 16, 2020 • Filed to: Solve Mac Problems • Proven solutions

Well, macOS latest version - Mojave is eventually available out there to download and install. Fortunately, updating Mac to its latest version is a truly easy, straightforward, and free process. More importantly, the update process doesn't take as much time as it takes before. Before you try to update your Mac software, we suggest you read this article.

There are various things you need to know before you update so that everything goes smoothly while and after updating. In this article, we have covered all the things you need to know when it comes to Apple Mac software updates.

Part 1: Reasons for Mac Software Update:

Have you ever wondered why it is always recommended that you should update your Mac software? Well, there are a number of reasons for this. Plus, there are a lot of situations when there is a requirement for updating Mac software. So, why upgrading Mac is so important? Here, we are going to mention the reasons you need to know:

• Security - As you also know that the new update always brings some enhancements and improvements, particularly with respect to security. Also, the new update fixes bugs and other issues you're experiencing in your current Mac software.
• High-Efficiency Video Coding - With updated software on Mac, you can have a new video standard i.e. HEVC. This new video standard is capable of preserving up to 4k resolution and at the same time, reduces file size up to 40%. Thus, it enables you to save a lot of high-quality videos on the Mac.
• Updated Photos - The latest macOS version brings a lot of advanced and interesting editing tools in the built-in Photos app for Mac. So, this will easily provide your pictures a great look and also, helps in organizing pictures in an efficient manner on Mac.
• Siri on Mac - macOS Sierra and above brings Siri, a virtual assistant to the Mac along with some new features designed mainly for desktop. On Mac, Siri is your intelligent personal virtual assistant that helps you multitask to do things easily.
• Updated Safari - With new and latest macOS version, Safari will help to keep you interest activities hidden and secure from advertisers automatically. Plus, you can prevent videos from playing automatically so to enhance browsing speed and experience.

As you can see that there are a lot of benefits to getting the latest Mac software update. If you are ready to update your Mac software, then continue reading this post.

Part 2: Preparations Before Mac Software Update

Before you update Mac, here is what you actually need to do in order to get your Mac computer ready for the software update.

1: Check Your Mac Compatibility:

Checking the Mac compatibility is one of the most crucial things you need to do before you begin with the software update process. Keep in mind that if you attempt to update your Mac software to incompatible macOS, then you can experience some problems and issues later.

Let's take an instance - the apps quit unexpectedly, Mac doesn't complete the starting up procedure, and much more. Thus, you need to check your Mac OS for the latest macOS version compatibility. Following Mac model can be upgraded to the latest version - macOS Mojave:

• MacBook - early 2015 or newer
• MacBook Air - mid-2012 or newer
• MacBook Pro - mid-2012 or newer
• Mac mini - late 2012 or newer
• iMac - late 2012 or newer
• iMac Pro - 2017
• Mac Pro - mid-2010 or newer.

2: Backup Software Files:

It is advisable to backup your data before you start the upgrade process. It is also one of the most important things to do when it comes to the Mac software update.

Wonder how to backup software files on Mac? Well, you can easily create back up of your Mac data using Time Machine hard drive or third-party hard drive. Else, you can transfer or save your important software files to external hard drive before upgrading.

3: Check Mac Storage:

The next step is to check your Mac storage as you need enough space on the Mac in order to update its software without any trouble. Thus, ensure that you are having at least 12.5 GB of free storage and at least 2GB of memory on the Mac.

4: Check the Internet Connection:

Generally, macOS update problems and issues occur due to the weak and unstable internet connection. Thus, if you want to avoid these problems during your upgrade process, make sure that you have a reliable and strong internet connection. Otherwise, you are sure to experience connectivity issues during the process.

These are the few things you need to do before you perform the latest Mac software update. Once ensuring all the above things, you can finally move to the main part i.e. how to update your Mac software.

Part 3: How to Update Mac Software:

Well, there is no doubt that macOS updates enhance the performance, security, and stability of your Mac and it includes updates for iTunes, Safari and other applications that are present in your macOS. So, let's begin to learn the Mac software update process thoroughly.

1: Mac Software Update from App Store:

If you are using an earlier Mac OS, such as macOS Sierra, or earlier, then all you need to do is to follow the below steps to keep your Mac up to date.

Step 1: To start with, run the App Store app on your Mac.

Step 2: Next, you need to click on the 'Updates' option in the App Store toolbar.

Step 3: Now, click on the 'Update' buttons in order to download and install updates if they are available for your Mac system.

If the App Store on your Mac displays no more updates, then your macOS version and all applications are already up to date.

2: Enable the Automatic Software Update:

Do you want that your Mac download updates automatically in the future? If so, then you can easily do that. All you need to do is to enable automatic software update option to stop yourself from downloading updates manually on your Mac.

Follow the below steps on how to turn on automatic software update on Mac:

Step 1: To start with, select 'Apple Menu' and then, go to the 'System Preferences'.

Step 2: Here, tap 'App Store' and then, choose 'Download newly available updates in the background'.

Now, your Mac system will notify or alert you when any updates are available to download and install. Thus, there is now no need to check manually if updates are available to install.

3: Install APP Update without APP Store:

Do you want to install updates for those apps you don't come from the App Store? If so, then here are some ways you can try to install app updates without the app store.

• Update within the app if available - A lot of apps you download from discs or websites come with a built-in update option. You can find one in the File or Help menus. Next, follow the instructions to check for and download and install any updates that are available.
• Update via the developer's website - Some app developers do post patches for their applications on their websites. So, go to the homepage for the app you want to update and then, check either the 'Downloads' or 'News' section to check if a new version is available to download and install.
• Download and install the new version - Well, there are a lot of apps you install from online sources don't come with update options. Instead, they have to be installed freshly with their latest version.

Here is how you can do that:

Step 1: Download and install the installer for the latest version of the application from its official website.

Step 2: Drag your already existing application to the Trash from Applications folder to delete it.

Mac Software Updates In Order

Step 3: Finally, you need to run the installer you downloaded and then, drag the app to the Application folder to install its latest version.

4: Upgrade to the Latest Mac OS Version:

Wonder how to update the software on Mac to the latest Mac OS version? Well, it is easy and free to do. Follow the below steps to learn the update process:

Step 1: To begin with, run the App Store app on your Mac.

Step 2: Then, look for the page in the app for the latest version of Mac OS. This will generally appear at the top of the tab called 'Featured'. If it is not, then you will see it at the top of the section 'Quick Links' located at the right of the Featured page.

Step 3: Now, tap on the 'Download' button to start downloading and installing the upgrade.

Step 4: Next, launch the 'Install latest Mac OS' application in your Applications directory and follow the instructions to install the upgrade.

5: Get Updates for macOS Mojave:

Now, how to get updates for macOS Mojave? Well, you can easily check for any system updates available on your Mac and all you need to do is to follow the below steps:

Step 1: To start with, go to the 'Apple Menu' and then, open the 'System Preferences'.

Step 2: Next, click on the 'Software update' option, and if any updates are ready to download, click on the 'Update Now' button to download and install them.

Part 4: How to Recover Missing Files on Mac?

After Mac update software, you can experience terrible problems such as missing or lost files after the update process. There are a number of causes behind the missing files when updating macOS, for instance, haven't created a backup with Time Machine, the new software installed interruptedly, insufficient storage space, etc.

What if you still lose your important files even after taking all precautions to avoid missing files situation? Then, you need dedicated data recovery software like Recoverit Mac Data Recovery that can help you get back lost data with ease. So, try this data recovery solution and recover your lost, missing or deleted files with a high recovery rate. It has a click-through and simple recovery process that will take a few moments to complete the entire process.

To learn how to recover missing files on Mac, download Recoverit data recovery on your Mac and then, follow the below steps:

Step 1: Select a location

Where Does Mac Software Update Download To Windows 10

Install and run the software and next, you need to choose a location on your Mac where you think you lost your files. Next, click on the 'Start' button to continue.

Step 2: Scan the location

Now, the software will begin with the scan process to look for the lost or missing files on your selected location.

Mac Software Download

Step 3: Preview and recover missing files

Where Does Mac Software Update Download Files

In a while, the software will show the scanned results and you can preview files. Finally, select the desired ones and then, click on the 'Recover' button to get back your files.

Conclusion:

How To Update Mac Version

We hope that you now got a clear idea about how to do a software update on Mac. Here, you will find everything you need to know about updating the software on your Mac. This guide has also provided the solution to get missing files after the update in the form of Recoverit data recovery for Mac.