Keeping your Mac up-to-date with the latest version of macOS is essential for getting the best performance and features from your device.
But sometimes you may need to force a macOS update when its not happening automatically.
In this article, well provide a step-by-step guide on how to force a macOS update, as well as what to do before forcing an update and how to keep your Mac automatically up-to-date.
Well also explore common issues when forcing a macOS update, and what to do if an update fails.
So read on to get all the information you need for keeping your Mac up-to-date!
Table of Contents
Short Answer
To force a macOS update, open the App Store and select the Updates tab.
Once there, click the Update All button in the top right corner of the window.
Alternatively, you can update individual apps by selecting them from the list and clicking the Update button next to them.
If you are running macOS Mojave or earlier, you can also open the System Preferences, select Software Update, and click the Check Now button to check for updates.
What is macOS?
macOS is the operating system developed by Apple for its Macintosh computers.
It is the successor to the classic Mac OS and is designed to provide a more reliable, secure, and efficient computing experience.
macOS is based on the Unix operating system and is built on top of the Darwin core, Apple’s open source operating system.
With each new release, macOS introduces new features and improvements that make it easier to use and more secure.
The most recent version of macOS is macOS Big Sur.
macOS Big Sur introduces a redesigned user interface, enhanced security features, improved performance, and support for the latest hardware and software.
It also features a new look and feel, including a new Control Center, redesigned icons, a customizable Dock, and a customizable Notification Center.
Additionally, macOS Big Sur includes new multitasking features, an improved Safari web browser, and support for the latest Apple technologies such as FaceTime, iCloud, and Apple Pay.
Why Force a macOS Update?
Forcing a macOS update is a great way to keep your system up-to-date with the latest features and security fixes.
By updating your MacOS regularly, you’ll be able to get the latest bug fixes, security patches, and performance improvements.
Plus, you’ll be able to take advantage of the latest features and capabilities that come with each new version of MacOS.
By forcing a macOS update, you can ensure that your computer is always running the most current version of the operating system.
Having the most up-to-date version of MacOS can also provide additional security and protection against potential threats.
By using the latest version of MacOS, you can gain access to the latest security features that can help protect your system from malicious software, hackers, and other cybercriminals.
Additionally, the latest versions of MacOS are often more secure and reliable than prior versions, which can help to improve the overall performance and speed of your system.
Furthermore, forcing a macOS update is the best way to ensure that all of your apps and programs are compatible with the most recent version of the operating system.
By having the latest version of MacOS, you can ensure that all of your applications are running smoothly and that you’re getting the most out of their features and capabilities.
Additionally, if you’re using any type of online services, such as iCloud or Apple Music, having the latest version of MacOS ensures that your account remains secure and up-to-date.
Step-by-Step Guide to Force a macOS Update
Forcing a macOS update is an important part of keeping your computer up-to-date with the latest features and security fixes.
To force an update, you will need to open the System Preferences, select the Software Update tab, and then click the Check Now button.
This will initiate a search for any available updates.
If an update is available, you will be able to choose to install it immediately or schedule it for a later time.
Additionally, you can choose to automatically install future updates by selecting the Automatically keep my Mac up-to-date checkbox.
This will ensure that your computer is always running the latest version of macOS.
To get started, open the System Preferences window on your Mac.
You can do this by clicking on the Apple Icon in the top left corner of your screen and selecting the System Preferences option.
Once the System Preferences window is open, select the Software Update tab.
This will open a window that shows you any available updates that are available for your Mac.
If there are any updates available, you can choose to install them immediately or schedule them for a later time.
To install an update, simply click the Install Now button, and the update will be installed.
If you would like to schedule an update for a later time, you can click the Schedule button and select a time for the update to be installed.
You can also enable the Automatically keep my Mac up-to-date checkbox.
This will ensure that your computer is always running the latest version of macOS, as any future updates will automatically be installed.
That’s all there is to forcing a macOS update.
By following these steps, you can ensure that your computer is always running the latest version of macOS, so you can take advantage of the latest features and security fixes.
What to Do Before Forcing a macOS Update
Before forcing a macOS update, it’s important to make sure that your computer is ready.
First, make sure your computer is plugged in and has enough battery power to last through the update process.
If you have a laptop, make sure it’s connected to a power source.
Secondly, it’s a good idea to back up your computer.
This will ensure that if any data is lost during the update, you can restore it easily.
Additionally, make sure you have enough free space on your hard drive to accommodate the update.
Lastly, make sure any essential files are closed and all other applications are exited, as the update process can take a while and you don’t want to lose any unsaved data.
Once you’ve completed all of these steps, you’re ready to begin the process of forcing a macOS update.
How to Automatically Keep Your Mac Up-to-Date
Forcing a macOS update is an important way to keep your computer running smoothly and securely.
It ensures that you have the latest features, bug fixes and security updates installed.
Fortunately, macOS makes it easy to stay up-to-date.
All you need to do is open the System Preferences, select the Software Update tab, and then click the Check Now button.
This will initiate a search for any available updates.
If an update is available, you can choose to install it immediately or schedule it for a later time.
Additionally, you can choose to automatically install future updates by selecting the Automatically keep my Mac up to date checkbox.
This will ensure that your computer is always running the latest version of macOS.
When you select the Automatically keep my Mac up-to-date checkbox, macOS will check for new updates every day.
When new updates are available, they will be installed automatically in the background.
This makes sure that your computer is always running the latest version of macOS.
Additionally, you can customize your update settings by setting a specific time for the updates to install, or you can choose to install updates only when your computer is not in use.
By setting up automatic updates, you won’t have to worry about manually checking for updates or installing them yourself.
Automatic updates make sure that your Mac is always running the latest version of macOS, so you can rest assured that your computer is secure and up to date.
Common Issues When Forcing a macOS Update
Forcing a macOS update comes with some potential issues that users need to be aware of before they initiate the update process.
The first is that macOS updates can take a significant amount of time to complete.
Depending on your internet connection and the size of the update, it can take several hours for the update to complete.
Additionally, the update process may require a restart of the computer, which can also increase the total time required for the update.
Another issue that users may encounter when forcing a macOS update is compatibility issues with existing software and hardware.
While macOS updates typically address any issues related to compatibility, it is possible that some software or hardware may not be compatible with the new version of macOS.
If this is the case, users may need to uninstall the software or hardware before they can complete the update.
Additionally, users may need to reinstall any software that was removed before the update was initiated.
Finally, users may encounter issues when attempting to force a macOS update if their computer does not have enough free storage space available.
This can be especially true if users have not cleared out their temporary files or other unnecessary data in some time.
If this is the case, users will need to free up enough space to accommodate the update before they can initiate it.
Additionally, users may need to delete any unwanted applications or files to make sure they have enough storage space available for the update.
What to Do If an Update Fails
If you have attempted to force a macOS update but it fails to install, there are a few steps you can take to try and get it working again.
Firstly, you can try restarting your Mac and then attempting to force the update again.
If that doesn’t work, you can use the macOS Recovery feature to diagnose any possible problems with your system.
To access the Recovery feature, restart your Mac and hold down Command + R while it starts up.
Once you’re in the macOS Recovery menu, select the Disk Utility option, and then select your boot drive from the list of available disks.
Select the First Aid option and then click on Run to check for any errors with your hard drive.
If errors are found, the Disk Utility can repair them and may help with the update installation process.
If the update still fails after running the First Aid procedure, you can try downloading the update manually from the Apple website and reinstalling.
You can find the appropriate download for your version of macOS by searching for it on the Apple website.
Once you have the update downloaded, simply double-click it to start the installation process.
If all else fails, you can also take your Mac to an Apple Store and have a technician look into the issue.
Final Thoughts
Forcing a macOS update can be a great way to stay up-to-date and secure on your Mac.
With this step-by-step guide, you now know exactly how to force a macOS update and what to do if an update fails.
Before forcing an update, it’s important to ensure that all of your files are backed up and that you have the latest version of the macOS installed.
Additionally, you can choose to automatically keep your Mac up-to-date by enabling the Automatically keep my Mac up to date checkbox in the Software Update tab.
Now that you have the knowledge to stay up-to-date on your Mac, get started and make sure your Mac is running the latest version of macOS!