How to Update MacBook Pro (2026)

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Check for macOS Updates

1. Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen.
2. Click “System Settings” (or “System Preferences” on older macOS versions).
3. Click “General,” then “Software Update.”
4. Your Mac checks for available updates. This takes a few seconds.
5. If an update is available, click “Update Now” (for a minor update) or “Upgrade Now” (for a major macOS version upgrade).
6. Enter your Mac password when prompted.
7. The update downloads and installs. Your Mac restarts during installation.

Minor updates (like macOS 15.4 to 15.5) usually take 15 to 30 minutes. Major upgrades (like macOS 14 to macOS 15) can take 45 minutes to over an hour depending on your internet speed and Mac model.

Enable Automatic Updates

Set your Mac to download and install updates automatically so you don’t have to check manually.

1. Go to System Settings, then General, then Software Update.
2. Click the info icon (i) next to “Automatic Updates.”
3. Turn on all options: “Check for updates,” “Download new updates when available,” “Install macOS updates,” and “Install Security Responses and system files.”

With automatic updates enabled, your Mac downloads updates in the background and installs them overnight when the Mac is plugged in, connected to WiFi, and not in use. You won’t be interrupted during work hours.

Update Apps

App Store apps: Open the App Store and click “Updates” in the sidebar. Click “Update All” to update everything at once, or update individual apps. The App Store also updates automatically by default.

Non-App Store apps: Most apps have a built-in update checker. Look in the app’s menu bar under the app name, then “Check for Updates.” Apps like Chrome, Firefox, Slack, and Zoom handle their own updates independently from the App Store.

Homebrew (for developers): If you use Homebrew, run “brew update && brew upgrade” in Terminal to update all Homebrew-managed packages.

Before You Update

Back up your Mac. Use Time Machine or another backup method before installing major updates. Plug in an external drive, go to System Settings, then General, then Time Machine, and click “Back Up Now.” Updates rarely cause data loss, but having a backup means you can recover if something goes wrong.

Our 4K monitors for Mac Mini walkthrough covers this from a different angle.

Check storage space. macOS updates need 10 to 35 GB of free space depending on the update size. Go to System Settings, then General, then Storage to see how much space you have. If you’re low, delete large files, clear the Trash, or move files to an external drive.

Plug in the charger. Your MacBook won’t start a software update if the battery is below 50%. Plug in the power adapter before updating to avoid interruptions.

Check app compatibility. Major macOS upgrades occasionally break older apps. Check the developer’s website for each app you rely on to confirm it supports the new macOS version before upgrading.

Update Using Terminal

For users comfortable with the command line, you can check for and install updates through Terminal.

1. Open Terminal (Applications, then Utilities, then Terminal).
2. Type “softwareupdate -l” and press Return. This lists all available updates.
3. To install all available updates, type “sudo softwareupdate -ia” and press Return.
4. Enter your password when prompted.
5. The updates download and install. Your Mac restarts if required.

This method is useful when the Software Update panel in System Settings isn’t working properly, or if you want to script updates across multiple Macs.

What If Your Mac Is Too Old to Update

Apple drops support for older Mac models with each major macOS release. If Software Update says “your Mac is up to date” but you know a newer macOS version exists, your Mac may not be supported.

To check your Mac model: click the Apple menu, then “About This Mac.” The model year is listed. If your Mac is too old for the latest macOS, you still receive security updates for your current macOS version for about 2 years after it’s replaced.

Looking for more? We have a dedicated guide on 32gb MacBook Pro.

Third-party tools like OpenCore Legacy Patcher can install newer macOS versions on unsupported Macs, but Apple doesn’t officially support this and some features may not work correctly.

Troubleshooting Update Issues

Update stuck on “Checking for updates.” Restart your Mac and try again. Check your internet connection. If it still won’t check, go to Terminal and run “sudo softwareupdate -l” to check from the command line. If that also stalls, reset the software update catalog by running “sudo softwareupdate –clear-catalog” then try again.

Update fails during installation. Restart your Mac normally. If it boots fine, try the update again. If it gets stuck on a loading screen during restart, hold the power button for 10 seconds to force shut down, then turn it back on. Boot into Recovery Mode (hold Command + R on Intel Macs, or hold the power button on Apple Silicon Macs) and try reinstalling macOS from there.

Not enough storage space. Delete files you don’t need, empty the Trash, clear browser caches, and remove unused apps. Use the Storage management tool (System Settings, then General, then Storage) to identify what’s taking the most space. You need at least 15 to 20 GB free for most updates.

“An error occurred” during download. Check your internet connection. Try connecting to a different WiFi network. If the download keeps failing, wait a few hours and try again – Apple’s servers get overloaded on update release days. You can also download the full macOS installer from the App Store or Apple’s website and install from that.

How often should I update my Mac?

Install security updates as soon as they’re available – they patch vulnerabilities that hackers actively exploit. Minor macOS updates (point releases like 15.3 to 15.4) are safe to install within the first week. Major version upgrades (like Sonoma to Sequoia) are fine to wait a few weeks on, letting early adopters find and report bugs first.

Will updating erase my files?

No. macOS updates and upgrades preserve all your files, apps, and settings. The update replaces system files only. A backup is still recommended as a precaution, but data loss from an update is extremely rare.

Can I undo a macOS update?

There’s no built-in downgrade button. If a Time Machine backup exists from before the update, you can restore from it to go back to the previous version. Without a backup, you’d need to erase the Mac and install the older macOS version from Recovery Mode or a bootable USB installer, then restore your files from a separate backup.

Sources

Apple – Update macOS | Apple – macOS Compatibility