KI 1109 Update MacOS on Mac computers

Updates fix bugs and security holes that are discovered in the operating system, and with major upgrades, functionality is expanded, changed and improved.

Before you begin:

Find out which version of macOS your Mac is using: See KI 1638 What version of MacOS is installed?

See which the IT division supports: KI 1639 Which versions of MacOS can be used?

For systems from 10.14 (Mojave) and newer:

Choose System Preferences from the Apple menu in the corner of the screen.
Click Software Update in the System Preferences window.
If updates are available, this will be in the window with an Upgrade Now button at the back.
Click Update Now or Upgrade Now:
- Update now installs the latest updates for the installed version, such as an update from macOS Big Sur 11.5 to macOS Big Sur 11.6.
- Upgrade now installs a major new version with a new name, such as macOS Monterey. Software update only shows upgrades that are compatible with your Mac.
Once you have started the update, it will proceed automatically. Your Mac will in most cases restart one or more times in the process. When the process is complete, the Mac will display the login window, and you will have to log in again.
When you get a notification in Software Update that your Mac is up to date, macOS and all installed programs are up to date, including Safari, Messages, Mail, Music, Photos, FaceTime, and Calendar.

If you downloaded apps from the App Store, use the App Store to get updates for those apps.

You will be informed and reminded of available updates in several places in the system, and you will also be able to start updating from the notification dialog that will appear in the right corner when an update has been downloaded. If there is more than one update available, you can choose which updates you want to run. Click on the little blue More info link. This opens a window where you can deselect individual updates.

At the bottom of the window is an option to update your Mac automatically. If your Mac is managed by the IT division, this box should have a minus sign in it. This indicates that some advanced selections are turned on.
The following options are enabled on the UiB-operated Mac:

Check for update
Download new updates as they become available
Install system data files and security updates

These options allow security updates to be installed automatically, and other updates to be downloaded and queued. You are regularly notified that there are updates that you have not installed.
In addition, the options Install macOS updates and Install software updates from the App store are available. These two choices are voluntary.