Software Updates

In this lesson for What’s New in macOS Mojave, we look at the new Software Update preference pane in the Mac’s System Preferences.

In previous versions of macOS, all the software updates were handled by the Mac App Store. This included both apps you’ve downloaded from the App Store and any macOS updates. With Mojave, Apple has moved any system updates to a new preference pane in System Preferences – Software Update. This new preference pane is now where you can see if there are any updates to your Mac and where you set up automatic updates. Any updates to apps you’ve downloaded are still handled by the App Store.

Checking for Software Updates
To open the Software Update preference pane, you need to first open your System Preferences. Once you do that, you’ll see a new preference pane for Software Update. When you open it, your Mac will check for any software updates. If there are any, you can install them from here.

Setting Advanced Automatic Options for Updates
You can set what you want your mac to automatically update by click on Advanced in the Software Update preference pane. When you click on Advanced, you’ll see various options.

Check for Updates
When this is selected, your Mac will automatically check for updates. This option does not automatically install them, all it does it check for them.

Download New Updates when Available
When there is a new update, this option will allow your mac to download the update. It does not install the updates though, it just downloads them.

Install macOS Updates
With this option, your Mac will install any updates automatically.

Install App Updates from the App Store
This option allows the App Store to update any apps that you’ve downloaded from the app store. You have this same option in the App Store preferences.

Install System Data Files and Security Updates
With this option, your Mac will install any system data files and security updates, but it will not install general updates such as when Apple introduces a new feature.

See this Lesson in Action
If you want to see this lesson in action, take a look at the video above.