Once your Mac turns off, wait for 10 seconds.

Click Shut Down on the dialog box that appears.

It might take a long time for your computer to restart. You can also click More info to see what changes will be made with the update and if there are any system requirements, such as how much storage space you need to update your Mac. Note: If you want to install future updates automatically, check the box next to Automatically keep my Mac up to date. To find out how fast your WiFi connection is, check out our guide on how to test your WiFi speed. However, this is usually not very accurate, and it could take a long time, depending on your internet speed. You will see a countdown clock with the estimated time it will take to download the update in the window. It might take a while for the progress wheel to stop spinning as your computer searches for an update.

Wait for your Mac to check for available updates.

If an update is available, you might see a red badge icon in the top-right corner of the gear icon.

Next, select Software Update.This is the menu option with the gear icon.

If an update is available, you might see a notification in the drop-down menu.

Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of your screen.

Once the update is finished downloading, click Download and Restart. Wait for your computer to find the update and click Update Now.

Then go to System Preferences > Software Update. To update your Mac, click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of your screen. You can view the list of devices compatible with Big Sur from Apple’s support page.įinally, remove any external hard drives or peripherals connected to your Mac. You also need to check that the software version you want to install is compatible with your Mac hardware. To find out how to back up your Mac computer with Time Machine, check out our step-by-step guide here. Here’s how to update your Mac, and what to do if your Mac won’t update.īefore you update your Mac, you should back up your files in case your computer crashes. Your Mac will be less likely to get bugs or suffer from crashes, which will also improve your computer’s overall performance. Updating your Mac is important so you can get Apple’s newest features and security patches.

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