The latest macOS updates arrive with a slew of exciting and promising features. You can either wait for Mac to get updated automatically or force update. In this article I will explain how you can update your Mac and enjoy the new features.
- What should you do before upgrading to the latest macOS version?
- Which models of Mac are compatible with the latest version of macOS?
- How to update macOS on Mac
- How to update macOS to latest version
- What is the macOS Beta version? How to get it?
What should you do before upgrading to the latest macOS version?
Many things can go wrong while updating your Mac. It is important to safeguard your Mac from such happenings. It is not wise to trigger happy and hit the update button. Follow the steps outlined below to prepare your Mac for an update.
- Check whether your Mac is compatible with the latest macOS.
- Ensure you have enough free space. I would recommend freeing up at least 25GB before installing macOS Monterey.
- Head over to Apple forums/ Reddit and check whether users are facing any major issues with the latest macOS.
- Clear junk files and clean your Mac. This will also help reclaim storage space.
- Back up your Mac.
- Connect your Mac to a fast and reliable network. Avoid updating on public WiFi.
- Log in to iCloud.
Which models of Mac are compatible with the latest version of macOS?
It is important to check whether your Mac supports the latest macOS. Otherwise, all the efforts will go in vain. If your Mac doesn’t support the update, you will not get the update notification. In certain cases, your Mac supports the update; however, the update is stripped of certain new features.
Apple publishes a list of compatible devices for each macOS release. For instance, head over to the macOS Monterey support page to check compatibility. Before updating, check your MacBook version and specifications.
How to update macOS on Mac
- Click Apple logo and select System Preferences from the menu.
- Select Software Update.
- Wait while your Mac searches for updates.
- If it says Your Mac is up to date, then no new update is available.
- If an update is available, click Upgrade Now.
- Make sure the internet connection is fast and reliable. Updates run into tens of gigabytes. The whole process could take a while.
How to update macOS to latest version
- Open App Store on your Mac.
- Select Updates from the menu bar on the top.
- App Store will show whether an update is available.
- If it is available, tap Update.
- The process could take anywhere between a few minutes to an hour. It largely depends on the size of the update and internet speed.
What is the macOS Beta version? How to get it?
Apple’s beta software program is a great way to test future macOS. The program is geared towards developers and power users. Enrolling in the macOS beta program lets you check out the pre-release version. That said, you will likely find bugs and other issues in the beta version. But that’s the point of enrolling in a beta program.
There are multiple ways to download the macOS developer beta. I would not recommend installing the beta macOS version on your daily driver or your primary Mac. At times the issues could hamper your workflow and cause delays. And all of them require enrollment into Apple’s beta program.
Worst case scenario, you can always downgrade to the stable macOS if something goes wrong. However, the data that was not backed up will be lost. Which macOS version do you like the most? Let us know in the comments below.
Read more:
- How to delete Mac partition in macOS Monterey (SSD or HDD)
- Most useful Terminal commands for macOS (Updated)
- Best widgets for macOS Monterey you should use
- Screenshot not working on Mac? 8 Quick fixes
Mahit is an engineer by Education with a corporate stint to his name. He ditched the corporate boardroom wars in favor of the technology battleground. For the better part of a decade, he has worked for popular publishing outlets, including Dennis Publishing, BGR India, AppStorm, MakeUseOf, and iPhonehacks.