Updating macOS takes about ten minutes of your attention and one menu most people can find in thirty seconds — but skipping the two-minute prep is how updates turn into panicked evenings. Here is the exact process we use on every refurbished Mac that leaves our Marion, Ohio shop, plus the fixes for the two ways updates most often go sideways.
Before you tap Update: the two-minute checklist
- Back up first. Plug in any external drive and let Time Machine run (System Settings > General > Time Machine). Updates almost never eat data — but "almost" is why backups exist.
- Free up space. Small point updates need a few GB; a major version upgrade (say Sequoia to Tahoe) wants roughly 20 GB free. Check under Apple menu > About This Mac > More Info > Storage. If you are tight, our storage-full guide clears room fast.
- Plug into power. MacBooks will refuse to start a major upgrade below about 20% battery, and you do not want a lid-closed sleep mid-install.
The 60-second version (Ventura, Sonoma, Sequoia, Tahoe)
- Click the Apple menu (top-left) > System Settings.
- Click General in the sidebar, then Software Update.
- Wait a few seconds while it checks. If an update appears, click Update Now (point update) or Upgrade Now (new major version).
- Enter your password, agree to the license, and let it run. The Mac will restart itself — possibly more than once. That is normal.
Updates are free, always. macOS has not cost money since 2013, and Apple never charges for point updates. Anything that asks for payment to "update your Mac" is a scam.
On an older macOS? The menu lives somewhere else
If your Mac runs Monterey or earlier, there is no System Settings app yet — go to Apple menu > System Preferences > Software Update instead. Same buttons from there. And if Software Update says you are up to date but you know a newer macOS exists, your Mac has likely reached its ceiling — jump to the "too old" section below.
How long does a macOS update take?
- Point updates (26.1 to 26.2): usually 15–30 minutes including the restart.
- Major upgrades (Sequoia to Tahoe): 45 minutes to a bit over an hour on most Apple silicon Macs, longer on old Intel machines or slow Wi-Fi.
The progress bar lies — it can sit at "about 13 minutes remaining" for half an hour. As long as the fan is spinning or the Apple logo bar creeps forward, leave it alone.
Update stuck or failed? Work down this list
- Give it more time. A black screen with an Apple logo and a progress bar is still working. Only worry after an hour of zero movement.
- Restart and retry. Hold the power button until the Mac shuts off, boot, and run Software Update again. It resumes cleanly — half of "failed" updates finish on the second attempt.
- Check storage. "An error occurred while installing" is very often a full disk wearing a trench coat. Free up 20 GB and retry.
- Try Safe Mode. Boot into Safe Mode (hold Shift on Intel; on Apple silicon hold the power button, pick your disk, then hold Shift) and update from there — it skips third-party software that can block installers.
- Reinstall via Recovery Mode. Still stuck? Recovery Mode can reinstall macOS without touching your files, which repairs a broken update nine times out of ten.
"My Mac says it's up to date" — when the Mac is the problem
Every Mac has a final macOS version it will ever run. In 2026 the line is sharp: macOS Tahoe 26 runs on every Apple silicon Mac plus exactly four Intel models, and the next release, macOS Golden Gate 27, is Apple silicon only. Not sure which side you are on? Check what macOS version your Mac can run — and if you are not even sure which Mac you own, identify it here first.
A Mac past its update ceiling still works, but Safari falls behind, then banking sites complain, then security patches stop. If you are there, replacing a dead-end Intel machine does not require Apple Store prices: our Apple clearance section starts with the M1 MacBook Air at $450 and the M2 Air at $549 — both get macOS Golden Gate 27 and years of updates beyond it, with free shipping and a full warranty.
Frequently asked questions
Is updating macOS free?
Yes — every macOS update and major upgrade is free from Apple. There is no paid tier, ever.
Will updating macOS delete my files?
No. Updates install over your existing system and keep apps, documents, and settings. Back up anyway — power loss or a failing drive mid-update is the rare exception backups are for.
Should I install a new major macOS version right away?
If you rely on your Mac for work, waiting for the first point release (the .1) is a sane habit — early bugs get fixed fast. Security point updates for your current version, though, install those promptly.
How do I turn on automatic updates?
System Settings > General > Software Update > click the info icon next to Automatic Updates, and switch on security responses plus macOS updates. Your Mac will install overnight while plugged in.
Why does my Mac not show the newest macOS?
Either Apple is rolling it out in waves (wait a day or two), or your Mac is not compatible with it — the compatibility guide settles it in one minute.
Updating turned into upgrading? Chat with Rick on any page for a straight answer on which refurbished Mac fits, or browse clearance deals. All guides →