How to update your Mac to Ventura for the latest features and bug fixes (2024)

• To update your Mac, go to System Preferences or About This Mac.
• If your Mac is still running macOS High Sierra or earlier, use the App Store to update it.
• You should update your Mac regularly, as every update comes with new features and security patches.

In many ways, Macs are built for convenience: They have backlit keyboards, there's a variety of ways to take and save screenshots, and they come with a wide assortment of shortcuts that can speed up your work.

But like all devices, they also require updates from time to time. And although updates can be annoying and time-consuming — Who hasn't put off an update until the very last moment? — they're also incredibly important.

An outdated Mac is more susceptible to bugs, crashes, and even viruses (yes, Macs can get them too). And if you leave updates waiting for too long, your favorite apps might stop working altogether.

In October 2022, Apple released macOS Ventura, the latest version of its famous operating system. And if you're currently working on a Mac, now is a good time to update your computer, since Ventura received an update in January 2023 containing a host of new security fixes.

How to update your Mac

There are a few major ways to update your Mac, and which one you use will depend on what macOS version you're currently running.

Also keep in mind that depending on how big the updates are, how responsive your computer is, and how fast your internet is, the updates could take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours to download and install.

How to update a Mac running macOS Mojave or later

If you've bought or updated your Mac since 2018, chances are that you're in this category.

1. In the top-left corner of your screen, click the Apple icon to open a drop-down menu.

2. There are two menus here that you can use to check for updates. Click either System Preferences or About This Mac.

3. No matter which one you pick, in the menu that opens, click Software Update.

4. Wait a few moments for your Mac to connect to the internet and check for updates. If an update is available, you'll be shown what it's called — just click Update Now or Upgrade Now to install it.

You can also choose to enable automatic updates from this screen by checking the Automatically keep my Mac up to date box. This will ensure that whenever a new update is available, you'll be told without having to open this screen.

How to update a Mac running macOS High Sierra or earlier

High Sierra was released in late 2017. If you haven't updated since then, you should be sure to update as soon as you can to keep your computer safe.

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

2. Select App Store.

3. Click Updates in the left sidebar of the App Store.

From the above screen, you'll be given the option to update your Mac. Any Mac computer released in 2012 or later should be able to update to at least macOS Catalina.

For future reference, don't worry about accepting an update and then having your computer unexpectedly restart — you'll be notified beforehand if a restart is required.

How to update a Mac running an older version of Ventura

Software updates move fast, and so you may already be behind on your macOS updates, even if you're using Ventura. If that's the case, you can follow these steps to update to the newest possible version.

1. Click the Apple icon at the top left of your screen from any app or page. If you see a notification for any updates next to System Settings, it's a good sign that the latest version of the OS is now available.

2. Select About This Mac to find out which version of Ventura you're using — 13.1 is the earliest. From there, you can click More Info to take a shortcut to the next step.

3. Navigate to System Settings, which you can also find in the Apple icon Menu.

4. Click on the General tab in the menu on the left, and then on Software Update. From here, you'll see if automatic OS updates are enabled, as well as if any are currently available.

How to troubleshoot if your Mac still won't update

If you're still having trouble updating macOS to a newer version, there could be a few different reasons why:

• You don't have enough RAM. On most computers, you can upgrade your RAM yourself. Unfortunately, some models, especially laptops like the MacBook Air, don't allow you to swap out sticks of RAM yourself, meaning that you may have to buy a new computer.
• Your laptop simply isn't compatible with newer versions of MacOS. For instance, if your Mac is so old that it can't even upgrade to Catalina, it's probably time to buy a new model anyway.
• You may be updated to the latest version already. You may not have realized it if you have automatic updates installed. When in doubt, follow the steps above to check your macOS version details. Version numbers starting in 13 indicate that you're running Ventura, and are more than likely up to date for 2023.