Keeping the apps on your Mac up-to-date is the all-time fashion to prepare known bugs, better performance, and admission newer features. Nevertheless, the procedure to install updates varies for App Store apps, native programs, and applications yous downloaded through your web browser.

Then if you experience confused, here'due south exactly you need to practise to update all the apps on your Mac.

Update Apps Using the Mac App Store

The Mac's App Store makes downloading and installing apps a breeze. It as well allows you to update them merely equally rapidly. Here'southward how:

  1. Open the App Shop.
  2. Select Updates from the sidebar. Then, await for a couple of seconds, and yous volition see a list of awaiting app updates.
  3. Select the Update push button next to the app you want to update. Or, select Update All to apply every available app update.
Updates screen on the Mac App Store.

Alternatively, you can search for an app using the App Store's Search bar. If the app has a pending update, you lot'll come across an Update option correct within the search results.

Enable Automatic App Store Updates

If you accept a habit of forgetting to update the apps that you've downloaded off the App Store, you can instruct your Mac to keep them up to date on its own. Here's how:

  1. Open the App Shop.
  2. Select App Shop > Preferences on the menu bar.
  3. Check the box next to Automated Updates.
Enabling automatic App Store updates on Mac.

Update Stock Apps With a macOS Update

Stock apps—such equally Agenda, Music, and Notes—do non receive updates via the Mac's App Store. The simply way to update them is by updating the Mac'south organisation software. Here's how to do that:

  1. Open the Apple carte and select System Preferences.
  2. Select Software Update. Then, wait for a few seconds while your Mac scans for the latest system software updates.
  3. Select Update Now.
Software Update screen on a Mac.

You can likewise configure your Mac to go along the system software up to engagement automatically by checking the box next to Automatically keep my Mac up to date.

Rarely, Apple may release optional updates for its stock apps—such every bit Safari—that y'all can install separately. If you see an Other updates are available section inside the Software Update screen, select More info, pick any available app updates, and select Install Now.

Update Apps Using the App Settings

The App Store doesn't list updates for apps you installed by downloading directly through your browser. So if yous take a non-App Store app, you lot must look for a Check for Updates option inside the app itself. Unremarkably, you'll detect that on the app's carte du jour bar, status menu (if the app inserts a condition icon), or on the app's internal Settings or Preferences page.

Check for Updates option on an app's menu bar.

If yous have problem updating an app, open up its Most screen and note down the version number. And so, compare versions by heading over to the programmer'due south website. If y'all find a more up-to-date version, remove the app from your Mac and install the newer version.

Some apps (for example, third-political party browsers such as Chrome and Firefox) have the power to update themselves automatically and won't feature a manual update option.

Third-party app updater tool for the Mac.

An easier mode to keep apps on your Mac up to appointment is by using app updater tools such equally MacUpdater and CleanMyMac X. You can use them to browse for newer versions of both App Shop and non-App Store apps. You can then perform the updates manually or upgrade to a paid program and configure the updater tools themselves to apply the updates.

Download: MacUpdater (Free, premium version available)

Download: CleanMyMac Ten (Complimentary, subscription available)

Always Keep Your Mac Apps Updated

Taking the time to update the various apps on your Mac helps keep everything running in top shape. That'southward too an fantabulous opportunity to review and delete any programs that you don't use anymore.

How to Uninstall Programs on a Mac

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About The Author

Dilum Senevirathne (54 Articles Published)

Dilum Senevirathne is a freelance tech author and blogger with over 3 years of experience contributing to online technology publications. He specializes in topics related to iOS, iPadOS, macOS, Windows, and Google web apps. Dilum holds an Advanced Diploma in Direction Accounting from CIMA and AICPA.

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