How to: Enable automatic macOS updates and app updates on your Mac


Instructions

  1. Open System Settings.

  2. Click General. Then, choose Software Update.

    macOS System Settings with "General" selected and "Software Update" highlighted

  3. To the right of "Automatic Updates", click the information icon (the "i" with a circle around it).

    Software Update screen in macOS, with the information "i" icon next to "Automatic Updates" selected

  4. Next to each item listed, slide the switch to the "on" position (that is, to the right). Then, click Done.

    Automatic updates settings with all options toggled on and the "Done" button selected

  5. If prompted for authentication, type the username and password of an account on your Mac with administrative rights. Then, click Unlock.

    Authentication prompt in macOS to unlock Software Update settings, with fields for username and password and the "Unlock" button selected

Outcome

The operating system on your Mac, as well as your apps from the Mac App Store, are automatically kept up to date.