Updating your Mac’s operating system is generally considered safe and recommended in order to get the latest features, security patches, and bug fixes. However, as with any software update, there are some potential risks to be aware of.
What are the benefits of updating my Mac?
Here are some of the key benefits of keeping your Mac up-to-date:
- Security patches – Apple regularly releases security updates to fix vulnerabilities that could be exploited by malware or hackers. Staying up-to-date ensures you have the latest protections.
- New features – New versions of macOS typically introduce useful new features, apps and capabilities you wouldn’t get on older versions.
- Bug fixes – Updates fix bugs, glitches and other issues you may experience on your current version of macOS.
- App compatibility – Newer apps and programs sometimes require you to have the latest OS version.
- Better performance – Updates can improve overall system performance and efficiency.
What are the potential risks of updating?
Although rare, here are some of the risks to weigh when considering a Mac update:
- Compatibility issues – In some cases, updating macOS can cause compatibility problems with existing apps and devices, especially older ones.
- Bugs – There’s a small chance introducing new software bugs that weren’t caught during Apple’s beta testing.
- Performance problems – Updating could slow things down, especially on older Macs, as the new OS may be more resource intensive.
- Lost settings/data – Although uncommon, bugs could cause settings or data loss, so backups are always a good precaution before updating.
- Disruption to workflow – Updating takes time and can disrupt your productivity if apps or settings you rely on aren’t working right away.
How can I check if an update will work well with my Mac?
To help ensure an update doesn’t cause problems, here are some steps to take:
- Check compatibility – Look up your Mac model and the OS version you’re updating to and see if any known issues are reported.
- Check app compatibility – Visit developers’ websites for your must-have apps and see if they officially support the new OS.
- Run a backup – Use Time Machine or another backup method to ensure your files, settings and apps can be restored if needed.
- Check available disk space – Make sure you have sufficient storage space for the update install file and any new OS requirements.
- Close open apps – Update with all apps closed to avoid potential stability or corruption issues during the install process.
- Update apps beforehand – Update third-party apps to latest versions so they are ready for the new OS.
- Read update details – Carefully check Apple’s release notes for any specific issues or steps needed for your model.
What Mac models are most at risk for update issues?
As a general rule, the older your Mac model, the more likely you are to encounter compatibility issues or performance problems after an update. Here are the machines most at risk:
- Macs from 2009 or earlier – Very old hardware often can’t run the latest macOS versions well.
- Macs under 4GB RAM – Low memory can cause slowdowns after updating.
- 32-bit Intel Macs – Models released before 2012 lack support for 64-bit only apps.
- Pre-2013 MacBook Air – Slower solid-state drives may hamper performance.
- Vintage Mac Pros – Tower models from 2008-2012 can suffer graphics issues.
For very outdated Macs, it may be safer to not update past the last supported macOS version to avoid potential problems.
Should I upgrade my hardware before or after updating?
If your Mac is already nearing the end of its supported lifespan, upgrading hardware like adding RAM or an SSD can help improve performance after updating. But here are pros and cons of upgrading before or after:
| Before Updating | After Updating |
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In general, if your Mac is more than 3-4 years old, upgrading components before updating is a safer bet to avoid performance frustrations. For newer Macs, you may be able to update first and monitor whether added RAM or an SSD becomes necessary down the line.
How can I create a bootable installer of the new OS?
If you want an easy way to re-install or downgrade your OS after updating, creating a bootable installer drive is highly recommended. Here are the steps:
- Get external drive – You’ll need an external USB thumb drive or hard drive with at least 12GB storage.
- Download macOS installer – Download the full macOS installer for the version you want from the App Store.
- Connect drives – Connect the external drive and launch the macOS installer.
- Run createinstallmedia – In Terminal, use the createinstallmedia command to create bootable installer on drive.
- Boot from USB – Restart Mac and hold Option key to select external drive and boot from it.
Following these steps lets you always reinstall your preferred macOS version, giving you an escape plan if an update causes problems.
What’s the easiest way to revert/downgrade after updating?
If an OS update is causing issues, you have a few options to downgrade:
- Restore from Time Machine – Use your backup to fully restore Mac to the previous OS version.
- Reinstall old OS – Boot from installer drive and reinstall old OS over top of new one.
- Erase drive – Wipe drive and do a fresh install of older OS version.
The easiest and quickest way is using Time Machine to restore back to your pre-update state. Just be sure Time Machine backups are up-to-date before updating.
How can I speed up my Mac after updating?
If performance slows after an update, here are some troubleshooting tips:
- Check activity monitor for resource hogs – Quit any apps or processes using excessive CPU.
- Update apps to latest versions – Developers often issue compatibility fixes.
- Disable transparency effects – Turn off transparency in System Preferences to improve performance.
- Reduce animations – Disable fancier UI animations using Terminal defaults commands.
- Clean up startup items – Remove unneeded apps from loading at login under Users & Groups.
- Check for malware – Run a malware scan to catch any infections slowing you down.
- Reset SMC and NVRAM – This can fix firmware-related performance issues after an update.
Should I update macOS right when new versions come out?
Here are some pros and cons of updating immediately when Apple releases a new macOS versus waiting:
| Updating Immediately | Waiting to Update |
|---|---|
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There’s no unambiguously right or wrong answer. Updating immediately to get new features and security can be worth minor bugs. But waiting a few weeks or months lets Apple and developers smooth out problems that can disrupt your workflow.
Should I update multiple Macs simultaneously or stagger updates?
If you manage fleets of Macs, here are factors to consider for staged vs simultaneous updates:
| Updating Simultaneously | Staggered Updating |
|---|---|
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Most home users can safely update all their Macs simultaneously. But businesses may want to gradually roll out updates to minimize disruption across the organization from any post-update problems.
Should I update on a schedule or as needed?
For individuals, updating whenever major new versions are released is fine. But businesses may consider a more structured cadence for OS updates. Here are pros and cons of each approach:
| Updating As-Needed | Scheduled Updates |
|---|---|
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Scheduled updates every 6 or 12 months ensure Macs don’t fall too far behind on security fixes. But as-needed updating provides more flexibility when major new features arrive.
Conclusion
Updating your Mac’s OS is generally recommended and low risk, but not completely without potential downsides. To keep your Mac secure, stable and running well, it’s wise to:
- Check compatibility before updating
- Have backups in place
- Review Apple’s release notes
- Clean up and optimize Mac before updating
- Consider staging rollout in fleets
- Monitor after updating for issues
- Have a downgrade path planned just in case
Following these best practices helps ensure updating your Mac goes smoothly and allows you to fully leverage the latest features and security protections.