macOS, iPad, iPhone, Apple TV, Apple Watch, HomePod: critical updates - quick start guide

Note: Throughout these instructions you will see the words "update" and "upgrade." Here's Apple's explanation of the difference.

Update your macOS (Macbooks, iMacs, Mac minis)

Prepare
1. Backup your computer
  Faculty and staff can use Code42/CrashPlan or move critical documents to Dropbox or Google Drive. Note that this can take several days if your Code42/Crashplan backup is significantly out of date.
2. Know your current macOS version. If your computer is up to date, you're all done!
3. Check the readiness of your disk
4. Ensure you have 15GB of free hard drive space available
5. Connect your device to power
Update your operating system
More information about safe version numbers
- macOS version 10: Is no longer supported by Apple. For Carleton-owned computers, you can open a ticket here to discuss options with ITS
  For personal computers, please see our More Information page for advice.
- macOS version 11: Apple will stop releasing security updates for macOS 11 this fall. Follow the full upgrade process to macOS 13 before fall term.
- macOS version 12, 13, and 14: Update your operating system
After you update
1. Check that your system will look for future updates automatically
  We highly recommend that you enable automatic updates!
  - macOS 11-12: Apple: Keep your Mac up to date (Scroll down on the linked page to find automatic updates)
  - macOS 13: Apple: Keep your Mac up to date (Scroll down on the linked page to find automatic updates)
2. Faculty and staff, check that you can print to your normal printers. If you can't:

Was this helpful?

0 reviews

Request Service

Article ID: 149244

Created

Wed 2/22/23 2:31 PM

Modified

Wed 9/27/23 2:17 PM

Hardware Request

Request hardware including monitors, keyboards, mice, hard drives, and more.