macOS Sonoma 14
macOS Ventura 13
macOS Monterey 12
macOS Big Sur 11.0
macOS Catalina 10.15
macOS Mojave 10.14
macOS High Sierra
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Table of Contents
macOS User Guide
- Welcome
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- What’s in the menu bar?
- Work on the desktop
- Search with Spotlight
- Quickly change settings
- Use Siri
- Get notifications
- Open apps from the Dock
- Organize your files in the Finder
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- Connect to the internet
- Browse the web
- Preview a file
- Take a screenshot
- Change your display’s brightness
- Adjust the volume
- Use trackpad and mouse gestures
- Use Touch ID
- Print documents
- Keyboard shortcuts
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- Apps on your Mac
- Open apps
- Work with app windows
- Use apps in full screen
- Use apps in Split View
- Use Stage Manager
- Get apps from the App Store
- Install and reinstall apps from the App Store
- Install and uninstall other apps
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- Create and work with documents
- Open documents
- Mark up files
- Combine files into a PDF
- Organize files on your desktop
- Organize files with folders
- Tag files and folders
- Back up files
- Restore files
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- Change System Settings
- Choose your desktop wallpaper
- Add and customize widgets
- Use a screen saver
- Add a user or group
- Add your email and other accounts
- Automate tasks with Shortcuts
- Create Memoji
- Change your login picture
- Change the system language
- Make text and other items on the screen bigger
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- Set up a Focus to stay on task
- Set up Screen Time for yourself
- Use Dictation
- Send emails
- Send text messages
- Make a FaceTime video call
- Edit photos and videos
- Use Live Text to interact with text in a photo
- Start a Quick Note
- Get directions
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- Work across devices using Continuity
- Use iPhone as a webcam
- Use iPhone with Desk View
- Stream audio and video with AirPlay
- Use one keyboard and mouse to control Mac and iPad
- Hand off between devices
- Unlock your Mac with Apple Watch
- Make and receive phone calls on your Mac
- Sync music, books, and more between devices
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- Manage Apple ID settings
- Set your Apple ID picture
- What is iCloud?
- What is iCloud+?
- Store files in iCloud Drive
- Share and collaborate on files and folders
- Manage iCloud storage
- Use iCloud Photos
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- What is Family Sharing?
- Set up Family Sharing
- Set up Screen Time for a child
- Share purchases with your family
- Watch and listen together with SharePlay
- Share a Photo Library
- Collaborate on projects
- Find content shared with you
- Find your family and friends
- Play games with your friends
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- Play music
- Listen to podcasts
- Watch TV shows and movies
- Read and listen to books
- Read the news
- Track stocks and the market
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- Apple Music
- Apple TV+
- Apple Arcade
- Apple News+
- Podcast shows and channels
- Manage subscriptions in the App Store
- View Apple family subscriptions
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- Guard your privacy
- Use Mail Privacy Protection
- Control access to your camera
- Use Sign in with Apple for apps and websites
- Set up your Mac to be secure
- Keep your data safe
- Create a passkey
- Understand passwords
- Keep your Apple ID secure
- Find a missing device
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- Get started with accessibility features
- Vision
- Hearing
- Mobility
- Speech
- General
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- Connect an external display
- Use the built-in camera
- Connect a Bluetooth device
- Use AirPods with your Mac
- Optimize your Mac battery life
- Optimize storage space
- Burn CDs and DVDs
- Control accessories in your home
- Use Windows on your Mac
- Resources for your Mac
- Resources for your Apple devices
- Copyright
Periodically, Apple releases updates to your macOS software, which can include updates to apps that come with your Mac and important security updates.
If you receive a notification that software updates are available, you can choose to install the updates immediately, or choose to install the updates later that night. You can also check for macOS updates manually in Software Update settings.
Tip: To check for updates to software you’ve downloaded from the App Store, open the App Store.
Check for updates manually
To install updates manually on your Mac, do one of the following:
To download macOS software updates, choose Apple menu
in the sidebar (you may need to scroll down), then click Software Update on the right.To update software downloaded from the App Store, click the Apple menu—the number of available updates, if any, is shown next to App Store. Choose App Store to continue in the App Store
app.
in the sidebar (you may need to scroll down), then click Software Update on the right.
app.Set your Mac to check for software updates automatically
On your Mac, choose Apple menu
Click Software Update on the right.
To set update options, click the Info button
for Automatic updates, then do any of the following:To have your Mac check for updates automatically, turn on “Check for updates.”
To have your Mac download updates without asking, turn on “Download new updates when available.”
To have your Mac install macOS updates automatically, turn on “Install macOS updates.”
To have your Mac install application updates from the App Store automatically, turn on “Install application updates from the App Store.”
To have your Mac install system files and Rapid Security Responses automatically, turn on “Install Security Responses and system files.”
Click Done.
for Automatic updates, then do any of the following:To receive the latest updates automatically, it’s recommended that you turn on “Check for updates,” “Download new updates when available,” and “Install Security Responses and system files.”
Note: MacBook, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air must have the power adapter plugged in to automatically download updates.
See alsoInstall and uninstall apps from the internet or a disc on MacGet macOS updates and appsSoftware Update settings on Mac
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