First, you have to make sure that your system has a valid Internet connectivity.
Secondly before starting the update process for your existing macOS version, it is always safe to backup your data.
After making sure that you have backed up your data, you can choose System Preferences from the Apple menu, which you can locate in the corner of your screen.
As the window pops up, you need to click on Software Update.
After that your system will start searching for new softwares.
If your system finds a new software, you need to choose Update Now or Upgrade Now option to install the new macOS. Your system might ask you to restart it or input an administrator password.
In a scenario where Software Update displays that your Mac is up to date, that would mean that currently there are no new softwares available for your Mac model.
If you don’t find an option called System Update in the System Preferences, go to the Search button in the corner of your system’s window to search for “Software Update”.
Additionally, if your version of macOS isn’t inclusive of Software Update option, you can open the App Store app, which you can find either in the Dock or the Applications folder. Finally click on the Updates tab in the App Store to look for updates.
Apart from all of this, you can also make use of your web browser to hunt macOS upgrades.
So far, you came across two terms ‘Software Update’ and ‘Software Upgrade.’
Just in case if you are wondering what is the difference between these two terms, here it is. ‘System Update’ refers to the option of facilitating installation of a newer version of the currently installed macOS. For example, change of macOS Big Sur 11.5 to macOS Big Sur 11.6. On the other hand an upgrade refers to a major new version of macOS, with a new name. For example an upgrade from macOS Big Sur to macOS Monterey. Your system will display only the upgrade versions, which are compatible with your mac model through the Software Update option.
The operating system macOS is designed to function on Apple Laptops and Desktop computers. Like any other operating system, the development of Apple also saw many new versions of the operating system constantly being developed and upgraded. The macOS operating system’s history involves many versions throughout the years.
If you are an Apple user, or even if you don’t use Apple, it is still possible that you have heard of Mac OS X and macOS. Have you wondered if both these terms are different?
Both of the terms refer to the same thing. Notably, the company used three different terms at different times to refer to their operating system. These terms are: Mac OS X, OS X and macOS. The years through 2001 to 2011 saw the use of the name Mac OS X through the version 10.7. After the release of macOS High Sierra in 2016, Apple shifted to the term macOS. This latest version of the operating system’s name helped the company to standardize the naming of their operating systems – macOS, iOS, tvOS, iPadOS etc.
