Importance of OS updates

Software and OS updates are essential to keep your device secure and supported. It's also important that the software version of devices across the school network don't drift too apart, so that we can support and manage them effectively.

The problem is that updates can be disruptive since they often require you to reboot your Mac and can leave you unable to use your machine for a while. Updates can change how certain things function, and that can take some getting used to.

When to update

MacOS usually has smaller updates and larger upgrades. IT will attempt to manage these updates for you, ensuring they do not disrupt your work but are also not left too late.

You should perform updates as soon as possible. They typically only take a few minutes to install and may not even require rebooting.

Upgrades have a fancy name like 'Tahoe' or 'Sequoia'. They typically take longer to install, around 20 minutes up to an hour. We suggest waiting until the Term break to do an upgrade.