Software Update

The Software Update preferences pane (Figure 89) enables you to configure the Mac OS software update feature. This program checks Apple's Internet servers for updates to your Apple softwareincluding Mac OS and other installed Apple applications and utilitiesand enables you to download and install them.

Figure 89. The Update Software options of the Software Update preferences pane.

Tip

• You must have an Internet connection to update Mac OS X software with this feature.

To set automatic update options

1.	In the Software Update preferences pane, click the Update Software button (Figure 89).
2.	Turn on the Check for updates check box.
3.	Use the pop-up menu to specify how often your computer should check for updates: Daily, Weekly, or Monthly.
4.	To automatically download important updates without asking you, turn on the check box labeled Download important updates in the background.

Tip

• When your computer checks for updates and finds one or more, it displays a window like the one in Figure 91. Follow the instructions in step 2 on the next page to install software or dismiss the window.

  Figure 91. A list of software updates appears in the Software Update window.

  

  
  

To manually update software

1.	In the Update Software tab of the Software Update preferences pane (Figure 89), click Check Now. Your computer connects to the Internet and checks Apple's servers for updates (Figure 90). Figure 90. A progress bar appears in the bottom of the Software Update preferences pane while your computer checks for updates.
2.	When the check is complete, if updates are available, the Software Update window appears (Figure 91). It contains information about whether any updates are available. To install updates, turn on the check boxes beside them. Then click the Install n Item(s) button. Follow any additional instructions that appear onscreen. To quit Software Update without installing updates, click the Quit button.

Tips

• You can learn about an update before you install it by selecting it in the top half of the window to display a description in the bottom half of the window (Figure 91).

• If you don't install a listed update, it will appear in the Software Update window (Figure 91) again the next time you check for updates. To remove it from the list without installing it, select it and choose Update > Ignore Update and click OK in the confirmation dialog that appears.

• Updates may require that you provide an administrator password before installation. If so, an Authenticate dialog will appear. Enter administrator login information as prompted and click OK.

• To view a log of installed updates, click the Installed Updates tab in the Software Update preferences pane (Figure 92).

  Figure 92. The Installed Updates pane of the Software Update preferences pane shows a log of recent software update installations.