Keeping your Mac operating system up to date is essential for security, performance, and compatibility with the latest software. However, before you proceed with any updates, it's important to know the size of the update to ensure you have enough storage space available on your Mac. In this article, we will guide you through the steps to check the update size on your Mac OS.
Method 1: Using the App Store
The App Store is the primary source for downloading and installing updates on your Mac. Here's how you can check the update size using the App Store:
- Click on the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen, and select "App Store" from the drop-down menu.
- In the App Store window, click on the "Updates" tab located at the top of the window.
- You will see a list of available updates. To check the update size, simply hover your cursor over the update you are interested in.
- A pop-up window will appear displaying the update size in megabytes (MB) or gigabytes (GB).
Method 2: Using the Software Update Preferences
If you prefer to check the update size without opening the App Store, you can use the Software Update preferences on your Mac. Follow these steps:
- Click on the Apple menu and select "System Preferences" from the drop-down menu.
- In the System Preferences window, click on "Software Update."
- The Software Update window will display the available updates. To see the update size, click on the "More info" link next to the update you want to check.
- A new window will open, showing detailed information about the update, including the size.
Now that you know how to check the update size, you can make an informed decision about whether to proceed with the update or free up space on your Mac before installing it. It's worth noting that major updates, such as upgrading to a new version of macOS, can be quite large and may require several gigabytes of free storage space.
If you need to free up space on your Mac, you can consider deleting unnecessary files, emptying the trash, or using the built-in "Optimize Storage" feature to offload infrequently used files to iCloud.
Remember, keeping your Mac up to date is important for security and performance, so it's worth making sure you have enough space before proceeding with any updates.
References
| Source | Link |
|---|---|
| Apple Support | https://support.apple.com/ |
| Macworld | https://www.macworld.com/ |