Mac OS X Software Update
Software Update is a very useful feature that everyone should take advantage of, for the latest in system security if for no other reason. (For more information on security, consult our System administration FAQ and Macintosh security FAQ.) We recommend that you run Software Update on a regular basis, either at the default "weekly" setting or even more frequently.
Software Update will connect to Apple's update server to see if there are any updates to your applications or to the operating system. Software Update can also download and install these updates for you. Software Update can easily be configured to check for updates automatically, as long as you are connected to the Internet.
Software Update installs the same sort of installer packages used by Apple's "Mac OS X Installer application". It also handles Optimizing System Performance during software installation for any system software and applications that have been updated.
- Open the "Software Update" preference panel in the System Preferences application.
- Choose to either connect manually or automatically by selecting the corresponding radio button.
- Select the frequency that you want Software Update to check for updates in the "Check for updates" pop-up menu.
- Click the "Update Now" button to manually check Apple's server for updates.
There may be times when you do not wish to perform a certain update. This may be because you are using a not-so-fast internet connection and are prompted with a fairly large file to download, or you do not need a certain language pack, or do not have the device that the update operates on. In this case you can make the updates inactive. By doing so, they will not be performed until you specify them and they will not show up as needing to be updated.
- Highlight the updates you wish to make inactive.
- Select the "Make Inactive" menu item in the "Update" menu.
Mac OS X also logs your recent updates; you can see the log by clicking on the "Installed Updates" tab.
