How To Update to MacOS Catalina

Image via Apple 

macOS Catalina is here. There are many features from Sidecar, Voice Control, the Find My app, individual apps for iTunes services, a new Reminders app and many more features. macOS Catalina also brings iOS apps to the Mac, making it a more universal and intuitive software ever. But, we need to learn how to install the update on our Macs.

All of the requirements include a 2012 or later Mac computer with the exception of regular MacBooks older than 2015 and the Mac Pro from 2012. In addition, your hard drive needs a minimum of 12.5 GB of storage if updating from Mojave. If you’re running a macOS older than Mojave, which includes Yosemite as well, then it requires at least 18.5 GB of hard drive space.

First, back up your Mac by using Time Machine. This includes plugging in an external storage device to your Mac, which includes a USB stick, AirPort devices, an extra Mac as a backup destination or a network-based external storage device. Choose your backup disk by opening Time Machine, clicking Select Backup Disk and then selecting an external storage device to backup in the list. After the backup disk is selected, your Mac will backup automatically every time the device is plugged in. Make sure to format your external disks for the Time Machine backup!

Next, if updating from macOS Mojave, open System Preferences from the Apple menu and click Software Update. The macOS Catalina update should appear on the screen. Click Update Now to update the macOS software right away. This process will take a few minutes to an hour. Once it’s done, all of your built-in macOS apps and software version are up to date.

If updating from macOS High Sierra or earlier, then open the Mac App Store and click on Updates. Click on the Update button on the macOS Catalina software button and the update should install. Otherwise, you can also click the App Store link here and then follow the instructions on the installer after the app is downloaded. The installer should launch automatically. After following the on-screen instructions, give yourself a few minutes to an hour to let the macOS Catalina update install. Do not close the lid of your MacBook or turn off your Mac, as it can ruin the update process.

Lastly, if you turn on automatic updates in the Mac App Store and in Software Update, macOS Catalina will then download to your Mac in the background. This is an ideal method for those who want to save minutes from downloading the update from Software Update or the Mac App Store. When it’s already downloaded and ready to install, a notification will pop up on the top right-hand side. Click on Install, follow the instructions in the Install macOS Catalina installer and wait for your Mac to install the update. It only takes in less than 10-25 minutes to install the update, but please do not close or shut down your Mac during the update until it’s complete. If you don’t have any time to install the update, then tap Install Later and open the installer file in your Applications folder when you have time.

Therefore, once the update is done, you can enjoy the new features in macOS Catalina, such as the redesigned Find My, separate iTunes and Reminders app. In addition, all of your built-in apps except for iWork and third-party apps are in its latest version. Make sure to check on Software Update regularly for security updates as well.