macOS Update Tool
Gustavus Technology Services has a new tool to help facilitate macOS updates on your Apple laptop. Now, instead of being prompted by Apple with small notifications in the corner, you will be notified front and center when it is time to update your Mac. This updater tool downloads the appropriate updates in the background while you work, so by the time the notification appears it is ready for installation.
This update tool gives you, the user, more control over when to run your updates. There will be three options offered: schedule installation/restart, update/restart now, or defer. There are deadlines built in, which will appear in the popup notification. If you do not choose one of the update options provided, your computer will automatically restart and run the updates at the deadline. We highly recommend you choose your update time to avoid any forced computer restarts at a time that is inconvenient to you.
Scheduled Installation/Restart
You can pick a date and time to run your installation, provided it is before the installation deadline. Your laptop must be online and open for this to work. You will get a popup reminder two hours before your installation, one hour before your installation, and five minutes before your installation. A countdown timer begins two minutes before your installation, letting you know it will happen soon.
*NOTE If your laptop is closed/offline during your scheduled installation time, the next time it is online it will alert you that the scheduled deadline has passed and the installation will immediately run.
Update Now
The update will run immediately.
Deferred Option
This deferral is set for three hours. You get three deferrals, once you’ve deferred three times the update will run.
Things to note:
Your computer will be updated to its latest compatible operating system available, and for most users that will be macOS 15 Sequoia.
The update tool also requires either your computer to be plugged into power or to have at least 50% battery level on your laptop in order to run the installation. On a similar note, it will also check to ensure there is enough available storage on your machine. It requires 10% free hard drive space to run an update (example, a point update of macOS 15.3 to macOS 15.4) whereas it requires 20% free hard drive space for an upgrade (example, going from one operating system to another macOS 14 Sonoma to macOS 15 Sequoia).
This tool will be pushed to Mac computers by the end of the week. If you have any concerns about updates to your computer (potential applications that will no longer work or other incompatibility issues) please contact the Gustavus Technology Helpline at helpline@gustavus.edu or 507-933-6111 as soon as possible to discuss alternative solutions.
macOS Firewall
We have updated security to the macOS Firewall. While we anticipate minimal, if any, changes to how your Mac interacts with the network, please let us know of any issues you have by reaching out to the Gustavus Technology Helpline. If you have any other concerns, please reach out as well.