# MacOS Software update using CLI

# Manual update

# Software Update using CLI

This is how to update MacOS from command-line / terminal


```bash
sudo softwareupdate --install --recommended
```
[![](https://storage.googleapis.com/iau-data-dox/uploads/images/gallery/2026-07/scaled-1680-/CCzRxTeFDCiVMkEO-image-1785047340823.png)](https://storage.googleapis.com/iau-data-dox/uploads/images/gallery/2026-07/CCzRxTeFDCiVMkEO-image-1785047340823.png)


List what available
```bash
sudo softwareupdate --list

sudo softwareupdate --list | grep -i label | grep -i macos
```

[![](https://storage.googleapis.com/iau-data-dox/uploads/images/gallery/2026-10/scaled-1680-/rlB9rePg0TEumhTN-image-1791176018159.png)](https://storage.googleapis.com/iau-data-dox/uploads/images/gallery/2026-10/rlB9rePg0TEumhTN-image-1791176018159.png)


Download only  (first)
```bash
sudo softwareupdate --download "macOS Tahoe 26.7.1-25G241"
```
[![](https://storage.googleapis.com/iau-data-dox/uploads/images/gallery/2026-10/scaled-1680-/aEGJhwIkEGygViUH-image-1791176091810.png)](https://storage.googleapis.com/iau-data-dox/uploads/images/gallery/2026-10/aEGJhwIkEGygViUH-image-1791176091810.png)

Do not install, download first.

[![](https://storage.googleapis.com/iau-data-dox/uploads/images/gallery/2026-10/scaled-1680-/S3kRN3qdce3OK27d-image-1790872005458.png)](https://storage.googleapis.com/iau-data-dox/uploads/images/gallery/2026-10/S3kRN3qdce3OK27d-image-1790872005458.png)

And reserve some space :-)

[![](https://storage.googleapis.com/iau-data-dox/uploads/images/gallery/2026-10/scaled-1680-/8D43MkT2Egq3uM48-image-1790872053153.png)](https://storage.googleapis.com/iau-data-dox/uploads/images/gallery/2026-10/8D43MkT2Egq3uM48-image-1790872053153.png)

Downloaded

[![](https://storage.googleapis.com/iau-data-dox/uploads/images/gallery/2026-10/scaled-1680-/kDzRAjiP6vahP5Gs-image-1791178084577.png)](https://storage.googleapis.com/iau-data-dox/uploads/images/gallery/2026-10/kDzRAjiP6vahP5Gs-image-1791178084577.png)

Install, once downloaded

```bash
sudo softwareupdate --verbose --install "macOS Tahoe 26.7.1-25G241"
```

# Apple Store updates using CLI

Using 'mas', installed using 'brew', Update software from Apple Store
```bash
brew install mas
```
[![](https://storage.googleapis.com/iau-data-dox/uploads/images/gallery/2026-07/scaled-1680-/eUF4fx0SwzIwatFO-image-1785057360433.png)](https://storage.googleapis.com/iau-data-dox/uploads/images/gallery/2026-07/eUF4fx0SwzIwatFO-image-1785057360433.png)


List outdated
```bash
mas outdated
```
[![](https://storage.googleapis.com/iau-data-dox/uploads/images/gallery/2026-07/scaled-1680-/bKSyf4XZdSvM8hCa-image-1785057944011.png)](https://storage.googleapis.com/iau-data-dox/uploads/images/gallery/2026-07/bKSyf4XZdSvM8hCa-image-1785057944011.png)


Upgrade
```bash
mas upgrade
```
[![](https://storage.googleapis.com/iau-data-dox/uploads/images/gallery/2026-07/scaled-1680-/HJVaT019Q8WKg1Rv-image-1785060401931.png)](https://storage.googleapis.com/iau-data-dox/uploads/images/gallery/2026-07/HJVaT019Q8WKg1Rv-image-1785060401931.png)


Applications are linked to different accounts need to be updated with correct user login

[![](https://storage.googleapis.com/iau-data-dox/uploads/images/gallery/2026-07/scaled-1680-/atY4aljKv8EQXnKx-image-1785066228207.png)](https://storage.googleapis.com/iau-data-dox/uploads/images/gallery/2026-07/atY4aljKv8EQXnKx-image-1785066228207.png)


After OS update, disable automatic updates, as they are turned on back automatically

[![](https://storage.googleapis.com/iau-data-dox/uploads/images/gallery/2026-07/scaled-1680-/m97uPVPH9Q6Lu2L9-image-1785073096112.png)](https://storage.googleapis.com/iau-data-dox/uploads/images/gallery/2026-07/m97uPVPH9Q6Lu2L9-image-1785073096112.png)






Verbosity not by design
```bash
log stream --info --debug --predicate 'process == "softwareupdated" OR process == "SoftwareUpdateNotificationManager" OR subsystem == "com.apple.SoftwareUpdate"'
```




AAaah, 'GarageBand' ?!

[![](https://storage.googleapis.com/iau-data-dox/uploads/images/gallery/2026-10/scaled-1680-/p1qugU76wgZbZTsI-image-1791176576318.png)](https://storage.googleapis.com/iau-data-dox/uploads/images/gallery/2026-10/p1qugU76wgZbZTsI-image-1791176576318.png)


`brew` had some old things
```bash
brew cleanup
```
[![](https://storage.googleapis.com/iau-data-dox/uploads/images/gallery/2026-10/scaled-1680-/5cjYyKq5Z8UhEa2E-image-1791176946324.png)](https://storage.googleapis.com/iau-data-dox/uploads/images/gallery/2026-10/5cjYyKq5Z8UhEa2E-image-1791176946324.png)