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MacOS Software update using CLI

Manual update

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

sudo softwareupdate --install --recommended

List what available

sudo softwareupdate --list

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

Download only (first)

sudo softwareupdate --download "macOS Tahoe 26.7.1-25G241"

Do not install, download first.

And reserve some space :-)

Using 'mas', installed using 'brew', Update software from Apple Store

brew install mas

List outdated

mas outdated

Upgrade

mas upgrade

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

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

Verbosity not by design

log stream --info --debug --predicate 'process == "softwareupdated" OR process == "SoftwareUpdateNotificationManager" OR subsystem == "com.apple.SoftwareUpdate"'

AAaah ?!

brew had some old things

brew cleanup