How To Update Apps On Mac Using Terminal Tutorial

Updating apps on your Mac is crucial for maintaining security, performance, and accessing new features. While the App Store provides a straightforward way to update apps, using the Terminal can offer more control and efficiency, especially for managing multiple Macs.

Updating Apps via Terminal: Basic Steps

To update apps using the Terminal, follow these steps:

1. Open the Terminal App:

   • You can find the Terminal app in the Applications/Utilities folder or by using Spotlight search.

2. Check for Available Updates:

   • Use the command sudo softwareupdate -l to list all available updates. This command will prompt you for your administrator password and then display the updates.

3. Install All Available Updates:

• To install all available updates, use the command sudo softwareupdate -i -a. This command will download and install all updates, and you will be prompted for your administrator password.

Detailed Commands and Options

Listing Updates

• List Available Updates: Use sudo softwareupdate -l to see a list of all available updates. This command is useful for identifying which updates are pending.

Installing Updates

• Install All Updates: Use sudo softwareupdate -i -a to install all available updates. This command is comprehensive and ensures all updates are applied.
• Install Specific Updates: If you want to install a specific update, use sudo softwareupdate -i [package name]. For example, sudo softwareupdate -i RemoteDesktopClient-3.9.2 will install only the RemoteDesktopClient 3.9.2 update.

Additional Options

• Download but Do Not Install: Use sudo softwareupdate -d -a to download all updates without installing them. This can be useful if you want to review the updates before installing.
• Ignore Specific Updates: Use sudo softwareupdate --ignore [package name] to ignore specific updates. For example, sudo softwareupdate --ignore RemoteDesktopClient-3.9.2 will hide the 3.9.2 update of RemoteDesktopClient.

Advanced Usage with mas Utility

For updating apps from the Mac App Store specifically, you can use the mas utility, which is not built into macOS but can be installed via Homebrew.

1. Install Homebrew:

   • If you haven't already, install Homebrew using the command /usr/bin/ruby -e "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/master/install)".

2. Install mas Utility:

   • Use Homebrew to install the mas utility with the command brew install mas.

3. Update Mac App Store Apps:

• Use mas list to see a list of installed Mac App Store apps.
• Use mas outdated to see only apps with available updates.
• Use mas upgrade to update all apps.

Tips and Considerations

• Backup Your Machine: Always ensure you have a good backup of your machine before performing updates, especially when using the Terminal, to prevent data loss in case something goes wrong.
• Admin Account Required: You must be logged into an admin account to use these commands, as they require administrator privileges.
• Restart After Updates: Some updates may require a restart to complete. The Terminal will notify you if a restart is necessary.

By using these Terminal commands, you can efficiently manage and update your Mac apps, ensuring your system remains secure and up-to-date.