How to Update Windows and macOS Operating Systems

computer macOS os windows10 windows11 computers operatingsystem

Why Operating System Updates Matter

Regularly updating your computer's Operating System (OS) is imperative to ensure that your device operates efficiently. Updates are "patches" that fix problems in your computer's operating system. OS updates are important for numerous reasons including:

Security: OS updates often include patches aimed at resolving vulnerabilities in the operating system. Keeping your computer up-to-date helps you stay ahead of threats from cybercriminals who try to exploit vulnerabilities. Unpatched devices are especially vulnerable to viruses and hackers.
Performance: Updates also include fixes (or resolutions) for bugs and glitches that may make your computer crash, run slower, or behave unexpectedly. OS updates work to ensure that your OS is compatible with the latest hardware and software.
Functionality: OS updates can improve user experience and productivity by installing the latest features and functionalities. Over time, your computer's OS will become outdated, making it run slower and less efficiently. Routine OS updates help keep your computer running smoothly, allowing you to run programs and complete tasks efficiently.
Compatibility & Support: Keeping your OS up-to-date ensures that your device is compatible with software and third-party vendor applications. As software programs and third-party applications get updated, they may end support for older operating systems.

Important Reminders

If you need your computer for an important presentation or meeting, it's wise to reboot your computer, ensure that you have a stable network connection, and check for updates before your scheduled event. Doing routine updates and regular power cycles help ensure that your computer is functional and ready to perform during critical presentations, meetings, etc.

Operating System updates can sometimes be time-consuming; the time for installation varies based on which patches are included in the update. For this reason, it's a good idea to keep your device powered on and plugged into a power source for the duration of the update. Additionally, never shut down or restart your computer while it is installing updates unless it tells you to do so. Interrupting your computer in the middle of an OS update can cause serious issues with your operating system and it can even result in lost data.

While you should never power off your computer in the middle of an OS update, you may see a notification instructing you to restart your computer after an update has finished installing. This step is imperative to ensure that the updates go into effect and that the patches are applied—but you should always wait until the update is completely finished and your computer prompts you to restart.

It is important to regularly power off and restart your computer in between OS updates. Restarting your computer routinely ensures that updates, especially automatically scheduled updates, are installed correctly. However, rebooting your computer routinely is a crucial part of computer maintenance that keeps your device operating at its peak performance capability.

Automatic Operating System Updates

ITS-Managed devices are configured to perform automatic OS updates. If you're using an ITS-Managed device, you will get notifications alerting you that your computer needs updates. You have the option to temporarily "snooze" or postpone the update if you are in the middle of important work. However, you should be aware that this is only temporary and the device will auto-restart at the earliest convenience if it has not restarted for updates after 7 days. To prevent your work from being interrupted, make sure you set aside time to install the OS updates.

Personal devices have the option to enable automatic OS updates. This is an easy way to ensure that your computer stays up-to-date. Personal devices can also be configured to automatically install OS updates at certain times and/or days that are convenient for you and your work. Instructions for enabling automatic OS updates can be found below.