Illustration for How to Check Which macOS Updates Are Installed on Your Mac

How to Check Which macOS Updates Are Installed on Your Mac

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Illustration for How to Check Which macOS Updates Are Installed on Your Mac

Quick Answer

To check your current macOS version, choose Apple menu  > About This Mac. The window shows the macOS name and version number.

For more detailed information, open System Information:

  1. Hold the Option key and choose Apple menu  > System Information.
  2. Select Software in the sidebar.
  3. Choose Installations.
  4. Review the list of macOS updates, security updates, app updates, and other software installations.

You can also check recent update activity in System Settings > General > Software Update. The exact information shown depends on your Mac and macOS version.

Check Your Current macOS Version

The quickest way to confirm which macOS release is installed is the About This Mac window. This identifies the major macOS version, such as macOS Sonoma or macOS Ventura, and displays its version number.

  1. Click the Apple menu  in the upper-left corner of the screen.
  2. Choose About This Mac.
  3. Look for the macOS name and version number.

Depending on your Mac, you may see information such as:

  • The macOS version and update number
  • The Mac model
  • The year the Mac was introduced
  • The chip or processor
  • The amount of installed memory

The version number is especially useful when checking whether your Mac received a particular update. A number with three parts, such as 14.6.1, identifies a specific release within the larger macOS version.

See More System Information

In some versions of macOS, the About This Mac window includes a More Info button. Click it to open additional information in System Settings.

You can also open System Information directly:

  1. Hold the Option key.
  2. Click the Apple menu .
  3. Choose System Information.

System Information provides technical details about your Mac, but you do not need to change anything there to check installed updates.

View the Complete List of Installed Updates

The Installations section in System Information provides the most useful built-in record of software installed on your Mac. It can show macOS updates along with security updates, Safari updates, printer software, and other components.

  1. Hold the Option key and choose Apple menu  > System Information.
  2. In the left sidebar, expand Software if necessary.
  3. Select Installations.
  4. Wait for the list to load.
  5. Review the entries in the main window.

The list commonly includes columns such as:

  • Software Name — The name of the installed item
  • Version — The installed version
  • Source — Where the software came from, when available
  • Install Date — When the item was installed

Click a column heading to sort the list. For example, click Install Date to place the newest installations at the top.

Search for entries containing terms such as:

  • macOS
  • Mac OS
  • Security Update
  • Safari
  • Rapid Security Response

The exact names vary by macOS version and by the updates installed on your Mac. Some entries may refer to supporting files rather than the full operating system.

Interpret the Installation List Carefully

The Installations list is broader than a simple macOS update history. It can include:

  • Full macOS upgrades
  • Smaller macOS updates
  • Security updates
  • Safari updates
  • Firmware or system components
  • Printer and driver updates
  • App updates
  • Background system packages

Therefore, not every item in the list is a macOS update. To identify the operating system’s current state, compare the relevant entries with the version shown in About This Mac or System Settings > General > Software Update.

The installation date tells you when an item was installed, not necessarily when it was downloaded. A downloaded update may remain unused until you restart the Mac and complete installation.

Check Software Update in System Settings

Software Update shows whether Apple currently offers an update for your Mac and may display recent update information.

On newer versions of macOS:

  1. Click the Apple menu .
  2. Choose System Settings.
  3. Select General in the sidebar.
  4. Click Software Update.

If an update is available, macOS displays its name and version. It may also show whether the update is a smaller update within your current macOS release or an upgrade to a newer major release.

If macOS is fully updated, you may see a message indicating that your Mac is up to date. This confirms the update status reported by Apple’s update service, but it is not always a complete historical list of every update previously installed.

Check Automatic Update Settings

While you are in Software Update, click the information button next to Automatic Updates, or open the automatic update options if they are displayed.

These settings can show whether your Mac is configured to automatically install:

  • macOS updates
  • Security Responses and system files
  • Security updates
  • App updates

The available options depend on your Mac and macOS version. Changing these settings affects future updates; it does not reveal a full installation history.

Find Update Information in Older macOS Versions

Older versions of macOS may use System Preferences instead of System Settings.

To check for updates:

  1. Click Apple menu  > System Preferences.
  2. Choose Software Update.
  3. Review the update status and available options.

To check your macOS version, choose Apple menu  > About This Mac.

The detailed Installations list may still be available through System Information:

  1. Hold the Option key.
  2. Choose Apple menu  > System Information.
  3. Select Software > Installations.

If you do not see System Information in the Apple menu, open Finder, select Applications in the sidebar, open the Utilities folder, and double-click System Information.

Check Whether a Specific Update Was Installed

If you are trying to confirm one particular update, use the following process:

  1. Open About This Mac and write down the macOS version number.
  2. Open System Information.
  3. Select Software > Installations.
  4. Sort by Install Date.
  5. Search or scan for the relevant macOS, security, or Safari entry.
  6. Compare the listed version and date with the update you expected to install.

For example, if Software Update asked you to restart your Mac, check the most recent entries after the restart. A successful installation may appear under a macOS or security-related name rather than the exact wording shown in the Software Update window.

If the update does not appear in the installation list, that does not automatically prove it failed. The list may use a different name, or the update may still be waiting for a restart.

Use Terminal to Check macOS Update History

Terminal can display update history in a text format. This is useful if you need to copy the information, search it, or troubleshoot an update that does not appear clearly in the graphical tools.

Warning: The following command only reads update history. It does not install, remove, or change software.

  1. Open Finder.
  2. Select Applications > Utilities.
  3. Open Terminal.
  4. Enter this command and press Return:
softwareupdate --history

The command displays information about updates processed by macOS, including update names, versions, and dates when available.

You can search the output for a particular term. For example:

softwareupdate --history | grep -i "macOS"

This filters the results to lines containing “macOS,” without changing anything on your Mac.

To search for security-related entries:

softwareupdate --history | grep -i "security"

The history output may not match the names shown in System Information exactly. It is best used as an additional source of information rather than as a replacement for the version shown in About This Mac.

Safely Exit Terminal

When finished, close the Terminal window or type:

exit

These commands do not change system settings, so no reversal is needed.

Check the Mac’s Update Status Before Troubleshooting

Before attempting another installation, confirm three basic details:

  1. Current macOS version — Check About This Mac.
  2. Available updates — Check System Settings > General > Software Update.
  3. Recent installations — Check System Information > Software > Installations or use softwareupdate --history.

This helps distinguish between several common situations:

  • The update installed successfully, but the Mac still needs a restart.
  • The update downloaded but did not finish installing.
  • The update was replaced by a newer release.
  • The update is not available for that Mac.
  • The update is listed under a security or system component name.
  • The Mac is already running a newer version.

Before installing an update, you can also check your Mac’s compatibility with a macOS update.

Troubleshooting

The Update Is Not in the Installation List

First, restart the Mac if Software Update previously requested a restart. Then check About This Mac again and review the newest entries in System Information > Software > Installations.

Also look for related names, such as a security update, Safari update, or system data file. Some updates are installed as multiple components rather than one entry with the exact name you saw initially.

Software Update Says the Mac Is Current, but the Version Looks Old

Check the exact version number in About This Mac, including all numbers after the first period. A Mac can be current for its supported release while not running the newest major macOS version.

For example, Software Update may not offer a newer major release because of hardware compatibility, available storage, administrator settings, or the update’s staged availability.

If you are comparing your Mac with another computer, make sure both are being compared by the complete version number and not only by the macOS name.

An Update Downloaded but Did Not Install

A download is not the same as a completed installation. The update may need a restart, or installation may have stopped because of insufficient storage, an interrupted connection, or another error.

Do not delete update files immediately if you are unsure whether installation is still in progress. Wait for macOS to finish, restart if prompted, and check the version afterward.

If a failed download is preventing another attempt, follow a dedicated procedure to remove a failed macOS update download. If storage is the problem, see how to fix “Not Enough Space” when installing a macOS update.

The Mac Restarted but the Update Does Not Appear

Open About This Mac and compare the version number with the one you intended to install. If the number changed, the update may have completed even if the installation list is unclear.

If the version did not change:

  1. Check System Settings > General > Software Update again.
  2. Review System Information > Software > Installations.
  3. Confirm that the Mac is connected to power if it is a notebook.
  4. Restart only after saving your work and closing important apps.
  5. Try the update again if Software Update still offers it.

Do not repeatedly force the Mac to shut down during an update. Interrupting installation can create additional problems.

You Cannot Find System Information

Use Spotlight:

  1. Press Command-Space.
  2. Type System Information.
  3. Press Return.

You can also open Finder > Applications > Utilities > System Information.

If search does not find the app, use Apple menu  > About This Mac for the current version and System Settings > General > Software Update for the available update status.

Terminal Shows Little or No History

Terminal history may be limited by the macOS version, the type of update, or how the update was delivered. Use the graphical Installations list as well.

The most reliable way to confirm the current operating system is still About This Mac, because it reports what is currently running rather than relying only on historical records.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the fastest way to check my macOS version?

Choose Apple menu  > About This Mac. The window shows the macOS name and complete version number.

Where can I see every update installed on my Mac?

Open System Information, select Software, and then choose Installations. Sort the list by Install Date to find recent items.

Does Software Update show the complete update history?

Not always. Software Update primarily shows whether updates are available and lets you configure automatic updates. For historical details, use System Information > Software > Installations or softwareupdate --history in Terminal.

How can I tell whether a security update was installed?

Check the Installations list for entries containing “Security Update” or similar security-related wording. You can also run:

softwareupdate --history | grep -i "security"

Then compare the result with the current version in About This Mac.

Will checking update history change anything?

No. Viewing About This Mac, System Information, and Software Update is safe. The Terminal commands in this guide also only read information and do not install or remove software.

Can I check the update history for another user account?

System Information and Software Update generally report system-wide information, but access to some details can depend on account permissions. If macOS requests an administrator password during an update-related action, do not enter it unless you initiated and understand that action.

Final Thoughts

Use About This Mac to confirm the version currently running, System Information > Software > Installations to review detailed installation records, and softwareupdate --history when you need a searchable Terminal report. Comparing all three can clarify whether an update installed, is waiting for a restart, or failed before completion.