If you are looking for an easy way to always keep your Mac Apps updated to the latest available version, then you might want to consider enabling the Automatic App Updates feature in macOS. When this feature is enabled, all the applications that have been downloaded from the Mac App Store will automatically update without requiring any effort from the user.
Turning on the Automatic App Updates feature will save you time as you no longer have to manually update applications. It will also allow you to stay up to date and take advantage of all the latest features that are added to your favourite Mac applications.
In this tutorial we will show you how you can enable or disable the automatic app updates feature in macOS. This guide is based on the newer Mac App Store found in macOS Mojave or later.
Once this feature has been enabled apps that were downloaded from the Mac App Store will get updated as soon as they receive a new update. However apps that you have downloaded from other sources, such as downloaded from a website will not get updated with this method. You will have to individually update these apps from their own settings.
Enable Automatic App Updates For macOS App Store
You can enable Automatic Downloads for Mac App Store apps by following the step by step instructions below.
1. Open the App Store app and then click on App Store > Preferences from the menu bar.
2. Once you are on the Preferences screen look for the ‘Automatic Updates’ option.
3. Now enable the Automatic App Updates option by checking the option Automatic Updates option.
4. You might be asked to enter your Mac’s password, simply enter it to turn on the feature.
Disable Automatic App Updates For macOS App Store
You can disable Automatic Downloads for Mac App Store apps by following the step by step instructions below. You might want to disable Automatic Updates if you are someone who likes to see what new features have been added to an app before updating it. Disabling this feature gives you more control over which apps get updated and which apps don’t.
1. Launch the App Store application and click on App Store from the menu bar.
2. Now click on Preferences, and look for the Automatic Updates option.
3. Make sure to uncheck the option for Automatic Updates.
4. Enter the Mac login password if prompted.
So this is how you can easily enable or disable the automatic app updates in macOS Mojave or later. Remember when this setting is enabled apps that were downloaded from the Mac App Store will get updated automatically. All other apps such as those apps downloaded from non-Mac App Store sources will require you to individually update them from their own interface.
