When should I install large macOS updates?

Updates to macOS may not contain features that you want, but they usually include security patches that protect your Mac from viruses/exploits. One reason that 3rd party antivirus software is not needed on Macs is those frequent patches. For example, soon after macOS 27 Golden Gate launched, Apple released the 27.0.1 update to specifically address an exploit thought to be in the wild.

The reported size of an update is the amount of space needed to download and install the update. Each point update (e.g., 26.6 to 26.7 or 26.7 to 26.7.1) does not represent an incremental increase in the space used by macOS. On most Macs, macOS will take 20-30 GB of space. While that number will change slightly within that range with updates, it is not an 'ever-expanding' number.

If you are worried about downloading a 20 GB update because you don't have sufficient space, you may be setting yourself up for trouble. Confirm that you have sufficient free space on your internal storage. The absolute minimum is ~30-40 GB free space, and as a rule of thumb you should aim to have 15-20% of your total internal storage as free space. You can check the amount of free space you have on your Mac in a variety of ways:

• In Disk Utility (in Applications > Utilities), by selecting the main container disk below the drive itself (you may need to select View menu > Show all devices to see it)
• In the System Report – hold the Option key and click the Apple menu > System Information (the top menu item), look for the name of your internal drive (Macintosh HD, unless you have renamed it as I did)
• Select your internal drive then click File menu > Get Info, check Available space
• Go to System Settings > General > Storage, check the graphical display at the top of the settings pane

Since you are on Tahoe, you should use the first two methods to check your real free space. Note that on versions of macOS prior to Golden Gate, the ‘available’ space reported with the second two methods above was greater than the ‘free’ space reported by the first two methods. Apple corrected that confusion with Golden Gate, for more details, see this User Tip.

Some steps to take to safely free up space:

Free up storage space on Mac - Apple Support

Optimize storage space on your Mac - Apple Support

How to free up ‘System Data’ and other st… - Apple Community

With the advent of AI the bad guys are finding and using security/privacy flaws to compromise you. The good guys are also using AI to find and fix the security/privacy flaws before the bad guys can act on them. It’s an arms race. All providers like Apple are releasing updates faster and more often as a result of this race.

Therefore it behoves you to install updates on a timely basis when they are released, even if no new features or bug fixes are included. Sadly this is the world we live in now.

Point Updates - like 27.01 or 27.3 or whatever contain bug fixes, security enhancements and occasionally refined features. Best option is to install them, even if only for the security elements. While the download may be 20GB the actual adjustment in the size of the OS is never that large.

Daim123 wrote:

Im always getting updates for my mac, but they take around 20gb of storage, with no new features that I really need. Should I just leave it until the new os comes out or install it immediately?

The current point updates & macOS upgrades typically address bug fixes and security updates independent of new features...

ref: Keep your Mac up to date - Apple Support

Daim123 wrote:

Im always getting updates for my mac, but they take around 20gb of storage, with no new features that I really need. Should I just leave it until the new os comes out or install it immediately?

You should definitely leave it. Don't install any update unless it has specific, identifiable features or fixes that you need.

But that's a general statement, there are more details that might be relevant. You should be aware of new updates and do some research on them to really understand those changes. It's important to look at them as "changes" rather than "updates". Of course they're all "updates", but some changes may be positive and some negative.

Because these are "changes", you may also have to change your usage practices. There is usually no option to go back to the previous behaviour, other than erasing the hard drive and reinstalling an older version of the operating system, as well as restoring from an older backup you had made before you upgraded.

You should also be aware of 3rd party apps. Whether you choose to stay put, or move ahead, you must accept your fate. You can't have it both ways. Either you update your OS, and all of your 3rd party apps (this may require paid updates), or you don't update any of them. In theory, it is possible to pick and choose, but that requires dedicated research, backups, and testing strategies that go far beyond the practices of most consumer users.

One vote in favour of updates is the assumption that all updates are supported by their developers. It may be buggy, disconcertingly different, and slower, but it's supposed to all work. Whereas if you camp out on older, unsupported versions, there's a strong possibility that they will stop working at some point in the future due to security certificates and "phone home" behaviours. This activity should be included in your research. This is another vote in favour of updates. Updates are definitely the "mindless" option that requires the least amount of end-user research. As Apple is a premium product, this approach also assumes that you are free with your money and willing to pay for future updates to hardware and 3rd party software.

And finally, closely review what I've said above. This is an issue that involves your needs, your time, your data, your ability to do independent research, and your overall user experience. Those are the material issues that you should focus on.

Don't be fooled by fear and internet misinformation, but don't discount their power either. The internet isn't true. Of course everyone says that, and they go off and make the opposite assumption. As paranoid as I may sound, I can assure you that I'm regularly reminded of my naïveté. I get played the fool all the time. I'm a professional software developer and I'm good at what I do. They are professional scam artists and they're good at what they do. You think you outsmarted them? I think you're wrong.

Of course, in this context, I'm talking about "security", using appropriately named scare quotes. "Security" is the modern corporate internet financial Accounts Payable hack that just keeps on givin'. Unless you regularly, purposefully, and actively, seek out risky software and internet practices, then you are not at risk. These practices include, but are not limited to, software piracy, hacking, copyright violations, gambling, crypto, or generally anything that seems too good to be true. Security itself is risky. In what other industry do key personnel act as benevolent protectors, or malicious villains, based on their wardrobe that day. One day they're "white hat" hackers and the next they're "black hat" hackers, and never the twain shall meet, unless it's over drinks at the big security conference post-talk mixer.

Updates or upgrades?

Some people never upgrade macOS. When support for them ends, they buy new Macs. Others upgrade macOS within seconds of their release. The rest of us fit comfortably in between.

Those in the former category are generally happier and wealthier.

Updates for existing macOS versions are almost always ok to apply. Exceptions are few.