MacBookPro, macOS update puzzle

macOS automatic (overnight) updates are intentionally paused when a major new operating system version is released. In other words, you have to declaratively opt in to a major upgrade (macOS 27), and until you do so, automatic updates for the older version of macOS (Tahoe) will not be applied to your Mac.

Until you choose to upgrade to macOS 27 Golden Gate, you will need to update manually to keep macOS 26 Tahoe current. If you want to continue running macOS 26 Tahoe and keep that up to date, but skip the upgrade to Golden Gate for now, then to update to the latest version of Tahoe do the following:

• Open System Settings > General > Software Update.
• Click the (i) next to Other Updates under Also Available.
• Select the update(s) you want, which may include both macOS Tahoe and Safari updates.
• Click Update Now.

Once you upgrade to Golden Gate, if you leave Automatic Updates active then macOS 27 updates will be installed overnight, automatically.

Why the updates haven't auto-installed overnight

You are being offered a major next-generation upgrade (macOS 27.2 Golden Gate) alongside a minor point release (Tahoe 26.7.2). When a major upgrade becomes available, Apple's automation halts background deployment of minor updates to avoid forcing a system path you might not want.

Note that the above is consistent with your Mac being compatible with Golden Gate. If you had an older Mac (Intel) that could not run Golden Gate, then you'd have automatic updates for Tahoe delivered.

See: Update macOS on Mac - Apple Support

Incidentally, probably since the last time you visited Software Update, even newer versions launched. Earlier today, macOS 27.2.1 and macOS 26.7.3 were made available for download.

neuroanatomist wrote:

• macOS automatic (overnight) updates are intentionally paused when a major new operating system version is released. In other words, you have to declaratively opt in to a major upgrade (macOS 27), and until you do so, automatic updates for the older version of macOS (Tahoe) will not be applied to your Mac.

I never realized this either. Yet another crazy Apple decision that defies the user's preferences & expectations. At the very least the minor update patches should be installed automatically as that is what is configured. I can understand not initiating a major OS upgrade since that would have a huge impact on the user.

I disabled automatic updates long ago so I never noticed. I even disabled "download only" for new updates because it actually did more than just download the next minor update patch....it also expanded the update files & prepped the system for the update which ended up eating up a huge amount of storage space (nearly 50GB which only disappeared after caving in on the update....a simple reboot did not clear that 50GB). Again, defying user expectations.

And as macOS update patches seem to be introducing just as many new issues as they are solving.....having auto updates on may be a bit risky these days. Years ago I would not have hesitated.

Hi neuroanatomist. I'm, very slowly, migrating from Windows to macOS. This is my first Mac & my second post to this community. Very much in learning mode. Many thanks for the info.