Why Updates Are Important
IT keeps University-owned Macs up to date so they run smoothly, stay secure, and have the latest features. Once updates are tested and approved, they’re ready for you to install.
macOS Upgrades and Updates
Apple releases a new macOS version every Fall. After IT completes testing, the upgrade becomes available for office Macs, while lab Macs are upgraded during the summer. Smaller macOS updates are released about every six weeks and are automatically installed after testing.
How to Install Updates
- Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner.
- Choose System Settings.
- Select Software Update.
- Click Update Now to install.
Only updates tested and approved by IT will be available.
Supported macOS Versions
- Monterey (macOS 12): Support ended May 1, 2024
- Ventura (macOS 13): Support ended May 1, 2025
- Sonoma (macOS 14): Supported ended May 1, 2026
- Sequoia (macOS 15): Supported until May 1, 2027
- Tahoe (macOS 26): currently supported
- Golden Gate (macOS 27): TBD - release expected fall 2026
If your Mac can’t run Sequoia or a newer version, contact IT Services for help.
macOS Sequoia is compatible with these computers
Application Updates
3rd party applications are set to use their own automatic update mechanisms, which include:
- Microsoft 365 (formerly Microsoft Office - Word, Excel, Powerpoint, etc)
- Google Chrome
Managed 3rd Party Apps
Many 3rd party apps are updated centrally by our macOS mobile device device management system (MDM). Update commands are triggered as they are published by the MDM vendor.
If the app is not open when an update command is received, the app will automatically update. If an app is open, you will receive a notification that an update is available and the app will need to quit to be updated. You may notice this most often with web browsers as you are likely to have one open most of the time.
(As of September 2026, you may see the generic icon of our MDM vendor instead of the GVSU logo on these notifications while a solution is being determined.)
Update Timeline
Expect app updates within about 48 hours of the developer's release.
App updates are triggered as they're published by our MDM vendor (typically within a business day), and queued in batches across our entire fleet of both employee and lab Macs. With updates queued across our fleet of over 1,500 Macs, it may take another day for the entire list of application updates to be processed.
As new managed apps are made available, Macs will not be included in the queue until they've submitted their daily inventory report of installed apps and their version—which can add additional time to the update queue.
List of Apps
These apps are available in the GVSU Software app for self-service installation without administrator permissions. They include: