Mac App Updater: How to Keep Your Apps Up to Date

Start with the updater your app already uses

Open the App Store for apps you installed there. For other apps, look for Check for Updates in the app menu or settings. If you use Homebrew, check its app list too.

A Mac app updater can bring these checks into one list. It should show where each update comes from and what you need to do next.

Where to check for updates

How you got the app	What to use
Mac App Store	Open App Store > Updates
Homebrew	Check brew outdated --cask in Terminal
A developer website, with Check for Updates	Use the app's own update command
A developer's app suite	Use its update tool, such as Microsoft AutoUpdate or Creative Cloud
A website download, with no updater	Visit the developer's official site and follow its installation steps

Not sure where an app came from? Read the simple guide to update sources.

A simple update routine

Save your work and check that important files are backed up.
Check the app's usual update source.
Read the release notes, especially before a major upgrade.
Follow the updater's steps. Close the app if it asks you to.
Open the updated app and check the features and files you use.

If you replace an app by downloading a new copy, keep the old copy first. An app backup does not save your documents or settings. See the backup guide.

When to stop and ask for help

An unexpected popup or email tells you to install an update.
macOS or the updater reports a signature or security problem.
The download comes from a place you do not recognize.
The offered update appears older than the version you have.

Do not turn off a safety check just to finish the update. Use the developer's official instructions or contact support.

An authentic update can still change features, file formats, or licensing. If an app is essential to a project, check those changes before installing.

Automatic updates or manual review?

Automatic updates can help you keep up with security fixes. You may want to review major changes to work apps before installing them.

There is no single switch for all apps. The App Store, built-in updaters, and developer tools have their own settings. Read the automatic-update guide for a simple way to choose.

How macCurrent can help

macCurrent finds updates from the App Store, Homebrew, Sparkle, developer tools, and websites. It brings the results into one list and shows the next action for each app.

For supported direct updates, macCurrent can install the new version and save the old app first. It checks the download before replacing the app. Some updates still need the App Store or the developer's installer.

See a real example in the Acorn update walkthrough. It shows the old app, its saved backup, and the version checked afterward. We checked this example ourselves; it is not a test of every app.

The current release candidate is free for Apple silicon and Intel Macs running macOS 15 or later. Read how update checks work, or follow the installation steps.

Optional checks for experienced users

What download checks mean

Digital signatures help check who signed an app and whether its files changed. A checksum checks that a download matches the file the developer published. Neither proves that a release is bug-free.

For direct replacements, the app identifier and signing developer should match the installed app. The new version should be newer and support your macOS version and processor.

Homebrew checks published checksums when provided. Some casks use an unversioned download without a fixed checksum. Sparkle uses its own signed update files. Gatekeeper adds macOS checks for downloaded apps.

The Homebrew guide and Sparkle guide explain those systems in more detail.

Frequently asked questions

Why is there no Update All button for every app?

App Store Update All covers apps installed from the store. Other apps use Homebrew, a built-in updater, a developer tool, or a website download.

How do I choose a Mac app updater?

Look for a tool that shows each app's update source, the version it found, and the next action. It should stop when an update cannot be checked safely.

Should I back up before updating?

Keep important files backed up. Save the old app before replacing it directly, but remember that an app copy does not back up your documents or settings.

Should I ignore a security warning to install an update?

No. Keep the working app and check the developer's official instructions or contact support.

How to keep your Mac apps up to date.