Article ID = 38
Article Title = macOS / OS X / Mac OS X System Updates Explained
Article Author(s) = Graham Needham (BH)
Article Created On = 13th July 2011
Article Last Updated = 10th December 2015
Article URL = https://www.macstrategy.com/article.php?38
Article Brief Description:
Explanation of the different ways of updating the macOS operating system

No, you cannot create a macOS USB Installer from the Combo Update, you need the full Install macOS High Sierra.app to do that. Have a look at: How to create a bootable installer for macOS If you cannot get it to download properly on your system using your connection, then you'll have to try from a different location and connection or have a. Download macOS Catalina 10.15.7 Combo Update macOS Catalina 10.15.7 provides important security updates and bug fixes for your Mac. Resolves an issue where macOS would not automatically connect to Wi-Fi networks.

macOS / OS X / Mac OS X System Updates

Types Of macOS / OS X / Mac OS X System Updates

• System Specific = If a new Mac gets released just before/after an OS update then Apple may release a 'System Specific' macOS / OS X / Mac OS X system update. Examples of system specific updates include:
• Mac OS X 10.6.7 update for MacBook Pro (Early 2011 model)
• Mac OS X 10.6.7 update for iMac (Early 2011 models)
• OS X 10.7.1 update for Mac mini / MacBook Air (Mid 2011 models)
NOTE: System specific updates will usually get rolled into the next 'Combo' update.
• Model Specific = If a new Mac gets released before the next OS update and there are significant software updates available for that particular model, or there is a specific fix for an Apple product prior to the next available combo update, Apple may release a 'Model Specific' software update. Examples of model specific software updates include:
• iMac Graphics Update for iMac (Late 2013 and Retina models)
• MacBook Pro Software Update 1.4 for MacBook Pro (Early 2011 model)
NOTE: Model specific updates will usually get rolled into the next 'Combo' update.
• Security Update = Security updates contain very important patches to vulnerable parts of the system. Where possible you should always install security updates, sooner rather than later.
NOTE: Security updates for the latest version of macOS will usually get rolled into the next 'Combo' update. Security updates for older OSes usually get rolled into the next security update (effectively creating a combo security update).
The latest macOS / OS X security updates are:
• macOS 11 - included in the macOS 11.2.3 Installer (or go to Apple menu > System Preferences > Software Update and install the 11.2.3 update)
• macOS 10.15 - included in the macOS 10.15.7 Combo Update + Security Update 2021-001 for Catalina + Supplemental Update 2 (9th February 2021)
• macOS 10.14 - included in the macOS 10.14.6 Combo Update + Security Update 2021-002 for Mojave
• SECURITY WARNING: macOS 10.13 and earlier are no longer supported with security updates - see our securing older operating systems article.
• Delta = This type of update is available going from one incremental version of macOS / OS X / Mac OS X to the next e.g. from OS X 10.10.2 to 10.10.3. The size of a Delta update may be different for different computers.
NOTE: We do not recommend installing 'Delta' updates because far more problems are reported after installing delta updates than combo updates.
• Combo = The latest 'Combo' update is what we always recommend installing because it will make sure all previous updates and patches are applied correctly/installed as well as installing the latest ones.
• List of macOS 11 Combo Updates (latest version = 11.2.3)
• List of macOS 10.15 Combo Updates (latest version = 10.15.7)
• List of macOS 10.14 Combo Updates (latest version = 10.14.6)
• List of macOS 10.13 Combo Updates (latest version = 10.13.6)
• List of macOS 10.12 Combo Updates (latest version = 10.12.6)
• List of OS X 10.11 Combo Updates (latest version = 10.11.6)
• List of OS X 10.10 Combo Updates (latest version = 10.10.5)
• List of OS X 10.9 Combo Updates (latest version = 10.9.5)
• List of OS X 10.8 Combo Updates (latest version = 10.8.5)
• List of OS X 10.7 Combo Updates (latest version = 10.7.5)
• List of Mac OS X 10.6 Combo Updates (latest version = 10.6.8)
• List of Mac OS X 10.5 Combo Updates
• List of Mac OS X 10.4 Combo Updates
• List of Mac OS X 10.3 Combo Updates
NOTE: Apple software updates/installers downloaded prior to 14th February 2016 have an expired security certificate. You should re-download any required/archived updates/installers.

How to install macOS / OS X / Mac OS X System Updates

Basic Method (System/Model Specific and/or Delta Update)

1. Go to Apple menu > Software Update or Apple menu > App Store… > Updates.
2. Wait for it to check for new software.
3. If there is more than one update click the blue 'More…' link and install individual updates as required by clicking each individual 'Update' button to the right of the update information or install all updates in one go via the 'Update All' button.
4. Read, check and agree to any warnings or license agreements.
5. Wait for the updates to download and install.
6. (If necessary) restart your computer.

Recommended Method (Combo Update)

1. Download the latest Combo update manually:
• List of macOS 11 Combo Updates (latest version = 11.2.3)
• List of macOS 10.15 Combo Updates (latest version = 10.15.7)
• List of macOS 10.14 Combo Updates (latest version = 10.14.6)
• List of macOS 10.13 Combo Updates (latest version = 10.13.6)
• List of macOS 10.12 Combo Updates (latest version = 10.12.6)
• List of OS X 10.11 Combo Updates (latest version = 10.11.6)
• List of OS X 10.10 Combo Updates (latest version = 10.10.5)
• List of OS X 10.9 Combo Updates (latest version = 10.9.5)
• List of OS X 10.8 Combo Updates (latest version = 10.8.5)
• List of OS X 10.7 Combo Updates (latest version = 10.7.5)
• List of Mac OS X 10.6 Combo Updates (latest version = 10.6.8)
• List of Mac OS X 10.5 Combo Updates
• List of Mac OS X 10.4 Combo Updates
• List of Mac OS X 10.3 Combo Updates
NOTE: Apple software updates/installers downloaded prior to 14th February 2016 have an expired security certificate. You should re-download any required/archived updates/installers.
2. To be safe, in preparation for installing the update:
• Restart your computer.
• Quit all running applications.
• Disconnect all USB/FireWire devices except your keyboard and/or mouse.
• Eject all optical discs.
• Unmount all servers.
3. If you are running OS X 10.10 or earlier repair your boot disk's permissions.
4. Manually install the the latest Combo update from your 'Downloads' location.
5. Restart your computer.
6. Check Software Update (Apple menu > Software Update or Apple menu > App Store… > Updates) for any additional security/supplemental updates.
7. If you are running OS X 10.10 or earlier repair your boot disk's permissions.

Belt and Braces / Tinfoil Hat Method (Combo Update+)

Mac Combo Update

1. Check your hard disk with one or more of the following products. Boot from your current:
• macOS / OS X / Mac OS X Recovery HD and use Disk Utility to repair the hard disk.
• Emergency Boot Disk and use Disk Utility / DiskWarrior / TechTool Pro to repair the hard disk.
• Alsoft's DiskWarrior 5 - buy it now at
• Stellar's Mac Data Recovery Professional Edition - buy it now at
• Stellar's Mac Data Recovery Premium Edition - buy it now at
• Stellar's Data Recovery for iPhone - buy it now at
• Micromat's TechTool Pro 13
• Prosoft Engineering's Drive Genius 6 (Disk Directory Repair)
• Prosoft Engineering's Data Rescue 6 (Data Recovery)
macOS 10.13 High Sierra and later use a new storage format technology called APFS. Make sure any recovery tools you use are compatible with APFS! More information about APFS can be found in our APFS article here.
• Mac OS X install disc and use Disk Utility to repair the hard disk.
2. Download the latest Combo update manually:
• List of macOS 11 Combo Updates (latest version = 11.2.3)
• List of macOS 10.15 Combo Updates (latest version = 10.15.7)
• List of macOS 10.14 Combo Updates (latest version = 10.14.6)
• List of macOS 10.13 Combo Updates (latest version = 10.13.6)
• List of macOS 10.12 Combo Updates (latest version = 10.12.6)
• List of OS X 10.11 Combo Updates (latest version = 10.11.6)
• List of OS X 10.10 Combo Updates (latest version = 10.10.5)
• List of OS X 10.9 Combo Updates (latest version = 10.9.5)
• List of OS X 10.8 Combo Updates (latest version = 10.8.5)
• List of OS X 10.7 Combo Updates (latest version = 10.7.5)
• List of Mac OS X 10.6 Combo Updates (latest version = 10.6.8)
• List of Mac OS X 10.5 Combo Updates
• List of Mac OS X 10.4 Combo Updates
• List of Mac OS X 10.3 Combo Updates
NOTE: Apple software updates/installers downloaded prior to 14th February 2016 have an expired security certificate. You should re-download any required/archived updates/installers.
3. To be safe, in preparation for installing the update:
• Restart your computer.
• Quit all running applications.
• Disconnect all USB/FireWire devices except your keyboard and/or mouse.
• Eject all optical discs.
• Unmount all servers.
4. Reboot to your normal boot disk in Safe Boot Mode.
5. Manually install the the latest Combo update from your 'Downloads' location.
6. Restart your computer.
7. Check Software Update (Apple menu > Software Update or Apple menu > App Store… > Updates) for any additional security/supplemental updates.
8. If you are running OS X 10.10 or earlier repair your boot disk's permissions.

What Is A Combo Update Mac

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Combo Update Macos 10.15.5

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Combo Update Macos 10.15.4