Check for new and updated versions of your software based on information about your computer and current software.
sudo softwareupdate <cmd> [<args> ...]
** Manage Updates:
-l | --list List all appropriate update labels (options: --no-scan, --product-types)
-d | --download Download Only
-i | --install Install
<label> ... specific updates
-a | --all All appropriate updates
-R | --restart Automatically restart (or shut down) if required to complete installation.
-r | --recommended Only recommended updates
--os-only Only OS updates
--safari-only Only Safari updates
--stdinpass Password to authenticate as an owner. Apple Silicon only.
--user Local username to authenticate as an owner. Apple Silicon only.
--list-full-installers List the available macOS Installers
--fetch-full-installer Install the latest recommended macOS Installer
--full-installer-version The version of macOS to install. Ex: --full-installer-version 10.15
--install-rosetta Install Rosetta 2
--background Trigger a background scan and update operation
** Other Tools:
--dump-state Log the internal state of the SU daemon to /var/log/install.log
--evaluate-products Evaluate a list of product keys specified by the --products option
--history Show the install history. By default, only displays updates installed by softwareupdate.
--all Include all processes in history (including App installs)
** Options:
--no-scan Do not scan when listing or installing updates (use available updates previously scanned)
--product-types <type> Limit a scan to a particular product type only - ignoring all others
Ex: --product-types macOS || --product-types macOS,Safari
--products A comma-separated (no spaces) list of product keys to operate on.
--force Force an operation to complete. Use with --background to trigger a background scan regardless of "Automatically check" pref
--agree-to-license Agree to the software license agreement without user interaction.
--verbose Enable verbose output
--help Print this help
sudo softwareupdate -l
sudo softwareupdate -ia
sudo softwareupdate --install-rosetta
% sudo softwareupdate --history
Display Name Version Date
------------ ------- ----
Command Line Tools for Xcode 13.0 12/08/2021, 19:13:14
Command Line Tools beta 4 for Xcode 13.0 12/08/2021, 19:13:14
Command Line Tools for Xcode 13.1 12/08/2021, 19:13:14
sudo softwareupdate --fetch-full-installer --full-installer-version 10.15.4