Description
If you received an email with the subject line "Update your Mac computer operating system to Catalina by Oct. 15" the computer listed in the email must update to macOS Catalina 10.15 by Friday October 15th.
This update contains critical security patches so it is not optional. If you don’t install this yourself by 10/15 you will receive a pushed upgrade to your computer. We strongly recommend you do this on your own rather than have it pushed so you can control when you are inconvenienced. But unfortunately, this cannot be deferred any longer.
How do I update my macOS?
You can upgrade to macOS Catalina on the WCM App Store, or directly from the Mac App Store.
- WCM App Store: HowTo: Upgrade to macOS Catalina
- Mac App Store: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/macos-catalina/id1466841314?ls=1&mt=12
Notes on the upgrade:
- Before you do any OS upgrade, make sure you backup all your files on Time Machine. This requires an external hard drive, and can take many hours depending on the amount of data on your computer and the last time you made a backup.
- Before you start your OS upgrade, save all your work and close all applications.
- You computer will restart for the upgrade to take effect, and it can take about 1 hour to finish.
- If you use Apple Mail, it may take 15-20 minutes to restart the application after upgrading.
- macOS Catalina requires 25GB of available storage to upgrade. If you need to clear up hard drive space to install the upgrade, ITS offers several cloud storage options including OneDrive, Box, and File Share.
You may need to update certain applications like Citrix, Adobe Acrobat (DC Reader), Microsoft 365, or Cisco AnyConnect to the latest versions after the upgrade. These applications are available for download via the WCM App Store.
Need help?
- Schedule an appointment with the ITS Support Desk
Why do I need to update my macOS?
Computers running out-of-date operating systems are a serious threat to the security of the WCM network and are vulnerable to attack. ITS computer security policy requires that computers used to access the network be on a modern OS that receives regular security updates from the manufacturer. Keeping your macOS updated also ensures that your applications continue to work optimally.
I don’t use this computer anymore, what do I do?
If you no longer use this computer to access WCM resources please fill out a Device Disconnection Request.