Keep Your Home Computer Running Smoothly: Easy Steps for Updating Windows and Mac

Categories: Cyber Security Awareness Month End Users Howtos Security

For computers connected to the OSU network, Agriculture IT has you covered when it comes to keeping your office machine up to date.  Our IT team handles operating system updates so you don’t have to think about it.  But when you are at home working on your personal computer or using an OSU computer off of our network, it is important to stay on top of updates. 

Why is this important?

Updating your operating system and office productivity software helps keep your computer running smoothly and protects it from security threats.  So while we handle these updates at work, make sure to give your personal computer a quick check at home now and then. 

Here’s how to easily update your home computer, be it either Windows or Mac. If you would like to see screenshots showing these steps, please visit the links in the references section at the bottom of this article.

For Windows Users:^[1]

1. Open Settings: Click on the Start button, then head to “Settings” (the little gear icon).
2. Find Updates: Select “Update & Security”.
3. Check for Updates: Click “Click for updates”.  Windows will let you know if there are any available updates.
4. Install Updates: If there are updates available, click “Install”, and let your computer do the rest. 
5. Reboot Computer: Once the install completes, reboot your machine.  When the computer reboots, it is a good idea to go through the process a second time, to make sure there aren’t other updates waiting.
6. Automatic Updates: You can set your Windows computer to check for automatic updates. When you are at step 2 above, look for “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” and change the button to “On”. Going forward, Windows should update itself automatically.

For Mac Users:^[2]

1. Go to System Settings: Click on the Apple logo in the top-left corner of your screen.
2. Check for Software Updates: Navigate to “System Settings” (or “System Preferences” for older versions of MacOS).
3. Install Updates: Click “Software Update”.  If any updates are available, follow the prompts to install. 
4. Reboot computer:  Once the installation finishes, it should prompt you to reboot.  When the computer reboots, it is a good idea to go through the process a second time, to make sure there aren’t other updates waiting.
5. Automatic Updates: You can set your Mac to install updates automatically. When you are in step 3 above, look for the option to “Automatically keep my Mac up to date” and check it. Going forward, your Mac should update itself automatically.

For Office 365:^[3]

1. Open Any Office Application: Open any Office app like Word, Excel, or PowerPoint. The process works no matter which one you choose.
2. Go to the Account or File Menu: Once open, click “File” (top left corner) and scroll down to “Account.” In some apps, you may see “Account” or “Office Account” directly in the menu.
3. Check for Updates: In the Account section, look for a section called “Office Updates” and click “Update Options.”
4. Select “Update Now”: From the drop-down menu, choose “Update Now.” Office will check for available updates and install them automatically if needed.
5. Wait for the Process to Complete: After selecting “Update Now,” give Office a few minutes to download and install updates. You may need to restart the app afterward.

This should get your computer up to the latest and greatest version of its available operating system and Microsoft Office.  It’s a good idea to check for Operating System updates once per month, as both Microsoft and Apple are continually releasing updates to keep your computer protected.  Please let us know if you have any questions. 

References:

[1] https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/update-windows-3c5ae7fc-9fb6-9af1-1984-b5e0412c556a

[2] https://support.apple.com/en-us/108382

[3] https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/install-office-updates-2ab296f3-7f03-43a2-8e50-46de917611c5