One of the best ways to keep your Mac safe and functioning well is to use the built-in Software Update tool. Apple occasionally makes security patches and new versions of pre-installed applications available through this tool, which will download and install the updates automatically. Usually you don’t even need to reboot your computer.

To run Software Update, just select “Software Update…” from the Apple menu in the white menu bar at the top of your screen. If there are any updates available, the tool will pop up a window to let you know there are updates available. If you’re curious, you can click on “More Details” to find out exactly what will be downloaded before you click “Install”.

Software Update normally runs in the background and lets you know when software is available. If you want to ensure that you’re always up-to-date, choose “System Preferences…” from the Apple menu then click on the “Software Update” preference pane. Make sure that “Check for Updates” is selected and set the frequency to “Daily”. If your computer is often wired into a network, you can select “Download updates automatically” as well so that you won’t have to wait for the packages to download when Software Update tells you they’re available. You might want to leave this turned off if you’re usually using a wireless network, as it can slow down your connection while packages are being downloaded. The Software Update preference pane also tells you when your Mac last checked for new updates.

It’s a good idea to make sure that Software Update is always on and to check manually from time to time when new patches are released. For more information on how Software Update works and what other steps you can take to keep your Mac running its best, check out this support article at Apple.com.