softwareupdate(8) BSD System Manager's Manual softwareupdate(8)NAMEsoftwareupdate — system software update tool
SYNOPSISsoftwareupdate command [args ...]
DESCRIPTION
Software Update checks for new and updated versions of your software
based on information about your computer and current software.
Invoke softwareupdate by specifying a command followed by zero or more
args.
softwareupdate requires admin authentication for all commands except
--list. If you run softwareupdate as a normal admin user, you will be
prompted for a password where required. Alternatively, you can run
softwareupdate as root and avoid all further authentication prompts.
The following commands are available:
-l | --list
List all available updates.
-i | --install
Each update specified by args is downloaded and installed.
args can be one of the following:
-r | --recommended
All updates that are recommended for your system.
These are prefixed with a * character in the
--list output.
-a | --all All updates that are applicable to your system,
including those non-recommended ones, which are
prefixed with a - character in the --list output.
(Non-recommended updates are uncommon in any
case.)
item ... One or more specified updates. The --list output
shows the item names you can specify here, pre‐
fixed by the * or - characters. See EXAMPLES.
-d | --download
Each update specified by args is downloaded but not
installed. The values of args are the same as for the
--install command. Updates downloaded with --download can be
subsequently installed with --install, or through the App
Store (as long as they remain applicable to your system).
Updates are downloaded to /Library/Updates, but are not
designed to be installed by double-clicking the packages in
that directory: always use --install or the App Store to
actually perform the install.
--ignore identifier ...
Manages the per-machine list of ignored updates. The
identifier is the first part of the item name (before the
dash and version number) that is shown by --list. See
EXAMPLES.
--reset-ignored
Clears the per-machine list of ignored updates.
--schedule on | off
Manages the per-machine automatic (background) check prefer‐
ence.
-h | --help
Print command usage.
EXAMPLES
The following examples are shown as given to the shell:
softwareupdate--list
Software Update Tool
Copyright 2002-2012 Apple Inc.
Finding available software
Software Update found the following new or updated software:
* MacBookAirEFIUpdate2.4-2.4
MacBook Air EFI Firmware Update (2.4), 3817K [recommended] [restart]
* ProAppsQTCodecs-1.0
ProApps QuickTime codecs (1.0), 968K [recommended]
* JavaForOSX-1.0
Java for OS X 2012-005 (1.0), 65288K [recommended]
sudo softwareupdate--install JavaForOSX-1.0
Software Update Tool
Copyright 2002-2012 Apple Inc.
Finding available software
Downloading Java for OS X 2012-005
Downloaded Java for OS X 2012-005
Installing Java for OS X 2012-005
Done with Java for OS X 2012-005
Done.
sudo softwareupdate--ignore JavaForOSX
Ignored updates:
(JavaForOSX)
sudo softwareupdate--schedule
Automatic check is on
Mac OS September 11, 2012 Mac OS
