Operating System

 💻 Update macOS on your Mac 

Step 1 — Open Software Update:

  • Use Spotlight (magnifying glass in the menu bar) to search for "Software Update", then click to open it.
  • Or choose Apple menu, then System Settings, then General, then Software Update.

Step 2 — Install the update:

  1. Software Update checks automatically. Click Update, Upgrade, or Restart Now to install.
  2. If no update is found, click Check for Update or press Command‑R to refresh.
  3. Enter your administrator password (the one you use to log in) when prompted.
  4. Allow installation to complete — do not put your Mac to sleep or close the lid. Your Mac may restart and show a progress bar several times.
 🔵 Update Windows on a PC 
  1. Click the Start button and open Settings (the gear icon), or press Windows + I on your keyboard.
  2. Select Windows Update from the left sidebar.
  3. Click Check for updates. Windows will search for any available updates.
  4. If updates are found, click Download and install. Keep your PC plugged in during this step.
  5. When prompted, click Restart now to finish installing. Your PC may restart more than once.
💡Tip: Windows 10 reached end of life on 14 October 2025 and no longer receives security updates. If you're still on Windows 10, consider upgrading to Windows 11 to stay protected.
 🖥️ Update drivers and firmware on a Dell PC 

Using Dell SupportAssist (recommended):

SupportAssist is Dell's built-in update tool and comes pre-installed on most Dell PCs running Windows.

  1. Click the Start button and search for SupportAssist, then open it.
  2. On the Home tab, select Update software.
  3. Click Start — SupportAssist will scan your PC for outdated drivers and firmware.
  4. When the scan is complete, click View updates to see what's available.
  5. Click Install (or Install all) and wait for the updates to download and apply.
  6. Restart your PC when prompted to finish the process.
💡Tip: Keep your laptop plugged in before starting — updates can take a few minutes and you don't want it to run out of battery partway through.

Updating manually from the Dell website:

  1. Open a web browser and go to dell.com/support.
  2. If prompted, allow the site to detect your PC automatically, or enter your Service Tag (found on a sticker on the bottom of your PC).
  3. Click Drivers & Downloads.
  4. Use the Category dropdown to filter by driver type (e.g. BIOS, Network, Video).
  5. Find the driver you need and click Download.
  6. Once downloaded, open the file and follow the on-screen instructions to install.
  7. Restart your PC if prompted.
💡Tip: Dell recommends downloading drivers directly from dell.com rather than third-party sites to ensure they are tested and safe for your device.

Productivity

 📘 Update Microsoft Office 365 (Mac) 
  1. Open any Office app (Word, Excel, etc.).
  2. In the top menu, click Help, then Check for Updates.
  3. The Microsoft AutoUpdate tool will open.
  4. Click Update (or Update All).
💡Tip: Turn on Automatically keep Microsoft Apps up to date in the AutoUpdate window to avoid doing this manually.
 🪟 Update Microsoft Office 365 (Windows) 

From inside an Office app:

  1. Open Word, Excel, or another Office app.
  2. Click File, then Account.
  3. Under Product Information, click Update Options.
  4. Select Update Now.

Web Browser

 🟢 Update Google Chrome (Mac) 
  1. Open Google Chrome.
  2. In the top menu bar, click Chrome, then About Google Chrome.
  3. Chrome will automatically check for updates.
  4. If an update is available, click Relaunch to finish.
💡Tip: You can also type chrome://settings/help in the address bar to go directly to the update screen.
 🟢 Update Google Chrome (Windows PC) 
  1. Open Google Chrome.
  2. Click the three-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  3. Select Help, then About Google Chrome.
  4. Chrome will automatically check for and download any available updates.
  5. Once the update is ready, click Relaunch to apply it.
💡Tip: You can also type chrome://settings/help in the address bar to go directly to the update screen.
 🍎 Update Safari (Mac) 

Safari updates are tied to macOS updates. To update Safari, update your Mac:

  1. Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen.
  2. Select System Settings (or System Preferences on older Macs).
  3. Go to General, then Software Update.
  4. If an update is available, click Update Now.
💡Tip: This updates Safari at the same time as your macOS.