Install macOS Updates and Upgrades
The default super workflow only attempts to install the latest non-deferred macOS minor upDATE if they are available. Further, super respects software update restriction deferrals via a MDM configuration profile. In other words, super does not install (but it does report to the super.log) macOS software updates that have been deferred via a MDM restrictions configuration profile.
By configuring additional options super can also target specific macOS versions, install macOS major upGRADES, and macOS Rapid Security Response (RSR) updates. Also keep in mind, there are additional alternate workflow options that can further adjust the super workflow behavior.
Limit the installation of macOS minor updates to the version specified in this option.
Command option example:
--install-macos-minor-version-target=15.6.1
Command option disable example:
--install-macos-major-version-target=X
Configuration profile example:
<key>InstallMacOSMinorVersionTarget</key>
<string>15.6.1</string>
With this option enabled super does not attempt to install any macOS minor updates newer than the targeted version. For example, if you specified --install-macos-minor-version-target=15.6 then super never attempts to install minor updates to macOS 15.7 or newer.
You can specify partial or full macOS numbers. If you don't provide a specific version number (for example, 15.6.1) then super targets the latest available macOS minor update that matches the target.
It's imporant to recontize that the Apple softwareupdate mechanism can only target the latest non-deferred macOS minor update. As such, targeting an older macOS minor update will likley result in super having to target a full macOS installer. These full installers require more local free storage space and take conssiderably longer to install.
Finally, because macOS can not be downgraded without a full system reset, super likewise can not downgrade macOS systems to older versions even if this option is specified.
Allow super to install macOS major upgrades.
Command option example:
--install-macos-major-upgrades
Command option disable example:
--install-macos-major-upgrades-off
Configuration profile example:
<key>InstallMacOSMajorUpgrades</key>
<true/>
With this option enabled super leverages built-in commands and the mist-cli command to find compatible macOS major upgrade versions. If a newer macOS major upgrade is available then super attempts to download and install the upgrade. The default super workflow always targets the newest compatible macOS major upgrade version.
Even if there is no macOS major upgrade available, and you leave this option enabled, super continues to install any available macOS minor updates. In other words, if you enable the --install-macos-major-upgrades option then super attempts all macOS minor updates and major upgrades throughout time.
The macOS update/upgrade dialog
The macOS update/upgrade restart notification
Limit the installation of macOS major upgrades to the version specified in this option. This option requires that you have also specified the --install-macos-major-upgrades option.
Command option example:
--install-macos-major-version-target=26.0.1
Command option disable example:
--install-macos-major-version-target=X
Configuration profile example:
<key>InstallMacOSMajorVersionTarget</key>
<string>26.0.1</string>
With this option enabled super does not attempt to install any macOS major upgrades newer than the targeted version. For example, if you specified --install-macos-major-version-target=15 then super never attempts to install major upgrades to macOS 26 or newer.
You can specify partial or full macOS numbers. If you don't provide a specific version number (for example, 26.0.1) then super targets the latest available macOS major upgrade that matches the target.
It's imporant to recontize that the Apple softwareupdate mechanism can only target the latest non-deferred macOS major upgrade. As such, targeting an older macOS major upgrade will likley result in super having to target a full macOS installer. These full installers require more local free storage space and take conssiderably longer to install.
Again, because macOS can not be downgraded without a full system reset, super likewise can not downgrade macOS systems to older versions even if this option is specified.
However, even with the option to limit macOS major upgrades enabled, super continues to install any available macOS minor updates. In other words, if you enable the --install-macos-major-version-target=15 option then super attempts to keep the system up to date with the newest version of macOS 15.
Allow super to install macOS Rapid Security Response (RSR) updates.
Command option example:
--install-rapid-security-responses
Command option disable example:
--install-rapid-security-responses-off
Configuration profile example:
<key>InstallRapidSecurityResponses</key>
<true/>
Apple introduced RSR updates with macOS 13, so this setting is ignored on older versions of macOS.
Even though RSR updates are significantly smaller downloads and install much faster than normal macOS minor updates they still require a restart to be fully enabled. As such, if this option is enabled then super macOS RSR update workflows behave similar normal macOS minor update.
When Apple releases a normal macOS minor update that is newer than the previous RSR update, softwareupdate no longer allows for installation of the previous RSR update. In this case, the super workflow also returns to attempting the newer normal macOS minor update.