softwareupdate

system software update tool

softwareupdate command [args …]

Check for new and updated versions of software

Requires admin for all commands except --list.

If you run softwareupdate as a normal (?) admin user, you will be prompted for a password where required.
Avoide by running as root.

-l --list List all available updates.

--list-full-installers

3/24/23

Finding available software
Software Update found the following full installers:
* Title: macOS Ventura, Version: 13.2.1, Size: 12261711KiB, Build: 22D68, Deferred: NO
* Title: macOS Ventura, Version: 13.2, Size: 12261428KiB, Build: 22D49, Deferred: NO
* Title: macOS Ventura, Version: 13.1, Size: 11931164KiB, Build: 22C65, Deferred: NO
* Title: macOS Monterey, Version: 12.6.3, Size: 12115350KiB, Build: 21G419, Deferred: NO
* Title: macOS Monterey, Version: 12.6.2, Size: 12104568KiB, Build: 21G320, Deferred: NO

 -i  update
 --install

Each update specified by args is downloaded and installed. args can be one of t:

`-r --recommended`	All updates that are recommended for your system, prefixed with a * character in the `--list` output.
`-a --all`	All updates that are applicable to your system, including those non-recommended (uncommon ) ones, which are prefixed with a `-` in `--list` .
`item ...`	One or more specified updates. see `--list`

-d update --download Each update is downloaded to /Library/Updates, but not installed.
They are not designed to be installed by double-clicking the packages
The values of args are the same as for --install . Updates downloaded can be subsequently installed with --install, or through the App Store (as long as they remain applicable to your system).
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.

--reset-ignored Clears the per-machine list of ignored updates.

--schedule on | off Manages the per-machine automatic (background) check preference.

-h --help

slightly reformatted.

usage: softwareupdate [ ...] ** Catalog Management: --set-catalog Set the new catalog URL (requires privileges) --clear-catalog Clear the catalog URL back to defaults (requires privileges) ** Manage Updates: -l | --list List all appropriate update labels (options: --no-scan) -d | --download Download Only -e | --cancel-download Cancel a download -i | --install Install ... specific updates -a | --all All appropriate updates -r | --recommended Only recommended updates --background Trigger a background scan and update operation --ignore ... Ignore specific updates --reset-ignored Clear all ignored updates ** Other Tools: --suspend-background temporarily (use --duration to specify duration to suspend in seconds) --duration ) Optional duration in seconds to suspend background operations (default 5*60 seconds) --dump-state Log the internal state of the SU daemon to /var/log/install.log --evaluate-products Evaluate a list of product keys specified by the --products option ** Options: --no-scan when listing or installing updates (use available updates previously scanned) --products A comma-separated (no spaces) list of product keys to operate on. --force completeion, with --background to trigger a background scan regardless of "Automatically check" pref --verbose Enable verbose output --help Print this help

EXAMPLES

>softwareupdate --list

Broadcast Message from _distnote@smacpro (no tty) at 8:25 EST...                                                
Feb 26 08:25:40 smacpro softwareupdate[15994]: /usr/sbin/softwareupdate: Service connection invalidated!




           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