Reminder: Have You Updated Your Computer & iPad Operating Systems?

You may have recently heard in the news about a security issue with Apple’s macOS and iOS operating systems. While the Heartland AEA Internal Technology Department has a monthly macOS (operating system) update policy to apply important macOS updates to agency computers, we wanted to alert you to the importance of installing the latest security updates on your Mac and iOS devices. The updates often include a restart of the device and an installation phase that can take up to 30 minutes to complete. 

This monthly macOS update policy becomes active on the 3rd Friday of each month at 8:00 a.m. It automatically installs any macOS updates starting at 9:00 a.m. on the 4th Friday of each month. The policy is automatically disabled on the last day of the month at 11:59 p.m. If any of the updates installed require a restart, you will be notified with a message. A video of the process can be seen here. 

Computer 

Check For and Install OS Updates 

Note: Please be sure to connect your power cord and do a Time Machine backup before installing any updates. 

You can check for and install macOS updates any time by going to the Apple Menu, choosing System Preferences and clicking on Software Update. If there are updates needed, they will be listed there, and you can install them from there. A video of the process can be seen here. Due to the severity of the security issue, we ask that you manually run the update as soon as possible. You will probably see the following updates listed, and you need to install both. 

It’s important not to interrupt the update process by pressing and holding the power button. Once the process begins, you need to let it complete on its own. Sometimes these updates require special firmware updates that will cause the computer to turn off for a minute or more. You should not press the power button when this happens. All updates require the computer to access the Internet, so don’t disable Airport or disconnect from ethernet during the installation. 

iPad 

To update your iPad to the latest version 14.8 of iOS, locate and tap Settings > General > Software Update. It will automatically check to see if there are any updates. You may be presented with iPad OS 14.8 as an option to install. Tap the Download and Install button. Enter in your passcode to confirm. The update will be downloaded and installed on your device. You may need to connect to power if your battery doesn’t have sufficient power. 

If you have any questions or need assistance updating your Mac or iOS devices, contact the Internal Technology Department at itsupport@heartlandaea.org with the subject of "OS Update Request." We would be happy to schedule a Zoom or in-person appointment if you need assistance.