Updating your Mac with Standalone Installers

Instead of using Software Update to install updates you can download and install an Apple provided update via a standalone installer. Many Mac users prefer to use the standalone installer instead of Software Update.

Reasons for using a standalone installers vary but some common ones include:

To save the update (to a software repository, CD, DVD, or hard disk)
Install it on multiple Macs (easily transported to different Macs)
To download and install it at a later time
The Mac that needs the update does not have an internet connection

Apple standalone updates can be obtained from the Apple Support download page .

How do I install a standalone update?

You download the installer to your Mac
Mount the associated disk image (.dmg file)
Launch the Installer package

Note that if you save a standalone update as indicated above, you must copy the disk image to your Mac before it can be installed. The following guide describes the two types of standalone installers, Delta and Combo.

Be Careful
You should read the documentation from Apple before using a standalone installer. You should only install them on compatible systems and in the correct order.

Updates