Here’s How Long the macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 Update Takes

Apple’s new macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 update could take a long time to download and install on your Mac. The amount of time depends on your Mac model and the version of macOS it’s currently running.

macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 is available to download right now if you own a model that’s compatible with the operating system. You can find a list of compatible Mac models right here.

If you’ve downloaded macOS software in the past, you know how long an upgrade can take. It can be particularly painful on launch day.

If you’re moving you Mac from macOS Sonoma 14.4 to macOS Sonoma 14.4.1, you’ll get the least amount of changes and the smallest download size.

If you’re moving from older macOS software, you’ll get the features and fixes from the updates you missed and a lengthier installation process.

We can’t tell you exactly how long the macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 installation process will take on your computer because it will vary.

That being said, we can help you approximate how much time you should set aside should you choose to install the firmware on your Mac today.

If your macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 download is going a little slower than it should be, we’ll help you attempt to speed it up so you can get back to using your computer.

How to Download macOS Sonoma 14.4.1

There are a couple of ways to download macOS Sonoma 14.4.1.

You can find it on Apple’s App Store. Open up the App Store on your Mac and type in “macOS Sonoma” in the search bar to find it. From there, click on the “Get” button and the download process will begin.

You can also find the software in your Mac’s Settings app. Open up your Settings app and look for the “Software Update” icon. It’s the gear icon that looks like the Settings app icon.

Once you see a popup, click “Upgrade Now” and the process will start.

Prepare for macOS Sonoma 14.4.1

Before you start the upgrade process, be sure to prepare your Mac for the download. A bit of work ahead of time can help prevent serious issues.

If this is your first Mac or if you’re unsure about where to start, take a look at our pre-installation guide. It will take you through the most important steps to take before you install the software.

You might be able to get through all of these steps in 30 minutes or less, but it all depends on your skill level and the current state of your Mac. If you haven’t backed up your data in a long time, the process could take a lot longer.

You don’t need to follow every single step in our guide, but you will, at the very least, want to make sure all of your important files are backed up.

macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 Download

Once you’re ready, you’ll want to initiate download process. Again, the exact size of your macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 download will depend on your Mac model and the version of macOS it’s running.

If you’re currently running the latest version of macOS Sonoma, and you’re connected to a fast Wi-Fi network, the download could finish up in less than 10 minutes.

If your connection is slower, you’re downloading at peak hours, or if you’re jumping up from really old macOS software, you might encounter a much longer download process.

You can approximate the time it takes to download macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 using our chart above or with tools like this.

How to Make the Download Go Faster

You may see long download times during peak hours, but there are some things you can try if your macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 download is taking too long or if it gets stuck.

If for some reason your download gets stuck midway through the process, you’ll want to abandon the download and try again.

If the download speed is abnormally slow, try plugging your ethernet cable directly into your Mac. (Note: You may need an adapter to do this.)

If those steps don’t work, try restarting your router. Unplug your router, wait a minute or two, and plug it back in and see if the download speeds up.

If you’re tired of dealing with slow download speeds, you might want to upgrade your router. If you’re interested, take a look at the TP-Link AX3000 or Netgear AX1800.

macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 Installation

Once your Mac is done pulling macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 from Apple’s servers, the installation process will begin. This may take longer than the download process.

If you’re moving up from macOS Sonoma 14.4, the installation could around 10 or so minutes to complete. If you’re moving up older software, it could take a lot longer.

Your Mac might reboot itself a couple of times during the installation process, but this is normal. Your device should boot up normally once the installation process completes.

Post-Installation

After the macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 update process finishes, you might need to spend time logging into iCloud, Apple Pay, and some of your Mac’s applications.

You also might want to spend time checking your important data (photos, music, etc) to make sure it carried over properly during the installation process.

After you do that, make sure you test your core applications and services to ensure they’re working normally. If you notice an issue with one or more of your applications, try downloading the latest version from the App Store.

You’ll also want to poke around your Mac for bugs and performance issues. If you notice something take a look at our list of fixes for common macOS problems.

Install macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 for Better Security

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If security is important to you, think about installing Apple's macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 update right away. macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 includes two security patches and these will help protect your device and it data from harm.  You'll also get patches from updates you missed when you upgrade to macOS Sonoma 14.4.1. macOS Sonoma 14.4 brought 50+ security updates to compatible Mac devices. The update also delivered quantum security protection for iMessage. Apple says the upgrade gives iMessage "the strongest security properties of any at-scale messaging protocol in the world." Apple's macOS Sonoma 14.3 update brought 16 new security patches to Mac. These will help keep your device and its data protected from harm.  macOS Sonoma 14.2.1 featured one security patch and it fixed an issue where a user who shares their screen may unintentionally share the incorrect content. macOS Sonoma 14.2 included a whopping 20 security patches for your Mac. If you want to learn more about them, head here. The software also included iMessage Contact Key Verification which improves the security of iMessage. macOS Sonoma 14.1.2 delivered two security patches, both related to WebKit. These patches were extremely important. macOS Sonoma 14.1 had numerous security patches on board and they addressed issues with Photos, Safari, Siri and more. You can learn more about them over at Apple. macOS Sonoma 14.0, the first version of macOS Sonoma, brought a ton of new security patches to Mac. And when we say a ton, we mean a ton.  It delivered over 50 security updates to Mac users. You can learn more about the particulars over on Apple's security site. In addition to the patches, macOS Sonoma brings additional enhancements to privacy and security including improvements to Communication Safety beyond Messages. It now includes content sent and received in the systemwide photo picker and third-party apps. You also have an option to blur out sensitive photos and videos before you choose to view them. There's also an expanded Lockdown Mode which will help protect you against cyber attacks and improved sharing permissions which means you have more control over what you share with the apps on your device.  If you skipped older versions of macOS, you'll get the security patches from those updates with your macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 update.

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