Should I accept all software updates?

It's unfounded. The updates provide improvements and extended security. Read about them and then decide. I usually keep track of what's been released and decide accordingly. The size of installed stuff basically remains constant before and after an update. Updated and new components replace old.

if I were to update software every time I am notified, then my hard disk capacity would fill quite quickly

That's not the case at all.

For any given update, regardless of the download size, it's typically replacing existing components.
The update may be marginally bigger than the original, but not usually by any significant amount.

So, for example, a 200MB software update will likely replace 199MB of old, outdated code and replace it with the new, 200MB for a net increase of 1MB. A trivial amount by today's standards.

HI,

Don't worry about disk space as far as updates are concerned. It's very important to keep you system software up to date for the sake of security alone. Read here.

Apple Product Security

As for disk space, control or right click the MacintoshHD icon on your Desktop. Click "Get Info". Under the General tab you will see Capacity and Available. Make sure there is at least 10% available disk space, 15% is better.








Carolyn 🙂

Hi lyon09;

If you are concerned about disk space and that is a good thing, I would suggest that you download and start using OmniDiskSweeper. It will tell you exactly what it using the space on your disk.

I think you will be surprised to find out that the system and applications are actually a small user of disk space. Your own files are probably the larger user of disk space.

Allan

Thanks for the feedback. Good computing.