Displaying file sizes for software updates from the Mac App Store

Can anyone advise on a simple method to see the sizes of software updates available from the "Updates" tab on the Mac App Store?


Until Mountain Lion, when updating software via "Software Update" the size of the update was displayed in the list of available updates. For users on low-speed internet connections or connections with low download limits, this information is very useful.


However, I can't see a way to display this info in the App Store.


Running OS X El Capitan 10.11.6 on a 2015 Macbook, App Store v2.1.


Please note that I am asking specifically regarding updates, not downloading new apps.


I know that the file size for a new app is listed in the "Information" box on the app's details on the app store, available by clicking on the app name.


However, I believe that is the file size for the entire app, which is not necessarily the same as for the update? Happy to be corrected if this is wrong.


Additionally, there is no page to clickthrough to for OS X system software updates.

MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015), OS X El Capitan (10.11.6)

Posted on Aug 27, 2016 3:22 AM

Reply
3 replies

Apr 23, 2017 5:00 AM in response to bpcmemorial

For Apple software updates (not for third party apps) I found the command line softwareupdate tool, which will list all available system software updates including their size with the -l option.


e.g.

<computer_name>:~ <userid>$ softwareupdate -l

Software Update Tool

Copyright 2002-2015 Apple Inc.



Finding available software

Software Update found the following new or updated software:

* MLVUpdate_en_GB_serena-5.0.7

Voice Update - Serena (5.0.7), 204703K [recommended]

* MLVUpdate_en_GB_daniel-5.0.7

Voice Update - Daniel (5.0.7), 476251K [recommended]

* MLVUpdate_en_GB_oliver-5.0.7

Voice Update - Oliver (5.0.7), 135247K [recommended]

* MLVUpdate_en_GB_kate-5.0.7

Voice Update - Kate (5.0.7), 134255K [recommended]

* MLVUpdate_en_AU_lee-5.0.7

Voice Update - Lee (5.0.7), 365031K [recommended]

* MLVUpdate_en_scotland_fiona-5.0.7

Voice Update - Fiona (5.0.7), 211583K [recommended]

* MLVUpdate_fr_FR_aurelie-5.0.7

Voice Update - Aurelie (5.0.7), 121027K [recommended]

* MLVUpdate_en_IE_moira-5.0.7

Voice Update - Moira (5.0.7), 366487K [recommended]

* MLVUpdate_en_AU_karen-5.0.7

Voice Update - Karen (5.0.7), 357539K [recommended]

* MLVUpdate_en_ZA_tessa-5.0.7

Voice Update - Tessa (5.0.7), 359355K [recommended]

* RAWCameraUpdate6.21-6.21

Digital Camera RAW Compatibility Update (6.21), 7695K [recommended]

* Security Update 2016-001-10.11.6

Security Update 2016-001 (10.11.6), 404374K [recommended] [restart]

* Safari10.0ElCapitan-10.0

Safari (10.0), 68827K [recommended] [restart]

* iTunesX-12.5.1

iTunes (12.5.1), 261748K [recommended]

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Displaying file sizes for software updates from the Mac App Store

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