Can you still download "updaters" for macOS like you used to with OS X?

[h4lp m3]

I have macOS 12.0.1 and I specifically want 12.1, but if I go through the App Store, they want me to beta test 12.3.
I am not an early adopter. Can you no longer download the individual updates?

 

[Realityck]

I have macOS 12.0.1 and I specifically want 12.1, but if I go through the App Store, they want me to beta test 12.3.
I am not an early adopter. Can you no longer download the individual updates?

MacOS 12.3 was released March 14th. You are not beta testing it.

 

[h4lp m3]

Thanks for clarifying that we can still download updaters in macOS.

 

[fisherking]

if you're not signed up for the beta program, any system updates available to you are 'official' releases...

 

[DeltaMac]

Yes, the Software Update pane will show that you are enrolled in a beta program.
If you do not want to be presented with beta updates, then click the "Details..." link under that beta program statement, then click the "Restore Defaults" button. That will remove your Mac from the beta program, and you will no longer be offered beta updates.
For the separate updater install downloads (the delta updaters), Apple no longer makes those available, I think after Catalina.
You CAN download the full installers for the various updates to Monterey. Apple still makes those available on their servers. Here's a page that has various links to download (direct from Apple) the final full installers for the various versions (so far) of Monterey. There's also a list of beta versions, should you have a need for those - but the final, full installers are there. Choose whatever you would like.

 

[gilby101]

As an alternative to Mr. Macintosh (as linked by @DeltaMac) is to use the GUI app MDS to explore and download what is available.

But these are all full installers (12GB) with you can use for both new installs and updates. The old downloadable "Delta" update method was stopped for Big Sur and Monterey.

 

[DeltaMac]

I also use MDS -- but I cannot get MDS to work on Monterey to download any macOS system. It always quits.
But, that's also why I keep (several) older Macs around. I just get on another, older Mac to download or create a bootable installer

 

[gilby101]

but I cannot get MDS to work on Monterey to download any macOS system

Sorry, I should have said. With macOS 12.3 you need MDS v4.2. See this about a beta for a working version.

 

[Fishrrman]

I could be wrong, but it looks like Apple has discontinued "downloadable" updaters (such as the previous "delta" and "combo" updaters).

All you get now, is what they choose to offer you (which is going to be "the latest and greatest" update, obtained through the "software update" preference pane).

As such, it looks to be very difficult to "get back" to a previous version of a particular OS (such as, say, 12.2).

There may be tricks around this, I'd like to see them outlined in simple step-by-step terms with necessary links posted (to obtain tools, etc.)

 

[chrfr]

I could be wrong, but it looks like Apple has discontinued "downloadable" updaters (such as the previous "delta" and "combo" updaters).

All you get now, is what they choose to offer you (which is going to be "the latest and greatest" update, obtained through the "software update" preference pane).

Apple still makes all the Monterey installers available for download: 12.0.1, 12.1, 12.2, 12.2.1, 12.3, 12.3.1.
On a machine running Monterey or Big Sur the easiest way to get the installer is to do so running softwareupdate at the command line, as described in this page: https://512pixels.net/2019/10/download-macos-installers-with-terminal/
You can even download 10.13.6 this way.
Edited to clarify that these are full installers rather than updaters, although they can be used as updaters.

 

[DeltaMac]

Yes, however, those are not updaters, but full installers for those respective versions.
So, if you, for example, have Monterey 12.2 now, and want to go to 12.2.1 for some reason, software update won't show you the choice to update to 12.2.1 - but will show you the 12.3.1 update - nothing in between.
As in the past, you can download various combo updaters, and the "dot" updaters, up to Catalina 10.15.7, and security updates for Catalina, too.
But, nothing, no updaters for Big Sur and Monterey, just the full installers. The updates are available to install, but not as a separate download, and only until the next update is released.
I have become used to simply downloading each full installer as they are released (12GB or more downloads, several times a month adds up quickly!), make bootable installers, and use those when needed. Would be nice to just download the separate updates, but no more, I guess.