Whether you’re using a PC or a Mac, you’ve probably encountered a message saying that an operating system update (either for Windows or OS X) is available for you to download and install. And odds are that this message appeared when you were using your computer to complete a task, making it inconvenient to have to restart your computer to apply the update, right?
Operating System Updates: The Party Line
Now, let’s be clear right off the bat: you definitely should install operating system updates. These updates come out for a reason, oftentimes making small but important improvements to the functions of the software and updating it to defend against new developments in the virus world.
"But what if I'm in the middle of something?"
Although OS updates are important and should be applied, more often than not—especially for the everyday user—you don’t need to stop what you are doing to install the update immediately. So you aren’t being irresponsible if you click the “Remind me later” button so that you can finish that spreadsheet (or that game of Tetris). Just make sure that you remember to go back and install the update at a time that is convenient for you. It’s probably good to wait until you aren’t under a time crunch anyway because sometimes updates have minor bugs that might temporarily complicate some of your applications.
The Exception: Business-Critical Applications
We should say, however, that users running business-critical applications may want to be more fastidious about applying updates immediately. There are some updates that will be critical to the security and function of your programs, and those might be worth stopping what you are doing to apply. If we are managing your IT systems, we will keep tabs on which updates are critical and which ones don’t have to disrupt your productivity and let you know accordingly.