The Apple Studio Display is finally starting to get in the hands of those who pre-ordered Apple’s latest monitor. Unlike the Pro Display XDR, this one is much more affordable, lowering the barrier of entry.
However, since the Studio Display has arrived, we’ve been learning more and more about this new monitor. As it turns out, Apple actually integrated its A13 Bionic processor, which is the same chipset used with the iPhone 11. The Studio Display even runs the most recent version of iOS, coming in with version iOS 15.4, the same software that is available on your iPhone.
How to Update Apple Studio Display
It should come as little surprise given what we’ve learned, but the implementation of the A13 Bionic makes it easier for Apple to push software updates. However, because this is not actually an iOS device, you will need to update the display just as you would update your Mac. Here’s how you can update Apple Studio Display.
Open the System Preferences app on your Mac.
Click Software Update in the third row of options.
If an update is available, click the Update Now button.
Once the update has finished installing, click the Restart notification that appears.
Things get a bit more complicated if you’re trying to figure out what firmware version the Studio Display is running. Because this isn’t running iOS, you’ll have to dive a bit deeper into the settings of your Mac to locate the firmware version.
Click the Apple logo in the top left corner of the Menu Bar.
From the drop-down, select About This Mac.
Click the System Report… button.
In the sidebar, click Graphics/Displays.
From here, there will be another section named Studio Display. The firmware version will be displayed next to the Display Firmware Version line item. This gives you an indication as to whether you are running the latest version available, or if you need to perform an update.
When Should You Update Apple Studio Display?
One of the biggest complaints about the Studio Display has been its subpar webcam performance. This comes as a bit of a surprise to see, as Apple went so far as to bring Center Stage to the Studio Display’s camera. But picture quality does not match what we’ve seen on even older iPhones or iPads.
This is expected to be Apple’s first major release for the Studio Display, as it attempts to fix the webcam quality issues with a software fix. As for when you should update Apple Studio Display, we would recommend doing so as soon as the update becomes available. It’s currently unknown whether Apple will offer a software beta program for the Studio Display, but it also wouldn’t come as much of a surprise if this is the case.
In the event that you want to make sure that your Studio Display is always updated, here’s how you can set up automatic updates:
Open the System Preferences app on your Mac.
Click Software Update from the list of options.
In the bottom right corner, click the Advanced… button.
Make sure that you check the box next to the following:
Check for updates
Download new updates when available
Install macOS updates
Install system data files and security updates
By following these steps, you’ll ensure that as soon as an update becomes available on Apple’s servers, it will be downloaded to your Mac and Apple Studio Display. Then, you will need to follow the steps above to make sure that it’s properly installed, which may mean that you need to restart your devices.
Andrew is a freelance writer based on the East Coast of the US.
He has written for a variety of sites over the years, including iMore, Android Central, Phandroid, and a few others. Now, he spends his days working for an HVAC company, while moonlighting as a freelance writer at night.
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