---
title: "OSX Cheatsheet"
summary: "The handful of terminal commands for keeping a Mac updated, installing App Store apps and starting a Time Machine backup."
url: https://blog.sinn.consulting/osx-cheatsheet/
date: 2020-12-24
updated: 2026-09-29
authors: [marcel]
tags: [osx, cheatsheet]
tldr:
  - "Install every pending macOS update from the terminal with softwareupdate."
  - "Install and upgrade App Store apps with mas."
  - "Start a Time Machine backup on demand with tmutil."
---

# OSX Cheatsheet

## OSX Update

```shell
sudo softwareupdate -i -a
```

## AppStore Install & Update

```shell
mas install "1295203466" # Remote Desktop Client
mas upgrade
```

## TimeMachine

```shell
tmutil startbackup
```