Different ways to upgrade macOS?

[Hinne]

Hello everyone,
I have an admittedly somewhat paranoid question about upgrading to sequoia. On my MacMini, I found the upgrade as usual using the software update function. Download size about 6.63 GB, the upgrade ran as usual with a few restarts.
On my Macbook Air 2020 / M1, the download size was 14.48 GB (!) at the same location and, in contrast to the MacMini, a proper installation program started.
Is all of this correct?
Why this huge download size and the unusual way of upgrading via the installation program?

Many thanks in advance for your support.
Hinne

 

[Fishrrman]

Whatever works ... is probably "correct".

I believe the larger download contains BOTH the Apple Silicon AND Intel versions of the OS.
The proper version will be installed, and I believe "the excess" is erased and removed when the install is done.

 

[Hinne]

Whatever works ... is probably "correct".

I believe the larger download contains BOTH the Apple Silicon AND Intel versions of the OS.
The proper version will be installed, and I believe "the excess" is erased and removed when the install is done.

Thanks for your idea. But in my opinion that would be a generous use of the Apple server's resources, which I can't imagine.

There has to be another explanation, it didn't happen with the last major upgrades.

 

[bogdanw]

There is a simple explanation: software update displays the wrong size. I’ve seen that several times, software update displays a size for the update and another size while downloading that update.

Regardless of Intel or Apple Silicon, software update downloads the same InstallAssistant.pkg https://mrmacintosh.com/macos-sequoia-full-installer-database-download-directly-from-apple/
Very rarely there are different installers for specific Macs
23D2057 M3 Air, 23B2091 M3 only,
https://mrmacintosh.com/macos-sonoma-full-installer-database-download-directly-from-apple/

 

[Hinne]

There is a simple explanation: software update displays the wrong size. I’ve seen that several times, software update displays a size for the update and another size while downloading that update.

Regardless of Intel or Apple Silicon, software update downloads the same InstallAssistant.pkg https://mrmacintosh.com/macos-sequoia-full-installer-database-download-directly-from-apple/
Very rarely there are different installers for specific Macs
23D2057 M3 Air, 23B2091 M3 only,
https://mrmacintosh.com/macos-sonoma-full-installer-database-download-directly-from-apple/

Hello and thank you for sharing your knowledge with me. I'm now reassured about the download size.

Do you have any idea why a separate installation program started on the Macbook and not as easy as on the MacMini...

- Download
- Verify
- Restart
- Done

I switched from Windows to Mac since BigSur and can't remember a separate installation program starting.

Thank you very much!