Keeping your TurboTax Desktop software for Mac up-to-date is crucial for accurate tax preparation and successful e-filing. Tax laws change frequently, and TurboTax releases updates throughout the tax season to reflect these changes, correct any bugs, and ensure your forms are current. Let's get you set up for a smooth updating experience!
How to Update TurboTax on Mac: A Comprehensive Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Are you ready to optimize your tax preparation?
Before we dive into the technicalities, let's ensure you're in the best position for a seamless update. It's a good habit to perform these quick checks before any software update on your Mac.
Save Your Work: Make sure you've saved any open tax returns in TurboTax. While updates are generally safe, it's always best to have your progress secured.
Close TurboTax (Properly!): Don't just click the red 'X' button. Go to the TurboTax menu in the top-left corner of your screen (next to the Apple logo) and select "Quit TurboTax." This ensures the program is fully closed and ready for the update.
Check Your Internet Connection: A stable internet connection is essential for downloading updates. Make sure you're connected to a reliable Wi-Fi network or using an Ethernet cable.
Verify System Requirements: While TurboTax is generally compatible with recent macOS versions, it's always good to quickly check Intuit's official system requirements for your specific TurboTax year. For example, for TurboTax 2024-2025, macOS Ventura 13 or later is typically required. Running an older macOS might prevent certain updates from installing correctly.
Step 2: The Automatic Update Dance
TurboTax for Mac is designed to automatically check for and prompt you to install updates. This is the most common and often the easiest way to keep your software current.
Sub-heading: Launching TurboTax for Auto-Update
Open TurboTax: Locate the TurboTax application in your Applications folder or by searching with Spotlight (Cmd + Space, then type "TurboTax"). Click on its icon to launch it.
Observe the Check for Updates: As TurboTax opens, it will typically perform an automatic check for updates. You might see a progress bar or a message indicating that it's checking for the latest forms and program updates.
Follow the Prompts: If updates are available, TurboTax will usually present you with a prompt to download and install them.
Click "Download and Install Updates" or a similar button.
The program will then download the necessary files. This might take a few moments depending on your internet speed and the size of the update.
Once downloaded, TurboTax will likely prompt you to restart the application to apply the updates. Follow these instructions carefully.
Sub-heading: The "Quit and Reopen" Trick
Sometimes, TurboTax might not immediately show an update prompt, even if one is available. A simple "quit and reopen" can trigger it.
Ensure TurboTax is completely closed (as per Step 1, "Close TurboTax (Properly!)").
Re-launch TurboTax. The act of re-opening the application often prompts it to check for and apply any pending updates.
Step 3: Manually Checking for Updates (The Proactive Approach)
Even if TurboTax seems to be behaving, it's good practice to manually check for updates, especially during peak tax season or if you've been offline for a while.
Sub-heading: Using the TurboTax Menu
Open TurboTax: Launch your TurboTax desktop application.
Navigate to the Menu Bar: Look at the very top-left of your Mac screen, where you see the Apple logo. Next to it, you'll find the TurboTax menu.
Select "Check for Updates": Click on the "TurboTax" menu, then choose "Check for Updates..." from the drop-down menu.
Initiate Download and Installation: If updates are available, a window will appear, detailing the updates. Click on "Download and Install" or a similar button to proceed.
Restart if Prompted: After the updates are installed, TurboTax will usually ask you to restart the application to finalize the process. Do so to ensure the updates are fully applied.
Sub-heading: The "Force Download" Option (Advanced)
In some rare cases, you might encounter a situation where "Check for Updates" seems to show updates but doesn't install them, or you suspect a deeper issue. TurboTax offers a way to force a download of the latest updates.
Open TurboTax.
Hold the Option Key: Go to the TurboTax menu in the top-left corner. While holding down the Option (Alt) key on your keyboard, click on the "TurboTax" menu.
Select "Download Latest Updates": You'll notice that the "Check for Updates" option has changed to "Download Latest Updates." Click this option.
Confirm and Install: This will force TurboTax to download the most recent update package directly. Follow any on-screen prompts to complete the installation and restart the application.
Step 4: Troubleshooting Common Update Issues
Sometimes, things don't go as smoothly as planned. Don't worry, many common update issues have straightforward solutions.
Sub-heading: "TurboTax Can't Be Updated When It's Running From a Read-Only Volume"
This is a frequent message if you're trying to run TurboTax directly from a disk image (DMG file) or an external drive that's read-only.
Solution: Ensure you have dragged the TurboTax application icon from the DMG file into your Applications folder. Then, launch it from there. The DMG file is just for installation, not for running the program long-term. Eject the DMG after installing.
Sub-heading: Updates Seem to Loop or Never Finish
Solution 1: Internet Connection: Double-check your internet connection. A spotty connection can cause downloads to fail or loop. Try restarting your router.
Solution 2: Firewall/Antivirus: Temporarily disable any firewall or antivirus software you have running. Sometimes, these can interfere with software updates. Remember to re-enable them after the update is complete.
Solution 3: Disk Space: Ensure you have enough free disk space on your Mac. Updates require space for downloading and installing.
Solution 4: Restart Your Mac: A full system restart can often resolve underlying macOS issues that might be preventing the update.
Solution 5: Reinstall TurboTax (Last Resort): If all else fails, a clean reinstallation might be necessary.
First, backup your tax files (.tax20XX)! These are separate from the application itself.
Uninstall TurboTax. You can usually do this by dragging the TurboTax application from your Applications folder to the Trash and then emptying the Trash. For a more thorough uninstall, you might need to look for specific instructions on the Intuit support site to remove preference files.
Download a fresh installer from the official TurboTax website (turbotax.intuit.com).
Install TurboTax again and then try updating.
Sub-heading: Program Not Launching After Update
Solution 1: Restart Mac: As above, a full system restart can sometimes clear up launch issues.
Solution 2: Clear Preferences (Advanced): Corrupted preference files can cause launch issues.
Quit TurboTax completely.
In Finder, click Go in the menu bar, then hold down the Option (Alt) key and select Library (it only appears when holding Option).
Navigate to Preferences and look for files starting with "com.intuit.turbotax." (e.g.,
com.intuit.turbotax.2024.plist). Move these files to your Desktop (don't delete them yet).Try launching TurboTax. If it works, you can trash the files from your Desktop. If not, you can put them back.
Solution 3: Contact TurboTax Support: If you're still experiencing issues, it's time to reach out to Intuit's TurboTax support. They have specialized tools and knowledge to diagnose and resolve more complex problems.
Step 5: Confirming Your Update Status
After going through the update process, it's always a good idea to confirm that your TurboTax software is indeed up-to-date.
Sub-heading: Checking the Program Version
Open TurboTax.
Go to the TurboTax menu in the top-left corner of your screen.
Select "About TurboTax" (or "About TurboTax [Year]").
A window will pop up displaying the version number and the release date. Compare this information with the latest official releases mentioned on the TurboTax support website to ensure you have the most current version.
Congratulations! You've successfully navigated the process of updating TurboTax on your Mac. Keeping your software current is a vital step in ensuring a smooth and accurate tax filing experience.
10 Related FAQ Questions
Here are some quick answers to common questions about updating TurboTax on your Mac:
How to know if my TurboTax is outdated on Mac?
You can know if your TurboTax is outdated by launching the application; it usually prompts you for updates if available. Alternatively, go to the "TurboTax" menu > "Check for Updates..." to manually verify.
How to perform a manual update if the automatic update fails?
If automatic updates fail, close TurboTax, then reopen it while holding down the Option (Alt) key when selecting the "TurboTax" menu from the top bar. Choose "Download Latest Updates" to force a manual download.
How to find my TurboTax license code on Mac?
Your TurboTax license code is usually found in your purchase confirmation email (for digital downloads) or on a sticker inside the CD case (for physical copies). You might also be able to retrieve it from your Intuit account online.
How to fix "read-only volume" error when updating TurboTax on Mac?
This error typically means you're running TurboTax from the disk image. Drag the TurboTax application icon from the mounted DMG file into your Mac's Applications folder, then launch it from there.
How to back up my TurboTax tax files before updating?
To back up your tax files, locate your .tax20XX files (usually in your Documents folder within a TurboTax subfolder) and copy them to a safe location, such as an external hard drive or cloud storage.
How to uninstall TurboTax completely on Mac?
To uninstall, drag the TurboTax application from your Applications folder to the Trash. For a more complete uninstall, you might need to remove associated preference files located in ~/Library/Preferences/ (access via Finder's Go menu, holding Option for Library).
How to check the latest TurboTax system requirements for Mac?
You can find the latest system requirements for TurboTax on Mac by visiting the official TurboTax support website (turbotax.intuit.com) and searching for "system requirements" for your specific tax year.
How to get technical support for TurboTax update issues on Mac?
For technical support, visit the TurboTax support website and look for their contact options, which typically include live chat, phone support, or community forums.
How to avoid update issues with TurboTax on Mac?
To minimize update issues, ensure you have a stable internet connection, enough disk space, temporarily disable firewalls/antivirus during updates, and always launch TurboTax from your Applications folder.
How to know if the update included the latest tax forms?
After an update, open TurboTax and go to the "About TurboTax" section (from the TurboTax menu). This will usually display the program version and often details about the latest form sets included in that release. You can also compare this with information on the official TurboTax website.