Update macOS or MainStage safely (and roll back)

New versions of macOS and MainStage bring great features, but sometimes new bugs too. Here's how to update without risking your Sunday service.

Before you update

1. Check your gear. Make sure the makers of your keyboard, audio interface and plugins support the new macOS before you update. Sweetwater's compatibility guides are a good place to check.
2. Back up your Mac with Time Machine, so you can go back to your previous macOS if something breaks.
3. Back up your current MainStage app (below).
4. Turn off automatic updates, so an update never lands the night before a service.

Back up the MainStage app

1. In Finder, open Applications and find MainStage.

2. Rename it to include its version number, or "Backup."

3. Right-click it and choose Compress.

Now you can update MainStage from the App Store. To go back, double-click the .zip file in Applications and open the unzipped MainStage.

Restore an older MainStage from Time Machine

1. In Finder, open Applications and find MainStage.
2. Click the Time Machine icon in the menu bar and choose Browse Time Machine Backups (or Enter Time Machine).
3. Go back to a date before the update, select MainStage and click Restore.

4. Rename the restored app to show its version, then make a backup copy of it as above.

Problems after an update?

• Can't click buttons, knobs or faders, or other odd behavior: delete and reinstall MainStage. See Apple's MainStage troubleshooting guide.
• Concerts load slowly: see MainStage loads slowly.
• Still stuck? Roll back as above, then contact us with your macOS version, RAM, processor, MainStage version and buffer size.

See what changed in each version in Apple's MainStage release notes.