If you have selected the option to Check Automatically, the updater box will pop up when Visual Studio for Mac is open to let you know that new updates are available. Switching channels automatically starts the download process of new updates. To change the channel select it from the channel drop down and press the Switch Channel button: To open the Visual Studio Updater, browse to Visual Studio > Check for Updates: You can use the Visual Studio Updater box to check for new updates, change channels, and download and install updates. These releases may not be reliable for everyday use. Preview - Provides early access to updates that are candidates for release in the Stable Channel.This channel is recommended for the best development experience. Stable - Provides thoroughly tested updates.Visual Studio for Mac provides two channels to get these latest versions: These updates can be in the form of new features, improvements, and bug fixes. Visual Studio for Mac distributes updates for the IDE and supported frameworks on a regular basis.