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- If you use Option-Command-R during startup, in most cases you're offered the latest macOS that is compatible with your Mac. Otherwise you're offered the macOS that came with your Mac, or the closest version still available. If the Mac logic board was just replaced, you may be offered only the latest macOS that is compatible with your Mac.
- Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6 retirement Version 4.3.x of the Code42 app and the Code42 server, released in August 2015, are the last supported versions for computers running Mac OS X 10.6. Additionally, the end-of-support date for Mac OS X 10.6 is March 31, 2016.
Which Mac operating system is the best is a topic of numerous debates among Apple fans.
Since the mission of this blog is to refute myths and legends around Macs, it’s time for me to provide my 2 cents about the issue on hand. While everything below is just my opinion, as a long-time Mac user and veteran software engineer, I hope my opinion worth something.
The best Mac OS version is the one that your Mac is eligible to upgrade to. In 2021 it is macOS Big Sur. However, for users that need to run 32-bit apps on Mac, the best macOS is Mojave. Also, older Macs would benefit if upgraded at least to macOS Sierra for which Apple still releases security patches.
How to Tell Which macOS You Are Running
To find out which macOS is currently running on your Mac, follow these steps:
Mac OS X Snow Leopard is intended to be a release aimed to refine the existing feature set, expand the technological capabilities of the operating system, and improve application efficiency. Many of the changes involve how the system works in the background and are not intended to be seen by the user.
- Click on Apple logo in the top left corner of the menubar
- In the dropdown click on the first item: About This Mac
- The first line in the Overview tab is the name of the current OS.
What Version of OS Can My Mac Run?
Not all Macs can be upgraded to the latest OS version. For instance, old Macs powered by PowerPC CPUs cannot run OS intended for Intel-based computers. Also, some versions have hardware limitations.
For instance, Mojave cannot be installed on MacBook Pro earlier than Mid 2012 model.
Check below to know exactly what version of OS your Mac can run.
End Of Winter Mac Os Update
Which OS is Best for my Mac
Anytime someone asks me which OS is best for them I always suggested going with the latest. Things have changed recently, however.
Should I Upgrade to macOS Catalina or Big Sur?
While personally I like macOS Big Sur and have it installed on my MacBook Pro, it comes with serious breaking changes.
The first issue is compatibility.
Big Sur is a transition OS which is designed to help Apple to move from Intel processors to their own chips on ARM.
After I installed Big Sur on my MacBook Pro mid 2020 (pre-Silicon), most of my apps, including Microsoft Office, were working as expected.
However, my VMWare Fusion 11 does not start anymore, so I have to purchase a new license if I want to keep using it (or roll back to Catalina). Luckily, I took a full backup before the upgrade.
The second breaking issue is the lack of 32-bit app support.
macOS Catalina and Big Sur can only run 64-bit apps.
If you wondering whether you should upgrade to macOS Catalina or Big Sur, first verify that you don’t have any 32-bit apps. But first, take a back up, so you can go back in case something breaks after the upgrade.
For instance, I had to remove uTorrent after upgrade. And I didn’t know that uTorrent is 32-bit!
How to Know If App is 32-bit or 64-bit
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To find out whether the app on your Mac is 32-bit or 64-bit follow these steps:
- Click on Apple logo in the top left corner of the Mac screen
- Click on About This Mac option
- Click on System Report button in Overview tab (first one)
- Scroll down to Software -> Applications
- Find the app and check Kind
Which macOS Should I Use
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If you have an older Mac which is not eligible to upgrade with some latest software or hardware, I’d suggest upgrading at least to Sierra (or better High Sierra) for the following reasons:
- Sierra is still supported by Apple, and it gets security updates
- APFS file system is available
- It supports Siri
- Significant security improvements
The most important point when choosing the best OS is the ability to get security updates. While Apple generally does not announce the OS end of life dates, it is possible to know when they stop releasing security updates from this page.
For instance, according to the page, the last security update for OS X Yosemite was released on September 12, 2017. The last update for OS X El Capitan was in July 2018, and Carnegie Mellon University confirmed that El Capitan’s end of life date was August 2018.
Snow Leopard Myth
I know that some users on forums believe that the best OS version for Macs was Snow Leopard. But that is a myth. And I know how such myths get created.
Once I worked in the company, which was selling a 20-year old product. And customers were still using and didn’t want to switch to new versions, because the old one was rock solid.
I then talked to the engineer who worked on the project, and he revealed that the product was a total disaster when it was first deployed. Engineers had to work on-site for almost a year in order to fix all bugs.
After five or so years of polishing the product, it becomes virtually bug-free, and nobody now remembers how bad it was when it was first rolled out. A similar thing happened Snow Leopard, and it was recognized as best mac os version after some time.
How to Update to the Latest Version
There are two ways to update to the latest OS version on Mac:
- From the Software Update section in System Preferences
- Use a download link
Using Software Update
This is by far the best option, but it only available if you have Yosemite, or later OS installed already. If you enabled automatic updates, then Mac will inform you that the next macOS is available.
Just open System Preferences, go to Software Update and click on the Upgrade Now button.
This method is also best if wondering how to check if you have the latest version of OS installed on your Mac. Only the version compatible with your hardware will appear here.
For instance, my the latest version for Mac Mini 2012 is Mojave, I can’t install anything newer than that.
If you are having problems with updates or having issues post-upgrade check my post about troubleshooting macOS.
Using download links
For older systems or in case you need to downgrade, you have to download a standalone installer in DMG format. DMG stands for disk image, similar to ISO, just different formats.
After downloading the installer, just double click on it and follow instructions. A pirate story mac os. Again, do not forget to take a backup before the upgrade.
Mac OS Comparisons: Requirements, Features, Compatibility, Download Links
Following is a high-level description of all Mac operating systems as early as Mountain Lion.
You can refer to those descriptions when deciding which operating system is best for your iMac, Mac Pro, Mac mini, or MacBook.
With each OS description, I included a list of Macs supported. However, you can use Mac OS compatibility checker for more detailed information.
macOS 11 Big Sur
macOS v11 (codename Big Sur) is the latest version of the operating system for Apple computers.
Release date: October 13, 2020
Hardware Requirements: RAM requirement 4GB. Big Sur is the first OS to support new Macs using ARM technology (in the future).
Features
- The biggest design refresh since macOS X.
- Support for new ARM processors.
- Safar improved performance and power consumption.
- Time Machine supports backup to APFS volumes.
- One-click translation for 7 languages.
- Redesigned maps
Software Compatibility Issues
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Only 64-bit apps are allowed to run on Big Sur.
How to install
There are two ways to install Big Sur: enable automatic updates in System Preferences or download by using the following link.
Or check my post with tips on installing macOS on unsupported devices.
List of Apple computers compatible with macOS Big Sur
- MacBook (2015 and later)
- MacBook Air (2013 and later)
- MacBook Pro (2013 and later)
- Mac mini (2014 and later)
- iMac models (2014 and later)
- iMac Pro (2017 and later)
- Mac Pro (2013 and later)
macOS 10.15 Catalina
Release date: October 7, 2019
Hardware Requirements: RAM requirement increased from 2GB to 4GB.
Features
- Introduced Sidecar, which allows for Macs to use an iPad as an external display.
- iTunes was replaced by separate apps: Music, Podcasts, and TV.
- Find My Mac and Find My Friends have merged into one app.
Software Compatibility Issues
macOS Catalina is the first Mac operating system that does not support 32-bit applications. Only 64-bit apps are allowed to run on Catalina.
How to install
There are two ways to install Catalina: enable automatic updates in System Preferences or download by using the following link.
List of Apple computers compatible with macOS Catalina
- MacBook (Early 2015 or later)
- MacBook Air (Mid 2012 or later)
- MacBook Pro (Mid 2012 or later)
- Mac mini (Late 2012 or later)
- iMac models (Late 2012 or later)
- iMac Pro (All models)
- Mac Pro (Late 2013)
macOS 10.14 Mojave
End Of Winter Mac Os X
Release date: September 24, 2018
Hardware Requirements: 2GB RAM and 18.5GB free space on disk
Features
- The main feature of Mojave is “Dark Mode”
- FaceTime adds group feature which allows chatting with up to 32 people
- News, Stocks, Voice Memos, and Home apps were ported from iOS to Mac.
How to install
If your Mac is eligible to update to Mojave, then the easiest way to install it is by enabling automatic updates. Downloading a standalone Mojave installer could be a little tricky.
List of Apple computers compatible with macOS Mojave
- MacBook (Early 2015 or later)
- MacBook Air (Mid 2012 or later)
- MacBook Pro (Mid 2012 or later)
- Mac mini (Late 2012 or later)
- iMac (Late 2012 or later)
- iMac Pro (All models)
- Mac Pro (Late 2013 and 2010-2012 models with upgraded GPU)
macOS 10.13 High Sierra
Release date: September 25, 2017
Hardware Requirements: 2GB RAM and 14.3GB free space on disk
Features
- APFS (Apple File System) becomes the default file system in High Sierra. It’s a significant upgrade from the older HFS+ in terms of speed, size, and security
- iCloud support of Messages which allows sync messages of the account across multiple devices
- Mail app uses 35% less storage space due to optimizations
List of Apple computers compatible with macOS High Sierra
- MacBook (Late 2009 or newer)
- MacBook Pro (Mid 2010 or newer)
- MacBook Air (Late 2010 or newer)
- Mac mini (Mid 2010 or newer)
- iMac (Late 2009 or newer)
- Mac Pro (Mid 2010 or newer)
How to install
Here is a High Sierra download link.
macOS 10.12 Sierra
This is the first macOS version. Previous OS versions for Macs were called OS X (X stands for 10).
Release date: September 20, 2016
Hardware Requirements: 2GB RAM and 8GB free space on disk
Features
- Siri was introduced to Macs
- Optimized storage with iCloud sync
- Auto-lock feature allows unlocking MacBook with paired Apple Watch
- APFS preview available
- Disk Utility can manage RAID sets again
- Significant security improvements
How to install
Here is a Sierra download link.
List of Apple computers compatible with macOS Sierra
- MacBook (Late 2009 or newer)
- MacBook Pro (Mid 2010 or newer)
- MacBook Air (Late 2010 or newer)
- Mac mini (Mid 2010 or newer)
- iMac (Late 2009 or newer)
- Mac Pro (Mid 2010 or newer)
OS X 10.11 El Capitan
Last OS X version.
End Of Winter Mac Os Catalina
Release date: September 30, 2015
Hardware Requirements: 2GB RAM and 8GB free space on disk
Features
- System Integrity Protection – a security feature that protects even when the root user executes the process
- Performance improvements: open PDF files four times faster, Mail is twice faster, launching apps 40% faster
- Notes app similar to the app in iOS
Macs compatible with OS X El Capitan
same as OS Mountain Lion.
How to install
Here is El Capitan download link.
OS X 10.10 Yosemite
Release date: October 16, 2014
Hardware Requirements: 2GB RAM and 8GB free space on disk
Macs compatible with OS X Yosemite
Same as OS Mountain Lion.
Features
- Major user design overhaul
- Introduction of Handoff and Continuity features
- Photos app replaced iPhoto and Aperture
How to install
Here is Yosemite download link.
OS X 10.9 Mavericks
First free Mac OS. Previous OS versions vary from $19.99 to $129.
Release date: October 22, 2013
Hardware Requirements: 2GB RAM and 8GB free space on disk
Features
- Compressed Memory feature automatically compresses inactive apps when approaching maximum memory capacity
- Timer coalescing is a feature that reduces CPU usage by up to 72 percent
- App Nap puts apps that are not currently visible to sleep
Macs compatible with OS X Mavericks
Same as OS Mountain Lion.
How to install
OS X Mavericks installer is not available on Apple Site. Follow instructions here to install Mavericks.
OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion
Must be purchased. Fixed many bugs introduced in OS X Lion.
Release date: July 25, 2012
System Requirements: 2GB RAM and 8GB free space on disk
Features
- New apps: Notification Center, Notes, Messages, Game Center
- AirPlay mirroring allowed to mirror Mac screen to Apple TV
- Application updates automatically install from the App Store
List of Apple computers compatible with OS X Mountain Lion
- iMac (Mid-2007 or newer)
- MacBook (Late 2008 Aluminum, or Early 2009 or newer)
- MacBook Air (Late 2008 or newer)
- MacBook Pro (Mid/Late 2007 or newer)
- Mac mini (Early 2009 or newer)
- Mac Pro (Early 2008 or newer)
- Xserve (Early 2009)
How to install
Mountain Lion installer is not available on Apple Site. Follow instructions here to install OS X Mountain Lion.
List of older Mac OS Versions
Following Mac OS versions are still running on older Macs, but Apple does not support them anymore, and there is no point to upgrade (or downgrade) to them:
- OS X 10.7 Lion
- OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard
- Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard
- Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger
- Mac OS X 10.3 Panther
- Mac OS X 10.2 Jaguar
- Mac OS X 10.1 Puma
- Mac OS X 10.0 Cheetah
Comments
- Apple said countless times. the MacOS would never be touch-based. What we will have soon is a touch-based OS rebranded Mac. and this is not bad, from a financial and technological point of view it is not only understandable but actually very exciting. just what we will have is iOS's and iDevices take of an old paradigm we once called Macintosh. the Mac started with, and much because, of the mouse. as we shift paradigm to touch, the Mac as it has been since its inception is simply gone. What we have coming technically is better than anything Apple has done without a doubt, and perhaps it makes sense to sacrifice the Mac era for this new profitable and exciting iOS based platform. Steve Jobs said it himself, platforms peak and die. so what remains of the Mac from where i stand is essentially the name.
(big issue might be the likely end of non App Store installs and the big saas push, but this another issue).
By the end of this transition, we will have hyper powerful machines running something spectacular, that we will maybe call Macs, but that will likely be as different from the Mac as the Mac was from the Apple II series. - Why would anyone think that these changes represent “the end of the Mac?” Apple isn’t losing interest in the Mac, we are. I can’t even describe how much less I use my MacBook than I did even 10 years ago. I can do everything on my phone or work iPad. I use my MacBook for a lot of typing, video processing, etc. That’s about it.
- edited June 2020
I’ve been using my iPad Pro exclusively for over a year and to be blunt, it would take a lot to bring me back to using a desktop computer. I’d consider a new MacBook Pro, but I no longer have a need for an iMac or Mac Pro.Why would anyone think that these changes represent “the end of the Mac?” Apple isn’t losing interest in the Mac, we are. I can’t even describe how much less I use my MacBook than I did even 10 years ago. I can do everything on my phone or work iPad. I use my MacBook for a lot of typing, video processing, etc. That’s about it.
If and when Apple introduces a new computing paradigm with glasses or whatever, I might be interested.
How did you manage to come to this conclusion?Apple said countless times. the MacOS would never be touch-based. What we will have soon is a touch-based OS rebranded Mac. and this is not bad, from a financial and technological point of view it is not only understandable but actually very exciting. just what we will have is iOS's and iDevices take of an old paradigm we once called Macintosh. the Mac started with, and much because, of the mouse. as we shift paradigm to touch, the Mac as it has been since its inception is simply gone. What we have coming technically is better than anything Apple has done without a doubt, and perhaps it makes sense to sacrifice the Mac era for this new profitable and exciting iOS based platform. Steve Jobs said it himself, platforms peak and die. so what remains of the Mac from where i stand is essentially the name.
(big issue might be the likely end of non App Store installs and the big saas push, but this another issue).
By the end of this transition, we will have hyper powerful machines running something spectacular, that we will maybe call Macs, but that will likely be as different from the Mac as the Mac was from the Apple II series.- I’m fairly sure that when Steve introduced OS X he said something like “This should be good for 20 years”.
.. and pretty much, here we are. And I know, underneath, the bedrock is much the same, but this feels like a replacement.
'I think those guys are being total tools, honestly,' said Federighi. 'I mean, I don't how they can even begin to come up with that theory. I get people coming up asking if we can still launch Terminal? Yes, you can. These Macs are Macs. We're not changing any of this.
For every person that says this about their iPad Pro, there’s a person that says the opposite.
I’ve been using my iPad Pro exclusively for over a year and to be blunt, it would take a lot to bring me back to using a desktop computer. I’d consider a new MacBook Pro, but I no longer have a need for an iMac or Mac Pro.Why would anyone think that these changes represent “the end of the Mac?” Apple isn’t losing interest in the Mac, we are. I can’t even describe how much less I use my MacBook than I did even 10 years ago. I can do everything on my phone or work iPad. I use my MacBook for a lot of typing, video processing, etc. That’s about it.
If and when Apple introduces a new computing paradigm with glasses or whatever, I might be interested.
the iPad pros are great machines and I know quite a few people that use them as their primary computer.
i know even more (I’m included) that can’t ever migrate to that solution. There’s room (and a need) for both.
Or at least drop shadows.Looks like skeuomorphism is on its way back?- The multitasking, multiple window/desktop experience of Mac is still nowhere close to being replicated on an iPad. In my work environment, that convenience alone will keep me using a Mac for a long time.The bigger worry for Apple should be people who spend big $$ to buy a MacBook Air or Pro, or an iMac, to watch YouTube, Netflix, or do Facebook updates. Which is probably a larger population than they care to admit. So, as iPad becomes a better platform for those users, and they abandon the Mac, will there be sufficient customer base left to continue Mac development?
Oh my god!Did Apple hire Google's emoji team to draw up this weird condom battery?
I do hope they change that icon
I'm in the same camp. I could never carry out my work on an iPad, the single (ok, dual) window experience just isn't enough space for me, and the lack of development tools and serious CAD software is another point. There's plenty of open source C/C++ (and OpenGL) software I use on my Mac that will never be ported to iOS. Plus even a 12.9' iPad Pro doesn't cut it when compared with the two 27' displays I have now - I can get a 27' screen for less than the price of an iPad Pro. As well as all that there are numerous programs that just wouldn't work well with a touch interface, but there's no way Apple would allow keyboard/mouse only apps on the iPad.
For every person that says this about their iPad Pro, there’s a person that says the opposite.
I’ve been using my iPad Pro exclusively for over a year and to be blunt, it would take a lot to bring me back to using a desktop computer. I’d consider a new MacBook Pro, but I no longer have a need for an iMac or Mac Pro.Why would anyone think that these changes represent “the end of the Mac?” Apple isn’t losing interest in the Mac, we are. I can’t even describe how much less I use my MacBook than I did even 10 years ago. I can do everything on my phone or work iPad. I use my MacBook for a lot of typing, video processing, etc. That’s about it.
If and when Apple introduces a new computing paradigm with glasses or whatever, I might be interested.
the iPad pros are great machines and I know quite a few people that use them as their primary computer.
i know even more (I’m included) that can’t ever migrate to that solution. There’s room (and a need) for both.
As Jobs said, not everyone needs a truck, but that doesn't mean no one needs a truck.
I think the reason iPad sales haven't completely overtaken laptop sales is that people are worried there will be things they can't do on the iPad, even if in reality they only use a computer for browsing and the odd Word document, they have the security of knowing if they *need* to do something that an iPad can't do in the future, they will be able to. Bit like the comfort people ha(ve/d) with Bootcamp when switching from Windows.- I find the reborn Mac Pro, the move to Apple Silicon, and the macOS changes (both naming and stylistic) to be a huge endorsement of the Mac from Apple.
I think there really might have been a time back when the iPad was taking off like a rocket that some senior execs at Apple might have imagined the Mac would eventually be phased out. I think the past several years have made it clear that the iPad cannot replace the Mac for a nontrivial group of high-value users. Yes, it can meet the needs of many, but definitely not all.
I think this WWDC shows the Mac is here to stay and is going to be getting more of the attention that it deserves, now that Intel is out of the picture and Apple has full control.
Apple would need the Mac for their own development purposes, even if they didn't sell it to anyone else. Something with more storage, more processing, bigger screens, more interfaces, etc., than an ordinary user needs. They need it to build the future, and some of us need it to visit the future now.So, as iPad becomes a better platform for those users, and they abandon the Mac, will there be sufficient customer base left to continue Mac development?- It’s not “the end of OS X” either (very dramatic headline, AI), it’s just the end of the OS X branding. The changes are, except Apple SoC support, mostly just visuals.
- I find the new look to be hideous. It doesn’t feel balanced at all.
- I find the new look to be hideous. It doesn’t feel balanced at all.
- Is 3D starting to come back - slightly, in icons and some graphics? Maybe, with cross pollination between platforms, this marks the end of the flat-world era started by Jony? I would welcome this with wholehearted joy!
Where?Looks like skeuomorphism is on its way back?
What does “balanced” mean?I find the new look to be hideous. It doesn’t feel balanced at all.
I have no problem with the look. Looks high and tight.