Questioning what the identify of the newest macOS model is? Wish to know what the following model of macOS can be known as? Curious concerning the variations of Mac OS X that got here earlier than? Right here we’ll fill you in on the names of the totally different variations of the Mac working system so as: from the most recent macOS to the primary model of Mac OS X and the codenames that Apple used for them. We’ll additionally present you how one can test which model of macOS you might be operating and discover out what the newest model of macOS is.
The newest model of macOS is known as macOS Sequoia after Sequoia Nationwide Park positioned in California’s Sierra Nevada mountain vary. That model of macOS launched to most of the people in September 2024, following a macOS beta program that’s nonetheless underway as Apple develops extra new options.
The earlier model of macOS was Sonoma, also called macOS 14. Sonoma arrived in September 2023.
In case you are in search of assist putting in Sequoia learn: How one can replace macOS and Fixes for Macs that gained’t replace.
What working system does the Mac use?
All Macs run macOS, beforehand referred to as Mac OS X, and have carried out so because the introduction of the primary model of Mac OS X in 2001. Earlier than that, Macs ran Mac OS 9 which got here out in October 1999 and obtained updates till December 2001. Mac OS X was based mostly on expertise from NeXT Pc, which was one other firm based by Steve Jobs. Jobs introduced the expertise again to Apple with him when he was reinstated as Apple CEO. The working system is Unix-based.
macOS Model Historical past
Mac OS X was launched greater than twenty years in the past on March 24, 2001. There’s been a number of change over these twenty years: good and unhealthy. From the issues with the primary version (it was sluggish and didn’t run essential apps like Microsoft Phrase) Mac OS X has advanced by way of varied iterations and varied designs to what we all know immediately. We’ve seen tight integration with iOS gadgets, the incorporation of the cloud, and the arrival of wonderful and useful options together with built-in Time Machine backups, Fast Look – which helps you to see a preview of a doc with out opening the appliance, and improvements like Expose and Areas and Desktop Stacks that can assist you work extra effectively.
For an outline of the options of the assorted variations of the Mac working system, exhibiting the way it has developed over time, check out our video above. If you wish to know the names Apple assigned to Mac OS X through the years, and the codenames that had been used internally, learn on.
Checklist of macOS model names and newest variations
Right here’s an outline of each model of macOS and Mac OS X Apple has launched. You’ll discover a full checklist of the newest launch of every model of OS X and macOS, alongside model code names, together with inner code names (if obtainable):
- OS X 10 beta: Kodiak – September 13, 2000
- OS X 10.0: Cheetah – March 14, 2001 (Newest: 10.0.4)
- OS X 10.1: Puma – September 15, 2001 (Newest: 10.1.5)
- OS X 10.2: Jaguar – August 14, 2002 (Newest: 10.2.8)
- OS X 10.3 Panther (Pinot) – October 24, 2003 (Newest: 10.3.9)
- OS X 10.4 Tiger (Merlot) – April 29, 2005 (Newest: 10.4.11)
- OS X 10.4.4 Tiger (Chardonnay) – January 10, 2006 (for Intel Macs) (Newest: 10.4.11)
- OS X 10.5 Leopard (Chablis) – October 26, 2007 (Newest: 10.5.8)
- OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard – August 28, 2009 (Newest: 10.6.8)
- OS X 10.7 Lion (Barolo) – July 20, 2011 (Newest: 10.7.5)
- OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion (Zinfandel) – July 25, 2012 (Newest: 10.8.5)
- OS X 10.9 Mavericks (Cabernet) – October 22, 2013 (Newest: 10.9.5)
- OS X 10.10: Yosemite (Syrah) – October 16, 2014 (Newest: 10.10.5)
- OS X 10.11: El Capitan (Gala) – September 30, 2015 (Newest: 10.11.6)
- macOS 10.12: Sierra (Fuji) – September 20, 2016 (Newest: 10.12.6)
- macOS 10.13: Excessive Sierra (Lobo) – September 25, 2017 (Newest: 10.13.6)
- macOS 10.14: Mojave (Liberty) – September 24, 2018 (Newest: 10.14.6, July 2021)
- macOS 10.15: Catalina (Jazz) – October 7, 2019 (Newest: 10.15.7, Safety Replace 2022-005, July 2022)
- macOS 11: Large Sur (GoldenGate) – November 12, 2020 (Newest: 11.7.10, September 11, 2023)
- macOS 12: Monterey (Star) – October 25, 2021 (Newest: 12.7.6, July 29, 2024)
- macOS 13: Ventura (Rome) – October 24, 2022 (Newest: 13.7.1, October 28, 2024)
- macOS 14: Sonoma (Sunburst) – September 26, 2023 (Newest: 14.7.1, October 28, 2024)
- macOS 15: Sequoia (Glow) – September 18, 2024 (Newest: 15.1, October 28, 2024)
We’ve got a full checklist of which Macs run which variations of macOS right here.
You possibly can set up a beta model of Sequoia and check new options that haven’t but launched. If you wish to set up the newest beta of macOS examine becoming a member of Apple’s beta program.
macOS Sequoia isn’t even launched but and Apple is already engaged on macOS 16, which is codenamed Cheer, in response to Mark Gurman of Bloomberg in his June 30, 2024 e-newsletter.
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Mac OS X and macOS names
As you’ll be able to see from the checklist above, excluding the primary OS X beta, all variations of the Mac working system from 2001 to 2012 had been named after large cats, from Cheetah to Panther to the ultimate launch, Mountain Lion. However whereas the public-facing builds had been named after large cats, internally, they had been named after wines (except for OS X 10.6 which had no codename).
Even after Apple switched public-facing code names to locations in California again in 2013, it carried on naming them after wines internally till 2014. In 2015, Apple determined to vary the theme of inner code names from wines to forms of apples. Authentic.
In 2016, Apple took the plunge to unify the branding of its working programs by rebranding Mac OS X to macOS, which sits properly alongside iOS, tvOS, and watchOS and paved the best way for macOS 11, the successor to Mac OS X, which arrived twenty years after the primary beta of Mac OS X.
Which variations of macOS are nonetheless up to date?
Apple nonetheless provides common options and safety updates to the newest model of macOS. Proper now that is Sequoia, also called macOS 15.
The earlier two variations of macOS additionally obtain safety updates and bug fixes. In case you are operating macOS 14 Sonoma or macOS 13 Ventura you’ll nonetheless get safety updates.
Because the arrival of Sequoia, Apple not helps macOS 12 Monterey which arrived in 2021 (and with the arrival of Sonoma in 2023 it stopped assist for macOS Large Sur, which arrived in 2020). See: How lengthy do Macs and MacBooks final?
Apple additionally points updates to its Safari net browser. The newest model of Safari for Mac is Safari 18 (as of September 2024) and it requires Ventura, Sonoma or Sequoia.
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How one can inform which macOS model you might be operating
You possibly can inform which model of macOS you might be operating by clicking on the Apple brand within the high left and selecting About This Mac. It is going to clearly present which model of macOS you might be operating together with the newest model that your Mac has put in
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How one can set up the newest model of macOS
If you wish to replace your Mac to a more recent model of macOS the tactic can be decided by the model of macOS you might be operating.
Very outdated variations of Mac OS X got here on a disk and any safety updates got here through Software program Replace. Because the arrival of the Mac App Retailer in 2011 (as an replace to Snow Leopard) variations of Mac OS X and macOS have been obtainable to obtain through the Mac App Retailer.
Nonetheless, that modified with Mojave, which arrived in 2018. Now working system updates are available through Software program Updates which is both positioned in System Settings > Normal > Software program Replace or in System Preferences > Software program Replace (pre-Ventura). One of many advantages of that is that your Mac may be set to mechanically obtain the newest updates and set up them, holding your Mac up-to-date with minimal effort in your half. By the way, you’ll be able to nonetheless discover the macOS software program on the Mac App Retailer.
Some Macs can be set to replace macOS mechanically. If you would like your Mac to replace mechanically comply with these steps:
In Ventura or later:
- Open System Settings.
- Click on on Normal.
- Click on on Software program Replace.
- Click on on the “i” beside Automated Updates and be sure that Examine for updates, Obtain new updates when obtainable, and Set up macOS updates are chosen. This fashion your Mac will mechanically replace to the newest model. When you would like to not have your Mac do that mechanically you’ll be able to deselect these choices.
In Monterey, Large Sur, Mojave, or Catalina:
- Open System Preferences.
- Click on on Software program Replace.
- Examine the field beside Routinely maintain my Mac updated (or Obtain new updates when obtainable).
- Now choose the field Set up macOS updates.
In Excessive Sierra or earlier:
- Open System Preferences.
- Click on on App Retailer.
- Examine the field beside Routinely test for updates – it ought to have a tick in it as ought to the 4 choices beneath that…
- Now deselect the field beside Obtain newly obtainable updates within the background.
Learn all about the way to replace your Mac right here.
We even have an inventory of each model of iOS the place you’ll be able to see the newest variations and how lengthy Apple helps iPhones for.