New MacOS
The new macOS. Latest macOS version. How to check macOS versions and upgrade the Mac OS software.
The latest macOS version is macOS 15 Sequoia (released September 16, 2024). Apple releases a new macOS version every year, before October.
Major macOS releases are announced at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June. Here's how to get the latest Mac OS.
Before you get started
With the new macOS, you'll need a terminal application to get full use of your Mac. Apple includes the Mac terminal but I prefer Warp Terminal. Warp is an easy-to-use terminal application, with AI assistance to help you learn and remember terminal commands. Download Warp Terminal now; it's FREE and worth a try.
Install and configure the latest macOS version
You should upgrade to the latest macOS version (unless your Mac is old and slow! see below). Start here:
Get the latest macOS version on your Mac with these instructions:
After you upgrade your macOS, be sure to see:
You'll want to optimize system settings for the Finder, Dock, and more.
MacOS Tahoe 26
Read about what's coming in the next release (yes, the version numbering has changed):
You can install the macOS Tahoe beta if you want to try the new features ahead of final release. It's early in the beta cycle, so I only suggest installing the macOS beta if you have a spare and non-essential Mac.
Should you upgrade to a new macOS?
You can learn more about MacOS Sequoia and consider Sonoma vs Sequoia and Should You Upgrade to macOS Sequoia?.
In most cases, you should upgrade to the latest non-beta macOS version. Apple's public software releases are well-tested and stable. It's rare to encounter significant issues when updating to a new macOS version.
How much time is needed? It can take several hours for full operating system upgrades to upgrade your Mac from one major version to another (for example, macOS Sonoma to macOS Sequoia).
There are good reasons to hesitate if you have an older, Intel-based Mac. For many years, each new macOS version has required more resources than the previous version. If you have an older Mac, you may find that the new macOS version runs slowly. Newer Macs using the Apple Silicon M1, M2, or M3 chips are fast enough to handle the latest macOS releases, but if your Mac is Intel-based you may want to stick with the macOS version that's currently installed.
The value in the new macOS
In general, new macOS versions are worth an upgrade. Apple continually improves security and fixes bugs and it's important to use the latest version if you are developing software or trying to stay compatible with new software versions.
MacOS is very mature and there are seldom any major changes in the user interface or the way the operating system works. One recent exception was a reworking of the System Preferences, now called System Settings, in macOS Sonoma.
Features in the new macOS
Users like two significant UI improvements in MacOS Sequoia.
Password Manager: MacOS Sequoia adds a new app called Passwords, improving the way users manage their login credentials. Built on the existing framework of Apple's Keychain, this app consolidates passwords, passkeys, Wi-Fi passwords, and other essential credentials into one secure, centralized location. Credentials previously could be edited in System Settings but they were buried and hard to find. The new Passwords app will largely eliminate the need to use third-party password managers such as 1Password, LastPass, or Bitwarden.
Window Tiling: For years, Windows users have complained that MacOS lacks a tiling window manager. MacOS Sequoia adds a new feature called Window Tiling, which allows users to move application windows side by side, top and bottom, or in a grid. Third-party utilities have more features but the built-in Window Tiling is a welcome addition.
These two features make an upgrade worthwhile. In addition, Apple has included other capabilities.
iPhone Mirroring: Users can now check iPhone notifications directly on their Mac, making the Mac an extension of the iPhone. This feature also allows the use of iPhone apps and some games on the Mac. One user noted, “No longer do I have to find my phone when I am at home sitting in front of my Mac just to check on notification.”
Seamless Drag and Drop Between Devices: This feature aims to improve the reliability of transferring files between iPhone and Mac, addressing issues with AirDrop. "Transferring files from Mac to an iPhone Apps no longer requires 5+ tedious steps," a user mentioned.
Apple Intelligence: MacOS Sequoia will introduce the first uses of Apple Intelligence, Apple's AI initiative. Apple Intelligence comprises new system-level capabilities, leveraging Apple custom silicon for both local and cloud-based processing. This is more of a future prospect as AI gets baked in to more applications, but there are already improvements to Siri in macOS Sequoia.
macOS for software developers
If you are developing software on the Mac, you should upgrade to the latest macOS version and then install:
- Xcode Command Line Tools for missing command line tools
- Homebrew as a software package manager
- and configure Git for version control
For developing software on the Mac, I recommend:
- Warp Terminal for an AI-enhanced terminal
- Zed Editor for an AI-enhanced text editor
What's next
My mac.install.guide is a trusted source of installation guides for professional developers. Take a look at the Mac Install Guide home page for tips and trends and see what to install next.