wonder what the name of the former macOS version is ? need to know what the next version of macOS will be called ? Curious about the translation of Mac OS X that come before ? Here we ’ll sate you in on the name of the different variation of the Mac operating system in order : from the newest macOS to the first version of Mac OS X and the codenames that Apple used for them . We ’ll also show you how you could checker which version of macOS you are running and observe out what the in style version of macOS is .
The latest version of macOS is calledmacOS Sequoiaafter Sequoia National Park turn up in California ’s Sierra Nevada passel range . That variation of macOS launched to the general public in September 2024 , succeed amacOS beta programthat is still afoot as Apple formulate more fresh features .
If you are bet for helpinstalling Sequoiaread : How to update macOSandFixes for Macs that wo n’t update .
It’s easy to find out which version of macOS is running on a Mac.
Update February 2025 : The latest version of macOS Sequoia is macOS Sequoia 15.3.1 which contribute an important security department fix . Prior to that macOS 15.3 added Gemoji support , updates to the Calculator and Image Playground apps , and enabled Apple Intelligence by default on compatible Macs .
What operating system does the Mac use?
All Macs run macOS , antecedently known as Mac OS X , and have done so since the instauration of the first version of Mac OS X in 2001 . Before that , Macs run Mac OS 9 which came out in October 1999 and receive updates until December 2001 . Mac OS X was based on engineering from NeXT Computer , which was another caller launch by Steve Jobs . line brought the engineering science back to Apple with him when he was reinstated as Apple CEO . The operate organization is Unix - based .
macOS Version History
Mac OS X was launched more than two decades ago on March 24 , 2001 . There ’s been a lot of alteration over those two decades : good and bad . From the problems with the first edition ( it was slow and did n’t run important apps like Microsoft Word ) Mac OS X has develop through various iterations and various designs to what we know today . We ’ve insure tight integrating with iOS devices , the incorporation of the swarm , and the arriver of fantabulous and helpful features including integrated Time Machine backup , Quick Look – which lets you see a prevue of a document without launch the software , and introduction like Expose and Spaces and Desktop Stacks to help you work more expeditiously .
For an overview of the features of the various versions of the Mac operating organisation , bear witness how it has developed over time , take a look at our video above . If you want to know the names Apple assigned to Mac OS X over the old age , and the codenames that were used internally , interpret on .
List of macOS version names and latest versions
Here ’s an overview of every edition of macOS and Mac OS X Apple has liberate . You ’ll obtain a complete leaning of the late release of each version of OS X and macOS , along version codification names , along with internal code name ( if available ):
We have afull list of which Macs run which versions of macOS here .
You caninstall a beta version of Sequoiaand screen new feature that have n’t yet launched . If you need to set up the latest beta of macOS read aboutjoining Apple ’s beta programme .
macOS Sequoia is n’t even released yet and Apple is already working on macOS 16 , which is codenamed Cheer , according to Mark Gurman of Bloomberg in his June 30 , 2024 newssheet .
Foundry
Mac OS X and macOS names
As you may see from the list above , with the exception of the first OS decade beta , all versions of the Mac operating system from 2001 to 2012 were named after big cats , from Cheetah to Panther to the last release , Mountain Lion . But while the public - face builds were named after big CT , internally , they were diagnose after wines ( aside from OS X 10.6 which had no codename ) .
Even after Apple switched public - facing code names to places in California back in 2013 , it transmit on call them after wine internally until 2014 . In 2015 , Apple decided to change the theme of interior codification names from wine to type of apple . Original .
In 2016 , Apple contract the plunge to unify the stigmatization of its operating systems by rebranding Mac OS X to macOS , which sit nicely alongside iOS , tvOS , and watchOS and paved the means for macOS 11 , the successor to Mac OS X , which arrived twenty year after the first beta of Mac OS X.
It’s easy to find out which version of macOS is running on a Mac.
Which versions of macOS are still updated?
Apple still supplies even features and certificate updates to the most late variation of macOS . Right now this is Sequoia , also known as macOS 15 .
The previous two versions of macOS also receive security measures updates and microbe fix . If you are running macOS 14 Sonoma or macOS 13 Venturayou will still get surety updates .
Since the arrival of Sequoia , Apple no longer affirm macOS 12 Monterey which arrive in 2021 ( and with the comer of Sonoma in 2023 it stopped backing for macOS Big Sur , which arrived in 2020 ) . See : How long do Macs and MacBooks last ?
Apple also issues updates to its Safari web web browser app . The latest interpretation of Safari for Mac is Safari 18 ( as of September 2024 ) and it demand Ventura , Sonoma or Sequoia .
How to tell which macOS version you are running
you may secernate which version of macOS you are running by clicking on the Apple logo in the top remaining and choosing About This Mac . It will intelligibly show which reading of macOS you are run along with the most late rendering that your Mac has instal
How to install the latest version of macOS
If you want to upgrade your Mac to a newer variation of macOS the method acting will be determined by the version of macOS you are course .
Very honest-to-goodness versions of Mac OS X came on a disk and any security updates hail via Software Update . Since the arriver of the Mac App Store in 2011 ( as an update to Snow Leopard ) versions of Mac OS X and macOS have been uncommitted to download via the Mac App Store .
However , that changed with Mojave , which arrived in 2018 . Now operating system updates add up in via Software Updates which is either located in System options > General > Software Update or in System Preferences > Software Update ( pre - Ventura ) . One of the benefits of this is that your Mac can be set to automatically download the latest updates and install them , keeping your Mac up - to - date with minimum effort on your part . Incidentally , you may still find the macOS software system on the Mac App Store .
Some Macs will be pose to update macOS automatically . If you want your Mac to update mechanically follow these step :
In Ventura or afterwards :
In Monterey , Big Sur , Mojave , or Catalina :
In High Sierra or before :
Read all abouthow to upgrade your Mac here .
We also have a leaning ofevery version of iOSwhere you could see the latest versions andhow long Apple supports iPhones for .
