macOS 14 Sonoma: Newest model, beta, new options

August 7, 2024

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The present model of macOS, aka macOS 14, aka Sonoma (named after the Californian wine area), has been accessible since September 2023. It introduced new options to Macs together with modifications to widgets, a brand new Recreation Mode, the power to simply flip internet pages into internet apps, and enjoyable additions to video conferencing apps. Learn on for the lowdown on all the brand new options and additional enhancements coming all through 2024. Sonoma received’t be the newest model of macOS for lengthy now although: Apple unveiled macOS Sequoia at WWDC in June, and that can be arriving on Macs within the fall, however the improvement of macOS 14 Sonoma will proceed and safety updates can be issued even after macOS Sequoia arrives later in 2024.

Replace August 7, 2024: Apple has launched the macOS 14.6.1 replace.

macOS 14 Sonoma: Newest model

The complete model of macOS 14 was launched to most of the people on Tuesday, September 26 (the earliest macOS launch date since 2018). That was model 14.0. Many smaller level updates have been launched since then, together with:

The most recent model is macOS Sonoma 14.6.1, which was launched on August 7. it incorporates a repair for a bug in Superior Information Safety, which encrypts iCloud knowledge.

macOS Sonoma 14.6 was made accessible on July 29. It consists of the power for the M3 MacBook Professional to run two exterior shows in clamshell mode and is an replace of safety patches and bug fixes. Apple has a whole checklist of all the safety updates accessible on its safety notes webpage. Learn: You’ll be able to lastly run twin exterior shows on the M3 MacBook Professional and Air: Right here’s how. Additionally learn: Learn how to join two or extra exterior shows to an M1, M2, or M3 MacBook.

macOS Sonoma 14.5 arrived on Might 13. It features a new day by day phrase recreation referred to as Quartiles which is a part of Apple Information+ and a Scoreboard within the Information app for entry to crosswords and different video games.

macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 arrived on March 25 and introduced a number of necessary bug fixes. These embody an incapability to acknowledge USB hubs linked to exterior shows (see the entry for Sonoma 14.4, under), and Java apps quitting unexpectedly.

The macOS Sonoma 14.4 replace, launched on March 7, introduced new emoji, updates to the Podcast app, an icons solely choice for the Safari Favourite Bar, and safety and bug fixes. Nevertheless, it seems this model included a Java bug and a USB downside, with customers complaining that exterior shows with USB hubs linked have stopped working. There was additionally an iCloud Drive bug, with iCloud Drive not preserving saved variations of a file. In case you are experiencing these points you possibly can observe our information to revert a macOS replace.

macOS Sonoma 14.3.1 arrived on February 8 and glued an issue the place “textual content could unexpectedly duplicate or overlap whereas typing.”

macOS Sonoma 14.3 arrived on January 22 and introduced Collaborative Playlists for Apple Music. It additionally features a patch for a zero-day vulnerability that will have been exploited within the wild.

macOS Sonoma 14.2 arrived on December 11, 2023, and introduced Enhanced AutoFill, Contact Key Verification, and numerous app updates. Extra particulars about what’s new are under.

macOS Sonoma 14.1.2 arrived on November 30 and glued two exploited zero-day WebKit flaws that had been additionally patched in iOS and iPadOS with 17.1.2. Apple additionally launched Safari 17.1.2 for Ventura and older to deal with the identical exploits.

Beforehand, macOS Sonoma 14.1.1 arrived on November 7. It consists of bug fixes and safety updates and is really helpful for all customers.

Earlier than that macOS Sonoma 14.1, was launched on October 25.

There can be a variety of updates over the approaching months, each minor level releases for bug fixes and safety updates and main releases that add a number of the Sonoma options that weren’t accessible at launch.

macOS 14 Sonoma beta: Newest model and launch date

Since macOS Sonoma arrived in September 2023, Apple has continued to develop new options for the working system. The corporate usually points updates to the developer model and public model of the beta.

On June 17 Apple launched macOS 14.6 beta 1.

On July 16, Apple launched macOS 14.6 beta 4.

In case you’d like to hitch the beta for the subsequent model of macOS learn this: Learn how to be a part of Apple’s beta program and check out new software program.

macOS 14.6: New options

Even with the discharge of the macOS 14.6 beta 4, no new options are obvious. This text can be up to date if any new options are found.

macOS 14.5: New options

macOS 14.5 solely actually introduced new options to Apple Information+ subscribers. These included the brand new Quartiles recreation, which joins the Crossword and Crossword mini video games within the Puzzles part, and a Scoreboard to view all of your mini video games knowledge.

macOS 14.4: New options

As we mentioned above, there are just a few issues with the macOS 14.4 replace, together with a Java bug, a USB downside, and an iCloud Drive downside, so should you haven’t up to date but you may wish to wait. In case you are experiencing these points observe our information to revert a macOS replace.

As for what new options macOS 14.4 brings:

New emoji: together with Damaged Chain, Brown Mushroom, Head Shaking Horizontally, Head Shaking Vertically, Lime, and Phoenix, in addition to a number of different route emoji.
Updates to the Podcast app.
An icons solely choice for the Safari Favourite Bar.
iMessage replace: Apple is introducing a new iMessage protocol that may use post-quantum cryptography to encrypt for conversations.
Fixes: There are additionally numerous fixes coming that ought to resolve points with CreateML, the Finder, Messages, and Passkeys. A difficulty the place it wasn’t attainable to replace to macOS 14.4 from macOS 11.0-12.3.1 can also be addressed. Learn extra about macOS 14.4 right here.

macOS 14.3: New options

macOS 14.3 introduced the next new options:

Collaborative Playlists for Apple Music.
Emoji reactions for tracks in collaborative playlists.
AppleCare & Guarantee in Settings exhibits particulars of all of your eligible gadgets.
StoreKit: new options and bug fixes for builders.
SwiftUI: new options and bug fixes for builders.
Apple has additionally revealed there can be a number of bug fixes coming within the replace. Within the 14.4 beta launch notes the corporate lists fixes for a difficulty with CreateML, a decision for a Finder challenge, a difficulty with stickers in Messages.

Updates from macOS 11.0–12.3.1 to Sonoma could not work, during which case Apple recommends updating to macOS 12.4 first.

macOS 14.2: New options

New options in macOS 14.2 embody:

iMessage Contact Key Verification: Improved safety for contact key verification customers.
StoreKit: Worth, forex, and currencyCode are actually accessible on Transaction.
PDFs: An Enhanced AutoFill characteristic makes use of Contacts knowledge to fill out a PDF or scanned doc.

Whereas the brand new Journal app is a characteristic of iOS 17.2, which arrived on the identical day, it isn’t (but) a Mac app.

The next options, which additionally arrived in iOS 17.2, can be accessible within the equal apps on macOS:

Information app: The Information app will help Dwell Actions.
Apple Music: Additionally, you will be capable of disable the listening historical past in Apple Music so it doesn’t influence Apple Music strategies.
TV app: There’ll not be separate Films and TV Reveals tabs. Only a Retailer tab.
Messages: You’ll be able to react to iMessages with any emoji or sticker. Warning for stickers when you have enabled it for Messages.
Climate: Now you can see wind and rain on a map.
Clock: You’ll be able to run a number of timers.

macOS 14.1: New options

The macOS 14.1 replace included:

Apple Music: New Favorites playlist.
Protection part within the Common System Settings that features Apple Care info.
Repair for a difficulty with Distant Widgets.
Addressed points with Pockets and WidgetKit.

There’s extra element about what’s in macOS Sonoma–and what’s coming–under.

Learn how to set up macOS 14 Sonoma

We cowl set up macOS Sonoma in a separate article, we additionally cowl a number of the points you may encounter putting in Sonoma, so should you do have any difficulties take a look at that article. It ought to be easy sufficient to put in macOS Sonoma although.

Go to System Settings (System Preferences in older variations of macOS).
Click on on Common.
Click on on Software program Replace and your Mac will seek for the replace. If it’s the day that Sonoma arrives, you might have to attend some time earlier than it exhibits up.
Click on on Improve Now and watch for the macOS installer to obtain.
As soon as the installer has downloaded click on on Set up and wait whereas the software program is put in in your Mac (throughout which period you received’t be capable of use the Mac.)

macOS 14 Sonoma: Learn how to set up and take away the beta

In case you are a beta tester it’s possible you’ll wish to cease receiving beta updates as soon as the complete model of Sonoma arrives. On this case, you possibly can go to Software program Updates, click on on the (i) beside Beta updates, and switch them off–that method you shouldn’t obtain any extra beta variations of the software program and can be capable of replace to the complete model of macOS 14. This course of is a bit more difficult if you wish to downgrade from the iOS 17 beta to iOS 16, or from a subsequent beta of iOS 17 to the unique model. In case you then wish to uninstall the beta, now we have a information for that: Learn how to take away macOS Sonoma beta.

In case you haven’t been a part of the beta however wish to be a part of, putting in the beta is straightforward, particularly since Apple modified the beta course of in macOS 13.4. It was once essential to obtain the Beta Entry Utility for each machine, however now you solely have to register your Apple ID for the beta program to put in betas on each Apple machine that’s signed into that account.

Then once you go to Software program Replace, you’ll see a brand new tab for Beta Updates, which is able to checklist the beta variations which might be accessible to you. If you wish to set up the general public beta, choose macOS 14 Public Beta.

Simply bear in mind: betas are usually not as secure because the official model–options could also be carried out after which withdrawn, or they might not work correctly, UI can change, and third-party app compatibility isn’t assured.

If you wish to set up the beta, observe our macOS beta set up information. For extra on becoming a member of the beta program learn: Learn how to be a part of Apple’s beta program and check out new software program.

macOS Sonoma compatibility: Which Macs will be capable of run macOS 14?

Apple dropped help for some 2017 Macs from the Sonoma compatibility checklist.

These are the Macs which might be capable of run macOS Sonoma:

iMac from 2019 and later
Mac Professional from 2019 and later
iMac Professional from 2017
Mac Studio from 2022 and later
MacBook Air from 2018 and later
Mac mini from 2018 and later
MacBook Professional from 2018 and later

When Apple launched macOS Ventura, the next Macs might run it:

MacBook fashions from 2017 or later
MacBook Air fashions from 2018 or later
MacBook Professional fashions from 2017 or later
Mac mini fashions from 2018 or later
iMac fashions from 2017 or later
iMac Professional (all fashions)
Mac Professional fashions from 2019 or later
Mac Studio (all fashions)

A Mac could also be appropriate with macOS 14, however unable to run a number of the new options. Some new options require Apple chips and don’t run on Intel-based Macs.

To seek out out which model of macOS older Macs can run check out our macOS compatibility checklist.

macOS 14 Sonoma options

Listed here are the brand new options in macOS Sonoma. Some arrived with the primary launch and others will come later.

Learn our comparability of macOS Sonoma and macOS Ventura for extra particulars about what’s modified and discover out which Sonoma options are coming later to search out out which of them will arrive later.

From the second that your Mac begins up in Sonoma you’ll discover the distinction. Apple has redesigned the login display screen so that you simply enter your password on the backside fairly than the center of the display screen.

We clarify navigate the brand new Lock Display and set your preferences right here: Learn how to customise and navigate the brand new login display screen.

Desktop widgets

You’ll be capable of add extra Widgets from the Widget Gallery and place them anyplace on the display screen. Apple has gone to lengths to ensure they aren’t distracting, they’ll basically fade into the background.

Additionally, you will be capable of add Widgets from an iPhone utilizing Continuity, the iPhone simply must be close by, on or identical Wi-Fi community. Learn: How Apple’s upcoming widget revolution will change our screens without end.

Discover ways to add widgets to the macOS Sonoma Desktop.

Apple Music

The power to simply mark Favorites and create a Favourite Songs playlist arrived with macOS 14.1. macOS 14.3 is predicted to deliver Apple Music Playlist collaboration.

Apple made some modifications to the login display screen and added a brand new immersive animation that leads into your desktop.

Wallpapers

Apple added some lovely animated wallpapers displaying areas from around the globe. See: The most effective wallpapers included in macOS Sonoma.

Private Voice

A brand new Private Voice characteristic permits you to practice your Mac to speak along with your voice after which use that to transform textual content to speech. We clarify use it right here: macOS Sonoma: Learn how to practice your Mac to speak in your voice

Recreation Mode

This new mode ensures that video games get the best precedence on GPU and CPU, which ought to assist with playability. It is going to make gaming on Mac “extra immersive,” in response to Apple. Different modifications ought to cut back latency with controllers and enhance in-game responsiveness.

Apple introduced that extra Mac video games are coming, and demonstrated “Loss of life Stranding: Administrators Reduce” (which is sadly not a brand new recreation). Apple additionally defined the way it will assist recreation builders deliver their video games to the Mac with a brand new Recreation Porting package that features instruments that devs can use to shortly port their video games to the Mac, considerably lowering the sport improvement time. Learn: Apple’s Recreation Porting Toolkit is the primary actual step to fixing Mac gaming. We additionally clarify Learn how to use Recreation Mode to spice up efficiency.

Learn our round-up of the Finest video games for Mac.

Video conferencing

Apple

If you share your display screen throughout a presentation your presence can get misplaced. To repair this challenge Apple has devised a brand new video impact referred to as Presenter Overlay that may overlay your face over the presentation, separating you from the background. This will seem like the image above, or be a smaller bubble along with your face in (which can cowl much less of the presentation).

Different new options embody the power so as to add a response to your video to point out how you’re feeling about one thing. For instance, should you present two thumbs up a fireworks animation will play. These options will also be used as video results with different video conferencing apps, so it’s not tied to FaceTime.

Safari

It is possible for you to to create Safari Profiles so you possibly can separate accounts between work and residential/college profiles.

Safari and WebKit acquire new typography.

Customers will be capable of block non-public searching home windows after they aren’t getting used.

It will likely be attainable to share Passkeys and Passwords with relations. This can be end-to-end encrypted by way of iCloud Keychain.

See: Safari 17: All the brand new options coming to your Mac this fall

Net apps

It will likely be simple to make an internet site you utilize quite a bit right into a Net App. Simply open the webpage and select File > Add to Dock so as to add a webpage to the Dock as an icon and open it to get an app-like look for that internet web page that opens exterior of Safari.

Discover ways to make and handle Net Apps in macOS Sonoma.

PDFs and Notes

The AutoFill for PDFs characteristic arrived with macOS 14.2 in December 2023. It really works with Contacts to pick out the knowledge wanted and makes it simple to fill out PDFs quicker and securely.

Additionally, you will be capable of view PDFs in Notes, hyperlink associated notes, and open a Notice in Pages to replace it there.

Keyboard

Modifications to the keyboard embody improved Autocorrect accuracy and inline typing predictions.

Messages

You’ll be able to anticipate improved Search of the Messages app, with the ability to refine your search as you go.

There’s a brand new Sticker drawer, catchup for group conversations, and enhancements to Messages in iCloud.

There can be warnings about doubtlessly delicate movies and images earlier than you open them, and as of macOS 14.2 warnings about Stickers.

Safety

Enhancements to Lockdown Mode will assist shield towards cyber assaults. Lockdown Mode makes it simple to guard your Apple gadgets and your knowledge if you’re the sufferer of a cyberattack.

In macOS Sonoma Apple simplified the usage of 2FA on web sites. Safari will routinely fill within the code you might be despatched (as a textual content or e-mail) and routinely delete the e-mail or textual content afterwards.

One other security-related characteristic in Sonoma is a simplification of the method for sharing passwords with family and friends. Customers can create a gaggle and share a set of passwords to that group. It’s end-to-end encrypted.

In Safari you possibly can set a brand new Non-public Searching Lock to look on the display screen to cease onlookers from viewing your display screen once you aren’t current.