Wondering what the latest macOS version is? Interested in earlier versions of Mac OS X? Here we will fill in the names of the different versions of the Mac operating system: the new macOS to the first version of Mac OS X and the codenames that Apple used for them. We will also show you how you can test which version of macOS you are running and find out what the latest version of macOS is.
If you are wondering what the latest version of MacOS is Monterey! Also known as MacOS 12. Monterey arrives on Monday, October 25, 2021. For more information read: Everything you need to know about MacOS Monterey.
However, Monterey will not be the new version of macOS for long. Apple unveiled its plans for the next version of macOS at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on June 6, 2022. In the keynote address at the WWDC conference, Apple released details of the MacOS 13 Ventura. The final version will be available for download in the fall (usually in September or October time frames).
If you are looking for help installing Monterey, read: How to Update Max: Update to Monterey and Fixes for Mac that will not update Max. If you want to install the beta of macOS Ventura, read about joining Apple’s beta program.
History of macOS
Mac OS X was first launched on March 24, 2001, more than 21 years ago Much has changed in these two decades: good and bad From the problems of the first version (it was slow and did not run important apps like Microsoft Word) Mac OS X has evolved into what we know today through various iterations and different designs. We’ve seen great integration with iOS devices, the addition of Cloud, and the advent of Integrated Time Machine backup, nice and helpful features including Quick Look – which lets you preview a document without opening the app, and innovations such as exposure and space and desktop. Helps to work.
In this article we look at Mac OS X, or the long history of MacOS that is now known.
For a brief overview of the features of different versions of the Mac operating system, to show how it has evolved over time, watch our video above. If you have been wondering about Apple’s assigned names and internally used codenames for Mac OS X over the years, read on.
List of macOS version names
Here is an overview of each version of MacOS and Mac OS X Apple. You’ll find a complete list of OS X version code names, including internal code names (if available):
- OS X 10 Beta: Kodiak – September 13, 2000
- OS X 10.0: Cheetah – March 14, 2001
- OS X 10.1: Puma – September 15, 2001
- OS X 10.2: Jaguar – August 14, 2002
- OS X 10.3 Panther (Pinot) – October 24, 2003
- OS X 10.4 Tiger (Merlot) – April 29, 2005
- OS X 10.4.4 Tiger (Chardonnay) – January 10, 2006 (for Intel Macs)
- OS X 10.5 Leopard (Chablis) – October 26, 2007
- OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard – August 28, 2009
- OS X 10.7 Lion (Barolo) – July 20, 2011
- OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion (Ginfandel) – July 25, 2012
- OS X 10.9 Mavericks (Cabernet) – October 22, 2013
- OS X 10.10: Yosemite (Syrah) – October 16, 2014
- OS X 10.11: El Capitan (Gala) – September 30, 2015
- macOS 10.12: Sierra Leone (Fuji) – September 20, 2016
- macOS 10.13: Hi Sierra (Lobo) – September 25, 2017
- macOS 10.14: Mozave (Liberty) – September 24, 2018
- macOS 10.15: Katherine (Jazz) – October 7, 2019
- macOS 11: Big Sur (Golden Gate) – November 12, 2020
- macOS 12: Monterey (Star) – October 25, 2021
- macOS 13: Ventura – Coming Autumn 2022
Here we have a complete list of Macs running Mac OS X and Mac versions
Mac OS X and macOS names
As you can see from the list above, with the exception of the first OS X beta, all versions of the Mac operating system from 2001 to 2012 were named after the big cats from Cheetah to Panther to Mountain Lion.
But when public-facing buildings were named after the big cats, internally, they were named after the wine (except for OS X 10.6 which had no codename).
Even after Apple changed public-facing code-names in places in California in 2013, it continued to name wines internally until 2014. Original.
In 2016, Apple rebranded Mac OS X to MacOS to integrate the branding of its operating systems, which sat well alongside iOS, tvOS and watchOS, and paved the way for MacOS X’s successor, MacOS 11, Mac OS. Twenty years after the first beta of X.
What is the latest version of macOS?
On October 25, 2021, Apple released MacOS Monterey, also known as macOS 12. If it’s compatible with your Mac, you can download Monterey via System Preferences> Software Update. Read: How to update macOS in Monterey. We also fix a lot of problems that people usually have when updating a Mac in Max Monterey that will not be installed: Solutions.
Whatever version of MacOS you are running, you need to keep it up-to-date with Apple’s latest updates and security fixes. Apple releases various updates to the OS throughout the year, so you can expect updates from time to time. Read more about the latest updates in our latest edition of the Monterey article.
- The latest version of Monterey is macOS 12.4 (released May 16, 2022)
The version of macOS before Monterey was Big Tune: You might be interested in reading Monterey vs. Big Tune to compare features. We have a dedicated article in the latest version of Big Tune with details of new features and protection modifications. You can download Big Tune here.
- The latest version of Big Tune is macOS 11.6.6 (released May 16, 2022)
The version of MacOS before Big Tune was Catalina, in which case we have comparisons between Big Tune and Catalina. Read about the latest version of Catalina here for the latest security update information. You can download Catalina here. Apple has kept the last three versions of MacOS up to date with security fixes, so until the launch of the new version of MacOS after 2022, Catalina will be included in these necessary updates.
- The latest version of Catalina is macOS 10.15.7 Security Update 2022-004 (published May 16, 2022)
We had macOS 10.14 Mojave before Catalina was released. Download Mojave from here. Learn about the latest version of macOS Mojave here. Apple only supports the last three versions of macOS, including security updates, so Mojave is less likely to receive any updates now.
- The latest version Mojave is macOS 10.14.6 Security Update 2021-005 (Published July 21, 2021)
Mojave was previously macOS Hi Sierra. Hi Sierra is available here.
If you would like an older version of macOS, check out our article on getting older versions of macOS and Mac OS X.
How to tell which macOS you are running
You can tell which version of MacOS you are running by clicking on the Apple logo at the top left and selecting about this Mac.
Foundry
How to install the latest version of macOS
If you want to update your Mac to a newer version of macOS, the procedure will be determined by the version of macOS you run.
Older versions of Mac OS X came on a disk, and any security updates came with software updates. Mac OS X and macOS versions have been available for download through the Mac App Store since the arrival of the Mac App Store in 2011 (as an update to Snow Leopard).
However, this has changed slightly with Mojave, which came in 2018. Now operating system updates come through a new software update pane in System Preferences. You can still find the software in the Mac App Store, but you’ll also find it in System Preferences> Software Updates. One advantage of this is that your Mac can be set up to automatically download and install the latest updates, leaving your Mac up-to-date with minimal effort on your part.
You can get System Preferences from the Apple menu: Click the Apple logo at the top left and select System Preferences. If you do not click on the software update cog icon, you may be taken directly to the software update pane. Your Mac will search for an update and if there is one you can choose to update now
Some Macs will be set to automatically update macOS. If you want your Mac to update automatically, follow these steps:
In Monterey, Big Sur, Mozave or Catalina:
- Open system preferences.
- Click on Software Update.
- Check the box next to Download new updates if available.
- Now select the Install MacOS Update box.
Upper Sierra or earlier:
- Open system preferences.
- Click on App Store.
- Check the box next to Check for automatic updates – it should have a tick like the four options below …
- Now deselect the box next to the newly available update download in the background.
Read all about how to update your Mac here.