macOS versions: every update including the latest

Wondering what is the name of the latest macOS version? Curious about the earlier versions of Mac OS X? Here we’ll fill you in the names of the different versions of the Mac operating system in order: from the latest macOS to the first version of Mac OS X and the code names Apple used before. We’ll also show you how to check which version of macOS you’re running and which is the latest version of macOS.

If you’re wondering what the latest version of macOS is, it’s Monterey! Also known as macOS 12. Monterey arrived on Monday, October 25, 2021. For more information, read: Everything you need to know about macOS Monterey.

Monterey won’t be the latest version of macOS for long, though. Apple revealed its plans for the next version of macOS at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on June 6, 2022. During the keynote that kicked off the WWDC conference, Apple revealed details of macOS 13 Ventura. The final version will then be available for download in the autumn (usually in the period September or October).

If you need help installing Monterey, read: Updating MacOS: Update to Monterey and fixes for Macs that don’t update macOS. To install the beta of macOS Ventura, read about joining Apple’s beta program.

History of macOS

Mac OS X was launched more than twenty-one years ago on March 24, 2001. A lot has changed in those two decades: good and bad. From the problems with the first edition (it was slow and didn’t run major apps like Microsoft Word), Mac OS X has evolved through several iterations and different designs to what we know today. We’ve seen tight integration with iOS devices, the integration of the cloud, and the arrival of excellent and useful features, including integrated Time Machine backups, Quick Look – which allows you to preview a document without opening the application. open, and innovations such as Expose and Spaces and Desktop Stacks to help you work efficiently.

Watch our video above for an overview of the features of the different versions of the Mac operating system and how it has evolved over time. If you want to know the names Apple assigned to Mac OS X over the years, and the code names used internally, read on.

List of macOS version names

Here’s an overview of every version of macOS and Mac OS X that Apple has released. You’ll find a full list of the latest release of each version of OS X and macOS, along with version code names, along with internal code names (if available):

OS X 10 beta: Kodiak – September 13, 2000OS X 10.0: Cheetah – March 14, 2001 (Latest: 10.0.4)OS X 10.1: Puma – September 15, 2001 (Latest: 10.1.5)OS X 10.2: Jaguar – August 14, 2002 (Latest: 10.2.8)OS X 10.3 Panther (Pinot) – October 24, 2003 (Latest: 10.3.9)OS X 10.4 Tiger (Merlot) – April 29, 2005 (Latest: 10.4.11)OS X 10.4.4 Tiger ( Chardonnay) – January 10, 2006 (for Intel Macs) (Latest: 10.4.11) OS X 10.5 Leopard (Chablis) – October 26, 2007 (Latest: 10.5.8) OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard – August 28, 2009 (Latest: 10.6. 8) OS X 10.7 Lion (Barolo) – July 20, 2011 (Latest: 10.7.5) OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion (Zinfandel) – July 25, 2012 (Latest: 10.8.5) OS X 10.9 Mavericks (Cabernet) – October 22, 2013 (Latest: 10.9.5) OS X 10.10: Yosemite (Syrah) – October 16, 2014 (Latest: 10.10.5) OS X 10.11: El Capitan (Gala) – September 30, 2015 (Latest: 10.11.6)macOS 10.12: Sierra (Fuji) – September 20, 2016 (Latest: 10.12.6) macOS 10.13: High Sierra (Lobo) – September 25, 2017 (Latest: 10.13.6) macOS 10 .14: Mojave (Liberty) – September 24, 2018 (Latest: 10.14.6) macOS 10.15: Catalina (Jazz) – October 7, 2019 (Latest: 10.15.7, Security Update 2022-005) macOS 11: Big Sur (GoldenGate) – November 12, 2020 (Latest: 11.6.8)macOS 12: Monterey (Star) – October 25, 2021 (Latest: 12.5)macOS 13: Ventura – Coming Fall 2022

We’ve got a full list of which Macs are running which versions of Mac OS X and macOS here.

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 all named after big cats, from Cheetah to Panther to Mountain Lion.

But while the crowd-pleasing builds were named after big cats, internally they were named after wines (apart from OS X 10.6 which wasn’t codenamed).

Even after Apple swapped public codenames for places in California in 2013, it continued to name them after wines internally until 2014. In 2015, Apple decided to change the theme of internal codenames from wines to varieties of apples. Original.

In 2016, Apple took the plunge to unify the branding of its operating systems by renaming Mac OS X to macOS, which fits nicely alongside iOS, tvOS, and watchOS, paving the way for macOS 11, the successor to Mac OS X, which arrived. twenty years after the first beta version of Mac OS X.

Which versions of macOS are still being updated?

Apple is still providing regular features and security updates for the most recent version of macOS, Monterey, also known as macOS 12. The latest version of Monterey is macOS 12.5 and was released on July 20, 2022)

The previous two versions of macOS also receive security updates and bug fixes. The latest version of Big Sur is macOS 11.6.8 (released July 20, 2022) and macOS Catalina 10.15.7 Security Update 2022-005, released July 20, 2022.

How do you know which macOS version you are using?

You can see which version of macOS you’re using by clicking the Apple logo in the top left and choosing About This Mac. It will clearly show which version of macOS you are using, along with the most recent version your Mac has installed

It’s easy to find out what version of macOS is running on a Mac.

Foundry

How to install the latest version of macOS

If you want to update your Mac to a newer version of macOS, the method depends on the version of macOS you’re using.

Very old versions of Mac OS X came on a disc and any security updates came via Software Update. Since the arrival of the Mac App Store in 2011 (as an update to Snow Leopard), versions of Mac OS X and macOS can be downloaded from the Mac App Store.

However, that changed somewhat with Mojave, arriving in 2018. Now operating system updates come in through a new Software Updates panel in System Preferences. You can still find the software in the Mac App Store, but you’ll also see it in System Preferences > Software Update. One of the benefits of this is that your Mac can be set up to automatically download and install the latest updates, keeping your Mac up to date with minimal effort.

You can go to System Preferences via the Apple menu: Click the Apple logo in the top left and choose System Preferences. You may be taken directly to the Software Update panel, if not, click the Software Update gear icon. Your Mac will look for an update and if there is one, you can choose Update Now.

Some Macs are set to update macOS automatically. If you want your Mac to update automatically, follow these steps:

In Monterey, Big Sur, Mojave or Catalina:

Open System Preferences. Click Software Update. Check the box next to Download new updates if available. Now select the Install macOS updates box.

In High Sierra or earlier:

Open System Preferences. Click on App Store. Check the box next to Automatically check for updates – there should be a check mark, as well as the four options below… Now uncheck the box next to Download newly available updates in the background.

Read all about updating your Mac here.