macOS versions over time

What is macOS?

This is the name given to the operating system that is integrated into Macs and developed by Apple itself. The initial release was on March 24, 2001, presenting itself as closed source software for desktop and laptop computers. Keep in mind that for many years it was the second most used desktop operating system behind Microsoft Windows, although finally in 2021 this ended up changing.

Year after year, Apple releases a major new version of macOS, at a developer-focused event. But in addition to the great launch of all versions, there will also be different relevant patches focused on bugs and also on security flaws. The really interesting thing is that it won’t cost you a single euro, since the license is integrated into the purchase of the device. In this case, the launch of macOS is always carried out worldwide and with the possibility of choosing to download it through Apple’s servers. This is what is known as an OTA download.

macOS evolution

Currently, a total of 18 different versions of macOS can be found, although it was previously known as Mac OS. It should be noted in this regard that all these versions, beyond a simple number, also have a name of a recognized place. Apple has made a habit of naming its Mac operating systems after animals before, and then after mountains and landmarks in California. This is something that is constantly evolving by the Apple company.

Kodiak, the original public beta

Before the official launch of this operating system for Mac, a preliminary beta version was released on September 13, 2000 at a price of $29.95. My mission was that developers could test the operating system and develop new applications to be much richer. During its development, different changes were integrated, such as the Aqua interface and even the fonts, the Dock or the menu bar with the Apple logo.

It should be noted that the initial features were not working correctly or were not present. For example, there was no support for applications developed with Java, which was going to end up causing different relevance limitations. Also, you couldn’t use many browsers either, being limited to Internet Explorer and OmniWeb. Currently, it is a version that can be called historical and that finally gave way to all the versions that can currently be found on the market. As a curiosity, all those people who purchased the beta later received the final version 10.0 for free.

Mac OS X 10.0 Cheetah

This version was released on March 24, 2001, being the first version that exposed the great new features of OS X. It should be noted that at first it was a simple beta, but its great stability was talked about since it ended up surprising. In this case, a new source code was introduced, which was completely different from Mac OS 9, creating a before and after. The minimum requirements that were requested at that time is a 128 MB RAM and a 1,500 MB internal hard drive . The features that were introduced in this version were the following:

• Dock: new organization of applications, changing the user interface.
• Mail: Apple’s mail client is integrated.
• Support for PDF documents.
• Darwin.
• OpenGL.
• AppleScript.
• New word processor, TextEdit.
• Integrated terminal, allowed to use the base Unix system.

In this case, the latest stable version for the system was MacOS 10.0.4 which was released on June 22, 2001.

Mac OS X 10.1

This version, codenamed Puma , was released to all users on September 25, 2001 as a free update to Mac OS X 10.0. This is a version that made Macs much more competitive in the market by being able to use other applications, much more than the competition itself. It was distributed through the Apple Store and had a great reception from users. In this case, it was required to have one of the following Macs:

• Power Mac G3
• Power Mac G4 Cube
• iMac G3
• Power Mac G4
• eMac PowerBook G3

And not surprisingly, many new features were introduced in an operating system that was just starting to work at the time. This required having 128 MB of RAM and 1.5 GB of hard drive space. The main features that were integrated are the following:

• General improvement in system performance.
• Disc burning with better Finder support.
• DVD player compatibility.
• Greater printer support.
• Enhanced 3D.
• Improved AppleScript.
• Ability to download images from digital cameras and a scanner.

Mac OS X v10.2 Jaguar

This was the third version of Mac OS X, which was released to the public on August 23, 2002 in a single version and in the form of a pack. The latter allowed installing the update on up to five computers that are compatible. It was received by users as a big step in terms of the general stability of the operating system. In addition, it was possible to see how the graphical interface and even the command line were improved. In this case, the code name Jaguar was the first to be placed in the advertising campaign itself, which is something that has been maintained to this day with macOS Mojave or Catalina, among others.

The supported models for this version were the following:

• PowerMac G3-G4
• Initial PowerMac G5s
• iMac
• eMac
• PowerBook G3 or G4
• iBook.

The requirements that were demanded is to need 128 MB of RAM, and a PowerPC G3, G4 or G5 processor at 233 MHz or higher. All this was maintained until October 3, 2003, when the last stable version was released, which was 10.2.8.

mac os x panther

Fourth version of the operating system, officially named with the number 10.3, although it should be noted that much more importance was given to the code name that was Panther. He released it on October 24, 2003 . In this case it could not be installed on many computers, since some older models could not support it as they required a New World ROM. In this case, the requirements that were imposed on the devices were the following:

• PowerPC G3, G4, or G5 processor (233 MHz minimum)
• Integrated USB (indicative of the New World ROM)
• At least 128 MB of RAM (512 MB recommended)
• At least 1.5 GB of free disk space
• CD rom
• Internet access requires a compatible provider; iDisk requires an account.

And from this system, you could have access to the videoconferences that were integrated in this case. This required a 333 MHz processor, internet access with 100 Kbit/s or more and also an integrated and compatible webcam. The implemented features were the following:

• Finder: update that gave rise to a new interface with a search engine in real time, file tags and support for the ZIP format. Added to this was a modification of their logo.
• Ability to quickly switch between users.
• Window management using Exposé thumbnails.
• TextEdit became compatible with Word files.
• Possibility to use Preview in PDF files.
• Arrival of QuickTime.

It was also in this version that Apple introduced Safari, a new native browser to replace Internet Explorer. This is something that developed as a result of Microsoft and Apple ending their contract. If it is true that Microsoft Explorer was still compatible, but did not receive any type of support.

Mac OS X Tiger

Fifth version of the operating system that received the name of Tiger, and that was released to the public on April 29, 2005. This was launched at the WWDC by Steve Jobs himself. Although, months before, some copies of Tiger were leaked by various non-commercial developers. That is why the Cupertino company was forced to sue these people who used BitTorrent to distribute these copies. In order to offer much more information, all the Apple Stores in the world gave seminars and demos of the operating system.

Universally, this is a version that was available on DVD since 10.4.7, and was intended for those Intel x86-based processor versions. That is why the requirements that were imposed in this case to be able to install the update are the following:

• PowerPC G3, G4 or G5 processor.
• firewire
• Minimum of 256 MB of RAM (512 MB or 1 GB recommended).
• 3 GB of hard disk space; 4 GB of hard disk space if you install XCode 2 Developer Tools.
• DVD reader for installation, as it is available on DVD.

The features that are integrated are the following in this version:

• Spotlight debuts as a text and metadata search engine that remains today. It was allowed to track documents and also other files such as the iCal calendar.
• New Safari 2.0 browser with RSS and Atom reader to have a more adequate interface.
• Mail adds an interface change, so you can have a completely different aesthetic.
• Presentation of Dashboard and Dictionary to be able to have everything completely correct at the moment.
• Presentation of Automator that allowed to create intelligent commands to carry out numerous tasks on the device without any problem, opening its possibilities.
• Improvements in the accessibility of the equipment with the arrival of the function, which is maintained today, VoiceOver. In this way, it allowed people with visual problems to use the Mac without any type of impediment or limitation.

Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard

Version of the operating system that was released publicly on October 26, 2007. In this case, Apple categorized it as the biggest update to Mac OS X. This is because it brought a total of more than 300 new features. Core components of the operating system were covered, as well as the applications that were integrated with it and the development tools. As soon as the Mac started up with the update, a noticeably improved desktop was presented with a menu bar that is semi-transparent as well as a visual improvement in the Finder. This was one of the first operating systems that was delayed by Apple as a result of problems in the development itself.

The requirements that were imposed to be able to use this software version were the following:

• The processor has to be any Intel, PowerPC G5 or PowerPC G4 (from 867 MHz speed and above)
• A DVD drive (for operating system installation)
• At least 512 MB of RAM ( additional RAM (1 GB) is recommended when you have a development environment) on Intel processors and 256 MB on PowerPC processors (512 MB is recommended).
• At least 9 GB of hard drive space.
• Logic board with EFI ROM or Open Firmware

All the improvements that could be found were especially focused on the arrival of changes in the performance of all the functions of the operating system. Among them, the following stand out:

• Improvements in Automator with start points that are more tailored so you don’t get lost when creating workflows.
• Arrival of Boot Camp, the installation assistant to have Windows on the Mac.
• Dashboard improvement.
• On the desktop you will find a new 3D Dock with different grouping function.
• Dictionary performs searches on Wikipedia.
• Improvements to iChat, iMail, file sharing, and Photo Booth.
• Arrival of Time Machine to be able to have a utility tool to create backup copies automatically when connecting an external storage unit.

Mac OS X Snow Leopard

After major changes regarding the aesthetics of the operating system, Apple opted to rest on Snow Leopard. This was launched on August 28, 2009 with a starting price of 29 euros to update Leopard users, while to do it from scratch you would have to pay 169 euros. In some cases Snow Leopard can now be found for a really cheap price in DVD mode. As we say, they focused on making internal changes, of which the following stand out:

• New exposé integrated in Dock.
• Automatic adjustment of the time zone, with respect to the internet.
• Support for theoretical 16 TB of RAM.
• Ability to connect to Microsoft Exchange 2007 services.
• Improvements to Grand Central, QuickTime X and OpenCL.

The general requirements for the upgrade were as follows:

• Mac computer with an Intel processor
• 1GB of memory
• 5 GB of available disk space
• DVD drive for installation
• Some features require an Internet connection; The corresponding fees will apply.
• Some features require Apple’s MobileMe service; The corresponding fees will apply; check the conditions.

Mac OS X Lion

This was named version 10.7, released on October 20, 2010 with elements inherited from iOS. The price of this operating system was 29.99 euros . In this case, the download was also included in the Mac App Store itself so as not to have to depend on a CD and the corresponding reader. In this case, the requirements were several depending on the characteristics that are needed. But in this situation, we must highlight the general requirements that are:

• 64-Bit Intel Processor (Mac with an Intel Core 2 Duo, Intel Core i3, Intel Core i5, Intel Core i7, or Xeon processor.)
• 2GB RAM
• Mac OS X 10.6.6 or later (Mac OS X 10.6.8 recommended)
• 7 GB of free space on the hard drive.
• Internet connection (required for installation system download)

There were many novelties that could be found that marked a before and after in the use of the device. This is something that was applied both in applications and in functionalities that are integrated into the operating system itself. In this case, the novelties are the following:

• The Mac App Store arrives , similar to that of iOS to be able to download all the necessary applications.
• Apps can be used full screen.
• On the trackpad you can make use of the multi-touch gesture system and animations.
• Filevault 2 encryption system.
• New design of the Aqua user interface with a new design of the buttons, the progress bar and also the buttons to close, minimize and maximize a window.
• A tab is added in Finder that groups all the files on the Mac.

Mac OS X Mountain Lion

Version 10.8 which was announced on February 10, 2012 and released on July 25, 2012 through the Mac App Store. It incorporates many more iOS features, some of which are included in Lion. In this case, the name already offers many clues that there was hardly any evolution with respect to Mac OS X Lion. There were many native applications that could be found in the operating system, which changed their name in order to have a correspondence with their counterparts in iOS. The novelties that could be found in this case are the following:

• Tighter integration with iCloud in Pages, Numbers, and Keynote.
• Automatic synchronization of documents in iCloud.
• Reminders is separated from Calendars.
• Notes, now separate from Mail.
• Possibility of sending images from the computer via AirPlay, with AirPlay Mirroring.
• Gatekeeper is added, a feature that prevents or limits the installation of third-party apps.
• Integration with Twitter, Facebook and Game Center.

OS X Mavericks

New version, which was released on June 10, 2013 at the corresponding WWDC and can be downloaded through the Mac App Store. It marked the beginning of a change in OS X’s naming scheme, moving away from using animal or big cat names. In this way, from here they began to use names based on iconic places in California . Mavericks in this case is a town in California where a lot of surfing was practiced. The Macs compatible with this version of the operating system are:

• iMac Mid 2007 or newer.
• MacBook late 2008, or early 2009 or newer.
• MacBook Pro Mid/Late 2007 or newer.
• MacBook Air Late 2008 or newer.
• Mac mini, Early 2009 or newer.
• Mac Pro, Early 2008 or newer.
• Mac Pro, Early 2008 or newer.

Among the novelties, the following stand out:

• Integrate iOS apps like Reminders, Notes, Messages, iBook and push notifications.
• Finder includes a tab and search for tag files or keywords.
• Remote connection between a Mac and a virtual desktop is now integrated.
• Safari now facilitates access to social networks, including a sidebar where different links are collected.
• Calendar now syncs with Facebook calendar.
• Notification Center offers the option to reply to messages or start a conversation via FaceTime.

OS X Yosemite

This version was released to all users on June 2, 2014, with a public beta preview only available to the first million users. In this case, it brought numerous improvements in the design, since a great modification of the interface was presented, inspired in this case by iOS 7 but maintaining the desktop metaphor of OS X. New icons, combinations of lighter and darker colors and replaced the font to Helvetica Neue. The dock now became a 2D translucent rectangle without being a glass shelf. In addition, there was great continuity by integrating perfectly with iCloud services, thus connecting with the rest of the devices that are connected to the same Apple ID.

The models compatible with OS X Yosemite were the following:

• iMac Mid 2007 or newer.
• MacBook late 2008, or early 2009 or newer.
• MacBook Pro Mid/Late 2007 or newer.
• MacBook Air Late 2008 or newer.
• Mac mini, Early 2009 or newer.
• Mac Pro, Early 2008 or newer.

OS X El Capitan

This corresponds to version 10.11, being the twelfth of OS X. It was announced on June 8, 2015 at the WWDC, and was finally released on September 30, 2015. In this case, the interface hardly changes with respect to the Yosemite version, varying only in the typeface used. From this version it also became possible to use two applications at the same time in full screen with Split View . Spotlight has been enhanced to become a stand-alone search tool for access to sports scores, weather, stocks, and videos.

Following the introduction of Metal on iOS, Apple decided to introduce it to the Mac ecosystem with this software update. In this way, the general performance of the GPU was improved when enjoying games. The supported devices are the following:

• iMac: Mid 2007 or newer
• Aluminum MacBook – Late 2008
• MacBook White/Black: Early 2009 or newer
• MacBook Retina : All
• MacBook Air: Late 2008 or newer
• 13-inch MacBook Pro: Mid 2009 or newer
• 15-inch MacBook Pro: Mid 2007 or newer
• 17-inch MacBook Pro: Late 2007 or newer [7]
• Mac Mini: Early 2009 or newer
• Mac Pro: Early 2008 or newer

macOS Sierra

This version was accompanied by a general name change, from being called OS X at the beginning to macOS. In this way, it was possible to give much more strength to the name of the operating system and have a name that is quite similar to that of the rest of the software that Apple has. macOS Sierra was released to users on June 13, 2016 with notable new features. Among them could be found the possibility of unlocking the Mac thanks to the Apple Watch itself when it is worn, but the use of universal clipboard is also allowed. In this way, a person who makes a copy from the iPhone, will be able to copy to the Mac quickly.

In addition, it was possible to see the arrival of Apple Pay to this system to quickly make purchases with the system’s cards. And in the same way, other functions were also migrated, such as the Picture in Picture mode that was already on the iPad itself. All this could be downloaded from September 20, 2016 by users and for free. The devices compatible with this version have been the following:

• iMac: Mid 2009 or newer
• MacBook: Late 2009 or newer.
• MacBook Air: Late 2010 or newer
• MacBook Pro: Mid 2010 or newer
• Mac Mini: Early 2010 or newer
• Mac Pro: Early 2010 or newer

macOS High Sierra

Version released on June 5, 2017 during WWDC, and released to all users for free on September 25 . It was a version that was heavily criticized by users, since, as its name suggests, it is a continuation of the Sierra version. This meant that hardly any changes could be seen, something that was disappointing for many people. The only improvements could be seen internally in the management of files by the storage unit.

Specifically, it went on to offer an APFS management system that offered more optimized read and write speeds. This is logically something that was applied to SSD storage units, and especially when a reinstallation of the operating system was performed. In addition, better support for the eGPU and also improvements in privacy were integrated as a result of numerous controversies in this regard. Compatibility is with the following devices:

• iMac: Mid 2009 or newer
• MacBook: Late 2009 or newer.
• MacBook Air: Late 2010 or newer
• MacBook Pro: Mid 2010 or newer
• Mac Mini: Mid 2010 or newer
• Mac Pro: Mid 2010 or newer

macOS Mojave

With this version that arrived on June 4, 2018, there were high hopes. Apple was expected to go for universal compatibility of iOS apps on macOS, but it didn’t. This system presented visual characteristics focused on visual comfort, since it was decided to finally integrate the dark screen mode with new wallpapers and also dynamic wallpapers. Likewise, new native applications were integrated that were only available in iOS or iPadOS, such as Casa, Voice Notes and Stock Market.

Technically, it should be noted that this was the last operating system that was compatible with 32-bit applications. Apple left a margin of one year here for developers to move their apps from 32 to 64 GB. This meant that priority was given to those services that were working correctly with 64-bit systems, which in the end are the ones that offer great performance.

The devices that are supported are the following:

• iMac: Mid 2009 or newer
• MacBook: Late 2009 or newer.
• MacBook Air: Late 2010 or newer
• MacBook Pro: Mid 2010 or newer
• Mac Mini: Mid 2010 or newer
• Mac Pro: Mid 2010 or newer

macOS Catalina

Sixteenth version of the operating system for Mac that reached all users and was presented on June 3, 2019. Although, it showed numerous performance failures during its development phase, specifically focusing on the betas. Users complained of numerous bugs and general lag in the operating system. In this way, the company periodically delayed the launch until it finally came out on October 7, 2019. In this case, it was characterized above all by being the first version that only accepted 64-bit applications , as we have previously commented.

Beyond this, history was also made with this version of the operating system. This is because the iTunes app has been completely removed by switching to Finder. In this way it was about improving the use given to native applications. One more step was taken on the way to being able to have iOS applications on the Mac with Catalyst to be able to use adapted applications to show, for example, Jira and Twitter.

In this case, computers compatible with the following:

• MacBook: Early 2015 or newer.
• MacBook Air: Mid 2012 or newer.
• MacBook Pro: Mid 2012 or newer.
• Mac Mini: Late 2012 or newer.
• iMac: Late 2012 or newer.
• iMac Pro. (all models)
• Mac Pro: Late 2013 or newer.

macOS Big Sur

17th major release of macOS, announced on June 22, 2020 at WWDC and released to the public quite late on November 12, 2020 . This delay was mainly due to performance problems during development and that could be seen in all the betas that were released. In this case, a new control center was chosen, adding quick options to deactivate Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or change the brightness of the screen. Similarly, the desk began to have a much more sober design in this regard.

But what is really interesting in this case is that it was the first operating system that was adapted to Apple’s proprietary processors, ARM . In other words, compatibility with all the features that could be found on this type of Mac was added. This materialized in support for iOS and iPadOS applications through different virutalizations. And in addition, the computers compatible with this version have been the following.

• MacBook: Early 2015 and later
• MacBook Air: Mid 2013 and later
• MacBook Pro: Late 2013 and later
• Mac Mini: Late 2014 and later
• iMac: Mid 2014 and newer
• iMac Pro – Late 2017
• Mac Pro: Late 2013 and later