macOS 15 Sequoia: launch date, latest news, rumors, and everything we know
macOS 15 Sequoia has been officially announced at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC 2024).
While we didn't get too much time with macOS 15 at the event, as Apple also showed off VisionOS 2, iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 (plus Apple Intelligence, its new AI offering), we did get information about some of the new features coming to macOS 15, as well as its name (Sequoia) and release date.
To get all the latest leaks, rumors and news ahead of the event and then during the keynote, check out our WWDC 2024 live blog.
Read on to find out everything we know so far about macOS 15 Sequoia.
macOS 15 release date
As we expected, Apple announced macOS 15 at WWDC 2024, including its release date, while also announcing the immediate availability of its developer beta version.
macOS 15 Sequoia developer preview is available to download from June 10, 2024. You'll have to pay a fee to try it, or you could wait until July to try a public beta version for free.
The full version of macOS 15 Sequoia will launch during the 'Fall', according to Apple. This means we should expect to see it either in September or October 2024.
If you're particularly enthusiastic, or you're a Mac app developer, a beta version might be interesting. However, you should keep in mind that beta versions of software are generally more prone to bugs and instability, potential rollbacks of changes and features by Apple, and hardware risks. We'd recommend only installing a beta version if you're using a spare Mac device or are comfortable troubleshooting your device.
For everyone else, we'd recommend you wait for the stable public release. Also, be sure to check back here as we'll update you the moment we know more about macOS 15's release date.
macOS 15 name
Apple also revealed macOS 15's name at WWDC 2024: Sequoia. As with previous recent macOS releases, Sequoia is the name of a Californian landmark - this time, the Sequoia National Park in Sierra Nevada.
Interestingly, Sequoia was already trademarked by Apple, so some people were expecting a version of macOS to be named that. Other trademarked possibilities were: Redwood, Grizzly, Mammoth, Pacific, Rincon, Farallon, Miramar, Condor, Diablo, and Shasta - any of these could end up being the name of macOS 16 or later.
macOS 15 availability
Apple wasn't clear on what Macs can run macOS 15 Sequoia, and there are rumors that you'll need an M1 chip or later in your Mac to use it.
However, it might be possible that some older Macs will be able to run macOS 15, probably without the AI features, and we expect Apple to clarify this point soon. For reference, the Mac models capable of running what's currently the latest version of macOS, Sonoma, are:
2019 or later iMac
2017 iMac Pro
2019 or later Mac Pro
2022 or later Mac Studio
2018 or later MacBook Air
2018 or later Mac mini
2018 or later MacBook Pro
macOS 15 features
Apple hasn't always been the "first" to introduce a product or feature, but it's known for methodically working on products while competitors rush to be first across the line. Then, when Apple does finally release its version, it often achieves mainstream success.
Here are some of the features Apple announced at WWDC 2024:
Your iPhone screen can now be mirrored in macOS 15
iPhone notifications are coming to Macs
Improved windows layouts - drag a window to a side of your screen and macOS 15 will give you options for arranging windows
You can replace backgrounds when using FaceTime
Password app replaces Keychain, making it easier to arrange and sync your passwords - and this is also coming to iPhone, Vision Pro, iPads and even Windows PCs!
Safari improvements
New 'Reader' mode for Safari which removes distractions
'Viewer' detects a video on a website and makes it front and center
Possibly the most exciting feature for Apple users is iPhone mirroring, which allows users to see what's on their iPhone and control their phone from their Mac device screen. You'll be able to use your trackpad to swipe through the home screen, open apps, and have full iOS app functionality right from your laptop or PC.
This feature pairs perfectly with the newly added iPhone notifications to Mac, which will let you interact with the pop-ups without picking your phone up! In the demo, we see a Duolingo mobile notification pop up and when clicked, have the iPhone screen pop up on the screen with the Duolingo app already open and ready to be used. This is a great feature for intense multitaskers like students and professionals that don't want a break from their productive flow to answer a message or address an important notification.
The macOS layout is also getting a bit of a facelift with macOS Sequoia, with automatic tile positioning finally making an appearance in the operating system. You'll also be able to use Presenter preview, which will show you a preview of your desktop before you share your screen in meetings, and replace your backgrounds with preset images or your own images from your Photos gallery.
Apple Passwords app will also be replacing Keychains, which keep all your passwords in a single organized place, across your Apple devices. Safari will also be getting more of a boost, with better battery-saving capability, more private browsing, and the inclusion of machine learning to help highlight important info on the webpage.
Safari will also introduce Reader, which will summarize webpages and offer a table of contents so you can get right to the meat of articles without getting bogged down.
