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Kirk McElhearn
macOS Sequoia, a stable replace with loads of new options that enhance productiveness and improve privateness, is offered on September 16. Not everybody will wish to improve their Macs to the brand new working system, however if you happen to plan to take action, then it is best to put together your Mac.
Do you have to improve your Mac to Sequoia? Is your Mac suitable with the brand new working system? And the way do you have to put together for this large change? On this article, I’ll reply all these questions, so that you could be able to improve your Mac to macOS Sequoia.
Improve now, or improve later?
In the event you’re studying this shortly after macOS Sequoia’s preliminary public launch, you have to be conscious that it’s probably that a couple of bugs and compatibility points shall be found and stuck quickly, though these bugs might not essentially have an effect on you. Some Mac customers favor to attend a couple of weeks for the preliminary bugs to be labored out and patched, and for extra data to change into obtainable about compatibility with third-party apps and {hardware}, earlier than upgrading to the most recent macOS.
It’s additionally price noting that the majority of the brand new options in macOS Sequoia, known as Apple Intelligence, gained’t be obtainable instantly. They begin rolling out with macOS Sequoia 15.1, in all probability in October, and extra options shall be added all through the approaching months. So if you wish to use these new options, however don’t care about any of the opposite adjustments in macOS Sequoia, you may wish to wait till the following launch comes out.
Since 2023, Apple has made beta variations of its working techniques obtainable to anybody, no matter whether or not they have an Apple Developer account. So even earlier than the discharge of a brand new working system, you possibly can select to put in beta variations. Most individuals in all probability mustn’t do that, however if you happen to do need the most recent working system earlier than it’s launched, you are able to do so. See our article Tips on how to Set up Apple Beta Software program for macOS Sequoia, iOS 18, iPadOS 18, watchOS 11, and tvOS 11 for extra on utilizing beta software program. This yr, you even have the choice to put in both the 15.0 or 15.1 variations of macOS Sequoia, so you can begin making an attempt out the primary Apple Intelligence options now.
You must also contemplate that the most recent macOS model is mostly the most secure to make use of on-line. Main new macOS variations usually comprise safety enhancements and patch vulnerabilities that by no means get mounted for the earlier macOS variations.
No matter whether or not you favor to improve instantly or wait a couple of weeks – or if you happen to haven’t but determined which class you fall into – learn this information totally to make sure that you’ve made all of the essential concerns earlier than taking the leap into the next-generation Mac working system.
Mac Mannequin Compatibility
The very first thing to test is whether or not your Mac is suitable with Sequoia. The next Macs can run macOS Sequoia:
- iMac (2019 and later)
- iMac Professional (2017 and later)
- Mac Mini (2018 and later)
- Mac Professional (2019 and later)
- MacBook Air (2020 and later)
- MacBook Professional (2018 and later)
- Mac Studio (2022 and later)
This isn’t an enormous change from the units suitable with macOS Sonoma. In the event you’re unsure of the classic of your Mac, go to the Apple menu, and select About This Mac. You’ll see its mannequin and yr.
Compatibility of safety software program and {hardware} drivers
In the event you care about your safety and privateness, you in all probability use software program equivalent to an antivirus or firewall (together with Intego software program), or VPN software program. It’s at all times essential to improve these to the most recent variations earlier than you improve to a serious new macOS launch. Intego’s apps are already absolutely suitable with macOS Sequoia. Make sure to run NetUpdate to confirm that you’ve the most recent variations.
It’s additionally crucial to test that any {hardware} drivers you depend on are suitable. For instance, if you happen to use a RAID storage system, and its driver isn’t up to date, you gained’t have the ability to entry your recordsdata on that system; and if in case you have a graphics card in a Mac Professional whose drivers usually are not a part of macOS, you’ll want to verify they’ve been up to date to make use of your Mac accurately.
You might also wish to confirm that there are Sequoia-compatible drivers in your printer, mouse, keyboard, or some other {hardware} that will depend on customized software program for particular options. Whereas some printers, scanners, and different frequent {hardware} may go nice with none customized software program, you could not know for positive about your individual peripherals till you strive them with Sequoia.
Compatibility of Apple and third-party software program
Any software program that’s actively developed by Apple needs to be absolutely suitable with macOS Sequoia by the point of its launch. Many main third-party apps will work as effectively, however there’s a chance that a number of apps that you simply depend upon gained’t be, and a few older apps might now not be up to date.
In some instances, third-party app builders won’t but have completed growing a Sequoia-compatible model, and in uncommon instances, it is probably not doable to make their apps suitable. If there are any apps you possibly can’t reside with out, it’s important that you simply test to ensure that your apps are suitable. Think about if you happen to don’t, and you discover that one app you utilize to carry out an essential process in your purchasers doesn’t work! You may be pressured to depend on your system backup (extra on that beneath) and attempt to revert again to Sonoma.
Apple doesn’t keep an inventory of suitable third-party apps. Every app developer ought to say on their web site, or in Mac App Retailer data, whether or not they’re suitable. However in some instances, particularly for older or occasionally up to date apps, you could not know until you contact the developer.
Clear your Mac
The macOS Sequoia installer is about 14.5 GB. It’s secure to imagine that you simply want about twice that measurement to carry out the improve, so I’d say that it is best to have a minimum of 30 GB free in your Mac. You might want to dump some recordsdata to an exterior drive in an effort to have sufficient house. The best candidates for this are movies and digital machines (if you happen to use software program like Parallels Desktop or VMware Fusion to run different working techniques in your Mac).
In the event you again up your Mac to an exterior drive – which is one thing it is best to do frequently – it is best to nonetheless copy any recordsdata you quickly take away out of your Mac to a different drive, simply in case there’s a downside together with your backup.
There may be plenty of gunk in your Mac that you simply don’t want. You may test this by selecting the Apple menu > About this Mac, then clicking on Storage, then clicking Extra Information, then scrolling down and clicking Storage Settings. You’ll see how a lot house every kind of file takes up, and see some choices to take away recordsdata.
In the event you check out plenty of software program, you may wish to take a look at your Purposes folder; you could discover a lot of apps you possibly can delete, that may unencumber a number of gigabytes of knowledge. For instance, you’ll have put in Apple apps equivalent to GarageBand, iMovie, or the iWork productiveness apps, Pages, Numbers, and Keynote. In the event you don’t use these, you possibly can delete them and save a number of house.
For every of the classes within the storage checklist, click on the ⓘ (circled letter “i”) icon to see which recordsdata take up probably the most house. Be sure that, if you happen to do delete recordsdata, you empty the Trash.
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Tips on how to clear out disk house in your Mac in macOS Sonoma
You may as well use Intego Washing Machine (obtainable as a part of Mac Premium Bundle X9, Mac Washing Machine Safe X9, or standalone) to wash up and delete recordsdata you now not want, equivalent to cache recordsdata, downloads, duplicates, and extra.
Replace different software program
It’s a good suggestion to replace as a lot of your software program as doable earlier than upgrading to a brand new Mac working system, as a result of in lots of instances updates shall be obtainable which can be suitable with the brand new working system earlier than its launch.
Most apps nowadays supply computerized replace options, or, if you happen to’ve bought them from the Mac App Retailer, you may get updates by way of the App Retailer app. Updating is very essential for software program just like the Microsoft Workplace suite, the Adobe Inventive Cloud apps, or different apps you could depend upon in your work.
Examine your drive
Apple’s Disk Utility (situated in /Purposes/Utilities) is a software designed to handle disks, but additionally to test them for errors. Earlier than upgrading, it’s a good suggestion to run Disk Utility’s First Help software in your startup quantity, in addition to on the disk(s) you’ll use to again up your Mac (see beneath).
Launch Disk Utility, choose your startup quantity after which click on First Help within the toolbar. That is usually fast (although in case your Mac has a spinning disk, it might probably take a couple of minutes); through the course of, your disk shall be locked so Disk Utility could make repairs, if mandatory. When that is accomplished, it can inform you if all is effectively, and if it has made repairs.
Again up your Mac
In case your Mac is suitable and also you’re able to improve, the following factor it is best to do is again up your Mac. You should utilize Time Machine if in case you have an exterior exhausting drive, however the most secure approach to do that is to clone your drive. A clone, or bootable backup, is a precise copy of every part in your Mac’s drive: system recordsdata and private information. You are able to do this with Intego Private Backup.
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If something goes flawed through the improve course of, you possibly can boot from the exterior drive, and, if mandatory, recopy all its recordsdata to your Mac.
And, after all, you possibly can at all times take a belt-and-suspenders method and do each. That approach if one thing goes flawed with restoring a backup, you possibly can really feel safe understanding that you’ve an alternate possibility.
Yet another factor: It’s a good suggestion to truly take a look at your backups to make sure that they’re working accurately. A backup isn’t very helpful until you possibly can truly restore from it.
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Select an improve methodology: Migration or Clear Set up
There are two methods to improve a Mac. The best is to run the macOS Sequoia installer or set up the replace from the Software program Replace pane of System Settings. Each of those strategies set up the brand new recordsdata over your current working system. They don’t alter your private information, however solely these recordsdata which can be a part of the system, in addition to bundled Apple apps.
The opposite is to carry out a clear set up, establishing your Mac with the brand new working system, then copying recordsdata from the earlier working system. To do that, it is best to clone your Mac, on a minimum of two drives (one to make use of for the improve, and one other as a backup). Begin up your Mac, then, if in case you have an Intel processor in your Mac, press the Choice key instantly so you possibly can choose a cloned drive because the startup drive. For M-Collection Macs, press and maintain the facility button till you see Loading Startup Choices, then select the exterior drive. Launch Disk Utility (in /Purposes/Utilities) and erase the drive in your Mac. (You probably did make two backups, proper?)
Obtain the macOS Sequoia installer and launch it. It is going to ask which drive you wish to set up the software program on; choose the now erased drive in your Mac. Comply with the directions to finish the set up.
While you’ve completed, you’ll have a virgin working system in your Mac, and also you’ll nonetheless be working out of your exterior drive. Now you can copy all of the recordsdata in your house folder, in addition to private apps.
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Tips on how to Set Up a New Mac: Ought to You Migrate or Do a Clear Set up?
A clear set up is time-consuming, however it might probably weed out outdated recordsdata from apps you now not use, and it’s a great way to start out with a clear slate. Some individuals do that for each main working system improve; I solely do it each few years, as a result of it does take a very long time. In the event you do a clear set up, be certain that to maintain each of your clones for a while, simply in case there’s one thing you forgot to repeat over.
Tips on how to set up macOS Sequoia
Okay, it’s taken some time, however now you’re prepared. In the event you’re putting in macOS Sequoia on a laptop computer, be certain that it’s charged, or join it to an influence provide; you don’t need it operating out of battery through the set up course of.
There are two methods to put in macOS. The primary is to go to the Mac App Retailer and obtain the macOS Sequoia installer. This installer is round 14.5 GB in measurement, so it could take some time to obtain, relying in your bandwidth. When the obtain is full, the installer will launch; comply with its directions. The improve course of can take some time – anticipate it to take a half-hour or extra – and it is a good time to get a cup of tea or espresso, stroll the canine, or do one thing else as an alternative of sitting in entrance of your Mac watching its progress bar.
The second, and simpler methodology, is to go to System Settings > Basic > Software program Replace. You’ll see the choice to put in macOS Sequoia right here. As talked about above, you’ll additionally see an possibility to put in beta software program, however think twice earlier than you do that, as a result of beta software program could be unstable.
Earlier than you begin the improve, you have to be conscious that after macOS is put in, if you happen to downloaded it from the Mac App Retailer, the installer is normally deleted routinely. In the event you look in your Purposes folder earlier than beginning the improve, you’ll see the installer app, known as Set up macOS Sequoia. It’s a good suggestion to make a backup copy of this app in one other location: an exterior drive, or maybe your Downloads folder. This may be useful in case one thing goes flawed and that you must run it once more. That is additionally helpful if in case you have multiple Mac and wish to keep away from having to attend to obtain the Sequoia installer once more; you possibly can simply copy the installer app to a different Mac and run it.
As soon as the set up is full, that you must undergo a couple of screens, equivalent to one to signal into your iCloud account. At this level, you might even see an Incompatible Software program display screen telling you of apps which have been moved as a result of they’re identified to be incompatible. You’ll discover them in an Incompatible Software program folder on the high stage of your drive.
What to do if one thing goes flawed
Typically, issues go flawed with an working system improve. In case you have an issue, you possibly can boot your Mac from the clone you made earlier, then run the installer once more. In a worst-case state of affairs, you could must wipe your Mac’s startup drive, then comply with the clear set up methodology I mentioned above.
Even when all appears effectively, maintain your clone or backup for some time, simply in case one thing goes flawed inside the first few days or so. You can begin trying out a few of the new options in macOS Sequoia.
How can I be taught extra?
Every week on the Intego Mac Podcast, Intego’s Mac safety specialists focus on the most recent Apple information, safety and privateness tales, and supply sensible recommendation on getting probably the most out of your Apple units. Make sure to comply with the podcast to ensure you don’t miss any episodes.
You may as well subscribe to our e-mail e-newsletter and maintain a watch right here on The Mac Safety Weblog for the most recent Apple safety and privateness information. And don’t overlook to comply with Intego in your favourite social media channels: 
About Kirk McElhearn
Kirk McElhearn writes about Apple merchandise and extra on his weblog Kirkville.
He’s co-host of the Intego Mac Podcast, in addition to a number of different podcasts, and is an everyday contributor to The Mac Safety Weblog, TidBITS, and several other different web sites and publications.
Kirk has written greater than two dozen books, together with Take Management books about Apple’s media apps, Scrivener, and LaunchBar.
Comply with him on Twitter at @mcelhearn.
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