macOS 15 Sequoia: Options, beta, newest model, what’s in macOS 15.5

macOS 15, greatest often called macOS Sequoia, is called after the California Nationwide Park and, extra particularly, the world’s largest bushes. Among the many new options that arrived on Macs with Sequoia in September 2024 have been iPhone mirroring, which places your iPhone display screen in your Mac’s show and allows you to work together with it by way of your mouse and keyboard, a brand new Video conferencing presenter preview, and a brand new Password app to handle passwords. Subsequent updates have introduced Apple Intelligence, which is Apple’s identify for its AI options.

macOS Sequoia has been out there for suitable Macs since September 2024, however additional updates to Sequoia have arrived virtually month-to-month since. The newest main replace is macOS 15.5, which arrived on Monday, Might 12. A beta for macOS Sequoia 15.6 was launched on June 16.

On this article, we focus on all the things it’s essential learn about macOS 15 Sequoia, together with the best way to obtain it. We additionally hyperlink to numerous tutorials about the best way to use the brand new options. Some options will solely work on Macs with an M-series chip, together with a number of Apple Intelligence options that may supply assist with writing, creating photos, modifying pictures, and extra.

If you wish to know what the brand new options are, whether or not it is possible for you to to take pleasure in all of them, and in case your Mac is even suitable with Sequoia, learn on. We’re additionally monitoring any issues, the most recent updates, and what’s coming within the subsequent replace.

You can even discover data under about Apple’s beta testing program. On this article, we additionally focus on what’s new within the developer and public beta as Apple continues work on the event of the Sequoia working system, though quickly Apple’s beta testers will start work on the following model of macOS, we’ve particulars of the upcoming macOS 26 in a separate article.

Replace July 21: macOS Sequoia 15.6 launch candidate is now out there.

macOS Sequoia: Newest model

On Might 12, Apple launched macOS Sequoia 15.5. It consists of an replace to Display Time, the place a notification seems when a passcode is used on a toddler’s gadget. The replace additionally embody bug fixes and safety patches.

On April 16, Apple launched macOS Sequoia 15.4.1. This replace contained safety patches.

Apple launched macOS 15.4 on March 31, 2025. The brand new options embody Mail sorting options, Proximity Pairing, help for brand new languages with Apple Intelligence, and extra.

On March 11 Apple issued an replace to Sequoia. macOS 15.3.2 introduced bug fixes and one main safety patch for a 2023 flaw that impacts iOS 17.2.

Apple launched the macOS 15.3.1 replace on February 10. The replace doesn’t embody any detailed launch notes and the Apple safety launch webpage states that “this replace has no revealed CVE entries,” which signifies that it doesn’t tackle any safety points filed with the Widespread Vulnerabilities and Exposures database. Nonetheless, the replace’s description states that it “offers essential safety fixes and is really useful for all customers.” iOS 18.3.1 was issued on the identical day and addressed an “extraordinarily subtle” safety flaw referring to “A bodily assault [that] could disable USB Restricted Mode on a locked gadget”, in line with Apple. Apple revealed that this assault could have been used in opposition to focused people.

On January 27, Apple launched macOS 15.3. It presents Gemoji help, updates to the Calculator and Picture Playground apps, and tweaks to the Notification summaries. It additionally consists of bus fixes and safety patches. This replace additionally allows Apple Intelligence by default.

Apple launched macOS 15.2 on December 11. It has a slew of Apple Intelligence updates together with Genmoji, Picture Playground, ChatGPT integration, superior Writing Instruments, and extra. Moreover, there are a couple of tweaks and bug fixes, and varied efficiency enhancements and safety updates. Model 15.2 additionally introduced Apple Intelligence options to the U.Ok. and another places, though these options nonetheless aren’t out there within the E.U. The replace additionally included a repair for a System Integrity Safety vulnerability.

macOS 15.1.1 arrived in early December as an ’emergency replace’ essential to patch flaws in JavaScript and WebKit that Apple says “could have been actively exploited on Intel-based Mac methods.” There is no such thing as a launch for Macs working macOS Sonoma 14.7.1 or Ventura 13.7.1, but, however that replace is more likely to come quickly.

macOS 15.1 arrived on October 28. This main replace brings the primary raft of Apple Intelligence options to Macs with the M-series chip. Initially Apple Intelligence options have been solely out there within the U.S. however they arrived in another places with macOS 15.2.

macOS 15.0.1 was launched on October 3, 2024. It didn’t comprise new options, but it surely did embody two essential bug fixes. One bug repair corrected the error that led Messages to give up when replying to a message that shared an Apple Watch face. The opposite repair was for compatibility with third-party safety software program.

When was macOS Sequoia launched?

• Monday, September 16, 2024

Apple launched macOS Sequoia to the general public sooner than standard, alongside iOS 18 on Monday, September 16. iOS 18, watchOS and iPadOS 18 have been launched on the similar time.

For details about what’s coming within the subsequent model, have a look at the newest model of the Sequoia beta part under.

When will the following macOS Sequoia replace be launched?

Apple launched the macOS Sequoia 15.6 beta on June 16, 2025; beta 2 was launched on June 30. The discharge candidate was posted on July 21. From right here on out, the updates could solely embody bug fixes and safety patches as a result of Apple previewed macOS 26 at WWDC in June, with its official launch later this 12 months.

What was new in macOS Sequoia 15.5?

• Launch date: Might 12, 2025

Sequoia 15.5 was a minor replace with some bug fixes however few important updates, maybe an indication that Apple is slowing growth of Sequoia now it’s transferring on to a brand new model of macOS.

• Some adjustments to the Mail app (help for contact pictures).
• A historical past characteristic for System Settings.
• An replace to Display Time, the place a notification seems when a passcode is used on a toddler’s gadget.
• The replace additionally embody bug fixes and safety patches.

What was new in macOS Sequoia 15.4?

• Launch date: March 31, 2025

Apple launched macOS 15.4 on March 31, 2025. It consists of the next:

• Mail sorting options: These have been launched in iOS 18.2 and at the moment are coming to the Mac. Your Mail Inbox will characteristic 4 icons: Major, Transactions, Updates, and Promotions (swipe from the fitting finish of the icons to the left to activate an possibility for All Mail to be listed). When you’ve got Apple Intelligence enabled, you’ll additionally see a brand new Precedence Notifications part on the prime of your Inbox to show essential messages you could have missed.
• Proximity Pairing: So long as your iPhone is working iOS 18.4, if you arrange a brand new Mac you’ll have the ability to pair it with an iPhone to switch over Apple Account information.
• New Apple Intelligence languages: Anticipate Simplified Chinese language, German, French, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Brazilian Portuguese, and Spanish—in addition to localized English for Singapore and India.

What was new in macOS Sequoia 15.3?

• Launch date: January 27, 2025

On January 27, Apple launched macOS 15.3. It presents Gemoji help, updates to the Calculator and Picture Playground apps, and tweaks to the Notification summaries. It additionally consists of bus fixes and safety patches.

• Apple Intelligence – Apple’s Apple Intelligence options, which till now have required the person to show them on in System Settings, will likely be on by default in iOS 18.3.
• Gemoji – Means to create Gemoji utilizing Apple Intelligence.
• Calculator app – The return of “repeat operation” functionality if you maintain urgent the equals (=) key (a characteristic that was misplaced within the iOS 18 replace).
• Notification summaries – Allow or disable summaries for an app, notification summaries get italicized textual content. Notification summaries disabled for Information & Leisure apps for now.
• Bug fixes and safety updates.
• Extra Apple Intelligence areas: Customers within the EU will achieve entry to Apple Intelligence options for the primary time.
• Mail classes: The Mail app will get the classes together with Major, Transactions, Updates and Promotions.

What’s new in macOS Sequoia 15.2

• Launch date: December 11, 2024

On December 11, 2024 Apple launched macOS Sequoia 15.2. This replace introduced the second spherical of Apple Intelligence options together with enhancements to Writing Instruments, generative AI Picture Playground, ChatGPT integration for Siri and Writing Instruments, together with:

• Writing Instruments updates – extra choices.
• Genmojji – new emoji you’ll be able to create.
• Picture Playground – capacity to generate photos based mostly on textual content prompts.
• Picture Wand – makes use of Apple’s picture technology instruments to create a picture and add as context to a observe.
• ChatGPT integration – use ChatGPT with Siri.
• Mail – AI-powered auto-categories to assist handle your Inbox.

macOS Sequoia 15.2 introduced Apple Intelligence options to the U.Ok., Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa. Apple Intelligence nonetheless isn’t out there within the E.U. as a result of regulatory issues.

What was new in macOS Sequoia 15.1

macOS Sequoia 15.1 consists of quite a lot of new AI options that work on M-series Macs, though solely to these in U.S., or with their system set to U.S.

Outdoors the U.S. it was mandatory to attend for Sequoia 15.2 for Apple Intelligence options to reach (and even then solely in sure places).

• Writing Instruments – providing spelling and grammar help and serving to you edit or summarize textual content. These options can be utilized across the working system.
• Siri – new design and Sort To Siri. (Sort to Siri isn’t a brand new characteristic, however Apple’s making it extra apparent for these of us who hate speaking to Siri). Siri will likely be higher at sustaining context whilst you ask associated questions.
• Cut back Interruptions – a brand new AI Focus Mode that may filter out unimportant notifications.
• Good Reply – you’ll have the ability to use these in Messages and Mail.
• Images – Reminiscence Film will create slideshows based mostly on a textual content description. You can even use a Clear Up device to take away undesirable components of a photograph. Enhancements to photograph search.
• Summaries – Safari will have the ability to summarize articles.
• iPhone Mirroring – Drag information from iPhone to Mac and again.
• Audio transcriptions – You will get audio transcriptions of your audio recordings in Notes.

macOS Sequoia: Issues & bugs

A number of third-party safety instruments have reported points with the brand new model of the Mac working system. Learn extra right here: Maintain off on updating to macOS Sequoia if you happen to’re utilizing cybersecurity instruments.

• CrowdStrike referenced “adjustments within the community stack” in an alert despatched to its clients and has held off on help for the brand new OS.
• ESET indicated that there’s a drawback is with ESET Cyber Safety model 6, an older model that “will likely be Finish of Life quickly.”
• Firefox apparently had firewall-related points with Sequoia.
• Messages might give up if a message together with an Apple Watch face was replied to (mounted in macOS 15.0.1)
• Compatibility with third-party safety software program was addressed in macOS 15.0.
• Resizing home windows is a brand new characteristic in macOS Sequoia however it could actually get somewhat annoying. Learn: Tips on how to cease macOS Sequoia from resizing home windows to fill your display screen.

Having issues with Sequoia? Learn: Tips on how to downgrade macOS Sequoia to Sonoma

macOS Sequoia Beta: Newest developer and public betas

Apple’s beta testing program for builders and public testers has been working since June/July 2024 and can proceed into 2025 as Apple provides extra new options to macOS Sequoia.

If you wish to set up the beta in your Mac, take a look at our information to the best way to set up the Mac beta.

Foundry

If you wish to run the developer beta, it’s essential be a registered Apple software program developer, which has each free and paid ($99/£79) variations. Since June 2023 Apple has opened the beta to all registered builders–so now everybody can get the earliest potential entry to the macOS beta with out paying a penny. Anybody can join the Public Beta, which ought to be extra steady than the developer beta, however it might nonetheless be unstable. By nature, beta software program isn’t as steady as the ultimate model–options could also be carried out after which withdrawn, or they could not work correctly, UI can change, and third-party app compatibility isn’t assured.

As soon as registered, if you go to System Settings > Basic > Software program Replace in your Mac, you’ll see a brand new tab for Beta Updates, which can checklist the model of the beta you’re working. For instance, if you wish to set up the developer beta choose macOS 15 Public Beta, alternatively, if it’s the general public beta you need, choose macOS 15 Public Beta.

We clarify Tips on how to be a part of Apple’s beta program individually, together with particulars of the best way to get a free developer account. If you wish to set up the beta, comply with our macOS beta set up information. In the event you then wish to uninstall it, we’ve a information for that: Tips on how to take away macOS beta.

The beta testing will proceed even after Apple releases macOS Sequoia to most people as Apple develops new options unavailable at launch.

Learn Tips on how to be a part of Apple’s beta program for extra recommendation.

macOS Sequoia compatibility: Which Macs can run macOS 15?

Foundry

The next Macs get help for macOS 15.

• iMac from 2019 and later
• Mac Professional from 2019 and later
• iMac Professional from 2017
• Mac Studio from 2022 and later
• MacBook Air from 2020 and later
• Mac mini from 2018 and later
• MacBook Professional from 2018 and later

There are two 13-inch MacBook Air fashions from 2018 and 2019 working Sonoma that gained’t have the ability to set up Sequoia. So in case your MacBook Air was bought earlier than 2020 you’re out of luck.

The compatibility checklist is changing into a urgent concern for customers of Intel Macs. After Apple launched its M-series Macs, the corporate mentioned it might proceed to help Intel Macs for a number of years, but it surely didn’t supply specifics. The clock is ticking on Intel Macs, however the final technology of Intel Macs stays on the macOS 15 compatibility checklist with a couple of Intel Macs that may run macOS Sequoia.

Nonetheless, solely Macs with an M1, M2, or M3-series chip will help the brand new AI options known as “Apple Intelligence.” That features the next:

• iMac from 2021 and later
• Mac Professional from 2023
• Mac Studio from 2022 and later
• MacBook Air from late 2020 and later
• Mac mini from late 2020 and later
• MacBook Professional from late 2020 and later

In case your Mac can’t be up to date to Sequoia that doesn’t imply you’re utterly deserted by Apple. Apple will present safety updates for some Macs that don’t run macOS 15. Typically, Apple offers software program updates for the previous two variations of macOS. See: How lengthy does Apple help Macs? On common, Macs get 6.6 years of macOS updates.

To seek out out which model of macOS and older Mac can run check out our macOS compatibility checklist.

macOS Sequoia: Ought to I set up Sequoia?

So long as your Mac can run it, we suggest updating to Sequoia. The brand new options–all of which we focus on under–look attractive sufficient. We tackle how macOS Sequoia compares to Sonoma? in a separate article. We additionally run by means of 6 the reason why it’s essential improve to macOS Sequoia.

Nonetheless, it’s smart to attend every week or so for the inevitable points with the early launch to be addressed: regardless of the beta program, there are sometimes points as soon as the software program replace will get out into the broad Mac world. It’s additionally smart to attend as a result of the obtain will possible take lots longer if you happen to strive quickly after it turns into out there.

Check with the issues and bugs part above to see if any of the recognized points may have an effect on you.

macOS Sequoia: Tips on how to set up

Putting in macOS Sequoia is a breeze. Open System Settings and go to Basic > Software program Replace; macOS will verify for any out there updates and information you thru the method of putting in them. You merely must comply with the directions, which we clarify in our macOS updating information. And it’s simpler nonetheless if you happen to’ve turned on Automated Updates, which you are able to do from the identical display screen.

Nonetheless, if you happen to do encounter issues the next could also be helpful:

macOS Sequoia: All of the options in macOS Sequoia

Many new options arrived in macOS 14 Sonoma in 2023 together with adjustments to Widgets, a brand new Recreation Mode, the power to simply flip internet pages into internet apps, and enjoyable additions to video conferencing apps. Rumors advised that there wouldn’t be many new options in macOS 15, with AI-related enhancements in iOS 18 taking many of the growth focus. Nonetheless, some AI enhancements are coming alongside iPhone mirroring in your Mac show, a brand new Presenter Preview for video conferencing apps, and Recreation Porting Toolkit 2 for porting video games between Mac, iPhone, and iPad.

Apple has introduced quite a few new options for the replace which we are going to describe under. Not all the brand new options will likely be out there at launch although. Some new options will come “later this 12 months” in a subsequent software program replace.

iPhone mirroring

iPhone mirroring is a brand new growth of Continuity. Continuity is a characteristic that has existed on Macs for quite a lot of years which means you should utilize your Mac along with different units in a seamless means, making minimize and paste, display screen sharing and mouse and keyboard sharing potential throughout units.

With the brand new capacity to reflect an iPhone on a Mac’s show, it will likely be potential for a Mac to connect with an iPhone and show the iPhone display screen on the Mac’s show. This manner a person will have the ability to management their iPhone from their Mac, utilizing the keyboard and mouse to work together. Drag and drop between the Mac and iPhone will even be potential. Customers may mirror the iPhone in a window on the Mac.

It can even be potential to launch their iPhone apps by way of their Mac. Any audio from the iPhone will play by means of the Mac’s audio system.

Throughout any manipulation of the iPhone by way of the Mac, the iPhone will stay locked so no one can see what’s being carried out. It can even be potential to make use of the telephone usually whereas it’s related to the Mac.

Customers will even have the ability to obtain iPhone notifications on a Mac. They may seem alongside Mac notifications. These will be interacted with even when the iPhone isn’t close by. Click on on a notification and be taken into the app in your iPhone by way of the Mac’s show.

Learn: How iPhone Mirroring permits you to entry your iPhone in your Mac in macOS Sequoia

Apple

Window Tiling

macOS Sequoia will carry a brand new, neater, option to prepare home windows. When a person drags a window to the sting of the display screen it should present a spot on the desktop you can slot that window into. This may make it straightforward to shortly prepare tiles side-by-side in order that extra apps are in view.

There will likely be new keyboard and menu shortcuts to assist customers set up tiles even quicker.

Learn: Why you don’t wish to ditch your tiling window supervisor simply but and Tips on how to cease macOS Sequoia from resizing home windows to fill your display screen for if you get annoyed as a result of macOS retains altering the window dimension and also you don’t know why!

Apple

Video conferencing

A brand new presenter preview will present customers what they’re about to share earlier than they share it. This characteristic will work with Zoom and different apps, in addition to FaceTime.

It can even be potential to use built-in backgrounds with coloration gradients and wallpapers. Customers will even have the ability to add their pictures. These Background replacements will be utilized in varied video calling apps, even mid-call.

Apple

Safari 18

Safari 18 will embody a number of new options together with a brand new Highlights characteristic which can assist customers uncover data. The Reader characteristic can be getting a redesign to attenuate distractions when you find yourself studying an article. Becoming a member of the extra streamlined model of the article that may already be accessed, customers will see a abstract and a desk of contents for longer articles.

If there’s a video on the web page it will likely be positioned entrance and heart and the person can have entry to playback controls and picture-in-picture playback will even be potential.

Different rumored options included a “Internet Eraser,” and a brand new web page controls menu. An replace in 2025 can be mentioned to be bringing an AI enhancement to Visible Lookup not simply in Safari, however all through the OS, though we’re awaiting affirmation.

Learn: Tips on how to use Distraction Management to take away adverts and This new Safari characteristic permits you to snap away annoying adverts.

Apple

New Passwords app

Apple is bringing the iCloud Keychain into the twenty first century. Apple says the brand new Passwords app will make it even simpler to entry passwords, passkeys, Wi-Fi passwords, and different credentials multi functional place. It can seamlessly syncs between each Apple units and Home windows with the iCloud for Home windows app.

Apple

Calculator

It had been rumored that Apple is engaged on a brand new Calculator app. It might be redesigned to resemble the iOS model, with new options together with a historical past tape, revamped conversions, and a resizable window. Apple did reveal that it will likely be potential to see earlier calculations with a historical past characteristic.

Calendar and Reminders

The Calendar app will enable customers to handle Reminders. Customers will have the ability to view occasions and duties from Reminders within the Calendar. An up to date Month View will even be out there and each apps will see UI adjustments.

Different new options

Gaming enhancements

In 2023 Apple launched the Recreation Porting Toolkit to assist builders carry their video games to Apple units quicker than ever. Now Recreation Porting Toolkit 2 provides the most-requested capabilities from recreation builders.

As well as, enhancements to Recreation Mode on the Mac will unlock smoother body charges, and superior energy administration options enhance efficiency throughout the Mac lineup.

Apple proudly shared particulars of a number of gaming titles that will likely be coming to the Mac, together with:

• Murderer’s Creed Shadows
• Management Final Version
• Frostpunk 2
• Palworld
• RESIDENT EVIL 7 biohazard
• RESIDENT EVIL 2
• RoboCop: Rogue Metropolis
• Sniper Elite 4,
• Ubisoft Prince of Persia: The Misplaced Crown
• World of Warcraft: The Conflict Inside (coming later this 12 months).
• Wuthering Waves

Apple famous that they’re “leveraging highly effective software program applied sciences like MetalFX Upscaling to speed up efficiency and ship high-quality visuals throughout the Mac lineup” and that they’re “making the most of the most recent M3 household of chips to ship breathtaking visuals with ray tracing.”

Customized Spatial Audio will lead to considerably decreased audio latency with AirPods Professional (2nd technology).

Apple Intelligence options

A number of reviews over the previous few months have indicated that Apple is doing plenty of work in the direction of AI, and that generative AI (utilizing AI to create content material) can have an enormous position in macOS. These reviews weren’t flawed.

Apple’s new private intelligence system is coming to Mac, iPhone, and iPad with macOS Sequoia, iOS 18, and iPadOS 18. Apple Intelligence will solely be supported by Macs with an M-series chip although, so Intel Macs won’t supply these new options.

Learn: Apple Intelligence FAQ: What it’s, what it does, and if you’ll get it

Writing

Apple Intelligence will assist customers improve their writing and communications. Writing Instruments are in-built systemwide that may supply to rewrite, proofread, and summarize textual content in writing-focused apps corresponding to Mail, Notes, Pages, and third-party apps.

Apple

Photos

New picture capabilities will even come to M-series Macs. In Picture Playground, customers will have the ability to create photos in three kinds: Animation, Illustration, or Sketch.

Images

A brand new Recollections in Images characteristic will create a video from pictures and movies based mostly on an outline supplied by the person. Apple Intelligence will pick the pictures and movies, develop a storyline based mostly on the pictures, and prepare them right into a film.

As well as, a brand new Clear Up device will determine and take away undesirable objects from the background of a photograph.

Siri

Siri can be getting some AI updates and ChatGPT is built-in into Siri. As a result of some queries will likely be dealt with off-device Apple is introducing Non-public Cloud Compute in order that when information is distributed to server-based fashions for processing it isn’t saved or made accessible to Apple

One of many easiest adjustments to Siri is that it will likely be simpler to kind to Siri quite than having to talk to the on-device assistant. Apple could have lastly twigged that folks don’t all the time wish to discuss to their telephones.

Subsequent model of macOS

Since Apple stopped utilizing the names of jungle cats with macOS 10.9 Mavericks, it’s used California locations to determine its annual OS updates. The final a number of years have been Sonoma, Ventura, Monterey, Massive Sur, and Catalina. Apple has trademarked a number of different place names, together with Condor, Mammoth, Redwood, and Sequoia. However it’s anybody guess which Californian location macOS 16 will likely be named after.

However what subsequent when it comes to software program? Anticipate much more Apple Intelligence options to return within the late 2025 replace to macOS and anticipate that iOS, iPadOS and macOS will likely be nearer than ever.

Within the current previous, the discharge has come a number of weeks after the new model of iOS ships. Listed here are the discharge dates for the earlier 5 variations of macOS:

• macOS 15 Sequoia: September 16, 2024
• macOS 14 Sonoma: September 26, 2023
• macOS 13 Ventura: October 24, 2022
• macOS 12 Monterey: October 25, 2021
• macOS 11 Massive Sur: November 12, 2020
• macOS 10.15 Catalina: October 7, 2019
• macOS 10.14 Mojave: September 24, 2018