View source for MacOS

{{Short description|Operating system for Apple computers}}
{{Lowercase title}}
{{Redirect2|OSX|OS X}}
{{About|macOS version 10.0 and later|Mac OS 9 and earlier|Classic Mac OS|the family of Mac operating systems|Mac operating systems|the Ugandan school nicknamed "Macos"|Makerere College School}}
{{pp-semi-indef}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox OS
| name = macOS
| logo = [[File:MacOS wordmark (2017).svg|frameless|upright=0.8|class=skin-invert]]
| screenshot = 
| screenshot_size = 260px
| caption = [[macOS Tahoe]], the latest release of macOS
| developer = [[Apple Inc.]]
| family = {{hlist|[[Mac operating systems|Mac]]|[[Berkeley Software Distribution|BSD]]|[[Unix-like]]|[[Unix]]<ref name="unixCertification">{{cite web|title=The Register of UNIX&copy; Certified Products|url=https://www.opengroup.org/openbrand/register/|publisher=The Open Group|access-date=August 7, 2025|archive-date=August 7, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250807161231/https://www.opengroup.org/openbrand/register/|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
<!-- OS X/macOS 10.8 thru 15 (current) are formally registered as compliant with the UNIX 03 standard, and Unix-like is an accurate categorization of previous versions, so both tags make sense. -->| released = {{Start date and age|2001|03|24}}
| ui = [[Aqua (user interface)|Aqua]] ([[Graphical user interface|graphical]])
| license = [[Proprietary software|Proprietary]]
| website = {{Official URL}}
| latest release version = {{Latest stable software release/macOS Tahoe}}
| latest preview version = {{Latest preview software release/macOS Tahoe}}
| language count = 47
| language footnote = <ref>{{Cite web
|title=macOS Feature Availability
|url=https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/DeviceDrivers/Conceptual/IOKitFundamentals/Features/Features.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP0000012-TPXREF101
|website=System Language
|access-date=March 25, 2024
|archive-date=January 22, 2021
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122035953/https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/DeviceDrivers/Conceptual/IOKitFundamentals/Features/Features.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP0000012-TPXREF101
|url-status=live
}}</ref>
| language = {{flatlist|
* Arabic
* Catalan
* Chinese
** Simplified
** Traditional
* Croatian
* Czech
* Danish
* Dutch
* English
* Finnish
* French
* German
* Greek
* Hebrew
* Hindi
* Hungarian
* Indonesian
* Italian
* Japanese
* Korean
* Malay
* Norwegian Bokmål
* Polish
* Portuguese
* Romanian
* Russian
* Spanish
* Slovak
* Swedish
* Thai
* Turkish
* Ukrainian
* Vietnamese
}}
| supported_platforms = {{Unbulleted list
  | '''Apple silicon ([[ARM64]]):'''
  | {{in5|3}} [[ARMv9-A]] ([[macOS Sequoia|15.0]]–)
  | {{in5|3}} [[ARMv8-A]] ([[macOS Big Sur|11.0]]–)
  | '''Intel ([[x86]]):'''
  | {{in5|3}} [[x86-64]] ([[Mac OS X Tiger|10.4.7]]–[[macOS Tahoe|26.x]])
  | {{in5|3}} [[IA-32]] ([[Mac OS X Tiger|10.4.4]]–[[Mac OS X Snow Leopard|10.6.8]])
  | '''[[PowerPC]]:'''
  | {{in5|3}} [[PowerPC 970|ppc970]] ([[Mac OS X 10.4|10.4]]–[[Mac OS X Leopard|10.5.8]])
  | {{in5|3}} [[PowerPC G4|ppc7400]] ([[Mac OS X 10.0|10.0]]–[[Mac OS X Leopard|10.5.8]])
  | {{in5|3}} [[PowerPC 7xx|ppc]] ([[Mac OS X 10.0|10.0]]–[[Mac OS X Tiger|10.4.11]])
  }}
| source_model = [[Proprietary software|Proprietary]] with [[open source software|open source]] components
| working_state = 
| kernel_type = [[Hybrid kernel|Hybrid]] ([[XNU]])<!-- It already says "Unix" under "family"; the kernel code came from Mach and BSD (and Apple's own work), not "Unix", and has its own name and Wikipedia page -->
| userland = 
| programmed_in = {{Flatlist|
* [[C (programming language)|C]]
* [[C++]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=What Is the I/O Kit? |url=https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/DeviceDrivers/Conceptual/IOKitFundamentals/Features/Features.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP0000012-TPXREF101 |website=IOKit Fundamentals |quote=Apple considered several programming languages for the I/O Kit and chose a restricted subset of C++. |access-date=September 4, 2018 |archive-date=January 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122035953/https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/DeviceDrivers/Conceptual/IOKitFundamentals/Features/Features.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP0000012-TPXREF101 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* {{nowrap|[[Objective-C]]}}
* [[Swift (programming language)|Swift]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 14, 2016 |title=What's New in Swift |url=https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2016/402 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160804212016/https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2016/402 |archive-date=August 4, 2016 |access-date=June 16, 2016 |website=[[Apple Developer]] |at=At 2:40 |type=Video |df=mdy-all}}</ref>
* [[assembly language]]
}}
| preceded_by = [[Classic Mac OS]], [[NeXTSTEP]]
| support_status = Supported
}}
{{macOS sidebar}}

'''macOS''' (previously '''OS&nbsp;X''' and originally '''Mac&nbsp;OS&nbsp;X''') is a proprietary [[Unix-like]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.techopedia.com/definition/2639/macintosh-operating-system-mac-os |title=Macintosh Operating System (Mac OS) |last=Gunnell |first=Marshall |website=Technopedia |date=June 5, 2024 |access-date=January 13, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/macos |title=macOS |work=PC Magazine |access-date=January 13, 2025}}</ref> [[operating system]], derived from [[OpenStep#OPENSTEP for Mach|OPENSTEP for Mach]] and [[FreeBSD]], which has been marketed and developed by [[Apple Inc.]] since 2001. It is the current operating system for Apple's [[Mac (computer)|Mac computers]]. Within the market of [[Desktop computer|desktop]] and [[laptop]] computers, it is the [[Usage share of operating systems#Desktop and laptop computers|second most widely used desktop OS]], after [[Microsoft Windows]] and ahead of all [[Linux]] distributions, including [[ChromeOS]] and [[SteamOS]]. {{As of|2025|}}, the most recent release of macOS is [[MacOS Tahoe|macOS 26 Tahoe]], the 22nd major version of macOS.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.macrumors.com/2025/09/15/apple-releases-macos-tahoe/ |title=macOS Tahoe Now Available With Liquid Glass Design, Phone App, Spotlight Actions and More |work=[[MacRumors]] |first=Juli |last=Clover |date=September 16, 2025 |access-date=September 15, 2025}}</ref>

Mac OS X succeeded the [[classic Mac OS]], the primary [[Mac operating systems|Macintosh operating system]] from 1984 to 2001. Its underlying architecture came from [[NeXT]]'s [[NeXTSTEP]], as a result of [[NeXT#1997–2006: Acquisition by Apple|Apple's acquisition of NeXT]], which also brought [[Steve Jobs]] back to Apple. The first desktop version, [[Mac OS X 10.0]], was released on March 24, 2001. [[Mac OS X Leopard]] and all later versions of macOS,<ref>*{{cite web|title=Apple technology brief on UNIX|url=https://movies.apple.com/media/us/osx/2012/docs//OSX_for_UNIX_Users_TB_July2011.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120710081938/https://movies.apple.com/media/us/osx/2012/docs/OSX_for_UNIX_Users_TB_July2011.pdf|archive-date=July 10, 2012|access-date=November 5, 2008|publisher=[[Apple Inc.|Apple]]|df=mdy-all}}
*{{cite web|url=http://www.opengroup.org/openbrand/register/brand3555.htm|title=Mac OS X Version 10.5 on Intel-based Macintosh computers|publisher=The Open Group|date=May 18, 2007|access-date=February 21, 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511222112/http://www.opengroup.org/openbrand/register/brand3555.htm|archive-date=May 11, 2008|df=mdy-all}}
*{{Cite web |title=Mac OS X Version 10.6 on Intel-based Macintosh computers |url=https://www.opengroup.org/openbrand/register/brand3581.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141116122629/https://www.opengroup.org/openbrand/register/brand3581.htm |archive-date=November 16, 2014 |access-date=December 4, 2014 |publisher=The Open Group |df=mdy-all }}
*{{cite web|title=Mac OS X Version 10.8 on Intel-based Macintosh computers|url=https://www.opengroup.org/openbrand/register/brand3591.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141116121907/https://www.opengroup.org/openbrand/register/brand3591.htm|archive-date=November 16, 2014|access-date=December 4, 2014|publisher=The Open Group|df=mdy-all}}
*{{cite web|title=OS X Version 10.9 on Intel-based Macintosh computers|url=https://www.opengroup.org/openbrand/register/brand3602.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104072633/https://www.opengroup.org/openbrand/register/brand3602.htm|archive-date=November 4, 2013|access-date=December 4, 2014|publisher=The Open Group|df=mdy-all}}
*{{cite web|title=OS X version 10.10 Yosemite on Intel-based Mac computers|url=https://www.opengroup.org/openbrand/register/brand3607.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141110131010/https://www.opengroup.org/openbrand/register/brand3607.htm|archive-date=November 10, 2014|access-date=December 4, 2014|publisher=The Open Group|df=mdy-all}}
*{{cite web|title=OS X version 10.11 El Capitan on Intel-based Mac computers|url=https://www.opengroup.org/openbrand/register/brand3612.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015001306/https://www.opengroup.org/openbrand/register/brand3612.htm|archive-date=October 15, 2015|access-date=October 23, 2015|publisher=The Open Group|df=mdy-all}}
*{{cite web|title=macOS version 10.12 Sierra on Intel-based Mac computers|url=https://www.opengroup.org/openbrand/register/brand3627.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161002105135/https://www.opengroup.org/openbrand/register/brand3627.htm|archive-date=October 2, 2016|access-date=September 29, 2016|publisher=The Open Group|df=mdy-all}}
*{{cite web|title=macOS version 10.13 High Sierra on Intel-based Mac computers|url=https://www.opengroup.org/openbrand/register/brand3632.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170928150433/https://www.opengroup.org/openbrand/register/brand3632.htm|archive-date=September 28, 2017|access-date=November 19, 2017|publisher=The Open Group|df=mdy-all}}
*{{cite web|title=macOS version 10.14 Mojave on Intel-based Mac computers|url=https://www.opengroup.org/openbrand/register/brand3648.htm|access-date=September 24, 2018|publisher=The Open Group|archive-date=May 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507074445/https://www.opengroup.org/openbrand/register/brand3648.htm|url-status=live}}
*{{cite web|title=macOS version 10.15 Catalina on Intel-based Mac computers|url=https://www.opengroup.org/openbrand/register/brand3653.htm|access-date=November 19, 2018|publisher=The Open Group|archive-date=April 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410234632/https://www.opengroup.org/openbrand/register/brand3653.htm|url-status=live}}
*{{cite web|title=macOS version 11.0 Big Sur on Intel-based Mac computers|url=https://www.opengroup.org/openbrand/register/brand3663.htm|access-date=November 19, 2020|publisher=The Open Group|archive-date=October 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020025114/https://www.opengroup.org/openbrand/register/brand3663.htm|url-status=live}}
*{{cite web|title=macOS version 11.0 Big Sur on Apple silicon-based Mac computers|url=https://www.opengroup.org/openbrand/register/brand3668.htm|access-date=November 19, 2020|publisher=The Open Group|archive-date=April 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417121624/https://www.opengroup.org/openbrand/register/brand3668.htm|url-status=live}}
*{{cite web|title=macOS version 12.0 Monterey on Intel-based Mac computers|url=https://www.opengroup.org/openbrand/register/brand3673.htm|publisher=The Open Group|archive-date=November 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105143717/https://www.opengroup.org/openbrand/register/brand3673.htm|url-status=live}}
*{{cite web|title=macOS version 12.0 Monterey on Apple silicon-based Mac computers|url=https://www.opengroup.org/openbrand/register/brand3678.htm|publisher=The Open Group|archive-date=November 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108024814/https://www.opengroup.org/openbrand/register/brand3678.htm|url-status=live}}
*{{cite web|title=macOS version 13.0 Ventura on Apple Intel-based Mac computers|url=https://www.opengroup.org/openbrand/register/brand3688.htm|publisher=The Open Group|archive-date=December 31, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221231222726/https://www.opengroup.org/openbrand/register/brand3688.htm|url-status=live}}
*{{cite web|title=macOS version 13.0 Ventura on Apple silicon-based Mac computers|url=https://www.opengroup.org/openbrand/register/brand3683.htm|publisher=The Open Group|archive-date=December 31, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221231222655/https://www.opengroup.org/openbrand/register/brand3683.htm|url-status=live}}
*{{cite web|title=macOS version 14.0 Sonoma on Intel-based Mac computers|url=https://www.opengroup.org/openbrand/register/brand3705.htm|publisher=The Open Group|access-date=October 3, 2023|archive-date=October 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231015042122/https://www.opengroup.org/openbrand/register/brand3705.htm|url-status=live}}
*{{cite web|title=macOS version 14.0 Sonoma on Apple silicon-based Mac computers|url=https://www.opengroup.org/openbrand/register/brand3700.htm|publisher=The Open Group|access-date=October 3, 2023|archive-date=October 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231015042121/https://www.opengroup.org/openbrand/register/brand3700.htm|url-status=live}}
*{{cite web|title=macOS version 15.0 Sequoia on Intel-based Mac computers|url=https://www.opengroup.org/openbrand/register/brand3715.htm|publisher=The Open Group|access-date=September 12, 2024|archive-date=September 30, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240930165023/https://www.opengroup.org/openbrand/register/brand3715.htm|url-status=live}}
*{{cite web|title=macOS version 15.0 Sequoia on Apple silicon-based Mac computers|url=https://www.opengroup.org/openbrand/register/brand3710.htm|publisher=The Open Group|access-date=September 12, 2024|archive-date=October 1, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241001100129/https://www.opengroup.org/openbrand/register/brand3710.htm|url-status=live}}
*{{cite web|title=macOS version 26.0 Tahoe on Intel-based Mac computers|url=https://www.opengroup.org/openbrand/register/brand3720.htm|publisher=The Open Group|access-date=September 15, 2025|archive-date=September 15, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250915160809/https://www.opengroup.org/openbrand/register/brand3720.htm|url-status=live}}
*{{cite web|title=macOS version 26.0 Tahoe on Apple silicon-based Mac computers|url=https://www.opengroup.org/openbrand/register/brand3725.htm|publisher=The Open Group|access-date=September 15, 2025|archive-date=September 15, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250915160842/https://www.opengroup.org/openbrand/register/brand3725.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> other than [[OS X Lion]],<ref>{{Cite mailing list |title=Re: was OS X version 10.7 Lion UNIX 03 certified? |url=https://www.mail-archive.com/austin-group-l@opengroup.org/msg02006.html |access-date=2021-07-22 |mailing-list=austin-group-l |archive-date=April 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200429213555/https://www.mail-archive.com/austin-group-l@opengroup.org/msg02006.html |url-status=live }}</ref> are [[UNIX 03]] certified. Each of Apple's other contemporary operating systems, including [[iOS]], [[iPadOS]], [[watchOS]], [[tvOS]], [[audioOS]] and [[visionOS]], are derivatives of macOS. Throughout its history, macOS has supported three major processor [[Instruction set architecture|architectures]]: the initial version supported [[PowerPC]]-based Macs only, with support for [[Apple–Intel architecture|Intel-based Macs]] beginning with [[Mac OS X Tiger#Support for Intel processors|OS X Tiger 10.4.4]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Geller |first=Adam |date=2012-04-27 |title=Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger: Perhaps the Best Version Ever |url=https://lowendmac.com/2012/mac-os-x-10-4-tiger-perhaps-the-best-version-ever/ |access-date=2025-07-14 |website=Low End Mac |language=en-US}}</ref> and support for [[AArch64|ARM]]-based [[Mac transition to Apple silicon|Apple silicon Macs]] beginning with [[macOS Big Sur]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Evans |first=Jonny |date=June 22, 2020 |title=WWDC 2020: Yes, Apple is dumping Intel, gently |url=https://www.computerworld.com/article/3563894/wwdc-2020-yes-apple-is-dumping-intel-gently.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230925222253/https://www.computerworld.com/article/3563894/wwdc-2020-yes-apple-is-dumping-intel-gently.html |archive-date=September 25, 2023 |access-date=September 25, 2023 |website=[[Computerworld]]}}</ref> Support for PowerPC-based Macs was dropped with [[Mac OS X Snow Leopard|OS X Snow Leopard]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Geller |first=Adam |date=2012-03-14 |title=Good-bye, PowerPC |url=https://lowendmac.com/2012/good-bye-powerpc/ |access-date=2025-07-14 |website=Low End Mac |language=en-US}}</ref> and it was announced at the 2025 [[Worldwide Developers Conference]] that [[macOS Tahoe]] will be the last to support Intel-based Macs.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-10 |title=Apple Confirms End of Support for Intel Macs After macOS Tahoe |url=https://www.pcmag.com/news/apple-confirms-end-of-support-for-intel-macs-after-macos-tahoe |access-date=2025-07-14 |website=PCMAG |language=en}}</ref>

A prominent part of macOS's original [[brand identity]] was the use of the [[Roman numerals|Roman numeral]] X, pronounced "ten", as well as [[Code name|code naming]] each release after species of [[big cat]]s, and later, places within [[California]].<ref name="techMavericks">{{Cite news |last=Ha |first=Anthony |date=June 10, 2013 |title=Apple Has A New, California-Based Naming Scheme For OS X, Starting With OS X Mavericks |work=TechCrunch |url=https://techcrunch.com/2013/06/10/os-x-mavericks |url-status=live |access-date=June 10, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170709214256/https://techcrunch.com/2013/06/10/os-x-mavericks |archive-date=July 9, 2017 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Apple shortened the name to "OS X" in 2011 and then changed it to "macOS" in 2016 to align with the branding of Apple's other operating systems.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/apple-wwdc-2016-ios-10-mac-os-and-more/|title=Apple unveils iOS 10, macOS, and more at WWDC 2016|first=Brian|last=Mastroianni|date=June 13, 2016|website=[[CBS News]]|quote=Perhaps one of the announcements that stood out the most was a slight name change. The desktop operating system Mac OS X will now be called macOS to better match with the way the company's other operating systems are named.|access-date=September 25, 2023|archive-date=September 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230925210258/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/apple-wwdc-2016-ios-10-mac-os-and-more/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2020, [[macOS Big Sur]] was presented as version 11—a marked departure after 16 releases of macOS 10—but the naming convention continued to reference places within California. In 2025, Apple unified the [[software versioning|version number]] across all of its products to align with the year after their WWDC announcement, so the release announced at the 2025 WWDC, [[macOS Tahoe]], is macOS 26.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Preston |first=Dominic |date=2025-06-09 |title=Apple renames its operating systems |url=https://www.theverge.com/news/679221/apple-ios-macos-watchos-ipados-26-name |access-date=2025-06-10 |website=The Verge |language=en-US}}</ref>

== History ==
=== Development ===
{{Main|macOS version history}}
The heritage of what would become macOS originated at [[NeXT]], a company founded by [[Steve Jobs]] following his departure from Apple in 1985. There, the [[Unix-like]] [[NeXTSTEP]] operating system was developed, before being launched in 1989. The [[kernel (operating system)|kernel]] of NeXTSTEP is based upon the [[Mach (kernel)|Mach kernel]], which was originally developed at [[Carnegie Mellon University]], with additional kernel layers and low-level [[user space]] code derived from parts of [[FreeBSD]]<ref name="apple_bsd_overview">{{Cite web |year=2002 |title=Apple BSD Overview |url=https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/Darwin/Conceptual/KernelProgramming/BSD/BSD.html |access-date=January 1, 2002 |publisher=Apple |archive-date=November 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181107021823/https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/Darwin/Conceptual/KernelProgramming/BSD/BSD.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and other [[BSD]] operating systems.<ref>{{Cite book |title=NeXTstep Concepts |publisher=[[NeXT]] |chapter=1. System Overview |chapter-url=https://www.nextcomputers.org/NeXTfiles/Docs/NeXTStep/3.3/nd/Concepts/Pre3.0_Concepts/01_SysOver.htmld/index.html |access-date=March 26, 2021 |archive-date=November 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211121155935/https://www.nextcomputers.org/NeXTfiles/Docs/NeXTStep/3.3/nd/Concepts/Pre3.0_Concepts/01_SysOver.htmld/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Its [[graphical user interface]] was built on top of an [[Object-oriented programming|object-oriented]] [[GUI toolkit]] using the {{nowrap|[[Objective-C]]}} programming language.

Throughout the 1990s, Apple had tried to create a "next-generation" OS to succeed its [[classic Mac OS]] through the [[Taligent]], [[Copland (operating system)|Copland]] and [[Gershwin operating system|Gershwin]] projects; however, all were eventually abandoned.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Apple Facts |url=https://www.theapplemuseum.com/index.php?id=44 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081221134115/https://www.theapplemuseum.com/index.php?id=44 |archive-date=December 21, 2008 |access-date=December 15, 2008 |publisher=The Apple Museum |quote=a joint venture with IBM, called Taligent, but was discontinued soon thereafter |df=mdy-all}}</ref> This led Apple to acquire [[NeXT]] in 1997, allowing NeXTSTEP, later called [[OpenStep|OPENSTEP]], to serve as the basis for Apple's next-generation operating system.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Markoff |first=John |date=December 23, 1996 |title=Why Apple Sees Next as a Match Made in Heaven |page=D1 |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F06E1D71331F930A15751C1A960958260 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080531063010/https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F06E1D71331F930A15751C1A960958260 |archive-date=May 31, 2008 |df=mdy-all}}</ref>
The acquisition also led to Steve Jobs returning to Apple as interim and later permanent CEO, shepherding the transformation of the programmer-friendly OPENSTEP into a system that would be adopted by Apple's primary market of home users and creative professionals. The project was codenamed "[[Rhapsody (operating system)|Rhapsody]]" before being officially named Mac OS X.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fawcett |first=Neil |date=February 12, 1998 |title=Rhapsody suffers an identity crisis |url=https://business.highbeam.com/411267/article-1G1-20334085/rhapsody-suffers-identity-crisis |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130502033350/https://business.highbeam.com/411267/article-1G1-20334085/rhapsody-suffers-identity-crisis |archive-date=May 2, 2013 |access-date=April 19, 2012 |website=[[Computer Weekly]] |publisher=[[Reed Business Information]] |df=mdy-all}}{{subscription required}}</ref><ref name="Rhapsody and Blues">{{Cite web |last=Siracusa |first=John |date=April 3, 2008 |title=Rhapsody and Blues |url=https://arstechnica.com/staff/2008/04/rhapsody-and-blues |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151104224017/https://arstechnica.com/staff/2008/04/rhapsody-and-blues |archive-date=November 4, 2015 |access-date=30 November 2015 |website=[[Ars Technica]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

=== Mac OS X ===
The "X" in Mac OS X's name represents the [[Roman numerals|Roman numeral]] for the number ten, and Apple has stated that it should be pronounced "ten" in this context; it is also commonly pronounced like the letter "X".<ref name="ArsTec 2006.03" /><ref name="BBC OSX name">{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00z8dnj |title=Click – BBC TV programme |date=February 26, 2011 |last=Kelly |first=Spencer |publisher=[[BBC]] |at=00:12:45 |access-date=March 20, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110318005840/https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00z8dnj/Click_26_02_2011 |archive-date=March 18, 2011 |url-status=live |quote=Of course X ("ex") does mean 10, but anyone who used to poke around on Unix systems will know that in those days anything Unix had an X ("ex") in it, and OS Ten is written OS X ("ex") in honour of the fact that it is based on UNIX, unlike its predecessors. So, hey, you can say it any way you want; me, I'm showing my age and sticking with X (''ex''). |df=mdy-all}}</ref> The [[iPhone X]], [[iPhone XR]] and [[iPhone XS]] all later followed this convention.

Previous Macintosh operating systems (versions of the [[classic Mac OS]]) were named using [[Arabic numerals]], as with [[Mac OS 8]] and [[Mac OS 9]].<ref name="ten_not_x">{{Cite web |date=July 15, 2004 |title=What is an operating system (OS)? |url=https://support.apple.com/kb/TA22541 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090226055954/https://support.apple.com/kb/TA22541 |archive-date=February 26, 2009 |access-date=December 20, 2006 |publisher=[[Apple Inc.|Apple]] |quote=The current version of Mac OS is Mac OS X (pronounced "Mac O-S ten"). |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="ArsTec 2006.03">{{Cite web |last=Siracusa |first=John |date=March 24, 2006 |title=Five years of Mac OS X |url=https://arstechnica.com/apple/reviews/2006/03/osx-fiveyears.ars |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090625184020/https://arstechnica.com/apple/reviews/2006/03/osx-fiveyears.ars |archive-date=June 25, 2009 |access-date=April 15, 2009 |website=[[Ars Technica]] |publisher=[[Condé Nast Publishing|Condé Nast Digital]] |quote=Even Steve Jobs still says "ecks" instead of "ten" sometimes. |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Until version 11, [[macOS Big Sur]], all versions of the operating system were given version numbers of the form 10.''x'', with this format persisting from Mac OS X 10.0 through 10.15; starting with macOS Big Sur, Apple switched to [[integer]] version numbers that increased by 1 with every major release.

The first version of Mac OS X, [[Mac OS X Server 1.0]], was a transitional product, featuring an interface resembling the [[classic Mac OS]], though it was not compatible with software designed for the older system; consumer releases of Mac OS X included more [[backward compatibility]]. Mac OS applications could be rewritten to run natively via the [[Carbon (API)|Carbon API]], with many alternatively able to be run directly through the [[List of macOS components#Classic|Classic Environment]] albeit with a reduction in performance.

The consumer version of Mac OS X was launched in March 2001 with [[Mac OS X 10.0]]. Reviews were variable, with many praising its sophisticated, glossy [[Aqua (user interface)|Aqua interface]], but criticizing it for sluggish performance.<ref name="Siracusa decade of Mac OS X reviews">{{Cite web |last=Siracusa |first=John |date=May 13, 2011 |title=Here's to the crazy ones: a decade of Mac OS X reviews |url=https://arstechnica.com/apple/2011/05/mac-os-x-revisited/2 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208074957/https://arstechnica.com/apple/2011/05/mac-os-x-revisited/2 |archive-date=December 8, 2015 |access-date=November 30, 2015 |website=[[Ars Technica]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref> With Apple's popularity at a low, the developer of [[FrameMaker]], [[Adobe Inc.]], declined to develop new versions of it for Mac OS X.<ref name="Adobe discontinues FrameMaker for Macintosh">{{Cite web |last=Dalrymple |first=Jim |date=March 23, 2004 |title=Adobe discontinues FrameMaker for Macintosh |url=https://www.macworld.com/article/1030037/framemaker.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208120913/https://www.macworld.com/article/1030037/framemaker.html |archive-date=December 8, 2015 |access-date=30 November 2015 |website=[[Macworld]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref> ''[[Ars Technica]]'' columnist John Siracusa, who reviewed every major OS X release up to 10.10, described the early releases in retrospect as "dog-slow, feature poor" and Aqua as "unbearably slow and a huge resource hog".<ref name="Siracusa decade of Mac OS X reviews" /><ref name="Lion review Siracusa" /><ref name="Jon Rubinstein sends message to HP staff; Addresses TouchPad reviews">{{Cite web |last=Rubenstein |first=John |date=July 1, 2011 |title=Jon Rubinstein sends message to HP staff; Addresses TouchPad reviews |url=https://www.webosnation.com/jon-rubenstein-sends-message-hp-staff-addresses-touchpad-reviews |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208123726/https://www.webosnation.com/jon-rubenstein-sends-message-hp-staff-addresses-touchpad-reviews |archive-date=December 8, 2015 |access-date=November 30, 2015 |website=WebOS Nation |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

Apple rapidly developed several new releases of Mac OS X.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Spolsky |first=Joel |date=June 13, 2004 |title=How Microsoft Lost the API War |url=https://www.joelonsoftware.com/articles/APIWar.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090426050037/https://www.joelonsoftware.com/articles/APIWar.html |archive-date=April 26, 2009 |access-date=April 15, 2009 |quote=The developers of the Macintosh OS at Apple have always been in this camp [i.e. not trying to be backwards compatible no matter what]. It's why so few applications from the early days of the Macintosh still work... |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Apple released [[Mac OS X 10.1]] in October 2001, delivering quality of life enhancements.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Siracusa |first=John |date=2001-10-15 |title=Mac OS X 10.1 |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2001/10/macosx-10-1/ |access-date=2025-06-24 |website=Ars Technica |language=en}}</ref> Beginning in January 2002, Apple preinstalled Mac OS X as the default operating system on all Macs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Apple Makes Mac OS X the Default Operating System on All Macs |url=https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2002/01/07Apple-Makes-Mac-OS-X-the-Default-Operating-System-on-All-Macs/ |access-date=2025-06-24 |website=Apple Newsroom |language=en-US}}</ref> Later that year Apple released [[Mac OS X Jaguar]] (version 10.2), the first version to publicly use its [[code name]] in marketing and advertisements.<ref>{{cite web |title=About Mac OS 10.2 (Jaguar) and 10.3 (Panther) |url=http://lscr.berkeley.edu/advice/using/mac-os-x/macosx-2-3 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131011031045/http://lscr.berkeley.edu/advice/using/mac-os-x/macosx-2-3 |archive-date=October 11, 2013 |publisher=[[University of California]]}}</ref> When [[Mac OS X Panther]] (10.3) released in 2003, Siracusa noted that "It's strange to have gone from years of uncertainty and [[vaporware]] to a steady annual supply of major new operating system releases."<ref name="OS X Panther review Siracusa">{{Cite web |last=Siracusa |first=John |date=November 9, 2003 |title=OS X Panther review |url=https://arstechnica.com/apple/2003/11/macosx-10-3 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151126155239/https://arstechnica.com/apple/2003/11/macosx-10-3 |archive-date=November 26, 2015 |access-date=30 November 2015 |website=[[Ars Technica]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref> [[Mac OS X Tiger]] (10.4), which released in 2005, reportedly shocked executives at [[Microsoft]] by offering a number of features, such as fast file searching and improved graphics processing, that Microsoft had spent [[Development of Windows Vista|several years struggling]] to add to [[Windows Vista]] with acceptable performance.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Gregg Keizer |date=January 29, 2007 |title=Microsoft's Vista Had Major Mac Envy, Company E-Mails Reveal |url=https://www.informationweek.com/microsofts-vista-had-major-mac-envy-company-e-mails-reveal/d/d-id/1051287 |magazine=Information Week |access-date=July 10, 2021 |archive-date=July 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210711175300/https://www.informationweek.com/microsofts-vista-had-major-mac-envy-company-e-mails-reveal/d/d-id/1051287 |url-status=live }}</ref>

As the operating system evolved, it moved away from the [[classic Mac OS]], with applications being added and removed.<ref name="Orlowski Jaguar review">{{Cite web |last=Orlowski |first=Andrew |author-link=Andrew Orlowski |title=The Jagwyre Review |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2002/08/27/the_jagwyre_review |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920045015/https://www.theregister.co.uk/2002/08/27/the_jagwyre_review |archive-date=September 20, 2017 |access-date=19 September 2017 |website=The Register |quote=Using Mac OS X is like touring a land of fabulous ancient treasures – with a tourist authority that's still busy renovating them, and that hasn't quite completed the infrastructure. The sights can be breathtaking, but the roads are potholed and incomplete, and sometimes you have to get out and push. There are a few magnificent modern additions – Rendezvous, AppleScript Studio, for example – but in places the modern Apple archaeologists seem to have forgotten their ancestors techniques, and have resorted to inferior contemporary methods such as the Windows bodge of using three letter extensions for identifying the file type. |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Considering music to be a key market, Apple developed the [[iPod]] music player and music software for the Mac, including [[iTunes]] and [[GarageBand]].<ref name="Apple and the Oak Tree">{{Cite web |last=Thompson |first=Ben |date=August 2, 2017 |title=Apple and the Oak Tree |url=https://stratechery.com/2017/apple-and-the-oak-tree |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920045301/https://stratechery.com/2017/apple-and-the-oak-tree |archive-date=September 20, 2017 |access-date=19 September 2017 |website=Stratechery |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Targeting the consumer and media markets, Apple emphasized its new "digital lifestyle" applications such as the [[iLife]] suite, integrated home entertainment through the [[Front Row (software)|Front Row]] media center and the [[Safari (browser)|Safari]] web browser. With the increasing popularity of the internet, Apple offered additional online services, including the .Mac, [[MobileMe]] and most recently [[iCloud]] products. It later began selling third-party applications through the [[Mac App Store]].

Newer versions of Mac OS X also included modifications to the general interface, moving away from the striped gloss and transparency of the initial versions. Some applications began to use a [[Brushed Metal (interface)|brushed metal]] appearance, or non-pinstriped title bar appearance in Mac OS X Tiger.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rizzo |first=John |date=November 12, 2003 |title=Mac OS X 10.3 Panther |url=https://www.builderau.com.au/news/soa/Mac-OS-X-10-3-Panther/0,339028227,320280883,00.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208235440/https://www.builderau.com.au/news/soa/Mac-OS-X-10-3-Panther/0,339028227,320280883,00.htm |archive-date=December 8, 2008 |access-date=April 15, 2009 |quote=Once you reboot, you'll notice that Apple has abandoned the light and airy Aqua interface for the darker, heavier brushed-metal look of iTunes. |df=mdy-all}}</ref> In [[Mac OS X Leopard]] (10.5), Apple announced a unification of the interface, with a standardized gray-gradient window style.<ref>{{Cite web |last=W. |first=Jeff |date=May 27, 2008 |title=Mac OS X (10.5)&nbsp;– User Interface Changes |url=https://helpdesk.wisc.edu/page.php?id=6609 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720114352/https://helpdesk.wisc.edu/page.php?id=6609 |archive-date=July 20, 2011 |access-date=April 15, 2009 |publisher=University of Wisconsin |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="OS X Leopard review Siracusa">{{Cite web |last=Siracusa |first=John |date=October 29, 2007 |title=OS X Leopard review |url=https://arstechnica.com/apple/2007/10/mac-os-x-10-5 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151125191152/https://arstechnica.com/apple/2007/10/mac-os-x-10-5 |archive-date=November 25, 2015 |access-date=30 November 2015 |website=[[Ars Technica]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

In 2006, the first [[Intel]] Macs were released with a specialized version of Mac OS X Tiger.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mac OS X versions (builds) for computers – Apple Support |url=https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204319 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150514151331/https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204319 |archive-date=May 14, 2015 |access-date=May 24, 2015 |website=support.apple.com |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

A key development for the system was the announcement and release of the [[iPhone]] from 2007 onwards. While Apple's previous [[iPod classic|iPod]] media players used a [[Embedded operating system|minimal]] operating system, the iPhone used an operating system based on Mac OS X, which would later be called [[IPhone OS 1|iPhone OS]] and then [[iOS]]. The simultaneous release of two operating systems based on the same frameworks placed tension on Apple, which cited the iPhone as forcing it to delay Mac OS X Leopard.<ref name="Apple announces Leopard delays due to the iPhone">{{Cite web |last=Chartier |first=David |title=Apple announces Leopard delays due to the iPhone |url=https://www.engadget.com/2007/04/12/apple-announces-leopard-delays-due-to-the-iphone |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208125414/https://www.engadget.com/2007/04/12/apple-announces-leopard-delays-due-to-the-iphone |archive-date=December 8, 2015 |access-date=30 November 2015 |website=Engadget |date=April 12, 2007 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> However, after Apple opened the iPhone to third-party developers, its commercial success drew attention to Mac OS X, with many iPhone software developers showing interest in Mac development.<ref name="WWDC 2009 Wrap-Up">{{Cite web |last=Gruber |first=John |title=WWDC 2009 Wrap-Up |url=https://daringfireball.net/2009/06/wwdc09_wrapup |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208045529/https://daringfireball.net/2009/06/wwdc09_wrapup |archive-date=December 8, 2015 |access-date=30 November 2015 |website=Daring Fireball |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

In 2007, Mac OS X Leopard released with [[universal binary]] components, allowing installation on both Intel Macs and select [[PowerPC]] Macs.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Apple to Ship Mac OS X Leopard on October 26 |url=https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2007/10/16Apple-to-Ship-Mac-OS-X-Leopard-on-October-26/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180128030037/https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2007/10/16Apple-to-Ship-Mac-OS-X-Leopard-on-October-26/ |archive-date=January 28, 2018 |access-date=January 2, 2018 |website=apple.com |df=mdy-all}}</ref> It is also the final release with PowerPC Mac support. In 2009, [[Mac OS X Snow Leopard]] (10.6) was the first version of Mac OS X to be built exclusively for Intel Macs and the final release with 32-bit Intel Mac support.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard |url=https://store.apple.com/us/product/MC573Z/A/mac-os-x-106-snow-leopard |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525072701/https://store.apple.com/us/product/MC573Z/A/mac-os-x-106-snow-leopard |archive-date=May 25, 2015 |access-date=May 24, 2015 |website=Apple Store (U.S.) |df=mdy-all}}</ref> The name was intended to signal its status as an iteration of Leopard, focusing on technical and performance improvements rather than user-facing features; indeed it was explicitly branded to developers as being a 'no new features' release.<ref name="Snow Leopard—an OS without new features">{{Cite web |last=Turner |first=Dan |title=Apple's Snow Leopard—an OS without new features |url=https://www.macworld.com/article/1133949/snowleopard.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180109063859/https://www.macworld.com/article/1133949/snowleopard.html |archive-date=January 9, 2018 |access-date=8 January 2018 |website=Macworld |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Since its release, several OS X or macOS releases (namely [[OS X Mountain Lion]], [[OS X El Capitan]], [[macOS High Sierra]], and [[macOS Monterey]]) follow this pattern, with a name derived from its predecessor, similar to the '[[tick–tock model]]' used by Intel.

Starting in 2011 with [[OS X Lion|Mac OS X Lion]] (10.7) and [[OS X Mountain Lion]] (10.8), Apple moved some applications to a highly [[Skeuomorph#Use in Apple products|skeuomorphic]] style of design inspired by contemporary versions of iOS while simplifying some elements by making controls such as scroll bars fade out when not in use.<ref name="Lion review Siracusa">{{Cite web |last=Siracusa |first=John |date=July 20, 2011 |title=Lion review |url=https://arstechnica.com/apple/2011/07/mac-os-x-10-7 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151214144440/https://arstechnica.com/apple/2011/07/mac-os-x-10-7 |archive-date=December 14, 2015 |website=[[Ars Technica]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref> This direction was, like brushed metal interfaces, unpopular with some users, although it continued a trend of greater animation and variety in the interface previously seen in design aspects such as the [[Time Machine (OS X)|Time Machine]] [[Backup software|backup]] utility, which presented past file versions against a swirling nebula, and the glossy translucent [[Dock (OS X)|dock]] of Leopard and Snow Leopard.<ref name="Apple's History of Skeuomorphism">{{Cite web |last=Brand |first=Thomas |date=July 24, 2012 |title=Apple's History of Skeuomorphism |url=https://eggfreckles.net/2012/07/24/apples-history-of-skeuomorphism |access-date=March 21, 2020 |website=Egg Freckles |archive-date=August 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803195613/https://eggfreckles.net/2012/07/24/apples-history-of-skeuomorphism/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> In addition, with Lion, Apple ceased to release separate [[OS X Server|server]] versions of Mac OS X, selling server tools as a separate downloadable application through the Mac App Store. A review described the trend in the server products as becoming "cheaper and simpler... shifting its focus from large businesses to small ones."<ref name="Guide to OS X Server">{{Cite web |last=Cunningham |first=Andrew |date=July 29, 2012 |title=Server, simplified: A power user's guide to OS X Server |url=https://arstechnica.com/apple/2012/07/the-server-simplified-a-power-users-guide-to-os-x-server |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208042819/https://arstechnica.com/apple/2012/07/the-server-simplified-a-power-users-guide-to-os-x-server |archive-date=December 8, 2015 |access-date=2 December 2015 |website=[[Ars Technica]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

=== OS X ===
[[File:The OS X Logo.svg|thumb|200px|OS X logo used until 2013]]
In 2012, with the release of [[OS X Mountain Lion]], the name of the system was officially shortened from Mac OS X to OS X, after the [[OS X Lion|previous version]] shortened the system name in a similar fashion a year prior. That year, Apple removed the head of OS X development, [[Scott Forstall]], and design was changed towards a more minimal direction.<ref name="guardian">{{Cite news |last=Arthur |first=Charles |date=2012-10-30 |title=Apple's Tim Cook shows ruthless streak in firing maps and retail executives &#124; Technology &#124; guardian.co.uk |work=Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2012/oct/30/apple-tim-cook-ruthless-streak |url-status=live |access-date=2012-12-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171024152617/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2012/oct/30/apple-tim-cook-ruthless-streak |archive-date=October 24, 2017 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Apple's new user interface design, using deep color saturation, text-only buttons and a minimal, 'flat' interface, was debuted with [[iOS 7]] in 2013. With OS X engineers reportedly working on iOS 7, the version released in 2013, [[OS X Mavericks]] (10.9), was something of a transitional release, with some of the skeuomorphic design removed, while most of the general interface of Mavericks remained unchanged.<ref name="Siracusa OS X Mavericks review">{{Cite web |last=Siracusa |first=John |date=October 22, 2013 |title=OS X Mavericks review |url=https://arstechnica.com/apple/2013/10/os-x-10-9 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151122114828/https://arstechnica.com/apple/2013/10/os-x-10-9 |archive-date=November 22, 2015 |access-date=30 November 2015 |website=[[Ars Technica]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref> The next version, [[OS X Yosemite]] (10.10), adopted a design similar to [[iOS 7]] but with greater complexity suitable for an interface controlled with a mouse.<ref name="OS X Yosemite review">{{Cite web |last=Siracusa |first=John |date=October 16, 2014 |title=OS X Yosemite review |url=https://arstechnica.com/apple/2014/10/os-x-10-10 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151124200435/https://arstechnica.com/apple/2014/10/os-x-10-10 |archive-date=November 24, 2015 |access-date=30 November 2015 |website=[[Ars Technica]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

From 2012 onwards, the system has shifted to an annual release schedule similar to that of Mac OS X releases prior to [[Mac OS X Tiger|10.4 Tiger]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Siracusa |first=John |date=2009-09-01 |title=Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard: the Ars Technica review |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2009/08/mac-os-x-10-6/ |access-date=2025-06-24 |website=Ars Technica |language=en}}</ref> It also steadily cut the cost of updates from Snow Leopard onwards, before removing upgrade fees altogether in OS X Mavericks.<ref name="Mountain Lion Gruber Schiller">{{Cite web |last=Gruber |first=John |title=Mountain Lion |url=https://daringfireball.net/2012/02/mountain_lion |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150811131321/https://daringfireball.net/2012/02/mountain_lion |archive-date=August 11, 2015 |access-date=15 August 2015 |website=Daring Fireball |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Some journalists and third-party software developers have suggested that this decision, while allowing more rapid feature release, meant less opportunity to focus on stability, with no version of OS X recommendable for users requiring stability and performance above new features.<ref name="Apple has lost the functional high ground">{{Cite web |last=Arment |first=Marco |title=Apple has lost the functional high ground |url=https://www.marco.org/2015/01/04/apple-lost-functional-high-ground |access-date=15 August 2015 |archive-date=October 31, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211031132657/https://marco.org/2015/01/04/apple-lost-functional-high-ground |url-status=live }}</ref> Apple's 2015 update, [[OS X El Capitan]] (10.11), was announced to focus specifically on stability and performance improvements.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hattersley |first=Lucy |title=Mac OS X El Capitan review: The best (and worst) new features |language=en-GB |work=Macworld UK |url=https://www.macworld.co.uk/review/mac-software/mac-os-x-el-capitan-mac-review-3613524 |url-status=live |access-date=2017-05-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170511161056/https://www.macworld.co.uk/review/mac-software/mac-os-x-el-capitan-mac-review-3613524 |archive-date=May 11, 2017 |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

=== macOS ===
[[File:MacOS logo.svg|thumb|200px|Current logo]]
In 2016, with the release of [[macOS Sierra]] (10.12), the name was changed from OS X to macOS with the purpose of aligning it with the branding of Apple's other primary operating systems: [[iOS]], [[watchOS]], and [[tvOS]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 13, 2016 |title=Apple just renamed one of its oldest and most important products |work=Business Insider |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/wwdc-2016-os-x-becomes-macos-2016-6 |url-status=live |access-date=November 11, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161111191151/https://www.businessinsider.com/wwdc-2016-os-x-becomes-macos-2016-6 |archive-date=November 11, 2016 |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5jXg_NNiCA |title=Apple – WWDC 2016 Keynote |date=June 15, 2016 |time=2:02:50 |access-date=August 21, 2019 |archive-date=August 31, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831174723/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5jXg_NNiCA |url-status=live }}</ref> macOS Sierra added [[Siri]], [[iCloud Drive]], picture-in-picture support, a Night Shift mode that switches the display to warmer colors at night, and two Continuity features: Universal Clipboard, which syncs a user's clipboard across their Apple devices, and Auto Unlock, which can unlock a user's Mac with their Apple Watch. macOS Sierra also adds support for the [[Apple File System]] (APFS), Apple's successor to the dated [[HFS+]] file system.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Siracusa |first=John |date=2011-07-20 |title=Mac OS X 10.7 Lion: the Ars Technica review |url=https://arstechnica.com/apple/reviews/2011/07/mac-os-x-10-7.ars |access-date=2022-10-07 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us |archive-date=May 4, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120504111431/http://arstechnica.com/apple/reviews/2011/07/mac-os-x-10-7.ars |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bhartiya |first=Swapnil |date=January 13, 2015 |title=Linus Torvalds: Apple's HFS+ is probably the worst file system ever |url=https://www.cio.com/article/251059/linus-torvalds-apples-hfs-is-probably-the-worst-file-system-ever.html |access-date=2022-10-07 |website=CIO |language=en-US |archive-date=October 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221003072913/https://www.cio.com/article/251059/linus-torvalds-apples-hfs-is-probably-the-worst-file-system-ever.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Oakley |first=Howard |date=May 16, 2022 |title=Should you continue using HFS+? |url=https://eclecticlight.co/2022/05/16/should-you-continue-using-hfs/ |access-date=2022-10-07 |website=The Eclectic Light Company |language=en |archive-date=June 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619063617/https://eclecticlight.co/2022/05/16/should-you-continue-using-hfs/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[macOS High Sierra]] (10.13), released in 2017, included performance improvements, [[Metal (API)|Metal 2]] and [[High Efficiency Video Coding|HEVC]] support, and made APFS the default file system for [[Solid-state drive|SSD]] boot drives.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Swain |first=Chris |title=APFS in macOS High Sierra |url=https://www.macinchem.org/blog/files/960e8891940dfc087f89f0b0aa42af9b-2167.php |access-date=2022-10-07 |website=Macs in Chemistry |language=en |archive-date=October 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221026093900/https://www.macinchem.org/blog/files/960e8891940dfc087f89f0b0aa42af9b-2167.php |url-status=live }}</ref>

Its successor, [[macOS Mojave]] (10.14), was released in 2018, adding a dark mode option and a [[Wallpaper (computing)#macOS|dynamic wallpaper setting]].<ref name="macrumors-mojave">{{Cite web |last=Juli Clover |date=September 24, 2018 |title=Apple Releases macOS Mojave With Dark Mode, Stacks, Dynamic Desktop and More |url=https://www.macrumors.com/2018/09/24/apple-releases-macos-mojave |access-date=September 24, 2018 |website=[[MacRumors]] |archive-date=September 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220921235211/https://www.macrumors.com/2018/09/24/apple-releases-macos-mojave/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It was succeeded by [[macOS Catalina]] (10.15) in 2019, which replaces [[iTunes]] with separate apps for different types of media, and introduces the Catalyst system for porting iOS apps.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cunningham |first=Andrew |date=2019-10-07 |title=macOS 10.15 Catalina: The Ars Technica review |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2019/10/macos-10-15-catalina-the-ars-technica-review |access-date=2019-10-07 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us |archive-date=September 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922032420/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2019/10/macos-10-15-catalina-the-ars-technica-review/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2020, Apple announced [[macOS Big Sur]] (version 11) at that year's WWDC. This was the first increment in the primary version number of macOS since the release of [[Mac OS X Public Beta]] in 2000; updates to macOS Big Sur were given 11.x numbers, matching the version numbering scheme used by Apple's other operating systems. Big Sur brought major changes to the user interface and was the first version to run on [[Apple Silicon]], based on the [[ARM architecture family|ARM]] architecture.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tung |first=Liam |date=2020-06-23 |title=Apple Big Sur: Here's what makes new macOS 'biggest update to design in over a decade' |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/apple-big-sur-heres-what-makes-new-macos-biggest-update-to-design-in-over-a-decade/ |access-date=2020-06-23 |website=ZDNet |language=en-us |archive-date=April 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220405090919/https://www.zdnet.com/article/apple-big-sur-heres-what-makes-new-macos-biggest-update-to-design-in-over-a-decade/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The numbering system started with Big Sur continued in 2021 with [[macOS Monterey]] (12), 2022 with [[macOS Ventura]] (13), 2023 with [[macOS Sonoma]] (14), and 2024 with [[macOS Sequoia]] (15). 

In 2025, starting with [[macOS Tahoe]] (version 26), macOS's version number will be based on the year following its release, as will the version numbers of iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS, so that the version numbers are the same for all Apple OSes.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Preston |first=Dominic |date=2025-06-09 |title=Apple renames its operating systems |url=https://www.theverge.com/news/679221/apple-ios-macos-watchos-ipados-26-name |access-date=2025-06-10 |website=The Verge |language=en-US}}</ref> macOS Tahoe also brings with it a new user interface design, called [[Liquid Glass]], which will also be used on Apple's other platforms, unifying their design language.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Benedetto |first=Antonio G. Di |date=2025-06-09 |title=Apple announces macOS Tahoe 26 with new design and revamped search features |url=https://www.theverge.com/news/678268/macos-version-wwdc-2025-announcement |access-date=2025-06-10 |website=The Verge |language=en-US}}</ref> Tahoe will be the final release of macOS to run on Intel-based Macs.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-09 |title=Intel Macs Won't Get Updates After macOS Tahoe |url=https://www.macrumors.com/2025/06/09/intel-macs-no-more-updates/ |access-date=2025-06-10 |website=MacRumors |language=en}}</ref>

=== Timeline of releases ===
{{macOS versions}}

== Architecture ==
{{Main|Architecture of macOS}}
At macOS's core is a [[POSIX]]-compliant operating system built on top of the [[XNU]] [[kernel (operating system)|kernel]],<ref name="inside_mac_osx_kernel">{{Cite web |last=Lucy |year=2007 |title=Inside the Mac OS X Kernel |url=https://events.ccc.de/congress/2007/Fahrplan/attachments/986_inside_the_mac_osx_kernel.pdf |access-date=June 13, 2012 |publisher=24th Chaos Communication Congress 24C3 |archive-date=August 29, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829233357/https://events.ccc.de/congress/2007/Fahrplan/attachments/986_inside_the_mac_osx_kernel.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> (which incorporated large parts of [[FreeBSD]] [[kernel (operating system)|kernel]]<ref name="apple_bsd_overview" />) and [[FreeBSD]] userland<ref name="apple_bsd_overview" /> for the standard Unix facilities available from the [[command line interface]]. Apple has released this family of software as a [[free software|free]] and [[open source software|open source]] operating system named [[Darwin (operating system)|Darwin]]. On top of Darwin, Apple layered a number of components, including the [[Aqua (user interface)|Aqua]] interface and the [[Finder (software)|Finder]], to complete the [[Graphical user interface|GUI]]-based operating system which is macOS.<ref name="aqua23">{{Cite web |last=Grothaus |first=Michael |date=April 12, 2011 |title=Mac OS X Lion to tone down the Aqua |url=https://www.tuaw.com/2011/04/12/mac-os-x-lion-to-tone-down-the-aqua |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110828084840/https://www.tuaw.com/2011/04/12/mac-os-x-lion-to-tone-down-the-aqua |archive-date=August 28, 2011 |access-date=April 9, 2012 |website=The Unofficial Apple Weblog |publisher=[[AOL]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

With its original introduction as Mac OS X, the system brought a number of new capabilities to provide a more stable and reliable platform than its predecessor, the [[classic Mac OS]]. For example, [[pre-emptive multitasking]] and [[memory protection]] improved the system's ability to run multiple applications simultaneously without them interrupting or corrupting each other. Many aspects of macOS's architecture are derived from [[OpenStep|OPENSTEP]], which was designed to be portable, to ease the transition from one platform to another. For example, [[NeXTSTEP]] was ported from the original [[68k]]-based NeXT workstations to [[x86]] and other architectures before NeXT was purchased by Apple,<ref name="nextstep_history" /> and OPENSTEP was later ported to the [[PowerPC]] architecture as part of the [[Rhapsody (operating system)|Rhapsody project]].

Prior to macOS High Sierra, and on drives other than [[solid state drives]] (SSDs), the default [[file system]] is [[HFS Plus|HFS+]], which it inherited from the classic Mac OS. Operating system designer [[Linus Torvalds]] had criticized HFS+, saying it is "probably the worst file system ever", whose design is "actively corrupting user data". He criticized the [[case insensitivity]] of file names, a design made worse when Apple extended the file system to support [[Unicode]].<ref>{{Cite web |first1=Swapnil |last1=Bhartiya |date=January 13, 2015 |title=Linus Torvalds: Apple's HFS+ is probably the worst file system ever |url=https://www.itworld.com/article/2868393/linus-torvalds-apples-hfs-is-probably-the-worst-file-system-ever.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525041019/https://www.itworld.com/article/2868393/linus-torvalds-apples-hfs-is-probably-the-worst-file-system-ever.html |archive-date=May 25, 2015 |website=ITworld |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=Junio C Hamano (Gitster) |date=Dec 22, 2014 |title=CVE-2014-9390 aka "Git on case-insensitive filesystems" |url=https://plus.google.com/+JunioCHamano/posts/1Bpaj3e3Rru |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150514102424/https://plus.google.com/+JunioCHamano/posts/1Bpaj3e3Rru |archive-date=May 14, 2015 |website=Google+ |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

The [[Darwin (operating system)|Darwin]] subsystem in macOS manages the file system, which includes the Unix [[File system permissions|permissions]] layer. In 2003 and 2005, two [[Macworld]] editors expressed criticism of the permission scheme; Ted Landau called misconfigured permissions "the most common frustration" in macOS, while Rob Griffiths suggested that some users may even have to [[Repair permissions|reset permissions]] every day, a process which can take up to 15 minutes.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Griffiths |first=Rob |date=January 23, 2005 |title=Prevent Mac Disasters |url=https://www.macworld.com/article/174143/preventmacdisasters.html |access-date=December 31, 2023 |website=[[Macworld]] |publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]] |df=mdy-all |archive-date=December 31, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231231225401/https://www.macworld.com/article/174143/preventmacdisasters.html |url-status=live }}</ref> More recently, another Macworld editor, Dan Frakes, called the procedure of repairing permissions vastly overused.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Frakes |first=Dan |date=August 5, 2006 |title=Repairing permissions: what you need to know |url=https://www.macworld.com/article/52220/2006/08/repairpermissions.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090219210621/https://www.macworld.com/article/52220/2006/08/repairpermissions.html |archive-date=February 19, 2009 |access-date=February 8, 2009 |website=[[Macworld]] |publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref> He argues that macOS typically handles permissions properly without user interference, and resetting permissions should only be tried when problems emerge.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Frakes |first=Dan |date=June 2, 2008 |title=Five Mac maintenance myths |url=https://www.macworld.com/article/133684/2008/06/maintenance_intro.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090123230040/https://www.macworld.com/article/133684/2008/06/maintenance_intro.html |archive-date=January 23, 2009 |access-date=February 8, 2009 |website=[[Macworld]] |publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

The architecture of macOS incorporates a layered design:<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Developing for Mac |url=https://developer.apple.com/library/mac/#documentation/MacOSX/Conceptual/OSX_Technology_Overview/About/About.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120602013413/https://developer.apple.com/library/mac/#documentation/MacOSX/Conceptual/OSX_Technology_Overview/About/About.html |archive-date=June 2, 2012 |access-date=April 4, 2012 |publisher=[[Apple Inc.|Apple]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref>
the layered frameworks aid rapid development of applications by providing existing code for common tasks.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zepko |first=Tom |date=November 6, 2003 |title=Why Cocoa? |url=https://homepage.mac.com/tom_zepko/cocoa/why-cocoa.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090804073346/https://homepage.mac.com/tom_zepko/cocoa/why-cocoa.html |archive-date=August 4, 2009 |access-date=April 15, 2009 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Apple provides its own [[software development]] tools, most prominently an [[integrated development environment]] called [[Xcode]]. Xcode provides interfaces to [[compiler]]s that support several [[programming language]]s including [[C (programming language)|C]], [[C++]], [[Objective-C]], and [[Swift (programming language)|Swift]]. For the [[Mac transition to Intel processors]], it was modified so that developers could build their applications as a [[universal binary]], which provides compatibility with both the Intel-based and PowerPC-based Macintosh lines.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 22, 2007 |title=Adopting Universal Binaries on Mac OS X |url=https://developer.apple.com/macosx/adoptinguniversalbinaries.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081220184035/https://developer.apple.com/macosx/adoptinguniversalbinaries.html |archive-date=December 20, 2008 |access-date=December 15, 2008 |publisher=[[Apple Inc.|Apple]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref> First and third-party applications can be controlled programmatically using the [[AppleScript]] framework,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Productions |first=Nyhthawk |title=AppleScript: Graphic User Interface (GUI) Scripting |url=https://www.macosxautomation.com/applescript/uiscripting |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161121125017/https://www.macosxautomation.com/applescript/uiscripting |archive-date=November 21, 2016 |access-date=2017-01-03 |website=www.macosxautomation.com |df=mdy-all}}</ref> retained from the [[classic Mac OS]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=AppleScript Introduction |url=https://whitefiles.org/b1_s/1_free_guides/fg3mo/pgs/v01.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160131030213/https://whitefiles.org/b1_s/1_free_guides/fg3mo/pgs/v01.htm |archive-date=January 31, 2016 |access-date=2017-01-03 |website=whitefiles.org |df=mdy-all}}</ref> or using the newer [[Automator (software)|Automator]] application that offers pre-written tasks that do not require programming knowledge.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The really simple guide to Automator in OS X on the Mac {{!}} RAW Mac |url=https://www.rawinfopages.com/mac/content/really-simple-guide-automator-os-x-mac |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170103170340/https://www.rawinfopages.com/mac/content/really-simple-guide-automator-os-x-mac |archive-date=January 3, 2017 |access-date=2017-01-03 |website=www.rawinfopages.com |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

=== Software compatibility ===
{{See also|List of Mac software}}

Apple offered two main [[Application programming interface|APIs]] to develop software natively for macOS: [[Cocoa (API)|Cocoa]] and [[Carbon (API)|Carbon]]. Cocoa was a descendant of APIs inherited from [[OpenStep|OPENSTEP]] with no ancestry from the [[classic Mac OS]], while Carbon was an adaptation of classic Mac OS APIs, allowing Mac software to be minimally rewritten to run natively on Mac OS X.<ref name="Rhapsody and Blues"/>

The Cocoa API was created as the result of a 1993 collaboration between [[NeXT]] Computer and [[Sun Microsystems]]. This heritage is highly visible for Cocoa developers, since the "NS" prefix is ubiquitous in the framework, standing variously for '''N'''eXT'''S'''TEP or '''N'''eXT/[[Sun Microsystems|'''S'''un]]. The official OPENSTEP API, published in September 1994, was the first to split the API between Foundation and ApplicationKit and the first to use the "NS" prefix.<ref name="nextstep_history">{{Cite web |title=Cocoa Fundamentals Guide: A Bit of History |url=https://developer.apple.com/legacy/library/documentation/Cocoa/Conceptual/CocoaFundamentals/WhatIsCocoa/WhatIsCocoa.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40002974-CH3-SW12 |access-date=January 18, 2018 |website=ADC Reference Library |publisher=[[Apple Developer Connection]] |archive-date=March 7, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307154056/https://developer.apple.com/legacy/library/documentation/Cocoa/Conceptual/CocoaFundamentals/WhatIsCocoa/WhatIsCocoa.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40002974-CH3-SW12 |url-status=live}}</ref> Traditionally, Cocoa programs have been mostly written in [[Objective-C]], with Java as an alternative. However, on July 11, 2005, Apple announced that "features added to Cocoa in Mac OS X versions later than 10.4 will not be added to the Cocoa-Java programming interface."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Introduction to Cocoa-Java Integration Guide |url=https://developer.apple.com/legacy/mac/library/#documentation/Cocoa/Conceptual/LanguageIntegration/LanguageIntegration.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090831202711/https://developer.apple.com/legacy/mac/library/#documentation/Cocoa/Conceptual/LanguageIntegration/LanguageIntegration.html |archive-date=August 31, 2009 |access-date=April 8, 2006 |website=ADC Reference Library |publisher=[[Apple Developer Connection]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref> macOS also used to support the [[Java Platform]] as a "preferred software package"—in practice this means that applications written in Java fit as neatly into the operating system as possible while still being [[cross-platform]] compatible, and that graphical user interfaces written in [[Swing (Java)|Swing]] look almost exactly like native Cocoa interfaces. Since 2014, Apple has promoted its new programming language [[Swift (programming language)|Swift]] as the preferred language for software development on Apple platforms.

Apple's original plan with macOS was to require all developers to rewrite their software into the Cocoa APIs. This caused much outcry among existing Mac developers, who threatened to abandon the platform rather than invest in a costly rewrite, and the idea was shelved.<ref name="Rhapsody and Blues"/><ref name="Photoshop, Lightroom, and Adobe's 64-bit roadmap"/> To permit a smooth transition from Mac OS 9 to Mac OS X, the [[Carbon (API)|Carbon]] [[Application Programming Interface]] (API) was created.<ref name="Rhapsody and Blues"/> Applications written with Carbon were initially able to run natively on both classic Mac OS and Mac OS X, although this ability was later dropped as Mac OS X developed. Carbon was not included in the first product sold as Mac OS X: the little-used original release of [[Mac OS X Server 1.0]], which also did not include the Aqua interface.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Looking back at OS X's origins |work=Macworld |url=https://www.macworld.com/article/1154036/osxorigins.html |access-date=September 25, 2020 |archive-date=January 3, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120103080604/http://www.macworld.com/article/154036/2010/09/osxorigins.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Apple limited further development of Carbon from the release of Leopard onwards and announced that Carbon applications would not run at 64-bit.<ref name="Photoshop, Lightroom, and Adobe's 64-bit roadmap">{{Cite web |last=Nack |first=John |title=Photoshop, Lightroom, and Adobe's 64-bit roadmap |url=https://blogs.adobe.com/jnack/2008/04/photoshop_lightroom_and_adobes_64-bit_road.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150414030843/https://blogs.adobe.com/jnack/2008/04/photoshop_lightroom_and_adobes_64-bit_road.html |archive-date=April 14, 2015 |access-date=March 30, 2016 |publisher=[[Adobe Systems]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="Rhapsody and Blues"/> A number of macOS applications continued to use Carbon for some time afterwards, especially ones with heritage dating back to the classic Mac OS and for which updates would be difficult, uneconomic or not necessary. This included [[Microsoft Office]] up to [[Microsoft Office 2016|Office 2016]], and Photoshop up to CS5.<ref name="Office 2016 preview 9to5 Mac">{{Cite web |last=Hall |first=Zac |date=March 5, 2015 |title=Back to the Mac: Microsoft releases redesigned Office for Mac 2016 Preview w/ Retina support, collaboration, more |url=https://9to5mac.com/2015/03/05/microsoft-office-mac-2016-preview |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228000253/https://9to5mac.com/2015/03/05/microsoft-office-mac-2016-preview |archive-date=December 28, 2017 |access-date=27 December 2017 |website=9to5 Mac |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="Photoshop, Lightroom, and Adobe's 64-bit roadmap"/> Early versions of macOS could also run some classic Mac OS applications through the [[Classic Environment]] with performance limitations; this feature was removed from 10.5 onwards and all Macs using Intel processors.

Because macOS is [[POSIX]] compliant, many software packages written for the other [[Unix-like]] systems including [[Linux]] can be recompiled to run on it, including many scientific and technical programs.<ref name="Mainzer">{{Cite web |last=Steele |first=Billy |title=NASA WISE Deputy Project Scientist Amy Mainzer |url=https://www.engadget.com/2013/05/24/engadget-questionnaire-nasa-amy-mainzer |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170625164201/https://www.engadget.com/2013/05/24/engadget-questionnaire-nasa-amy-mainzer |archive-date=June 25, 2017 |website=Engadget |date=May 24, 2013 |quote=As an astrophysicist, having the Unix core underlying the OS is key, since virtually all of our software is Unix-based in some sense |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Third-party projects such as [[Homebrew (package management software)|Homebrew]], [[Fink (software)|Fink]], [[MacPorts]] and [[pkgsrc]] provide pre-compiled or pre-formatted packages. Apple and others have provided versions of the [[X Window System]] graphical interface which can allow these applications to run with an approximation of the macOS look-and-feel.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 28, 2003 |title=X11 for Mac OS X 1.0 |url=https://support.apple.com/downloads/X11_for_Mac_OS_X_1_0 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081224160753/https://support.apple.com/downloads/X11_for_Mac_OS_X_1_0 |archive-date=December 24, 2008 |access-date=December 15, 2008 |publisher=[[Apple Inc.|Apple]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ben Byer |date=October 27, 2007 |title=Re: X11 in Leopard: xterm on start-up |url=https://lists.apple.com/archives/x11-users/2007/Oct/msg00065.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080210000444/https://lists.apple.com/archives/X11-users/2007/Oct/msg00065.html |archive-date=February 10, 2008 |access-date=January 18, 2008 |website=Apple's x11-users mailing list |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Michael Larabel |date=May 28, 2011 |title=X.Org Server 1.10.2 Brings A Bunch Of Bug-Fixes |url=https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=OTQ5OA |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110603150322/https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=OTQ5OA |archive-date=June 3, 2011 |access-date=May 29, 2011 |publisher=phoronix |df=mdy-all}}</ref> The current Apple-endorsed method is the open-source [[XQuartz]] project; earlier versions could use the [[X11.app|X11]] application provided by Apple, or before that the [[XDarwin]] project.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Slivka |first=Eric |date=February 17, 2012 |title=Apple Removes X11 in OS X Mountain Lion, Shifts Support to Open Source XQuartz |url=https://www.macrumors.com/2012/02/17/apple-removes-x11-in-os-x-mountain-lion-shifts-support-to-open-source-xquartz |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222214936/https://www.macrumors.com/2012/02/17/apple-removes-x11-in-os-x-mountain-lion-shifts-support-to-open-source-xquartz |archive-date=February 22, 2012 |access-date=February 23, 2012 |website=MacRumors |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

Applications can be distributed to Macs and installed by the user from any source and by any method such as downloading (with or without [[code signing]], available via an Apple developer account) or through the [[Mac App Store]], a marketplace of software maintained by Apple through a process requiring the company's approval. Apps installed through the Mac App Store run within a [[Sandbox (computer security)|sandbox]], restricting their ability to exchange information with other applications or modify the core operating system and its features. This has been cited as an advantage, by allowing users to install apps with confidence that they should not be able to damage their system, but also as a disadvantage due to blocking the Mac App Store's use for professional applications that require elevated privileges.<ref name="Not on the Mac App Store">{{Cite web |last=Counsell |first=Dan |date=November 16, 2015 |title=Not on the Mac App Store |url=https://dancounsell.typed.com/articles/not-on-the-mac-app-store |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208082109/https://dancounsell.typed.com/articles/not-on-the-mac-app-store |archive-date=December 8, 2015}}</ref><ref name="Distributing Apps Outside the Mac App Store">{{Cite web |title=Distributing Apps Outside the Mac App Store |url=https://developer.apple.com/library/mac/documentation/IDEs/Conceptual/AppDistributionGuide/DistributingApplicationsOutside/DistributingApplicationsOutside.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208143842/https://developer.apple.com/library/mac/documentation/IDEs/Conceptual/AppDistributionGuide/DistributingApplicationsOutside/DistributingApplicationsOutside.html |archive-date=December 8, 2015 |access-date=1 December 2015 |website=Apple Developer |publisher=Apple |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Applications without any code signature cannot be run by default except from a computer's administrator account.<ref name="How to open apps from an unidentified developer in OS X Mountain Lion">{{Cite web |last=Kazmucha |first=Allyson |date=October 4, 2019 |title=How to open apps from an unidentified developer in OS X Mountain Lion |url=https://www.imore.com/how-open-apps-anywhere-macos-catalina-and-mojave |access-date=September 25, 2020 |website=IMore |archive-date=December 31, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211231130043/https://www.imore.com/how-open-apps-anywhere-macos-catalina-and-mojave |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="About Gatekeeper">{{Cite web |title=About Gatekeeper |url=https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202491 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151204142544/https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202491 |archive-date=December 4, 2015 |access-date=1 December 2015 |publisher=Apple |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

Apple produces macOS applications. Some are included with macOS and some sold separately. This includes [[iWork]], [[Final Cut Pro]], [[Logic Pro]], [[iLife]], and the database application [[FileMaker]]. Numerous other developers also offer [[List of Macintosh software|software for macOS]].

In 2018, Apple introduced an application layer, codenamed Marzipan, to [[Porting|port]] iOS apps to macOS.<ref name="Gurman Marzipan rumor">{{Cite news |last=Gurman |first=Masrk |date=December 20, 2017 |title=Apple Plans Combined iPhone, iPad & Mac Apps to Create One User Experience |work=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-12-20/apple-is-said-to-have-plan-to-combine-iphone-ipad-and-mac-apps |access-date=2 February 2019 |archive-date=November 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211123171922/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-12-20/apple-is-said-to-have-plan-to-combine-iphone-ipad-and-mac-apps |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Steinberger Marzipan">{{Cite web |last=Steinberger |first=Peter |title=Marzipan: Porting iOS Apps to the Mac |url=https://pspdfkit.com/blog/2018/porting-ios-apps-to-mac-marzipan-iosmac-uikit-appkit |access-date=2 February 2019 |publisher=PSPDFKit |archive-date=August 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826231543/https://pspdfkit.com/blog/2018/porting-ios-apps-to-mac-marzipan-iosmac-uikit-appkit/ |url-status=live}}</ref> macOS Mojave included ports of four first-party iOS apps including [[HomeKit|Home]] and [[Apple News|News]], and it was announced that the API would be available for third-party developers to use from 2019.<ref name="Verge future of the Mac comes from iOS">{{Cite web |last1=Gartenberg |first1=Chaim |last2=Bohn |first2=Dieter |date=June 7, 2018 |title=The future of the Mac comes from iOS apps |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/6/7/17438450/apple-marzipan-mac-ios-apps-port-mojave-appkit-uikit-future-platform-software |access-date=29 January 2019 |website=The Verge |archive-date=November 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211111003424/https://www.theverge.com/2018/6/7/17438450/apple-marzipan-mac-ios-apps-port-mojave-appkit-uikit-future-platform-software |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="iMore Marzipan">{{Cite web |last=Ritchie |first=Rene |date=June 4, 2018 |title=Marzipan: What you need to know about iOS apps on the Mac |url=https://www.imore.com/marzipan |access-date=29 January 2019 |website=iMore |archive-date=August 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818144750/https://www.imore.com/marzipan |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Marzipan Benjamin Mayo">{{Cite web |last=Mayo |first=Benjamin |title=Marzipan |url=https://benjaminmayo.co.uk/marzipan |access-date=29 January 2019 |website=benjaminmayo.co.uk |date=September 25, 2018 |archive-date=April 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414093038/http://benjaminmayo.co.uk/marzipan |url-status=live}}</ref> With [[macOS Catalina]] in 2019, the application layer was made available to third-party developers as [[Mac Catalyst]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mac Catalyst |url=https://developer.apple.com/mac-catalyst/ |access-date=2022-10-06 |website=Apple Developer |language=en |archive-date=September 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922025050/https://developer.apple.com/mac-catalyst/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Hardware compatibility ===
List of macOS versions, the supported systems on which they run, and their RAM requirements

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"

|-
! Operating system
! Release year(s)
! Supported systems<ref>{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/*/apple.com/macos/how-to-upgrade/#hardware-requirements |title=macOS – Mac Hardware Requirements}}</ref>
! RAM requirement

|-
| [[Mac OS X 10.0|10.0]] – [[Mac OS X Jaguar|10.2]]
| 2001 – 2002
| G3, G4 and G5 [[iBook]] and [[PowerBook]], [[Power Macintosh|Power Mac]] and [[iMac]]<br /><small>(except [[PowerBook G3]] "Kanga")</small>
| data-sort-value=128 rowspan=2 | 128 MB

|-
| [[Mac OS X Panther|10.3]]
| 2003
| Macs with a [[New World ROM]]<ref name="TigerRequirements">{{Cite web |date=April 28, 2005 |title=Mac OS X: System Requirements |url=https://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106163 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070809065541/https://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106163 |archive-date=August 9, 2007 |access-date=December 20, 2006 |publisher=[[Apple Inc.|Apple]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

|-
| [[Mac OS X Tiger|10.4]]
| 2004
| Macs with built-in [[FireWire]] and either a [[New World ROM]] or Intel processor
| data-sort-value=256 | 256 MB

|-
| [[Mac OS X Leopard|10.5]]
| 2006
| Select G4, G5, and Intel Macs <small>(32-bit or 64-bit)</small> at 867&nbsp;MHz or faster<br />[[List of macOS components#Classic|Classic]] support dropped from 10.5 and later.
| data-sort-value=512 | 512 MB

|-
| [[Mac OS X Snow Leopard|10.6]]
| 2008
| Intel Macs <small>(32-bit or 64-bit)</small><ref name="LionReq" />
| data-sort-value=1024 | 1 GB

|-
| [[Mac OS X Lion|10.7]]
| 2010
| Intel Macs <small>(64-bit)</small><ref name="LionReq">{{Cite web |title=System requirements for OS X Lion and Mac OS X v10.6 |url=https://support.apple.com/en-au/HT202328 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923033514/https://support.apple.com/en-au/HT202328 |archive-date=September 23, 2016 |access-date=2016-09-22 |language=en-AU |df=mdy-all}}</ref><br />[[Rosetta (software)|Rosetta]] support dropped from 10.7 and later.
| data-sort-value=2048 rowspan=4 | 2 GB

|-
| [[OS X Mountain Lion|10.8]] – [[OS X El Capitan|10.11]]
| 2012 – 2015
| {{Plainlist |
* ''Laptops'': [[MacBook]] (Aluminum, Late 2008 or later), [[MacBook Air]] (Late 2008 or later), [[MacBook Pro]] (Mid 2007 or later)
* ''Desktops'':  [[Mac Mini]] (Early 2009 or later), [[iMac]] (Mid 2007 or later), [[Mac Pro]] (Early 2008 or later)
* ''Servers'': [[Xserve]] (Early 2009)
}}

|-
| [[macOS Sierra|10.12]] – [[macOS High Sierra|10.13]]
| 2016 – 2017
| {{Plainlist |
* ''Laptops'': [[MacBook]] (Late 2009 or later), [[MacBook Air]] (Late 2010 or later), [[MacBook Pro]] (Mid 2010 or later)
* ''Desktops'': [[Mac Mini]] (Mid 2010 or later), [[iMac]] (Late 2009 or later), [[iMac Pro]] (2017) (macOS 10.13), [[Mac Pro]] (Mid 2010 or later)
}}

|-
| [[macOS Mojave|10.14]]
| 2018
| {{Plainlist |
* ''Laptops'': [[MacBook]] (Early 2015 or later), [[MacBook Air]] (Mid 2012 or later), [[MacBook Pro]] (Mid 2012 or later)
* ''Desktops'': [[Mac Mini]] (Late 2012 or later), [[iMac]] (Late 2012 or later), [[iMac Pro]] (2017), [[Mac Pro]] (Mid 2010 or later<ref>{{Cite web|title=Install macOS 10.14 Mojave on Mac Pro (Mid 2010) and Mac Pro (Mid 2012)|url=https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208898|access-date=March 3, 2021|website=Apple Support|archive-date=November 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112022658/https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208898|url-status=live}}</ref>)
}}

|-
| [[macOS Catalina|10.15]]
| 2019
| {{Plainlist |
* ''Laptops'': [[MacBook]] (Early 2015 or later), [[MacBook Air]] (Mid 2012 or later), [[MacBook Pro]] (Mid 2012 or later)
* ''Desktops'': [[Mac Mini]] (Late 2012 or later), [[iMac]] (Late 2012 or later), [[iMac Pro]] (2017), [[Mac Pro]] (Late 2013 or later)
}}
| rowspan="3" data-sort-value="4096" | 4 GB

|-
| [[macOS Big Sur|11]]
| 2020
| {{Plainlist |
* ''Laptops'': [[MacBook]] (Early 2015 or later), [[MacBook Air]] (Mid 2013 or later), [[MacBook Pro]] (Late 2013 or later)
* ''Desktops'': [[Mac Mini]] (Late 2014 or later), [[iMac]] (Mid 2014 or later), [[iMac Pro]] (2017), [[Mac Pro]] (Late 2013 or later)
}}

|-
| [[macOS Monterey|12]]
| 2021
| {{Plainlist |
* ''Laptops'': [[MacBook]] (Early 2016 or later), [[MacBook Air]] (Early 2015 or later), [[MacBook Pro]] (Early 2015 or later)
* ''Desktops'': [[Mac Mini]] (Late 2014 or later), [[iMac]] (Late 2015 or later), [[iMac Pro]] (2017), [[Mac Studio]] (2022), [[Mac Pro]] (Late 2013 or later)
}}

|-
| [[MacOS Ventura|13]]
| 2022
| {{Plainlist |
* ''Laptops'': [[MacBook]] (2017), [[MacBook Air]] (2018 or later), [[MacBook Pro]] (2017 or later)
* ''Desktops'': [[Mac Mini]] (2018 or later), [[iMac]] (2017 or later), [[iMac Pro]] (2017), [[Mac Studio]] (2022 or later), [[Mac Pro]] (2019 or later)
}}
| rowspan="4" data-sort-value="8192" | 8 GB

|-
|[[MacOS Sonoma|14]]
| 2023
|{{Plainlist|
* ''Laptops'': [[MacBook Air]] (2018 or later), [[MacBook Pro]] (2018 or later)
* ''Desktops'': [[Mac Mini]] (2018 or later), [[iMac]] (2019 or later), [[iMac Pro]] (2017), [[Mac Studio]] (2022 or later), [[Mac Pro]] (2019 or later)
}}

|-
|[[MacOS Sequoia|15]]
| 2024
|{{Plainlist|
* ''Laptops'': [[MacBook Air]] (2020 or later), [[MacBook Pro]] (2018 or later)
* ''Desktops'': [[Mac Mini]] (2018 or later), [[iMac]] (2019 or later), [[iMac Pro]] (2017), [[Mac Studio]] (2022 or later), [[Mac Pro]] (2019 or later)
}}
|-
|[[MacOS Tahoe|26]]
|2025
|{{Plainlist|
* ''Laptops'': [[MacBook Air]] (M1 or later), [[MacBook Pro]] (2019 or later)
* ''Desktops'': [[Mac Mini]] (M1 or later), [[iMac]] (2020 or later), [[Mac Studio]] (2022 or later), [[Mac Pro]] (2019 or later)
}}
|}

Tools such as [[XPostFacto]] and patches applied to the installation media have been developed by third parties to enable installation of newer versions of macOS on systems not officially supported by Apple. This includes a number of pre-G3 Power Macintosh systems that can be made to run up to and including Mac OS X 10.2 Jaguar, all G3-based Macs which can run up to and including Tiger, and sub-867&nbsp;MHz G4 Macs can run Leopard by removing the restriction from the installation DVD or entering a command in the Mac's [[Open Firmware]] interface to tell the Leopard Installer that it has a clock rate of 867&nbsp;MHz or greater. Except for features requiring specific hardware such as graphics acceleration or DVD writing, the operating system offers the same functionality on all supported hardware.

As most Mac hardware components, or components similar to those, since the Intel transition are available for purchase,<ref>{{Cite web |title=iMac – Tech Specs – Apple |url=https://www.apple.com/imac/specs |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150728131342/https://www.apple.com/imac/specs |archive-date=July 28, 2015 |access-date=July 28, 2015 |publisher=Apple Inc. |df=mdy-all}}</ref> some technology-capable groups have developed software to install macOS on non-Apple computers. These are referred to as [[OSx86|Hackintoshes]], a [[portmanteau]] of the words "hack" and "Macintosh". This violates Apple's [[End-user license agreement|EULA]] (and is therefore unsupported by Apple technical support, warranties etc.), but communities that cater to personal users, who do not install for resale and profit, have generally been ignored by Apple.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home page – footer |url=https://www.tonymacx86.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150728064306/https://www.tonymacx86.com/ |archive-date=July 28, 2015 |access-date=July 28, 2015 |website=tonymacx86.com |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=K |first=M |title=Is installing Mavericks on Hackintosh legal? |url=https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/107324/is-installing-mavericks-on-hackintosh-legal |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150823154640/https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/107324/is-installing-mavericks-on-hackintosh-legal |archive-date=August 23, 2015 |access-date=July 28, 2015 |website=apple.stackexchange.com |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Choosing the right CPU for your hackintosh |url=https://www.macbreaker.com/2012/07/choosing-right-cpu-for-your-hackintosh.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150711181943/https://www.macbreaker.com/2012/07/choosing-right-cpu-for-your-hackintosh.html |archive-date=July 11, 2015 |access-date=July 28, 2015 |website=www.macbreaker.com |df=mdy-all}}</ref> These self-made computers allow more flexibility and customization of hardware, but at a cost of leaving the user more responsible for their own machine, such as on matter of data integrity or security.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Arment |first=Marco |title=Far Too Much Analysis Of The Alleged New Mac Pro Geekbench Score |url=https://www.marco.org/2013/06/20/new-mac-pro-geekbench |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405214346/https://www.marco.org/2013/06/20/new-mac-pro-geekbench |archive-date=April 5, 2015 |access-date=14 August 2015 |website=Marco.org |df=mdy-all}}</ref> [[Psystar]], a business that attempted to profit from selling macOS on non-Apple certified hardware, was sued by Apple in 2008.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Taub |first=Eric |date=July 16, 2008 |title=Apple sues Psystar to block Macintosh clones |url=https://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/07/16/apple-sues-psystar-to-block-macintosh-clone-sales/comment-page-2/?_r=0 |access-date=1 August 2015 |website=[[The New York Times]] |archive-date=October 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020004206/https://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/07/16/apple-sues-psystar-to-block-macintosh-clone-sales/comment-page-2/?_r=0 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== PowerPC–Intel transition ===
{{Main|Mac transition to Intel processors}}
[[File:Steve Jobs Presentation 1.jpg|thumb|Steve Jobs talks about the transition to Intel processors.]]
In April 2002, eWeek announced a rumor that Apple had a version of Mac OS X code-named [[Starvin' Marvin in Space|Marklar]], which ran on [[Intel x86]] processors. The idea behind Marklar was to keep Mac OS X running on an alternative platform should Apple become dissatisfied with the progress of the [[PowerPC]] platform.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Rothenbourg |first1=Matthew |last2=dePlume, Nick |date=August 30, 2002 |title=Apple Keeps x86 Torch Lit with 'Marklar' |url=https://www.eweek.com/c/a/Apple/Apple-Keeps-x86-Torch-Lit-with-Marklar |access-date=June 8, 2013 |publisher=eWeek.com |archive-date=September 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220927142110/https://www.eweek.com/apple/apple-keeps-x86-torch-lit-with-marklar/ |url-status=live }}</ref> These rumors subsided until late in May 2005, when various media outlets, such as ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]''<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Clark |first1=Don |last2=Wingfield |first2=Nick |date=May 23, 2005 |title=Apple Explores Use Of Chips From Intel For Macintosh Line |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB111680203134440188 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150115011437/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB111680203134440188 |archive-date=January 15, 2015 |access-date=February 8, 2009 |website=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |publisher=[[Dow Jones & Company]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref> and [[CNET]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kanellos |first=Michael |date=May 24, 2005 |title=Apple to Intel: Some advantage, lots of risk |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/apple-to-intel-some-advantage-lots-of-risk |access-date=January 22, 2022 |website=[[CNET]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |archive-date=January 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220122014428/https://www.cnet.com/news/apple-to-intel-some-advantage-lots-of-risk/ |url-status=live }}</ref> announced that Apple would unveil Marklar in the coming months.<ref name="I'll See You Intel">{{Cite web |last=Gruber |first=John |author-link=John Gruber |title=I'll See You Intel |url=https://daringfireball.net/2005/06/see_you_intel |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313215847/https://daringfireball.net/2005/06/see_you_intel |archive-date=March 13, 2016 |access-date=31 March 2016 |website=Daring Fireball |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="Intel-Apple Odds and Ends">{{Cite web |last=Gruber |first=John |title=Intel-Apple Odds and Ends |url=https://daringfireball.net/2005/06/intel_apple_odds_and_ends |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050608013302/https://daringfireball.net/2005/06/intel_apple_odds_and_ends |archive-date=June 8, 2005 |access-date=31 March 2016 |website=Daring Fireball |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="Bombs Away">{{Cite web |last=Gruber |first=John |title=Bombs Away |url=https://daringfireball.net/2005/06/bombs_away |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160411170333/https://daringfireball.net/2005/06/bombs_away |archive-date=April 11, 2016 |access-date=31 March 2016 |website=Daring Fireball |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

On June 6, 2005, Steve Jobs announced in his keynote address at WWDC that Apple would be making the transition from PowerPC to [[Intel]] processors over the following two years, and that Mac OS X would support both platforms during the transition. Jobs also confirmed rumors that Apple had versions of Mac OS X running on Intel processors for most of its developmental life. Intel-based Macs would run a new recompiled version of OS X along with [[Rosetta (software)|Rosetta]], a [[binary translation]] layer which enables software compiled for PowerPC Mac OS X to run on Intel Mac OS X machines.<ref name="John Siracusa mourns the Power PC">{{Cite web |last=Siracusa |first=John |date=June 7, 2005 |title=Picking up the pieces: John Siracusa mourns the Power PC |url=https://arstechnica.com/apple/2005/06/mac-20050607 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160329184041/https://arstechnica.com/apple/2005/06/mac-20050607 |archive-date=March 29, 2016 |access-date=31 March 2016 |website=[[Ars Technica]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref> The system was included with Mac OS X versions up to version 10.6.8.<ref name="AppleInsider: Mac OS X Lion drops Front Row, Java runtime, Rosetta">{{Cite web |last=AppleInsider Staff |date=February 26, 2011 |title=Mac OS X Lion drops Front Row, Java runtime, Rosetta |url=https://www.appleinsider.com/articles/11/02/26/mac_os_x_lion_drops_front_row_java_runtime_rosetta.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110301003419/https://www.appleinsider.com/articles/11/02/26/mac_os_x_lion_drops_front_row_java_runtime_rosetta.html |archive-date=March 1, 2011 |access-date=February 27, 2011 |website=[[AppleInsider]] |publisher=AppleInsider, Inc}}</ref> Apple dropped support for Classic mode on the new Intel Macs. Third party emulation software such as [[Mini vMac]], [[Basilisk II]] and [[SheepShaver]] provided support for some early versions of Mac OS. A new version of Xcode and the underlying command-line compilers supported building [[universal binary|universal binaries]] that would run on either architecture.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Apple to Use Intel Microprocessors Beginning in 2006 |date=June 6, 2005 |publisher=[[Apple Inc.|Apple]] |url=https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2005/06/06Apple-to-Use-Intel-Microprocessors-Beginning-in-2006 |access-date=January 2, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180130185804/https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2005/06/06Apple-to-Use-Intel-Microprocessors-Beginning-in-2006 |archive-date=January 30, 2018 |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

PowerPC-only software is supported with Apple's official [[binary translation]] software, [[Rosetta (software)|Rosetta]], though applications eventually had to be rewritten to run properly on the newer versions released for Intel processors. Apple initially encouraged developers to produce universal binaries with support for both PowerPC and Intel.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 2006 |title=Adopting Universal Binaries |url=https://developer.apple.com/macosx/adoptinguniversalbinaries.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061017075217/https://developer.apple.com/macosx/adoptinguniversalbinaries.html |archive-date=October 17, 2006 |access-date=December 20, 2006 |publisher=[[Apple Inc.|Apple]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref> PowerPC binaries suffer a performance penalty when run on Intel Macs through Rosetta. Moreover, some PowerPC software, such as kernel extensions and System Preferences plugins, are not supported on Intel Macs at all. Plugins for Safari need to be compiled for the same platform as Safari, so when Safari is running on Intel, it requires plug-ins that have been compiled as Intel-only or universal binaries, so PowerPC-only plug-ins will not work.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Landau |first=Ted |date=May 2006 |title=OS X First Aid |url=https://www.macworld.com/article/50339/2006/04/firstaidintel.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090109080800/https://www.macworld.com/article/50339/2006/04/firstaidintel.html |archive-date=January 9, 2009 |access-date=February 8, 2009 |website=[[Macworld]] |publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref> While Intel Macs can run PowerPC, Intel, and universal binaries, PowerPC Macs support only universal and PowerPC builds.

Support for the PowerPC platform was dropped following the transition. In 2009, Apple announced at WWDC that Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard would drop support for PowerPC processors and be Intel-only.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stevens |first=Tim |date=June 10, 2009 |title=Snow Leopard officially puts PowerPC Macs on endangered species list |url=https://www.engadget.com/2009/06/10/snow-leopard-officially-puts-powerpc-macs-on-endangered-species |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100323085015/https://www.engadget.com/2009/06/10/snow-leopard-officially-puts-powerpc-macs-on-endangered-species |archive-date=March 23, 2010 |access-date=June 15, 2009 |website=[[Engadget]] |publisher=[[AOL]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Rosetta continued to be offered as an optional download or installation choice in Snow Leopard before it was discontinued with Mac OS X 10.7 Lion.<ref name="MacRumors: Mac OS X Lion: Drops PowerPC Emulation, Adds QuickTime Pro Features, Much More">{{Cite web |last=Arnold Kim |date=February 27, 2011 |title=Mac OS X Lion: Drops PowerPC Emulation, Adds QuickTime Pro Features, Much More |url=https://www.macrumors.com/2011/02/27/mac-os-x-lion-drops-powerpc-emulation-adds-quicktime-pro-features-much-more |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110227205334/https://www.macrumors.com/2011/02/27/mac-os-x-lion-drops-powerpc-emulation-adds-quicktime-pro-features-much-more |archive-date=February 27, 2011 |access-date=February 27, 2011 |website=[[MacRumors]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref> In addition, new versions of Mac OS X first- and third-party software increasingly required Intel processors, including new versions of iLife, iWork, Aperture and Logic Pro.

=== Intel–Apple silicon transition ===
{{Main|Mac transition to Apple silicon}}
[[File:Apple M1.jpg|thumb|An illustration of Apple's M1 processor]]
Rumors of Apple shifting Macs from Intel to in-house ARM processors used by iOS devices began circulating as early as 2011,<ref name="SemiAccurate">{{Cite web |last=Demerjian |first=Charlie |date=May 5, 2011 |title=Apple dumps Intel from laptop lines |url=https://semiaccurate.com/2011/05/05/apple-dumps-intel-from-laptop-lines |access-date=June 25, 2020 |website=SemiAccurate |publisher=Stone Arch Networking Services, Inc. |archive-date=May 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220517065123/https://semiaccurate.com/2011/05/05/apple-dumps-intel-from-laptop-lines/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and ebbed and flowed throughout the 2010s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Apple Testing ARM Based Mac Prototypes with Large Magic Trackpad? |url=https://www.macrumors.com/2014/05/25/arm-mac-magic-trackpad |access-date=2020-06-22 |website=MacRumors |date=May 25, 2014 |language=en |archive-date=September 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220915162849/https://www.macrumors.com/2014/05/25/arm-mac-magic-trackpad/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Rumors intensified in 2020, when numerous reports announced that the company would announce its shift to its custom processors at WWDC.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ARM Macs: Expected at WWDC 2020, What We Know |url=https://www.macrumors.com/guide/arm-macs |access-date=2020-06-22 |website=MacRumors |language=en |archive-date=June 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200625004016/https://www.macrumors.com/guide/arm-macs/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Apple officially announced its shift to [[Apple silicon|processors designed in-house]] on June 22, 2020, at WWDC 2020, with the transition planned to last for approximately two years.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Apple announces Mac transition to Apple silicon |publisher=Apple Inc. |url=https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2020/06/apple-announces-mac-transition-to-apple-silicon |access-date=2020-06-22 |archive-date=June 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200622185215/https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2020/06/apple-announces-mac-transition-to-apple-silicon |url-status=live }}</ref> The first release of macOS to support ARM was [[macOS Big Sur]]. Big Sur and later versions support [[Universal binary#Universal 2|Universal 2 binaries]], which are applications consisting of both Intel ([[x86-64]]) and Apple silicon ([[AArch64]]) binaries; when launched, only the appropriate binary is run. Additionally, Intel binaries can be run on Apple silicon-based Macs using the [[Rosetta 2]] [[binary translation]] software. The transition was completed at [[WWDC 2023]] with the announcement of the Apple silicon [[Mac Pro]], ending the transition in 3 years, slightly behind schedule.

The change in processor architecture allows Macs with ARM processors to be able to run iOS and iPadOS apps natively.<ref name="Engadget1">{{Cite news |last=Lee |first=Nicole |date=June 22, 2020 |title=iOS apps will run natively on ARM-powered Macs |work=[[Engadget]] |url=https://www.engadget.com/ios-apps-arm-powered-macs-192046502.html |access-date=June 23, 2020 |archive-date=December 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201208172634/https://www.engadget.com/ios-apps-arm-powered-macs-192046502.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Features ==
=== User interface ===
The macOS user interface places a [[menu bar]] along the top edge of the screen, containing the [[Apple menu]] and application menus at the start, and status menus at the end. The [[Dock (macOS)|Dock]] is placed along the bottom of the screen by default, and contains icons for pinned and active applications, file and folder shortcuts, minimized windows, and the [[Trash (computing)|Trash]] (or Bin). On most windows, the start of the [[title bar]] has three buttons resembling a horizontal [[traffic light]], which respectively close, minimize, and resize the window.

Apple has continued to change aspects of the macOS appearance and design, particularly with tweaks to the appearance of windows and the menu bar. Since 2012, Apple has sold almost all of its Mac models with high-resolution [[Retina display]]s, and macOS and its [[Application programming interface|APIs]] have extensive support for resolution-independent development on supporting high-resolution displays. Reviewers have described Apple's support for the technology as superior to that on Windows.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Castle |first=Alex |date=February 19, 2014 |title=How to make the Windows desktop look good on high-DPI displays |url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/2098586/how-to-make-the-windows-desktop-look-good-on-high-dpi-displays.html |access-date=September 25, 2020 |website=PC World |archive-date=August 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210814125238/https://www.pcworld.com/article/2098586/how-to-make-the-windows-desktop-look-good-on-high-dpi-displays.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Cunningham |first=Andrew |date=April 13, 2015 |title=Using the Retina MacBook as a Windows PC |url=https://arstechnica.com/apple/2015/04/using-the-retina-macbook-as-a-windows-pc |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150709032324/https://arstechnica.com/apple/2015/04/using-the-retina-macbook-as-a-windows-pc |archive-date=July 9, 2015 |access-date=9 July 2015 |website=Ars Technica |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hutchinson |first=Lee |date=October 28, 2014 |title=The Retina iMac and its 5K display… as a gaming machine? [Updated] |url=https://arstechnica.com/apple/2014/10/the-retina-imac-and-its-5k-display-as-a-gaming-machine/2 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150710182330/https://arstechnica.com/apple/2014/10/the-retina-imac-and-its-5k-display-as-a-gaming-machine/2 |archive-date=July 10, 2015 |access-date=9 July 2015 |website=Ars Technica |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

The [[human interface guidelines]] published by Apple for macOS are followed by many applications, giving them consistent user interface and keyboard shortcuts.<ref>{{Cite book |last=O'Malley |first=Kevin |url=https://archive.org/details/programmingmacos00omal_882 |title=Programming Mac OS X: A Guide for Unix Developers |publisher=Manning |year=2003 |isbn=1-930110-85-5 |page=[https://archive.org/details/programmingmacos00omal_882/page/n33 7] |url-access=limited}}</ref> Services available in every Cocoa application include spelling and grammar checkers, special characters palette, color picker, font chooser and dictionary. The graphics system [[OpenGL]] composites windows onto the screen to allow hardware-accelerated drawing. This technology, introduced in version 10.2, is called [[Quartz Compositor|Quartz Extreme]], a component of [[Quartz (graphics layer)|Quartz]]. Quartz's internal imaging model correlates well with the [[Portable Document Format]] (PDF) imaging model, making it easy to output PDF to multiple devices.<ref name="davidson" /> As a side result, PDF viewing and creating PDF documents from any application are built-in features.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mac OS X. It's what makes a Mac a Mac. |url=https://www.apple.com/macosx/what-is-macosx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110222230151/https://www.apple.com/macosx/what-is-macosx |archive-date=February 22, 2011 |access-date=March 2, 2011 |publisher=[[Apple Inc.|Apple]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Reflecting its popularity with design users, macOS also has system support for a variety of professional video and image formats and includes an extensive pre-installed font library, featuring many prominent brand-name designs.<ref name="Making the ultimate creative content OS from bits of Windows, Mac, and Linux">{{Cite web |last=Girard |first=Dave |date=September 9, 2013 |title=Making the ultimate creative content OS from bits of Windows, Mac, and Linux |url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2013/09/making-the-ultimate-creative-content-os-ubercreate-os-1-0 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150819081828/https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2013/09/making-the-ultimate-creative-content-os-ubercreate-os-1-0 |archive-date=August 19, 2015 |access-date=14 August 2015 |website=Ars Technica |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

==== Aqua ====
{{Main|Aqua (user interface)}}

[[File:Macosxpb.png|thumb|250px|The original [[Aqua (user interface)|Aqua]] user interface as seen in the [[Mac OS X Public Beta]] from 2000]]

A major addition between the [[classic Mac OS]] and the first major release of Mac OS X was [[Aqua (user interface)|Aqua]], a design language with water-like elements. It was designed to appear lickable.<ref name="macworld2000">{{cite web|title=Macworld San Francisco 2000| date=August 20, 2006 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ko4V3G4NqII |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/Ko4V3G4NqII| archive-date=2021-12-12|url-status=live|access-date=January 6, 2009|at=6 min 45 sec|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Every window element, text, graphic, or [[widget (computing)|widget]] was drawn on-screen using [[spatial anti-aliasing]] technology.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 9, 2008 |title=The Aqua Interface |url=https://developer.apple.com/documentation/UserExperience/Conceptual/AppleHIGuidelines/XHIGPartIII/chapter_11_section_1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081209044209/https://developer.apple.com/documentation/UserExperience/Conceptual/AppleHIGuidelines/XHIGPartIII/chapter_11_section_1.html |archive-date=December 9, 2008 |access-date=December 16, 2008 |website=Apple Human Interface Guidelines |publisher=[[Apple Inc.|Apple]]}}</ref> The preexisting [[ColorSync]] technology was improved and built into the core drawing engine, to provide color matching for [[printing]] and [[multimedia]] professionals.<ref name="davidson">{{Cite book |last=Davidson |first=James Duncan |url=https://archive.org/details/learningcocoawit0000davi/page/6 |title=Learning Cocoa With Objective-C |publisher=O'Reilly |year=2002 |isbn=0-596-00301-3 |page=[https://archive.org/details/learningcocoawit0000davi/page/6 6]}}</ref> [[Drop shadow]]s were added around windows and isolated text elements to provide a sense of depth. New interface elements were integrated, including sheets ([[dialog box]]es attached to specific windows) and drawers, which would slide out and provide options.

The use of soft edges, translucent colors, and pinstripes, similar to the hardware design of the first [[iMac]]s, brought more texture and color to the user interface when compared to what [[Mac OS 9]] and [[Mac OS X Server 1.0]]'s [[Platinum (theme)|Platinum]] appearance had offered. According to Siracusa, the introduction of Aqua and its departure from the then conventional look "hit like a ton of bricks."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Siracusa |first=John |date=October 28, 2007 |title=Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard: the Ars Technica review |url=https://arstechnica.com/reviews/os/mac-os-x-10-5.ars/3 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216092420/https://arstechnica.com/reviews/os/mac-os-x-10-5.ars/3 |archive-date=December 16, 2008 |access-date=December 16, 2008 |website=[[Ars Technica]] |publisher=[[Condé Nast Publishing|Condé Nast Digital]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref>
[[Bruce Tognazzini]] (who founded the original Apple Human Interface Group) said that the Aqua interface in [[Mac OS X 10.0]] represented a step backwards in usability compared with the original Mac OS interface.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tognazzini |first=Bruce |date=February 2000 |title=OS X: A First Look |url=https://www.asktog.com/columns/034OSX-FirstLook.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080927085032/https://www.asktog.com/columns/034OSX-FirstLook.html |archive-date=September 27, 2008 |access-date=November 5, 2008 |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Thomas |first=Matthew Paul |date=February 16, 2004 |title=My first 48 hours enduring Mac OS X |url=https://mpt.net.nz/archive/2004/02/16/os-x |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081014095216/https://mpt.net.nz/archive/2004/02/16/os-x |archive-date=October 14, 2008 |access-date=November 5, 2008}}</ref>
Third-party developers started producing [[skin (computing)|skins]] for customizable applications and other operating systems which mimicked the Aqua appearance. To some extent, Apple has used the successful transition to this design as leverage, at various times threatening [[legal action]] against people who make or distribute software with an interface the company says is derived from its [[copyright]]ed design.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 2, 2001 |title=Apple lowers boom on Aqua 'skins' |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/apple-lowers-boom-on-aqua-skins/ |access-date=January 11, 2023 |website=[[ZDNet]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |archive-date=January 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111105314/https://www.zdnet.com/article/apple-lowers-boom-on-aqua-skins/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Following a similar design change in {{Nowrap|[[iOS 7]]}}, [[OS X Yosemite]] shifted to a [[flat design]] language, simplifying many of the Aqua elements and icons.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://arstechnica.com/apple/2014/10/os-x-10-10/|title = OS X 10.10 Yosemite: The Ars Technica Review|date = October 16, 2014|access-date = December 7, 2015|website = Ars Technica|last = Siracusa|first = John}}</ref> In 2025, [[macOS Tahoe]] adopted the [[Liquid Glass]] design language,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cunningham |first=Andrew |date=June 9, 2025 |title=Apple's macOS 26 Tahoe has new Liquid Glass look, customizable folders, and more |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/06/apples-macos-26-tahoe-has-new-liquid-glass-look-customizable-folders-and-more/ |access-date=June 10, 2025 |website=Ars Technica |language=en}}</ref> which was inspired in part by Aqua.<ref name="WWDC25">{{Cite web |title=Meet Liquid Glass - WWDC25 - Videos |url=https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2025/219/ |access-date=2025-06-10 |website=Apple Developer |language=en}}</ref>

=== Built-in components ===
{{Main|List of built-in macOS apps}}

The [[Finder (software)|Finder]] is a file browser allowing quick access to all areas of the computer, which has been modified throughout subsequent releases of macOS.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Holwerda |first=Thom |date=December 6, 2007 |title=Review: Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard |url=https://www.osnews.com/story/18992/Review_Mac_OS_X_10_5_Leopard/page2 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090515190607/https://www.osnews.com/story/18992/Review_Mac_OS_X_10_5_Leopard/page2 |archive-date=May 15, 2009 |access-date=April 15, 2009 |publisher=OS News |quote=The next area where Apple claims to have made major improvements is the Finder. |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Siracusa |first=John |date=January 26, 2006 |title=Finding Leopard |url=https://arstechnica.com/staff/fatbits/2006/01/2673.ars |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090204195034/https://arstechnica.com/staff/fatbits/2006/01/2673.ars |archive-date=February 4, 2009 |access-date=April 15, 2009 |website=[[Ars Technica]] |publisher=[[Condé Nast Publishing|Condé Nast Digital]] |quote=Unsurprisingly, each new Mac OS X release has been the vehicle for a parade of Finder fantasies. |df=mdy-all}}</ref> [[Quick Look]] has been part of the Finder since [[Mac OS X Leopard|version 10.5]]. It allows for dynamic previews of files, including videos and multi-page documents without opening any other applications. [[Spotlight (software)|Spotlight]], a file searching technology which has been integrated into the Finder since [[Mac OS X Tiger|version 10.4]], allows rapid real-time searches of data files; mail messages; photos; and other information based on item properties (metadata) or content.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Siracusa |first=John |date=April 28, 2005 |title=Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger |url=https://arstechnica.com/apple/reviews/2005/04/macosx-10-4.ars/9 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090402204130/https://arstechnica.com/apple/reviews/2005/04/macosx-10-4.ars/9 |archive-date=April 2, 2009 |access-date=April 15, 2009 |website=[[Ars Technica]] |publisher=[[Condé Nast Publishing|Condé Nast Digital]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=November 6, 2008 |title=Mac 101: Spotlight |url=https://support.apple.com/kb/HT2531 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090119031831/https://support.apple.com/kb/HT2531 |archive-date=January 19, 2009 |access-date=April 15, 2009 |publisher=[[Apple Inc.|Apple]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

Apple added Exposé in [[Mac OS X Panther|version 10.3]] (called [[Mission Control (macOS)|Mission Control]] since [[Mac OS X Lion|version 10.7]]), a feature which includes three functions to help accessibility between windows and desktop. Its functions are to instantly reveal all open windows as thumbnails for easy navigation to different tasks, display all open windows as thumbnails from the current application, and hide all windows to access the desktop.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 31, 2008 |title=Mac 101: Exposé |url=https://support.apple.com/kb/HT2503 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216053853/https://support.apple.com/kb/HT2503 |archive-date=December 16, 2008 |access-date=December 16, 2008 |publisher=[[Apple Inc.|Apple]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref> [[FileVault]] is optional encryption of the user's files with the 128-bit [[Advanced Encryption Standard]] (AES-128).<ref>{{Cite web |title=About FileVault |url=https://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.5/en/8727.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090113170834/https://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac%2F10.5%2Fen%2F8727.html |archive-date=January 13, 2009 |access-date=December 16, 2008 |website=Mac OS X 10.5 Help |publisher=[[Apple Inc.|Apple]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

Features introduced in [[Mac OS X Tiger|version 10.4]] include [[Automator (software)|Automator]], an application designed to create an automatic workflow for different tasks;<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 6, 2008 |title=Mac 101: Automator |url=https://support.apple.com/kb/HT2488 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081221115524/https://support.apple.com/kb/HT2488 |archive-date=December 21, 2008 |access-date=December 16, 2008 |publisher=[[Apple Inc.|Apple]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref> [[Dashboard (Mac OS)|Dashboard]], a full-screen group of small applications called [[desktop widget]]s that can be called up and dismissed in one keystroke;<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 11, 2008 |title=Mac 101: Dashboard |url=https://support.apple.com/kb/HT2492 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081210111941/https://support.apple.com/kb/HT2492 |archive-date=December 10, 2008 |access-date=December 16, 2008 |publisher=[[Apple Inc.|Apple]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref> and [[Front Row (software)|Front Row]], a media viewer interface accessed by the [[Apple Remote]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Front Row |url=https://www.apple.com/macosx/features/300.html#frontrow |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081215210759/https://www.apple.com/macosx/features/300.html#frontrow |archive-date=December 15, 2008 |access-date=December 16, 2008 |publisher=[[Apple Inc.|Apple]]}}</ref> Sync Services allows applications to access a centralized extensible database for various elements of user data, including calendar and contact items. The operating system then managed conflicting edits and data consistency.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 31, 2007 |title=Why Use Sync Services? |url=https://developer.apple.com/documentation/Cocoa/Conceptual/SyncServices/Articles/WhySyncServices.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081012141434/https://developer.apple.com/documentation/Cocoa/Conceptual/SyncServices/Articles/WhySyncServices.html |archive-date=October 12, 2008 |access-date=December 16, 2008 |publisher=[[Apple Inc.|Apple]]}}</ref>

All system icons are scalable up to 512×512 pixels as of [[Mac OS X Leopard|version 10.5]] to accommodate various places where they appear in larger size, including for example the [[Cover Flow]] view, a [[3D computer graphics|three-dimensional]] graphical user interface included with [[iTunes]], the Finder, and other Apple products for visually skimming through files and digital media libraries via cover artwork. That version also introduced [[Spaces (software)|Spaces]], a [[virtual desktop]] implementation which enables the user to have more than one desktop and display them in an Exposé-like interface;<ref>{{Cite web |title=Spaces. Room for everything. |url=https://www.apple.com/macosx/features/spaces.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081215205127/https://www.apple.com/macosx/features/spaces.html |archive-date=December 15, 2008 |access-date=December 16, 2008 |publisher=[[Apple Inc.|Apple]]}}</ref> an automatic backup technology called [[Time Machine (macOS)|Time Machine]], which allows users to view and restore previous versions of files and application data;<ref>{{Cite web |title=Time Machine. A giant leap backward. |url=https://www.apple.com/macosx/features/timemachine.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081215222504/https://www.apple.com/macosx/features/timemachine.html |archive-date=December 15, 2008 |access-date=December 16, 2008 |publisher=[[Apple Inc.|Apple]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref> and Screen Sharing was built in for the first time.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Finder |url=https://www.apple.com/macosx/features/300.html#finder |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081215210759/https://www.apple.com/macosx/features/300.html |archive-date=December 15, 2008 |access-date=December 16, 2008 |publisher=[[Apple Inc.|Apple]]}}</ref>

Apple has developed support for [[emoji]] characters by including the proprietary [[Apple Color Emoji]] font.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jeff Blagdon |date=2013-03-04 |title=How emoji conquered the world |url=https://www.theverge.com/2013/3/4/3966140/how-emoji-conquered-the-world |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130306003148/https://www.theverge.com/2013/3/4/3966140/how-emoji-conquered-the-world |archive-date=March 6, 2013 |access-date=2014-07-28 |website=The Verge |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="Smile, You're Speaking EMOJI: the rapid evolution of a wordless tongue">{{Cite web |last=Sternbergh |first=Adam |date=November 17, 2014 |title=Smile, You're Speaking EMOJI: the rapid evolution of a wordless tongue |url=https://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2014/11/emojis-rapid-evolution.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326144817/https://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2014/11/emojis-rapid-evolution.html |archive-date=March 26, 2017 |access-date=15 August 2015 |website=New York magazine |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Apple has also connected macOS with social networks such as [[Twitter]] and [[Facebook]] through the addition of share buttons for content such as pictures and text.<ref>{{Cite web |title=OS X Mountain Lion: Share with iCloud, Facebook, Twitter, and other services |url=https://support.apple.com/kb/PH11435?locale=en_US |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160419023942/https://support.apple.com/kb/PH11435?locale=en_US |archive-date=April 19, 2016 |access-date=14 August 2015 |publisher=Apple |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Apple has brought several applications and features that originally debuted in [[iOS]], its mobile operating system, to macOS, notably the [[intelligent personal assistant]] [[Siri]], which was introduced in [[macOS Sierra|version 10.12]] of macOS.<ref name="siri1">{{Cite web |title=13 Things You Can Do with macOS Sierra You Couldn't Before |url=https://fieldguide.gizmodo.com/13-things-you-can-do-with-macos-sierra-you-couldnt-befo-1787059614 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927150746/https://fieldguide.gizmodo.com/13-things-you-can-do-with-macos-sierra-you-couldnt-befo-1787059614 |archive-date=September 27, 2016 |access-date=September 28, 2016 |website=[[Gizmodo]] |date=September 27, 2016 |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="siri2">{{Cite magazine |title=How to use Siri in macOS Sierra: A look at using the Apple's virtual assistant on the Mac |url=https://www.macworld.com/article/3088224/macs/how-to-use-siri-on-macos-sierra.html |url-status=live |magazine=[[Macworld]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204005925/https://www.macworld.com/article/3088224/macs/how-to-use-siri-on-macos-sierra.html |archive-date=February 4, 2017 |access-date=September 28, 2016 |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

=== Multilingual support ===
There are 47 system languages available in macOS for the user at the moment of installation; the system language is used throughout the entire operating system environment.<ref name="macoslanguages">{{Cite web |title=macOS – How to Upgrade – Apple |url=https://www.apple.com/macos/how-to-upgrade |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927013442/https://www.apple.com/macos/how-to-upgrade |archive-date=September 27, 2016 |access-date=September 28, 2016 |publisher=[[Apple Inc.|Apple]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Input methods for typing in dozens of scripts can be chosen independently of the system language.<ref name="languages">{{Cite web |title=System – New system languages. |url=https://www.apple.com/macosx/whats-new/features.html#system |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110623030050/https://www.apple.com/macosx/whats-new/features.html |archive-date=June 23, 2011 |access-date=June 6, 2011 |publisher=[[Apple Inc.|Apple]]}}</ref> Updates have added increased support for [[Chinese characters]] and interconnections with popular social networks in [[China]].<ref name="Apple's Tim Cook visits China to talk expansion, expansion, expansion">{{Cite web |last=Cheng |first=Jacqui |date=January 10, 2013 |title=Apple's Tim Cook visits China to talk expansion, expansion, expansion |url=https://arstechnica.com/apple/2013/01/apples-tim-cook-visits-china-to-talk-expansion-expansion-expansion |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150918220931/https://arstechnica.com/apple/2013/01/apples-tim-cook-visits-china-to-talk-expansion-expansion-expansion |archive-date=September 18, 2015 |access-date=14 August 2015 |website=Ars Technica |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="Next version of OS X to be more iOS-like than ever with Mountain Lion">{{Cite web |last=Foresman |first=Chris |date=February 16, 2012 |title=Next version of OS X to be more iOS-like than ever with Mountain Lion |url=https://arstechnica.com/apple/2012/02/apple-unleashes-mountain-lion-on-developers-set-for-summer-release |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150820063157/https://arstechnica.com/apple/2012/02/apple-unleashes-mountain-lion-on-developers-set-for-summer-release |archive-date=August 20, 2015 |access-date=14 August 2015 |website=Ars Technica |publisher=Conde Nast |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="Apple targets China, Japan with new OS X El Capitan system fonts and input">{{Cite web |last=Campbell |first=Mikey |title=Apple targets China, Japan with new OS X El Capitan system fonts and input |url=https://appleinsider.com/articles/15/06/08/apple-targets-china-japan-with-new-os-x-el-capitan-system-fonts-and-input |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906180240/https://appleinsider.com/articles/15/06/08/apple-targets-china-japan-with-new-os-x-el-capitan-system-fonts-and-input |archive-date=September 6, 2015 |access-date=14 August 2015 |website=Apple Insider |date=June 8, 2015 |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="chinamtnlion">{{Cite web |last=Panzarino |first=Matthew |date=February 16, 2012 |title=Apple courts China with Sina Weibo, Baidu, Youku and more integrated in Mountain Lion |url=https://thenextweb.com/apple/2012/02/16/apple-is-serious-about-china-sina-weibo-baidu-youku-and-more-integrated-into-mountain-lion |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321020638/https://thenextweb.com/apple/2012/02/16/apple-is-serious-about-china-sina-weibo-baidu-youku-and-more-integrated-into-mountain-lion |archive-date=March 21, 2012 |access-date=March 15, 2012 |publisher=The Next Web |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

=== Updating methods ===
{{Anchor|Functionality|Software Update}}

macOS can be updated using the Software Update settings pane in [[System Settings]] or the <code>softwareupdate</code> [[command line]] utility. Until [[OS X Mountain Lion|OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion]], a separate [[List of macOS components#Software Update|Software Update]] application performed this functionality. In Mountain Lion and later, this was merged into the [[Mac App Store]] application, although the underlying update mechanism remains unchanged and is fundamentally different from the download mechanism used when purchasing an App Store application. In [[macOS Mojave|macOS 10.14 Mojave]], the updating function was moved again to the Software Update settings pane.

Most Macs receive six or seven years of macOS updates. After a new major release of macOS, the previous two releases still receive occasional updates, but many security vulnerabilities are only patched in the latest macOS release.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Cunningham |first=Andrew |date=2022-10-27 |title=Apple clarifies security update policy: Only the latest OSes are fully patched |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2022/10/apple-clarifies-security-update-policy-only-the-latest-oses-are-fully-patched/ |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us |archive-date=February 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230212160619/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2022/10/apple-clarifies-security-update-policy-only-the-latest-oses-are-fully-patched/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Release history ==
{{Main|macOS version history#Releases}}
<div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 350px;">
<timeline>
ImageSize  = width:350 height:550
PlotArea   = width:200 height:530 left:50 bottom:10

DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy
Period     = from:01/01/1997 till:01/01/2026
TimeAxis   = orientation:vertical
ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:1 start:01/01/1997
ScaleMinor = unit:month increment:3 start:01/01/1997

PlotData=
  bar:macos mark:(line,black) fontsize:10
  at:15/09/2025 shift:(20,-2) text:"[[macOS Tahoe|macOS 26 Tahoe]] (15/09/2025)"
  at:16/09/2024 shift:(20,-2) text:"[[macOS Sequoia|macOS 15 Sequoia]] (16/09/2024)"
  at:26/09/2023 shift:(20,-2) text:"[[macOS Sonoma|macOS 14 Sonoma]] (26/09/2023)"
  at:24/10/2022 shift:(20,-2) text:"[[macOS Ventura|macOS 13 Ventura]] (24/10/2022)"
  at:25/10/2021 shift:(20,-2) text:"[[macOS Monterey|macOS 12 Monterey]] (25/10/2021)"
  at:12/11/2020 shift:(20,-2) text:"[[macOS Big Sur|macOS 11 Big Sur]] (12/11/2020)"
  at:07/10/2019 shift:(20,-2) text:"[[macOS Catalina|macOS 10.15 Catalina]] (07/10/2019)"
  at:24/09/2018 shift:(20,-2) text:"[[macOS Mojave|macOS 10.14 Mojave]] (24/09/2018)"
  at:25/09/2017 shift:(20,-2) text:"[[macOS High Sierra|macOS 10.13 High Sierra]] (25/09/2017)"
  at:20/09/2016 shift:(20,-2) text:"[[macOS Sierra|macOS 10.12 Sierra]] (20/09/2016)"
  at:30/09/2015 shift:(20,-2) text:"[[OS X El Capitan|OS X 10.11 El Capitan]] (30/09/2015)"
  at:16/10/2014 shift:(20,-2) text:"[[OS X Yosemite|OS X 10.10 Yosemite]] (16/10/2014)"
  at:22/10/2013 shift:(20,-2) text:"[[OS X Mavericks|OS X 10.9 Mavericks]] (22/10/2013)"
  at:25/07/2012 shift:(20,-2) text:"[[OS X Mountain Lion|OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion]] (25/07/2012)"
  at:20/07/2011 shift:(20,-2) text:"[[Mac OS X Lion|Mac OS X 10.7 Lion]] (20/07/2011)"
  at:28/08/2009 shift:(20,-2) text:"[[Mac OS X Snow Leopard|Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard]] (28/08/2009)"
  at:26/10/2007 shift:(20,-2) text:"[[Mac OS X Leopard|Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard]] (26/10/2007)"
  at:29/04/2005 shift:(20,-2) text:"[[Mac OS X Tiger|Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger]] (29/04/2005)"
  at:24/10/2003 shift:(20,-2) text:"[[Mac OS X Panther|Mac OS X 10.3 Panther]] (24/10/2003)"
  at:24/08/2002 shift:(20,-2) text:"[[Mac OS X Jaguar|Mac OS X 10.2 Jaguar]] (24/08/2002)"
  at:25/09/2001 shift:(20,-2) text:"[[Mac OS X 10.1]] Puma (25/09/2001)"
  at:24/04/2001 shift:(20,-7) text:"[[Mac OS X 10.0]] Cheetah (24/04/2001)"
  at:13/09/2000 shift:(20,-7) text:"[[Mac OS X Public Beta]] Kodiak (13/09/2000)"
  at:16/03/1999 shift:(20,2) text:"[[Mac OS X Server 1.0]] Hera (16/03/1999)~Mac OS X Developer Preview (16/03/1999)"
  at:31/08/1997 shift:(20,-2) text:"[[Rhapsody (operating system)|Rhapsody Developer Release]] (31/08/1997)"
</timeline>
<div class="thumbcaption">[[Timeline]] of versions</div></div></div>

Mac OS X versions were named after [[big cats]], with the exception of [[Mac OS X Server 1.0]] and the original public beta, from [[Mac OS X v10.0|Mac OS X 10.0]] until [[OS X Mavericks|OS X 10.9 Mavericks]], when Apple switched to using [[California]] locations. Prior to its release, version 10.0 was [[code name]]d internally at Apple as "Cheetah", and [[Mac OS X v10.1|Mac OS X 10.1]] was code named internally as "Puma". After the immense buzz surrounding [[Mac OS X v10.2|Mac OS X 10.2]], codenamed "Jaguar", Apple's product marketing began openly using the code names to promote the operating system. [[Mac OS X Panther|Mac OS X 10.3]] was marketed as "Panther", [[Mac OS X Tiger|Mac OS X 10.4]] as "Tiger", [[Mac OS X Leopard|Mac OS X 10.5]] as "Leopard", [[Mac OS X Snow Leopard|Mac OS X 10.6]] as "Snow Leopard", [[Mac OS X Lion|Mac OS X 10.7]] as "Lion", [[OS X Mountain Lion|OS X 10.8]] as "Mountain Lion", and [[OS X Mavericks|OS X 10.9]] as "Mavericks".

"Panther", "Tiger" and "Leopard" are registered as trademarks of Apple,<ref>{{US trademark|78257226}}</ref><ref>{{US trademark|78269988}}</ref><ref>{{US trademark|78270003}}</ref> but "Cheetah", "Puma" and "Jaguar" have never been registered. Apple has also registered "Lynx" and "Cougar" as trademarks, though these were allowed to lapse.<ref>{{US trademark|78271630}}</ref><ref>{{US trademark|78271639}}</ref> Computer retailer [[Tiger Direct]] sued Apple for its use of the name "Tiger". On May 16, 2005, a US federal court in the Southern District of Florida ruled that Apple's use did not infringe on Tiger Direct's trademark.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kasper |first=Jade |title=Court sides with Apple over "Tiger" trademark dispute |date=May 13, 2005 |url=https://www.appleinsider.com/articles/05/05/13/court_sides_with_apple_over_tiger_trademark_dispute.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927000250/https://www.appleinsider.com/articles/05/05/13/court_sides_with_apple_over_tiger_trademark_dispute.html |archive-date=September 27, 2007 |access-date=April 25, 2006 |publisher=[[AppleInsider]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

=== Mac OS X Public Beta ===
{{Main|Mac OS X Public Beta}}

On September 13, 2000, Apple released a US$29.95<ref>{{Cite web |last=John Siracusa |title=Mac OS X Beta&nbsp;– Page 1 – (10/2000) |url=https://arstechnica.com/reviews/4q00/macosx-pb1/macos-x-beta-1.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091030014232/https://arstechnica.com/reviews/4q00/macosx-pb1/macos-x-beta-1.html |archive-date=October 30, 2009 |access-date=March 11, 2010 |website=[[Ars Technica]] |publisher=[[Condé Nast Publishing|Condé Nast Digital]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref> "preview" version of Mac OS X, internally codenamed Kodiak, to gain feedback from users.

The "PB", as it was known, marked the first public availability of the Aqua interface and Apple made many changes to the UI based on customer feedback. Mac OS X Public Beta expired and ceased to function in Spring 2001.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mac OS X Public Beta Expires Today &#124; News |url=https://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/Mac_OS_X_Public_Beta_Expires_Today |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608083239/https://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/Mac_OS_X_Public_Beta_Expires_Today |archive-date=June 8, 2011 |access-date=March 11, 2010 |publisher=The Mac Observer |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

=== Mac OS X 10.0 ===
{{Main|Mac OS X 10.0}}
[[File:MacOSX10-0screenshot.png|thumb|right|Screenshot of OS X 10.0]]
On March 24, 2001, Apple released Mac OS X 10.0 (internally codenamed Cheetah).<ref>Although the version is now called Cheetah by users, rare evidences can be found to prove that it was called so internally. For instance, a Q&A was created in 2005 which mentions it.{{Cite web |date=October 4, 2005 |title=Technical Q&A |url=https://developer.apple.com/qa/qa2004/qa1378.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080518083217/https://developer.apple.com/qa/qa2004/qa1378.html |archive-date=May 18, 2008 |access-date=December 20, 2006 |publisher=[[Apple Inc.|Apple]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref>
The initial version was slow,<ref>{{Cite news |title=Mac OS X 10.0 |language=en-us |work=Ars Technica |url=https://arstechnica.com/apple/2001/04/macos-x/5 |url-status=live |access-date=2017-04-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170417235838/https://arstechnica.com/apple/2001/04/macos-x/5 |archive-date=April 17, 2017 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> incomplete,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Mac OS X 10.0 – Page 17 – (03/2001) |url=https://archive.arstechnica.com/reviews/01q2/macos-x-final/macos-x-17.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817083727/https://archive.arstechnica.com/reviews/01q2/macos-x-final/macos-x-17.html |archive-date=August 17, 2016 |access-date=2017-04-29 |website=archive.arstechnica.com |df=mdy-all}}</ref> and had very few applications available at launch, mostly from independent developers.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Williams |first=Justin |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S0AnCgAAQBAJ&q=Mac+OS+X+had+few+applications+available+at+launch%2C+from+independent+developers&pg=PA280 |title=Getting StartED with Mac OS X Leopard |date=2008-03-11 |publisher=Apress |isbn=978-1-4302-0519-7 |language=en |access-date=October 19, 2020 |archive-date=January 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111042259/https://books.google.com/books?id=S0AnCgAAQBAJ&q=Mac+OS+X+had+few+applications+available+at+launch%2C+from+independent+developers&pg=PA280 |url-status=live }}</ref> While many critics suggested that the operating system was not ready for mainstream adoption, they recognized the importance of its initial launch as a base on which to improve.<ref name=":0" /> Simply releasing Mac OS X was received by the Macintosh community as a great accomplishment,<ref name=":0" /> for attempts to overhaul the Mac OS had been underway since 1996, and delayed by countless setbacks.

=== Mac OS X 10.1 ===
{{Main|Mac OS X 10.1}}

Later that year, on September 25, 2001, Mac OS X 10.1 (internally codenamed Puma) was released. It featured increased performance and provided missing features, such as DVD playback. Apple released 10.1 as a free upgrade CD for 10.0 users, in addition to the $129 boxed version for people running [[Mac OS 9]]. It was discovered that the upgrade CDs were full install CDs that could be used with Mac OS 9 systems by removing a specific file; Apple later re-released the CDs in an actual stripped-down format that did not facilitate installation on such systems.<ref name="pumaupgrade">{{Cite web |year=2001 |title=Apple Cease-And-Desists Stupidity Leak |url=https://apple.slashdot.org/story/01/11/29/1522209/apple-cease-and-desists-stupidity-leak |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210325032007/https://apple.slashdot.org/story/01/11/29/1522209/apple-cease-and-desists-stupidity-leak |archive-date=March 25, 2021 |access-date=July 10, 2021 |publisher=Slashdot |df=mdy-all}}</ref> On January 7, 2002, Apple announced that Mac OS X was to be the default operating system for all Macintosh products by the end of that month.<ref name="default os">{{Cite press release |title=Apple Makes Mac OS X the Default Operating System on All Macs |date=January 7, 2002 |publisher=[[Apple Inc.|Apple]] |url=https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2002/01/07Apple-Makes-Mac-OS-X-the-Default-Operating-System-on-All-Macs |access-date=January 2, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010053540/https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2002/01/07Apple-Makes-Mac-OS-X-the-Default-Operating-System-on-All-Macs |archive-date=October 10, 2017 |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

=== Mac OS X 10.2 Jaguar ===
{{Main|Mac OS X Jaguar}}

On August 23, 2002,<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Jaguar "Unleashed" at 10:20&nbsp;pm Tonight |date=August 23, 2002 |publisher=[[Apple Inc.|Apple]] |url=https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2002/08/23Jaguar-Unleashed-at-10-20-p-m-Tonight |access-date=January 2, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180103133602/https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2002/08/23Jaguar-Unleashed-at-10-20-p-m-Tonight |archive-date=January 3, 2018 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Apple followed up with Mac OS X 10.2 Jaguar, the first release to use its code name as part of the branding.<ref>The headline of the press release mention "Jaguar", while the codename was not mentioned for earlier versions. See [https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2002/05/06Apple-Previews-Jaguar-the-Next-Major-Release-of-Mac-OS-X/ Apple's "Jaguar" press release] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180103133442/https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2002/05/06Apple-Previews-Jaguar-the-Next-Major-Release-of-Mac-OS-X |date=January 3, 2018 }}, compared to [https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2001/01/09Apples-Mac-OS-X-to-Ship-on-March-24/ their Mac OS X v10.0 press release] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180103072845/https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2001/01/09Apples-Mac-OS-X-to-Ship-on-March-24 |date=January 3, 2018 }} and [https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2001/09/25First-Major-Upgrade-to-Mac-OS-X-Hits-Stores-This-Weekend/ their Mac OS X v10.1 press release] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180103133324/https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2001/09/25First-Major-Upgrade-to-Mac-OS-X-Hits-Stores-This-Weekend |date=January 3, 2018 }}</ref>
It brought significant performance improvements, and an updated version of Aqua's visual design. Jaguar also included over 150<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 29, 2002 |title=Mac OS X 10.2 Product Information Page |url=https://www.apple.com/macosx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020829042532/https://www.apple.com/macosx |archive-date=August 29, 2002 |access-date=June 12, 2008 |publisher=[[Apple Inc.|Apple]]}}</ref> new user-facing features, including [[Quartz Compositor|Quartz Extreme]] for compositing graphics directly on an [[ATI Technologies|ATI]] [[Radeon]] or [[Nvidia]] [[GeForce 2 Series|GeForce2]] MX AGP-based video card with at least 16&nbsp;MB of VRAM, a system-wide repository for contact information in the new [[Address Book (application)|Address Book]], and the [[iChat]] instant messaging client.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Apple Previews "Jaguar," the Next Major Release of Mac OS X |date=May 6, 2002 |publisher=[[Apple Inc.|Apple]] |url=https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2002/05/06Apple-Previews-Jaguar-the-Next-Major-Release-of-Mac-OS-X |access-date=January 2, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180103133442/https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2002/05/06Apple-Previews-Jaguar-the-Next-Major-Release-of-Mac-OS-X |archive-date=January 3, 2018 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> The [[Happy Mac]] icon — which had appeared during the Mac OS startup sequence since the [[Original Macintosh 128K|original Macintosh]] — was replaced with a grey Apple logo.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thomas |first=Tommy |title=Murder on Macintosh Row: Happy Mac, 1984–2002 |url=https://lowendmac.com/thomas/tt07/0823.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180103072411/https://lowendmac.com/thomas/tt07/0823.html |archive-date=January 3, 2018 |access-date=2017-04-29 |website=lowendmac.com |language=en |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

=== Mac OS X 10.3 Panther ===
{{Main|Mac OS X Panther}}

[[Mac OS X v10.3]] Panther was released on October 24, 2003. It significantly improved performance and incorporated the most extensive update yet to the user interface. Panther included as many or more new features as Jaguar had the year before, including an updated Finder, incorporating a brushed-metal interface, [[Fast user switching]], [[Exposé (Mac OS X)|Exposé]] (Window manager), [[FileVault]], [[Safari (web browser)|Safari]], iChat AV (which added [[videoconferencing|video conferencing]] features to iChat), improved [[Portable Document Format]] (PDF) rendering and much greater [[Microsoft Windows]] interoperability.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Apple Announces Mac OS X "Panther" |date=October 8, 2003 |publisher=[[Apple Inc.|Apple]] |url=https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2003/10/08Apple-Announces-Mac-OS-X-Panther |access-date=January 2, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180103133441/https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2003/10/08Apple-Announces-Mac-OS-X-Panther |archive-date=January 3, 2018 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Support for some early G3 computers such as "beige" Power Macs and "WallStreet" PowerBooks was discontinued.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2003-10-24 |title=Mac OS X 10.3 Panther |language=en-US |work=Low End Mac |url=https://lowendmac.com/2003/mac-os-x-10-3-panther |url-status=live |access-date=2016-12-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161230214119/https://lowendmac.com/2003/mac-os-x-10-3-panther |archive-date=December 30, 2016 |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

=== Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger ===
{{Main|Mac OS X Tiger}}
[[File:TigerDesk.png|thumb|right|Screenshot of Tiger]]

Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger was released on April 29, 2005. Apple stated that Tiger contained more than 200 new features.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Apple Unleashes "Tiger" Friday at 6:00 p.m. |date=April 28, 2005 |publisher=[[Apple Inc.|Apple]] |url=https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2005/04/28Apple-Unleashes-Tiger-Friday-at-6-00-p-m |access-date=January 2, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180322214937/https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2005/04/28Apple-Unleashes-Tiger-Friday-at-6-00-p-m |archive-date=March 22, 2018 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> As with Panther, certain older machines were no longer supported; Tiger requires a Mac with 256&nbsp;MB and a built-in [[FireWire]] port.<ref name="TigerRequirements" /> Among the new features, Tiger introduced [[Spotlight (software)|Spotlight]], [[Dashboard (Mac OS)|Dashboard]], [[Virtual folder|Smart Folders]], updated Mail program with Smart Mailboxes, [[QuickTime]] 7, [[Safari (web browser)|Safari]] 2, [[Automator (software)|Automator]], [[VoiceOver]], [[Core Image]] and [[Core Video]]. The initial release of the [[Apple TV]] used a modified version of Tiger with a different graphical interface and fewer applications and services.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mossberg |first=Walter S. |author-link=Walt Mossberg |date=March 21, 2007 |title=From PC to TV&nbsp;– via Apple |url=https://solution.allthingsd.com/20070321/pc-tv-via-apple |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080520090501/https://solution.allthingsd.com/20070321/pc-tv-via-apple |archive-date=May 20, 2008 |access-date=May 18, 2008 |website=[[All Things Digital]] |publisher=[[Dow Jones & Company]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref> On January 10, 2006, Apple released the first Intel-based Macs along with the 10.4.4 update to Tiger. This operating system functioned identically on the PowerPC-based Macs and the new Intel-based machines, with the exception of the Intel release lacking support for the Classic environment.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 2006 |title=Apple unveils Intel iMacs |url=https://www.appleinsider.com/articles/06/01/10/apple_unveils_intel_imacs.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090113041729/https://www.appleinsider.com/articles/06/01/10/apple_unveils_intel_imacs.html |archive-date=January 13, 2009 |access-date=December 15, 2008 |publisher=AppleInsider |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

=== Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard ===
{{Main|Mac OS X Leopard}}

Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard was released on October 26, 2007. It was called by Apple "the largest update of Mac OS X". It brought more than 300 new features.<ref>{{Cite web |year=2008 |title=Apple&nbsp;– Mac OS X Leopard&nbsp;– Features&nbsp;– 300+ New Features |url=https://www.apple.com/macosx/features/300.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080501175556/https://www.apple.com/macosx/features/300.html |archive-date=May 1, 2008 |access-date=June 13, 2008 |publisher=[[Apple Inc.|Apple]]}}</ref> Leopard supports both [[PowerPC]]- and [[X86|Intel x86]]-based Macintosh computers; support for the G3 processor was dropped and the G4 processor required a minimum clock rate of 867&nbsp;MHz, and at least 512&nbsp;MB of [[Random-access memory|RAM]] to be installed. The single DVD works for all supported Macs (including 64-bit machines). New features include a new look, an updated Finder, [[Time Machine (macOS)|Time Machine]], [[Spaces (software)|Spaces]], [[Boot Camp (software)|Boot Camp]] pre-installed,<ref name="bootcamp">{{Cite web |year=2006 |title=Apple&nbsp;– BootCamp |url=https://www.apple.com/macosx/bootcamp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060602044022/https://www.apple.com/macosx/bootcamp |archive-date=June 2, 2006 |access-date=June 5, 2006 |publisher=[[Apple Inc.|Apple]]}}</ref> full support for [[64-bit]] applications (including graphical applications), new features in [[Mail (OS X)|Mail]] and [[iChat]], and a number of new security features. Leopard is an [[Single UNIX Specification|Open Brand UNIX 03]] registered product on the Intel platform. It was also the first [[Berkeley Software Distribution|BSD-based]] OS to receive UNIX 03 certification.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mac OS X Version 10.5 on Intel-based Macintosh computers |url=https://www.opengroup.org/openbrand/register/brand3555.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511222112/https://www.opengroup.org/openbrand/register/brand3555.htm |archive-date=May 11, 2008 |access-date=December 4, 2014 |publisher=The Open Group |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Mac OS X Leopard&nbsp;– Technology&nbsp;– UNIX |url=https://www.apple.com/server/macosx/technology/unix.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609032125/https://www.apple.com/server/macosx/technology/unix.html |archive-date=June 9, 2011 |access-date=October 26, 2007 |website=Leopard Technology Overview |publisher=[[Apple Inc.|Apple]] |quote=Leopard is now an Open Brand UNIX 03 Registered Product, conforming to the SUSv3 and POSIX 1003.1 specifications for the C API, Shell Utilities, and Threads. |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Leopard dropped support for the [[Classic Environment]] and all Classic applications.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 13, 2006 |title=Do Classic applications work with Mac OS X 10.5 or Intel-based Macs? |url=https://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=303137 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071025084826/https://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=303137 |archive-date=October 25, 2007 |access-date=October 25, 2007 |website=Knowledge Base |publisher=[[Apple Inc.|Apple]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref> It was the final version of Mac OS X to support the PowerPC architecture.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Cheeseman |first=Bill |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B2iloXnZZNAC&q=mac+os+x+leopard+10.5+last+version+to+support+power+pc&pg=PT34 |title=Cocoa Recipes for Mac OS X |date=2010-04-26 |publisher=Pearson Education |isbn=978-0-321-70288-3 |language=en |access-date=October 19, 2020 |archive-date=January 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111042259/https://books.google.com/books?id=B2iloXnZZNAC&q=mac+os+x+leopard+10.5+last+version+to+support+power+pc&pg=PT34 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard ===
{{Main|Mac OS X Snow Leopard}}

Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard was released on August 28, 2009. Rather than delivering big changes to the appearance and end user functionality like the previous releases of {{nowrap|Mac OS X}}, Snow Leopard focused on "under the hood" changes, increasing the performance, efficiency, and stability of the operating system. For most users, the most noticeable changes were: the disk space that the operating system frees up after a clean install compared to Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard, a more responsive [[Finder (software)|Finder]] rewritten in [[Cocoa (API)|Cocoa]], faster [[Time Machine (macOS)|Time Machine]] backups, more reliable and user-friendly disk ejects, a more powerful version of the Preview application, as well as a faster [[Safari (web browser)|Safari]] web browser. Snow Leopard only supported machines with Intel CPUs, required at least 1&nbsp;GB of [[Random-access memory|RAM]], and dropped default support for applications built for the [[PowerPC]] architecture ([[Rosetta (software)|Rosetta]] could be installed as an additional component to retain support for PowerPC-only applications).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lynch |first=Steven |date=June 12, 2008 |title=Mac OS X Snow Leopard Drops PowerPC Support |url=https://www.hardocp.com/news/2008/06/11/snow_leopard_will_support_powerpcs |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927054316/https://www.hardocp.com/news/2008/06/11/snow_leopard_will_support_powerpcs |archive-date=September 27, 2011 |access-date=October 20, 2010 |publisher=HardOCP |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

Snow Leopard also featured new [[64-bit computing|64-bit]] technology capable of supporting greater amounts of [[Random-access memory|RAM]], improved support for multi-core processors through [[Grand Central Dispatch]], and advanced GPU performance with [[OpenCL]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2009-08-19 |title=The 64-Bitness of Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard |language=en-US |work=Low End Mac |url=https://lowendmac.com/2009/the-64-bitness-of-mac-os-x-10-6-snow-leopard |url-status=live |access-date=2016-12-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161227090313/https://lowendmac.com/2009/the-64-bitness-of-mac-os-x-10-6-snow-leopard |archive-date=December 27, 2016 |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

The 10.6.6 update introduced support for the [[Mac App Store]], Apple's digital distribution platform for macOS applications.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reisinger |first=Don |date=January 6, 2011 |title=Mac App Store launches on Snow Leopard |url=https://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-20027548-17.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120810234859/https://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-20027548-17.html |archive-date=August 10, 2012 |website=CNET |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

[[File:WWDC 2011 Moscone West Interior.jpg|thumb|250px|OS X Lion was announced at [[WWDC]] 2011 at [[Moscone West]]. ]]

=== OS X 10.7 Lion ===
{{Main|OS X Lion}}

OS X 10.7 Lion was released on July 20, 2011. It brought developments made in Apple's iOS, such as an easily navigable display of installed applications called [[Launchpad (Mac OS X)|Launchpad]] and a greater use of [[multi-touch]] gestures, to the Mac. This release removed [[Rosetta (software)|Rosetta]], making it incompatible with PowerPC applications.<ref name="MacRumors: Mac OS X Lion: Drops PowerPC Emulation, Adds QuickTime Pro Features, Much More" />

Changes made to the GUI include auto-hiding scrollbars that only appear when they are used, and [[Mission Control (macOS)|Mission Control]] which unifies Exposé, Spaces, Dashboard, and full-screen applications within a single interface.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 20, 2010 |title=Apple – OS X Lion – The world's most advanced desktop operating system. |url=https://www.apple.com/macosx/lion |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110523090205/https://www.apple.com/macosx/lion |archive-date=May 23, 2011 |access-date=October 20, 2010 |publisher=[[Apple Inc.|Apple]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Apple also made changes to applications: they resume in the same state as they were before they were closed, similar to iOS. Documents auto-save by default.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 20, 2011 |title=Mac OS X 10.7 Lion Review – Document Model |url=https://arstechnica.com/apple/2011/07/mac-os-x-10-7/7/#document-model |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220123210/https://arstechnica.com/apple/2011/07/mac-os-x-10-7/7/#document-model |archive-date=December 20, 2016 |access-date=December 11, 2016 |website=[[Ars Technica]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

=== OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion ===
{{Main|OS X Mountain Lion}}

OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion was released on July 25, 2012.<ref name="PR-25-07" /> Following the release of Lion the previous year, it was the first of the annual rather than two-yearly updates to OS X (and later macOS), which also closely aligned with the annual iOS operating system updates. It incorporates some features seen in iOS 5, which include [[Game Center]], support for [[iMessage]] in the new [[Messages (Apple)|Messages]] messaging application, and [[Reminders (Apple)|Reminders]] as a to-do list app separate from [[iCal]] (which is renamed as Calendar, like the iOS app). It also includes support for storing [[iWork]] documents in [[iCloud]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 16, 2012 |title=Apple – OS X Mountain Lion – The world's most advanced desktop operating system. |url=https://www.apple.com/macosx/mountain-lion |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216192032/https://www.apple.com/macosx/mountain-lion |archive-date=February 16, 2012 |access-date=February 16, 2012 |publisher=[[Apple Inc.|Apple]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref> [[Notification Center]], which makes its debut in Mountain Lion, is a desktop version similar to the one in iOS 5.0 and higher. Application pop-ups are now concentrated on the corner of the screen, and the Center itself is pulled from the right side of the screen. Mountain Lion also includes more Chinese features including support for [[Baidu]] as an option for [[Safari (web browser)|Safari]] search engine, [[Tencent QQ|QQ]], [[163.com]] and 126.com services for [[Mail (OS X)|Mail]], [[Address Book (application)|Contacts]] and [[iCal|Calendar]], [[Youku]], [[Tudou]] and [[Sina Weibo]] are integrated into share sheets.<ref name="chinamtnlion" />

Starting with Mountain Lion, Apple software updates (including the OS) are distributed via the [[Mac App Store|App Store]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Inside OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion: Apple overhauls software updates, App Store |url=https://appleinsider.com/articles/12/02/22/inside_os_x_108_mountain_lion_apple_overhauls_software_updates_app_store |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160706210306/https://appleinsider.com/articles/12/02/22/inside_os_x_108_mountain_lion_apple_overhauls_software_updates_app_store |archive-date=July 6, 2016 |access-date=2017-04-29 |website=AppleInsider |date=February 22, 2012 |language=en-US |df=mdy-all}}</ref> This updating mechanism replaced the Apple Software Update utility.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Slivka |first=Eric |title=Software Update to Move Inside Mac App Store in OS X Mountain Lion |date=February 16, 2012 |url=https://www.macrumors.com/2012/02/16/software-update-to-move-inside-mac-app-store-in-os-x-mountain-lion |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160701211900/https://www.macrumors.com/2012/02/16/software-update-to-move-inside-mac-app-store-in-os-x-mountain-lion |archive-date=July 1, 2016 |access-date=2017-04-29 |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

=== OS X 10.9 Mavericks ===
{{Main|OS X Mavericks}}
[[File:Macintosh OS X Mavericks representation.png|thumb|right|Screenshot of OS X Mavericks]]
OS X 10.9 Mavericks was released on October 22, 2013. It was a free upgrade to all users running Snow Leopard or later with a 64-bit Intel processor.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Gupta |first1=Poornima |last2=Chan |first2=Edwin |date=Oct 22, 2013 |title=Apple gives away Mac software, unveils iPad Air |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-ipad-idUSBRE99L0ZK20131022 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204030200/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-ipad-idUSBRE99L0ZK20131022 |archive-date=February 4, 2017 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Its changes include the addition of the previously iOS-only [[Apple Maps|Maps]] and [[Apple Books|iBooks]] applications, improvements to the Notification Center, enhancements to several applications, and many under-the-hood improvements.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=OS X Mavericks Available Today Free from the Mac App Store |date=October 22, 2013 |publisher=[[Apple Inc.]] |url=https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2013/10/23OS-X-Mavericks-Available-Today-Free-from-the-Mac-App-Store |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010063910/https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2013/10/23OS-X-Mavericks-Available-Today-Free-from-the-Mac-App-Store |archive-date=October 10, 2017 |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

=== OS X 10.10 Yosemite ===
{{Main|OS X Yosemite}}

OS X 10.10 Yosemite was released on October 16, 2014. It features a redesigned user interface similar to that of [[iOS 7]], intended to feature a more minimal, text-based 'flat' design, with use of translucency effects and intensely [[Colorfulness|saturated colors]].<ref name="Yosemite review Siracusa">{{Cite web |last=Siracusa |first=John |date=October 16, 2014 |title=Yosemite review |url=https://arstechnica.com/apple/2014/10/os-x-10-10/3 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170720223221/https://arstechnica.com/apple/2014/10/os-x-10-10/3 |archive-date=July 20, 2017 |website=Ars Technica |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Apple's showcase new feature in Yosemite is Handoff, which enables users with iPhones running iOS 8.1 or later to answer phone calls, receive and send SMS messages, and complete unfinished iPhone emails on their Mac. As of OS X 10.10.3, [[Photos (Apple)|Photos]] replaced [[iPhoto]] and [[Aperture (software)|Aperture]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gibbs |first=Samuel |date=16 April 2015 |title=Upgrading from iPhoto or Aperture to Apple's Photos? Read this |work=[[The Guardian]] |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/apr/16/upgrading-from-iphoto-aperture-apples-photos-read-this |url-status=live |access-date=27 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180527201820/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/apr/16/upgrading-from-iphoto-aperture-apples-photos-read-this |archive-date=May 27, 2018 |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

=== OS X 10.11 El Capitan ===
{{Main|OS X El Capitan}}
[[File:El capitan desktop display.png|thumb|Screenshot of El Capitan]]
OS X 10.11 El Capitan was released on September 30, 2015. Similar to Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard, Apple described this release as emphasizing "refinements to the Mac experience" and "improvements to system performance".<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 8, 2015 |title=Apple Announces OS X El Capitan with Refined Experience & Improved Performance |url=https://www.apple.com/li/newsroom/2015/06/08Apple-Announces-OS-X-El-Capitan-with-Refined-Experience-Improved-Performance |access-date=August 6, 2020 |website=[[Apple Inc.]] |archive-date=September 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922073114/https://www.apple.com/li/newsroom/2015/06/08Apple-Announces-OS-X-El-Capitan-with-Refined-Experience-Improved-Performance/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Refinements include public transport built into the [[Apple Maps|Maps]] application, GUI improvements to the [[Notes (Apple)|Notes]] application, adopting [[San Francisco (2014 typeface)|San Francisco]] as the system font for clearer legibility, and the introduction of [[System Integrity Protection]].

The [[Metal (API)|Metal API]], first introduced in [[iOS 8]], was also included in this operating system for "all Macs since 2012".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dhiraj |first=Rav |date=June 2015 |title=What's New in Metal, Part 1 |url=https://devstreaming.apple.com/videos/wwdc/2015/6037pi9rxl6tfss8w/603/603_whats_new_in_metal_part_1.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150617222000/https://devstreaming.apple.com/videos/wwdc/2015/6037pi9rxl6tfss8w/603/603_whats_new_in_metal_part_1.pdf |archive-date=June 17, 2015 |access-date=June 17, 2015 |website=[[Apple Developer]] |publisher=Apple |page=84 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> According to Apple, Metal accelerates system-level rendering by up to 50 percent, resulting in faster graphics performance for everyday apps. Metal also delivers up to 10 times faster draw call performance for more fluid experience in games and pro apps.<ref name="apple-PR-release_205-06-08">{{Cite press release |title=Apple – Press Info – Apple Announces OS X El Capitan with Refined Experience & Improved Performance |publisher=Apple Inc. |url=https://www.apple.com/pr/library/2015/06/08Apple-Announces-OS-X-El-Capitan-with-Refined-Experience-Improved-Performance.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150608223906/https://www.apple.com/pr/library/2015/06/08Apple-Announces-OS-X-El-Capitan-with-Refined-Experience-Improved-Performance.html |archive-date=June 8, 2015 |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

=== macOS 10.12 Sierra ===
{{Main|macOS Sierra}}
macOS 10.12 Sierra was released to the public on September 20, 2016. New features include the addition of [[Siri]], Optimized Storage, and updates to Photos, Messages, and iTunes.<ref name="macossierraweb">{{Cite web |title=macOS |url=https://www.apple.com/macos/sierra |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160926002522/https://www.apple.com/macos/sierra |archive-date=September 26, 2016 |access-date=September 26, 2016 |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="siri3">{{Cite web |title=Siri for Mac: How it works in Apple's macOS Sierra and what it's capable of |date=June 14, 2016 |url=https://appleinsider.com/articles/16/06/14/siri-for-mac-how-it-works-in-apples-macos-sierra-and-what-its-capable-of |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161001184617/https://appleinsider.com/articles/16/06/14/siri-for-mac-how-it-works-in-apples-macos-sierra-and-what-its-capable-of |archive-date=October 1, 2016 |access-date=September 28, 2016 |publisher=[[AppleInsider]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

=== macOS 10.13 High Sierra ===
{{Main|macOS High Sierra}}
macOS 10.13 High Sierra was released to the public on September 25, 2017.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dillet |first=Romain |title=Apple is releasing macOS High Sierra on September 25 |language=en |work=TechCrunch |url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/09/12/macos-high-sierra-release-date |url-status=live |access-date=2017-10-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171013014315/https://techcrunch.com/2017/09/12/macos-high-sierra-release-date |archive-date=October 13, 2017 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Like [[OS X El Capitan]] and [[OS X Mountain Lion]], High Sierra is a refinement-based update having very few new features visible to the user, including updates to Safari, Photos, and Mail, among other changes.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=2017-06-05 |title=macOS 10.13 High Sierra Release Date Set for Fall |language=en-US |work=OS X Daily |url=https://osxdaily.com/2017/06/05/macos-10-13-high-sierra-release-fall |url-status=live |access-date=2017-10-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170627200506/https://osxdaily.com/2017/06/05/macos-10-13-high-sierra-release-fall |archive-date=June 27, 2017 |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

The major change under the hood is the switch to the [[Apple File System]], optimized for the solid-state storage used in most new Mac computers.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Apple macOS High Sierra preview: the biggest Mac update you'll never see |work=The Verge |url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/6/29/15886832/apple-macos-high-sierra-preview-features |url-status=live |access-date=2017-10-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171013172547/https://www.theverge.com/2017/6/29/15886832/apple-macos-high-sierra-preview-features |archive-date=October 13, 2017 |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

=== macOS 10.14 Mojave ===
{{Main|macOS Mojave}}
macOS 10.14 Mojave was released on September 24, 2018.<ref name="macrumors-mojave" /> The update introduced a system-wide [[dark mode]] and several new apps lifted from iOS, such as [[Apple News]]. It was the first version to require a GPU that supports Metal. Mojave also changed the system software update mechanism from the App Store (where it had been since [[OS X Mountain Lion]]) to a new panel in System Preferences. App updates remain in the App Store.

=== macOS 10.15 Catalina ===
{{Main|macOS Catalina}}
macOS 10.15 Catalina was released on October 7, 2019.<ref name="Apple macOS Catalina intro">{{Cite web |title=macOS Catalina |url=https://www.apple.com/macos/catalina |access-date=7 October 2019 |publisher=Apple Inc. |archive-date=November 10, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201110141732/https://www.apple.com/macos/catalina/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Updates included enhanced voice control, and bundled apps for music, video, and podcasts that together replace the functions of iTunes, and the ability to use an iPad as an external monitor. Catalina officially dropped support for 32-bit applications.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nield |first=David |title=12 Things You Can Do in macOS Catalina That You Couldn't Before |url=https://gizmodo.com/12-things-you-can-do-in-macos-catalina-that-you-couldnt-1838822074 |access-date=7 October 2019 |website=Gizmodo |date=October 7, 2019 |publisher=G/O Media Group |archive-date=August 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210815122526/https://gizmodo.com/12-things-you-can-do-in-macos-catalina-that-you-couldnt-1838822074 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== macOS 11 Big Sur ===
{{Main|macOS Big Sur}}
[[macOS Big Sur]] was announced during the WWDC keynote speech on June 22, 2020,<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Apple introduces macOS Big Sur with a beautiful new design |date=June 22, 2020 |publisher=[[Apple Inc.]] |url=https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2020/06/apple-introduces-macos-big-sur-with-a-beautiful-new-design |access-date=2020-06-22 |archive-date=September 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220925030529/https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2020/06/apple-introduces-macos-big-sur-with-a-beautiful-new-design/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and it was made available to the general public on November 12, 2020. This is the first time the major version number of the operating system has been incremented since the [[Mac OS X Public Beta]] in 2000. It brings [[AArch64|Arm]] support,<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 22, 2020 |title=Apple debuts macOS Big Sur with all-new design, Arm support |url=https://venturebeat.com/2020/06/22/apple-debuts-macos-10-16-big-sur-with-all-new-design |access-date=2020-06-22 |website=VentureBeat |archive-date=July 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220709032411/https://venturebeat.com/2020/06/22/apple-debuts-macos-10-16-big-sur-with-all-new-design/ |url-status=live }}</ref> new icons, and aesthetic [[Graphical user interface|user interface]] changes to the system.<ref>{{cite web |last=Heater |first=Brian |title=Apple unveils macOS 11.0 Big Sur, featuring a new aesthetic and redesigned apps |url=https://techcrunch.com/2020/06/22/apple-unveils-macos-10-16-big-sur/ |access-date=2020-06-22 |website=[[TechCrunch]] |date=June 22, 2020 |archive-date=September 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220927141740/https://techcrunch.com/2020/06/22/apple-unveils-macos-10-16-big-sur/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== macOS 12 Monterey ===
{{Main|macOS Monterey}}
[[macOS Monterey]] was announced during the WWDC keynote speech on June 7, 2021, and released on October 25, 2021, introducing Universal Control (which allows input devices to be used with multiple devices simultaneously), Focus modes (which allows selectively limiting notifications and alerts depending on user-defined user/work modes), Shortcuts (a task automation framework previously only available on [[iOS]] and [[iPadOS]] expected to replace [[List of macOS components#Automator|Automator]]), a redesigned [[Safari (web browser)|Safari Web browser]], and updates and improvements to [[FaceTime]].<ref name="wwdc21">{{Cite web |last=Apple Inc. |date=2021-06-07 |title=Apple WWDC 2021 Keynote |url=https://www.apple.com/apple-events/june-2021 |access-date=2021-06-07 |website=apple.com |publisher=[[Apple Inc.]] |archive-date=February 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220222030234/https://www.apple.com/apple-events/june-2021/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== macOS 13 Ventura ===
{{Main|macOS Ventura}}
[[macOS Ventura]] was announced during the WWDC keynote speech on June 6, 2022<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 6, 2022 |title=macOS Ventura adds powerful productivity tools and new Continuity features that make the Mac experience better than ever |url=https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2022/06/macos-ventura-brings-powerful-productivity-tools-new-continuity-features-to-mac/ |website=Apple Inc. |access-date=November 3, 2022 |archive-date=November 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221103072543/https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2022/06/macos-ventura-brings-powerful-productivity-tools-new-continuity-features-to-mac/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and released on October 24, 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 24, 2022 |title=macOS Ventura is now available |url=https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2022/10/macos-ventura-is-now-available/ |website=Apple Inc. |access-date=November 3, 2022 |archive-date=October 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221024191344/https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2022/10/macos-ventura-is-now-available/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It came with the redesigned System Preferences (named System Settings) to a more [[iOS]]-like design, and the new [[Freeform (Apple)|Freeform]], [[Weather (Apple)|Weather]] and [[Clock (Apple)|Clock]] apps that run natively on Mac. Users can use an iPhone as a webcam for video conferencing with Continuity Camera. Siri's appearance was changed to look more like the versions on [[iOS 14]] and [[iPadOS 14]]. [[Apple Mail|Mail]] introduced schedule send and undo send for emails, and [[IMessage|Message]] also got the ability to undo send and edit messages. Stage Manager was introduced as a new way to organize all open windows in a desktop. [[Apple Maps|Maps]] gained the feature for multiple-stop routes, [[Metal (API)|Metal 3]] was added with support for spatial and temporal image upscaling, Lockdown mode was added to reduce the risk of a cyberattack, and the ability to play ambient background sounds was added as an accessibility feature in System Settings.

===macOS 14 Sonoma===
{{Main|macOS Sonoma}}
[[File:MacOS Sonoma screenshot with windows.png|thumb|Screenshot of Sonoma|303x303px]]
[[macOS Sonoma]] was announced during the WWDC keynote speech on June 5, 2023, and released on September 26, 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 12, 2023 |title=macOS Sonoma comes out on September 26th |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/9/12/23860441/macos-sonoma-release-date-apple |website=The Verge |access-date=September 13, 2023 |archive-date=September 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230912194906/https://www.theverge.com/2023/9/12/23860441/macos-sonoma-release-date-apple |url-status=live }}</ref> macOS Sonoma revamped widgets—they can now be placed anywhere on the desktop. Game mode optimizes game performance by prioritizing gaming tasks and allocating more GPU and CPU capacity to the game, and by doing so is able to provide smoother frame rates for gameplay. The [[Spotlight (Apple)|Spotlight Search]] bar and all app icons were made even more rounded, smoother animations were implemented for notifications and the lock screen, and new slow-motion screensavers of different locations worldwide were added. When logged in, they gradually slow down and become the desktop wallpaper.

===macOS 15 Sequoia===
{{Main|macOS Sequoia}}

[[macOS Sequoia]] was announced during the WWDC keynote speech on June 10, 2024. It adds support for [[Apple Intelligence]] features (for example a redesigned [[Siri]], writing tools, Image Playground, Genmoji, and system-wide integration with [[GPT-4o]]), as well as adding iPhone Mirroring, a new dedicated Passwords app for faster autofilling and more organized passwords, and window tiling—a similar feature to [[Microsoft Windows]]' [[Aero Snap]] window snapping feature.<ref>{{Cite web |title=macOS Sequoia Preview |url=https://www.apple.com/macos/macos-sequoia-preview/ |access-date=2024-06-11 |website=Apple |language=en-US}}</ref>

===macOS 26 Tahoe===
{{Main|macOS Tahoe}}

macOS Tahoe was announced on June 9, 2025, during the WWDC 2025 keynote address. It is the first macOS to feature the new [[Liquid Glass]] design. It is also the first macOS to use Apple's new release number convention, which gives all of Apple's operating systems the same version number. It was released on September 15, 2025.<ref>{{cite web |title=macOS Tahoe Now Available With Liquid Glass Design, Phone App, Spotlight Actions and More |url=https://www.macrumors.com/2025/09/15/apple-releases-macos-tahoe/ |access-date=2025-10-02 |website=MacRumors}}</ref>

== Security ==
Apple publishes Apple Platform Security documents to lay out the security protections built into macOS and Mac hardware.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Apple Platform Security |url=https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/security/welcome/web |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=Apple Support |language=en |archive-date=February 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230212160614/https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/security/welcome/web |url-status=live }}</ref>

macOS supports additional hardware-based security features on Apple silicon Macs:<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Explore the new system architecture of Apple silicon Macs - WWDC20 - Videos |url=https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2020/10686/ |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=Apple Developer |language=en |archive-date=February 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230212160614/https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2020/10686/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[W^X|Write xor execute]] prevents some security vulnerabilities by making [[Page (computer memory)|memory pages]] either writable or executable, but not both.<ref name=":3" />
* [[PCI Express|PCIe]] or [[Thunderbolt (interface)|Thunderbolt]] devices are prevented by [[Input–output memory management unit|IOMMUs]] from reading system memory that is not explicitly mapped to them, unlike Intel-based Macs.<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Direct memory access protections for Mac computers |url=https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/security/seca4960c2b5/web |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=Apple Support |language=en |archive-date=February 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230212160616/https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/security/seca4960c2b5/web |url-status=live }}</ref>

macOS's optional Lockdown Mode enables additional protections, such as disabling [[just-in-time compilation]] for Safari's [[JavaScript engine]], blocks FaceTime calls unless you have previously called that person or contact, location information is excluded when photos are being shared, Game Center is disabled, and accessories have to be approved and your Mac has to be unlocked. These prevent some vulnerabilities within macOS.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Apple's Lockdown Mode offers extreme security for iPhone, iPad, and Mac |url=https://www.macworld.com/article/801510/apple-devices-lockdown-mode-extreme-protection.html |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=Macworld |language=en |archive-date=February 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230212160616/https://www.macworld.com/article/801510/apple-devices-lockdown-mode-extreme-protection.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Only the latest major release of macOS (currently [[macOS Sequoia]]) receives patches for all known security vulnerabilities. The previous two releases receive some security updates, but not for all vulnerabilities known to Apple. In 2021, Apple fixed a critical [[privilege escalation]] vulnerability in macOS Big Sur, but a fix remained unavailable for the previous release, macOS Catalina, for 234 days, until Apple was informed that the vulnerability was being used to infect the computers of [[Hong Kong]] citizens and other people who visited [[Politics of Hong Kong|Hong Kong]] [[Pro-democracy camp (Hong Kong)|pro-democracy]] websites that may have been [[Internet censorship in Hong Kong|blocked in Hong Kong]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cunningham |first=Andrew |date=2021-11-12 |title=PSA: Apple isn't actually patching all the security holes in older versions of macOS |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/11/psa-apple-isnt-actually-patching-all-the-security-holes-in-older-versions-of-macos/ |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us |archive-date=January 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230101032826/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/11/psa-apple-isnt-actually-patching-all-the-security-holes-in-older-versions-of-macos/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Schneier |first=Bruce |date=October 31, 2022 |title=Apple Only Commits to Patching Latest OS Version |url=https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2022/10/apple-only-commits-to-patching-latest-os-version.html |access-date=2023-09-28 |website=Schneier on Security |archive-date=September 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927024810/https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2022/10/apple-only-commits-to-patching-latest-os-version.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[macOS Ventura]] added support for Rapid Security Response (RSR) updates and Lockdown Mode. Rapid Security Response updates may require a reboot, but take less than a minute to install.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lawler |first1=Richard |title=Apple's first iPhone Rapid Security Response patch had a problem, but it's fine now |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/5/1/23706883/apple-ios-16-iphone-rapid-security-update-error-internet-connection |website=The Verge |access-date=2 May 2023 |date=1 May 2023 |archive-date=May 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230502110617/https://www.theverge.com/2023/5/1/23706883/apple-ios-16-iphone-rapid-security-update-error-internet-connection |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Cunningham |first=Andrew |date=2023-05-01 |title=Apple uses iOS and macOS Rapid Security Response feature for the first time |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/05/seven-months-in-ios-and-macos-get-their-first-rapid-security-updates/ |access-date=2023-09-28 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us |archive-date=October 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231003045158/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/05/seven-months-in-ios-and-macos-get-their-first-rapid-security-updates/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In an analysis, [[Hackintosh]] developer Mykola Grymalyuk noted that RSR updates can only fix userland vulunerability, and cannot patch the macOS kernel.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Grymalyuk |first1=Mykola |title=macOS' Rapid Security Response: Designed into a Corner |url=https://khronokernel.github.io/macos/2023/04/18/RSR.html |website=Mykola's blog |access-date=2 May 2023 |language=en |date=18 April 2023 |archive-date=May 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230502110622/https://khronokernel.github.io/macos/2023/04/18/RSR.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Lockdown Mode is an optional security feature designed to provide extreme protection for users who may be at risk of targeted cyberattacks, such as journalists, activists, and public figures. This mode significantly alters the functionality of the device to enhance security against sophisticated threats, particularly from spyware and state-sponsored attacks. Apple says most people are never impacted by these attacks.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Lockdown Mode |url=https://support.apple.com/en-us/105120 |access-date=2024-10-19 |website=Apple Support |language=en}}</ref>

=== Malware and spyware ===
{{Main|macOS malware}}

In its earlier years, Mac OS X enjoyed a near-absence of the types of [[malware]] and [[spyware]] that have affected [[Microsoft Windows]] users.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Welch |first=John |date=January 6, 2007 |title=Review: Mac OS X Shines In Comparison With Windows Vista |url=https://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=196800670&pgno=4 |url-status=live |magazine=Information Week |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070209090401/https://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=196800670 |archive-date=February 9, 2007 |access-date=February 5, 2007 |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Granneman |first=Scott |date=October 6, 2003 |title=Linux vs. Windows Viruses |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2003/10/06/linux_vs_windows_viruses |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907054536/https://www.theregister.co.uk/2003/10/06/linux_vs_windows_viruses |archive-date=September 7, 2015 |access-date=February 5, 2007 |website=The Register |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Gruber |first=John |author-link=John Gruber |date=June 4, 2004 |title=Broken Windows |url=https://daringfireball.net/2004/06/broken_windows |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110904003214/https://daringfireball.net/2004/06/broken_windows |archive-date=September 4, 2011 |access-date=April 24, 2006 |publisher=[[Daring Fireball]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref> macOS has a smaller usage share compared to Windows.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 2009 |title=Operating System Market Share |url=https://marketshare.hitslink.com/operating-system-market-share.aspx?qprid=8 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100125022803/https://marketshare.hitslink.com/operating-system-market-share.aspx?qprid=8 |archive-date=January 25, 2010 |access-date=April 10, 2009 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> [[Computer worm|Worms]], as well as potential vulnerabilities, were noted in 2006, which led some industry analysts and anti-virus companies to issue warnings that Apple's Mac OS X is not immune to malware.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Roberts |first=Paul |date=February 21, 2006 |title=New Safari Flaw, Worms Turn Spotlight on Apple Security |url=https://www.eweek.com/security/new-safari-flaw-worms-turn-spotlight-on-apple-security |url-status=live |magazine=[[eWeek]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220927142109/https://www.eweek.com/security/new-safari-flaw-worms-turn-spotlight-on-apple-security/ |archive-date=September 27, 2022 |access-date=January 22, 2022}}</ref> Increasing market share coincided with additional reports of a variety of attacks.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Conneally |first=Tim |date=August 28, 2009 |title='Macs don't get viruses' myth dissolves before public's eyes |url=https://www.betanews.com/article/Macs-dont-get-viruses-myth-dissolves-before-publics-eyes/1251493625 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090830174605/https://www.betanews.com/article/Macs-dont-get-viruses-myth-dissolves-before-publics-eyes/1251493625 |archive-date=August 30, 2009 |publisher=BetaNews |df=mdy-all}}</ref> In early 2011, Mac OS X experienced a large increase in malware attacks,<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Grimes |first=Roger A. |date=May 23, 2011 |title=7 questions about the Mac malware scare &#124; Security |url=https://www.infoworld.com/d/security/7-questions-about-the-mac-malware-scare-811 |url-status=live |magazine=InfoWorld |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607094531/https://www.infoworld.com/d/security/7-questions-about-the-mac-malware-scare-811 |archive-date=June 7, 2011 |access-date=July 5, 2011 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> and malware such as [[Mac Defender]], MacProtector, and MacGuard was seen as an increasing problem for Mac users. At first, the malware installer required the user to enter the administrative password, but later versions installed without user input.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 26, 2011 |title=Mac Security Boasts Threatened by Malware Surge – International Business Times |url=https://www.ibtimes.com/articles/152612/20110526/mac-security-boasts-threatened-by-malware-surge.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110808024312/https://www.ibtimes.com/articles/152612/20110526/mac-security-boasts-threatened-by-malware-surge.htm |archive-date=August 8, 2011 |access-date=July 5, 2011 |publisher=Ibtimes.com |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Initially, Apple support staff were instructed not to assist in the removal of the malware or admit the existence of the malware issue, but as the malware spread, a support document was issued. Apple announced an OS X update to fix the problem. An estimated 100,000 users were affected.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Trenholm |first=Rich |date=May 20, 2011 |title=Apple tells support staff not to confirm Mac Defender infections |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/apple-tells-support-staff-not-to-confirm-mac-defender-infections |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210622224013/https://www.cnet.com/news/apple-tells-support-staff-not-to-confirm-mac-defender-infections/ |archive-date=June 22, 2021 |access-date=March 21, 2020 |publisher=CNET}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Seltzer |first=Larry |date=May 25, 2011 |title=Mac Defender 2.0 Released – Security Watch |work=PC Mag |url=https://blogs.pcmag.com/securitywatch/2011/05/mac_defender_20_released.php |url-status=dead |access-date=July 5, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717145838/https://blogs.pcmag.com/securitywatch/2011/05/mac_defender_20_released.php |archive-date=July 17, 2011 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Apple releases security updates for macOS regularly,<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 21, 2009 |title=Apple security updates |url=https://support.apple.com/kb/HT1222 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090205004031/https://support.apple.com/kb/HT1222 |archive-date=February 5, 2009 |access-date=January 29, 2009 |publisher=Apple |df=mdy-all}}</ref> as well as signature files containing [[signature-based detection|malware signatures]] for [[Xprotect]], an anti-malware feature part of [[File Quarantine]] present since Mac OS X Snow Leopard.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 18, 2015 |title=XProtect Explained: How Your Mac's Built-in Anti-malware Software Works |url=https://www.howtogeek.com/217043/xprotect-explained-how-your-macs-built-in-anti-malware-works |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323030541/https://www.howtogeek.com/217043/xprotect-explained-how-your-macs-built-in-anti-malware-works |archive-date=March 23, 2018 |publisher=How-To Geek |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

== Reception ==

=== Usage share ===
{{See also|Usage share of operating systems}}

{{As of|2023|01}}, macOS is the second-most widely used general-purpose desktop operating system used on the [[World Wide Web]] following [[Microsoft Windows]], with a 15.33% usage share, according to statistics compiled by [[StatCounter]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Desktop Operating System Market Share Worldwide |url=https://gs.statcounter.com/os-market-share/desktop/worldwide |access-date=2023-02-26 |website=StatCounter Global Stats |language=en |archive-date=February 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200202162859/https://gs.statcounter.com/os-market-share/desktop/worldwide |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Promotion ===
As a device company, Apple has mostly promoted macOS to sell Macs, with promotion of macOS updates focused on existing users, promotion at [[Apple Store]] and other retail partners, or through events for developers. In larger scale advertising campaigns, Apple specifically promoted macOS as better for handling media and other home-user applications, and [[Get a Mac#North American campaign|comparing]] Mac OS X (especially versions Tiger and Leopard) with the heavy criticism [[Microsoft]] received for the long-awaited [[Windows Vista]] operating system.<ref name="Apple's Get a Mac campaign">{{Cite web |last=Nudd |first=Tim |title=Apple's Get a Mac campaign |url=https://www.adweek.com/adfreak/apples-get-mac-complete-campaign-130552 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005151923/https://www.adweek.com/adfreak/apples-get-mac-complete-campaign-130552 |archive-date=October 5, 2011 |access-date=2 December 2015 |website=AdWeek |date=April 13, 2011 |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="Apple tweaks Microsoft over Vista ad spending">{{Cite web |last=Arthur |first=Charles |date=October 23, 2008 |title=Apple tweaks Microsoft over Vista ad spending |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/blog/2008/oct/23/apple-microsoft-vista-advertising |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208072749/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/blog/2008/oct/23/apple-microsoft-vista-advertising |archive-date=December 8, 2015 |access-date=2 December 2015 |website=[[The Guardian]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Div col}}
* [[Dock (macOS)]]
* [[Classic Mac OS]] (1984–2001)
* [[Comparison of BSD operating systems]]
* [[Comparison of operating systems]]
* [[List of operating systems]]
* [[List of Mac software]]
* [[Mac operating systems]]
{{Div col end}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|MacOS|lcfirst=yes}}
* {{Official website}}
* [https://support.apple.com/macos macOS Support] – official support page

{{macOS}}
{{macOS developer tools}}
{{Navboxes|list1=
{{Darwin derivations}}
{{Apple Inc. operating systems}}
{{Apple software}}
{{Apple}}
{{Unix}}
{{Operating system}}
}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:MacOS| ]]
[[Category:Macintosh operating systems|*]]
[[Category:1999 software]]
[[Category:Apple Inc. operating systems]]
[[Category:Apple Inc. software]]
[[Category:Computer-related introductions in 1999]]
[[Category:Mach (kernel)]]
[[Category:X86-64 operating systems]]
[[Category:ARM operating systems]]
[[Category:Unix variants]]
[[Category:Object-oriented operating systems]]