Are you attempting to decide if or not to Upgrade to macOS Sonoma 14? You can decide whether it’s the right choice for you with the help of this article.
Note: Make sure the program is compatible with your work by visiting the publisher’s website if it depends on any specialized software. Although downgrading from Sonoma is always an option, it comes with problems and—above all—takes time. Upgrade only if you are certain that job-critical software is compatible.
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Reasons to Upgrading macOS Sonoma
New features and a lot of software bug fixes are often included with updated operating systems. What you want to get out of Sonoma will decide whether or not it should be on your Mac.
- You wish to remain current: Delaying the upgrade won’t make macOS 11 Big Sur and later versions vulnerable because support for earlier versions of the operating system didn’t abruptly end with the introduction of Sonoma. But ultimately, support for these older versions will end, and with it, critical security fixes. By keeping up to date, you can prolong the protection of your system and guarantee that you may utilize newly released features that are special to Sonoma.
- Its fresh salient characteristics catch your interest: Instead of making several broad adjustments, Sonoma makes a few little additions that are more advantageous in certain circumstances. For instance, the new OS has several additional video conferencing functions to facilitate the management of presentations and distant collaboration. It also includes a number of other minor adjustments to improve the way you use your Mac.
System Compatibility
While Sonoma may not work with every Mac model and brand, it should function flawlessly on any Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3) system. However, some users have reported that Sonoma causes their Intel-based Macs to function less smoothly.
Sonoma will work on most MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models from 2018 and after, Retina iMacs from 2019 and later, 2017 iMac Pro models, 2018 and later Mac Mini models, the Mac Studio, and Mac Pro models from 2019 and later.
Note: To make sure the new OS will work on your Mac, you may check Apple’s comprehensive list of Sonoma-compatible Macs.
You should wait to upgrade to Sonoma if your Mac does not fit into any of these categories. In a similar vein, before you try to install the new OS, see if your Intel Mac might experience performance problems as a result of the upgrade. Before upgrading your Intel Mac, make a backup of your system or store all of your data on an external hard drive, just in case you decide to go back to the earlier version.
These Mac models are compatible with macOS Sonoma. There is also a complete list of models that are compatible.
- Launched in 2018 or later, the MacBook Pro
- MacBook Air, released in 2018 or a later version
- Launched in 2018 or after, the Mac mini
- launched in 2019 or after, the iMac
- iMac Pro
- Introduced in 2022 or later, Mac Studio
- Introduced in 2019 or later, the Mac Pro
Create a backup
It is a good idea to create a backup before upgrading. You can use Time Machine to create a backup of your Mac by using an external storage device.
Get macOS Sonoma and install it
To download and install the most recent version of macOS Sonoma, use Software Update. It may take less disc space to download and install, and it’s the quickest and most straightforward method of getting macOS updates.
- Select System Settings from the Apple menu located in the corner of your screen. In the sidebar, select General. Then, select Software Update on the right.
- Alternatively, select Software Update from the Apple menu > System Preferences in previous iterations of macOS.
- Alternatively, search for “Software Update” using SpotlightNo alt supplied for Image in your menu bar, then select it from the list of results.
If Software Update isn’t available on your older Mac, you can search the App Store for macOS Sonoma.
What Makes a Difference?
One feature sets macOS 14 Sonoma apart from earlier versions. macOS Sonoma mostly adds a variety of minor upgrades.
Desktop widgets
In macOS Sonoma, widgets can be positioned directly on the desktop and are no longer dependent on the Dashboard or Control Centre. You can add a variety of items in various sizes and orientations to your standard desktop display, ranging from calendars to weather. Many of these widgets can also be clicked to instantly launch their corresponding apps; some of them can even be brought over from an iPad or iPhone that is connected.
Safari
New features for Safari, Apple’s default web browser, including the ability to create individual profiles that can be configured to store cookies, browsing history, and other data in different groups. You could, for instance, make separate profiles for work and personal use, switch between them and the bookmarks that go with them, etc., as needed. When you walk away from private browsing windows, they automatically lock and you have to enter your passcode or use TouchID or FaceID to unlock them. To easily access the websites you frequently visit, you can even make a custom icon for a certain website in the Dock (or drag it to the desktop). This is similar to turning a bookmark into an app icon.
Fast app hiding
One small but maybe useful tweak is the ability to quickly hide all open apps by right-clicking on the Desktop. Thus, all you have to do to navigate to any area of your desktop that is displayed on the screen is click on that area; everything else will be pushed to the sides of the screen. To restore everything to its original order, click the desktop once more.
Enhancements for video conferencing
The majority of macOS Sonoma modifications are related to the additional capabilities it offers for both video and video conferencing. With just one click, a new video menu bar item offers rapid access to a plethora of new options and is available almost anywhere. With Presenter Overlay, you may superimpose a cutout of yourself or convert your face-cam footage into a little bubble that you can manually move about your presentation screen. In the meanwhile, you can use Portrait and Studio Light to soften the background of your videos so that your face—or body, if more of you are in the shot—stands out more. Furthermore, if you prefer not to have Centre Stage follow and adjust the zoom level as you go.
Does It Make Sense?
Your interest in the new capabilities added by a macOS Sonoma update and the architecture of your Mac—Intel or Silicon—will decide whether or not it is worth your time and effort to install. There’s not much of a reason to switch if you’re not very fond of desktop widgets, you don’t use Safari frequently, or you don’t participate in a lot of presentations or video calls. Additionally, the update can make your Intel Mac run slower.
It is something to think about if you are frequently in front of a camera, use Safari a lot, etc.
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Good Luck!<3
