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5.12. macOS compatibility: Here’s the latest version your Mac can run

Wondering which versions of macOS your Mac can run? We’ve put together a macOS compatibility checker that will show you what Macs the different versions of macOS and Mac OS X support, so you can tell what version you should be running on your Mac.

What Mac operating systems can my Mac run?

Apple releases a new version of the Mac operating system almost every year—but the new version of the Mac operating system will not support every Mac. Each year more and more Macs fall off the compatibility list and are unable to be updated to take advantage of the latest features.

The latest version, macOS 15 Sequoia, arrives on September 16, 2024, it can run on all M-series Macs and the last generations of Intel-powered Macs. Read on to find out exactly which Macs are supported by each version of the Mac operating system.

Can I install an older OS on my Mac?

Officially, the operating system that was available on your Mac at the time that you bought it is the oldest version of macOS that can run on that Mac. It’s likely that an older OS won’t include the necessary drivers for the hardware on newer Macs. For this reason, it is unlikely that you will be able to install an older version of macOS on a new Mac. Owners of Macs with M-series chips (sometimes referred to as Apple Silicon) won’t be able to run older versions of macOS that weren’t designed for Apple Silicon Macs which use a different architecture, known as ARM, instead of X-86.

But it may not just be a case of wanting to know if your Mac can run the newest operating system. You might also want to know if it is possible to downgrade your Mac to an older version of macOS and need to know the oldest version of macOS. You’ll also find that information below.

Note: In each case, the year referenced below is the year that Mac was first introduced–you could for example have bought a 2016 MacBook in early 2017, but it’s still the 2016 MacBook.

macOS 15 Sequoia compatibility – M-series Macs

macOS 15 Sequoia arrives on September 16, 2024. The following Macs can run it:

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

However, the Apple Intelligence features coming as part of macOS 15.1 will be limited to Apple Silicon Macs:

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

macOS 15 Sequoia compatibility – Intel Macs

The following Intel Macs will run Sequoia. This list excludes the two 13-inch MacBook Air models from 2018 and 2019 which could run Sonoma, but won’t be able to install Sequoia.

• iMac: 2019 and August-2020 models)
• Mac Pro: 2019 model
• iMac Pro: 2017 model
• MacBook Air: March 2020 model
• Mac mini: 2018 model
• MacBook Pro: 2018, 2019 and May 2020 models

macOS 14 Sonoma compatibility

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

For more information read: Can my Mac run Sonoma?

macOS 13 Ventura compatibility

• MacBook models from 2017 or later
• MacBook Air models from 2018 or later
• MacBook Pro models from 2017 or later
• Mac mini models from 2018 or later
• iMac models from 2017 or later
• iMac Pro (all models)
• Mac Pro models from 2019 or later
• Mac Studio (all models)

For more information read: Can my Mac run Ventura?

macOS 12 Monterey compatibility

• MacBook models from early 2016 or later
• MacBook Air models from early 2015 or later
• MacBook Pro models from early 2015 or later
• Mac mini models from 2014 or later
• iMac from 2015 or later
• iMac Pro (2017 and later)
• Mac Pro models from late 2013 and later
• Mac Studio

macOS 11 Big Sur compatibility

• MacBook models from early 2015 or later
• MacBook Air models from 2013 or later
• MacBook Pro models from 2013 or later
• Mac mini models from 2014 or later
• iMac from 2014 or later
• iMac Pro (all models)
• Mac Pro models from 2013 and 2019

macOS 10.15 Catalina compatibility

Catalina arrived in October 2019, and the latest version is macOS 10.15.7 with Security Update 2022-05 (which arrived in July 2022) and can run on the following Macs:

• MacBook (2015 to 2017)
• MacBook Air (Mid-2012 to 2019)
• MacBook Pro (Mid-2012 to 2019)
• Mac mini (Late 2012 to late-2018)
• iMac (Late 2012 to 2019)
• iMac Pro (all models)
• Mac Pro models from 2013

Note that the M-series Macs will not be able to run Catalina or earlier.

macOS 10.14 Mojave compatibility

Mojave arrived in September 2018 (latest version 10.14.6) and can run on the following Macs:

• MacBook (Early 2015 to 2017)
• MacBook Air (Mid 2012 to 2017, because it’s the same as 2015 model)
• MacBook Pro (Mid 2012 to 2018)
• Mac mini (Late 2012 to late-2018)
• iMac (Late 2012 to mid-2017)
• iMac Pro (all models)
• Mac Pro (Late 2013, plus mid-2010 and mid-2012 models with recommended Metal-capable GPU)

macOS 10.13 High Sierra compatibility

High Sierra arrived in September 2017 (latest version 10.13.6) and can run on the following Macs:

• MacBook (Late 2009 to 2017)
• MacBook Air (Late 2010 to 2017, which is same as 2015 model)
• MacBook Pro (Mid 2010 to 2017)
• Mac mini (Mid 2010 to 2014)
• iMac (Late 2009 to mid-2017)
• Mac Pro (Mid 2010 and 2013)

macOS 10.12 Sierra compatibility

Sierra, the first update to drop the “X” from the name, arrived in September 2016 (latest version 10.12.6) and can run on the following Macs:

• MacBook (Late 2009 to 2017)
• MacBook Air (Late 2010 to 2017, which is same as 2015 model)
• MacBook Pro (Mid 2010 to 2015)
• Mac mini (Mid 2010 to 2014)
• iMac (Late 2009 to 2015)
• Mac Pro (Mid 2010 and 2013)

Mac OS X 10.11 El Capitan compatibility

El Capitan arrived in September 2015 (latest version 10.11.6) and can run on the following Macs:

• MacBook (Early 2015 to 2017)
• MacBook (Late 2008 to 2010)
• MacBook Air (Late 2008 to early 2015)
• MacBook Pro (Mid/Late 2007 to early 2015)
• Mac mini (Early 2009 to 2014)
• iMac (Mid 2007 to mid-2015)
• Mac Pro (2008, 2010, 2013)

OS X 10.10 Yosemite compatibility

Yosemite arrived in October 2014 (latest version 10.10.5) and can run on the following Macs:

• MacBook (Late 2008 to 2010)
• MacBook Air (Late 2008 to mid 2013)
• MacBook Pro (13″ Mid-2009 to mid 2014)
• MacBook Pro (15″ Mid/Late 2007 to mid 2014)
• MacBook Pro (17″ Late 2007 to 2011)
• Mac mini (Early 2009 to 2012)
• iMac (Mid-2007 to mid-2014)
• Mac Pro (2008 and 2010)

Mac OS X 10.9 Mavericks compatibility

Mavericks arrived in October 2013 (latest version 10.9.5) and can run on the following Macs:

• MacBook (Late 2008 to 2010)
• MacBook Air (Late 2008 to mid 2013)
• MacBook Pro (Mid 2007 to early 2013)
• Xserve (Early 2009)
• Mac mini (Early 2009 to 2012)
• iMac (Mid 2007 to early 2013)
• Mac Pro (Early 2008 and 2010)

Mac OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion compatibility

Mountain Lion, the last of the “big cat” versions of the Mac operating system launched in July 2012 (latest version 10.8.5) and can run on the following Macs:

• MacBook (Late 2008 to 2010)
• MacBook Air (Late 2008 to mid 2012)
• MacBook Pro (Mid/Late 2007 to mid-2012)
• Mac mini (Early 2009 to 2011)
• iMac (Mid-2007 to 2011)
• Mac Pro (Early 2008 and 2010)