Now recommending macOS 15 Sequoia
This fall, Apple released major upgrades for all its operating systems, including iOS 18 and macOS 15 Sequoia. With the latest update to macOS 15.1, we are now recommending macOS Sequoia which includes the initial Apple Intelligence features.
When should you upgrade?
Note that we say when and not if. There’s no harm in delaying a major operating system upgrade until Apple has sanded off any rough edges that slipped through testing. But waiting too long puts you at risk from security vulnerabilities, increases compatibility annoyances, and prevents you from taking advantage of new features.
Plus, when you buy a new Mac, iPhone, or iPad, you’ll get the latest version, which could pose problems for your existing apps or compatibility with older hardware or workflows. It’s best to be prepared if you have to replace a device unexpectedly.
Check your BACkup
Remember, always make a backup before upgrading a Mac, iPhone, or iPad so you can revert if necessary. We recommend Backblaze for offsite backup of your Mac, and iCloud Backup of your iPhone and iPad.
Who can Upgrade?
Most people should be able to upgrade because Apple dropped support only for two MacBook Air models from 2018 and 2019; otherwise, everything that can run macOS 14 Sonoma can upgrade to Sequoia. (If you have one of those MacBook Airs, we’d highly recommend upgrading to a new Mac – you’ll love the current MacBook Air.)
Why Upgrade?
What capabilities does Sequoia promise? The big one is iPhone mirroring, which will let you view and interact with your iPhone right on your Mac screen. iPhone notifications can appear on your Mac, and later this year, you’ll be able to drag and drop files, photos, and videos between your Mac and iPhone.
New window tiling features make it easy to arrange windows in side-by-side tiles on your desktop by dragging or using keyboard or menu shortcuts. Those who do video calls all day will appreciate background replacements and a presenter preview that shows exactly what you’ll share before displaying it to everyone.
Apple Intelligence features include Writing Tools (to help you Proofread, Rewrite, or Summarize text right within your favorite apps like Mail, Notes, Pages, etc.), and Photos Enhancements to Clean Up unwanted items in your photos, find photos using Descriptive search like “Halloween in 2014”, and easily create Memory movies. Apple Intelligence also includes Notification Summaries, Priority Notifications, and Audio Recording, Transcription, and Summarization.
The new Passwords app appears on the Mac and syncs securely across all your Apple devices, simplifying password management.
Get help with Passwords
With a Security Upgrade tutorial from PsiMac, we’ll provide guidance on how to upgrade your security by using strong, unique passwords for each website, and configuring multi-factor authentication (MFA) or two-factor authentication (2FA) for enhanced security.
We have helped many clients with our Security Upgrade tutorial.
We always encourage caution when upgrading to a new version of macOS. Some people rely on older Mac apps that may not work in the latest version of macOS. Even once you’re confident that your apps will work adequately in Sequoia, there may be workflow or intra-office compatibility concerns if some people upgrade and others don’t. And, of course, unanticipated bugs could crop up at inconvenient times—important work takes place on Macs!
Let PsiMac handle it
We can schedule a quick call to confirm your backups, check app compatibility, and remotely upgrade your Mac.
For PsiMac Prime subscribers, we can check your backup status, confirm that your device can be upgraded, and queue up your Mac to automatically prompt you to upgrade at your own convenience – no appointment needed.
Please do not upgrade to Sequoia without first checking with us. With luck, the bug fixes and app updates necessary to give the green light will have appeared by the end-of-year break, which provides some welcome downtime during which you can install and spend some time exploring the new features.
(Featured image by Apple)