MacOS version history: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 05:33, 16 February 2025

Overview of the history of macOS versions

macOS Version History[edit]

The macOS version history details the development and release of macOS, a series of graphical operating systems developed and marketed by Apple Inc.. Originally introduced as "Mac OS X" in 2001, the operating system has undergone significant changes and improvements over the years.

Mac OS X[edit]

The initial release of Mac OS X was in March 2001, with the version 10.0 "Cheetah". It was a major departure from the previous Mac OS 9, introducing a new Aqua user interface and a Unix-based foundation derived from NeXTSTEP, an operating system developed by NeXT, a company founded by Steve Jobs.

Subsequent versions included:

10.1 "Puma" - Released in September 2001, it improved performance and added new features.
10.2 "Jaguar" - Released in August 2002, it introduced Quartz Extreme and Rendezvous.
10.3 "Panther" - Released in October 2003, it added Exposé and FileVault.
10.4 "Tiger" - Released in April 2005, it introduced Spotlight and Dashboard.

Mac OS X Leopard and Snow Leopard[edit]

10.5 "Leopard" - Released in October 2007, it was the first version to support both Intel and PowerPC processors. It introduced Time Machine and Spaces.

10.6 "Snow Leopard" - Released in August 2009, it focused on performance improvements and was the first version to drop support for PowerPC processors.

OS X Lion to Mavericks[edit]

10.7 "Lion" - Released in July 2011, it introduced features from iOS, such as Launchpad and Mission Control.

10.8 "Mountain Lion" - Released in July 2012, it further integrated iOS features, including Notification Center.

10.9 "Mavericks" - Released in October 2013, it was the first version to be offered for free and introduced iBooks and Maps.

OS X Yosemite to El Capitan[edit]

10.10 "Yosemite" - Released in October 2014, it introduced a new flat design and Continuity features.

10.11 "El Capitan" - Released in September 2015, it focused on performance improvements and refinements.

macOS Sierra to Mojave[edit]

10.12 "Sierra" - Released in September 2016, it introduced Siri to the Mac and APFS.

10.13 "High Sierra" - Released in September 2017, it focused on under-the-hood improvements and introduced Metal 2.

10.14 "Mojave" - Released in September 2018, it introduced Dark Mode and Dynamic Desktop.

macOS Catalina to Ventura[edit]

10.15 "Catalina" - Released in October 2019, it introduced Sidecar and replaced iTunes with separate apps for Music, Podcasts, and Apple TV.

11 "Big Sur" - Released in November 2020, it marked a major redesign and was the first version to support Apple silicon Macs.

12 "Monterey" - Released in October 2021, it introduced Universal Control and Shortcuts.

13 "Ventura" - Released in October 2022, it introduced Stage Manager and improvements to Mail and Safari.

Related Pages[edit]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-'''MacOS Version History''' is a detailed chronicle of the various versions of [[Apple Inc.]]'s [[MacOS]], a proprietary graphical operating system. MacOS, originally named "Mac OS X" until 2012 and then "OS X" until 2016, is the operating system that presently powers many of the company's mobile devices, including the [[MacBook]], [[iMac]], and [[Mac Pro]].
+{{Short description|Overview of the history of macOS versions}}
-== Introduction ==
+== macOS Version History ==
+[[File:Unix history-simple.svg|thumb|right|Simplified history of Unix and Unix-like systems, including macOS]]
+The '''macOS version history''' details the development and release of [[macOS]], a series of [[graphical user interface|graphical operating systems]] developed and marketed by [[Apple Inc.]]. Originally introduced as "Mac OS X" in 2001, the operating system has undergone significant changes and improvements over the years.
-The first version of MacOS, known as [[Mac OS X Server 1.0]], was a completely new operating system built from the ground up and released in 1999. It was soon followed by [[Mac OS X 10.0]] in 2001. The initial version was criticized for its slow performance and high system requirements, but these issues were addressed in subsequent updates.
+=== Mac OS X ===
+The initial release of Mac OS X was in March 2001, with the version 10.0 "Cheetah". It was a major departure from the previous [[Mac OS]] 9, introducing a new [[Aqua (user interface)|Aqua user interface]] and a [[Unix]]-based foundation derived from [[NeXTSTEP]], an operating system developed by [[NeXT]], a company founded by [[Steve Jobs]].
+Subsequent versions included:
+* '''10.1 "Puma"''' - Released in September 2001, it improved performance and added new features.
+* '''10.2 "Jaguar"''' - Released in August 2002, it introduced [[Quartz Extreme]] and [[Rendezvous (software)|Rendezvous]].
+* '''10.3 "Panther"''' - Released in October 2003, it added [[Exposé (Mac OS)|Exposé]] and [[FileVault]].
+* '''10.4 "Tiger"''' - Released in April 2005, it introduced [[Spotlight (software)|Spotlight]] and [[Dashboard (macOS)|Dashboard]].
+=== Mac OS X Leopard and Snow Leopard ===
+[[File:Unix history-simple.svg|thumb|left|The evolution of macOS within the Unix family]]
+'''10.5 "Leopard"''' - Released in October 2007, it was the first version to support both [[Intel]] and [[PowerPC]] processors. It introduced [[Time Machine (macOS)|Time Machine]] and [[Spaces (software)|Spaces]].
-== Version History ==
+'''10.6 "Snow Leopard"''' - Released in August 2009, it focused on performance improvements and was the first version to drop support for PowerPC processors.
-=== Mac OS X ===
+=== OS X Lion to Mavericks ===
+'''10.7 "Lion"''' - Released in July 2011, it introduced features from [[iOS]], such as [[Launchpad (macOS)|Launchpad]] and [[Mission Control (macOS)|Mission Control]].
+'''10.8 "Mountain Lion"''' - Released in July 2012, it further integrated iOS features, including [[Notification Center (macOS)|Notification Center]].
+'''10.9 "Mavericks"''' - Released in October 2013, it was the first version to be offered for free and introduced [[iBooks]] and [[Maps (Apple)|Maps]].
+=== OS X Yosemite to El Capitan ===
+'''10.10 "Yosemite"''' - Released in October 2014, it introduced a new flat design and [[Continuity (Apple)|Continuity]] features.
-The first major release of the Mac OS X series was [[Mac OS X 10.0]], code-named "Cheetah", which was released in 2001. This was followed by [[Mac OS X 10.1]], code-named "Puma", later the same year. Subsequent versions were named after big cats, including "Jaguar" ([[Mac OS X 10.2]]), "Panther" ([[Mac OS X 10.3]]), "Tiger" ([[Mac OS X 10.4]]), "Leopard" ([[Mac OS X 10.5]]), "Snow Leopard" ([[Mac OS X 10.6]]), "Lion" ([[Mac OS X 10.7]]), and "Mountain Lion" ([[Mac OS X 10.8]]).
+'''10.11 "El Capitan"''' - Released in September 2015, it focused on performance improvements and refinements.
-=== OS X ===
+=== macOS Sierra to Mojave ===
+'''10.12 "Sierra"''' - Released in September 2016, it introduced [[Siri]] to the Mac and [[Apple File System|APFS]].
-In 2012, Apple dropped "Mac" from the name and the operating system became known as "OS X". The first version under this new name was [[OS X 10.9 Mavericks]], which was named after a surfing location in California. This was followed by [[OS X 10.10 Yosemite]], [[OS X 10.11 El Capitan]], and [[macOS 10.12 Sierra]].
+'''10.13 "High Sierra"''' - Released in September 2017, it focused on under-the-hood improvements and introduced [[Metal (API)|Metal 2]].
-=== MacOS ===
+'''10.14 "Mojave"''' - Released in September 2018, it introduced [[Dark Mode (computing)|Dark Mode]] and [[Dynamic Desktop]].
-In 2016, Apple rebranded the operating system again, this time as "macOS" to align it with the naming convention of their other operating systems, such as [[iOS]], [[watchOS]], and [[tvOS]]. The first version under this new name was [[macOS 10.13 High Sierra]], followed by [[macOS 10.14 Mojave]], [[macOS 10.15 Catalina]], and the latest version, [[macOS 11 Big Sur]].
+=== macOS Catalina to Ventura ===
+'''10.15 "Catalina"''' - Released in October 2019, it introduced [[Sidecar (software)|Sidecar]] and replaced [[iTunes]] with separate apps for [[Music (software)|Music]], [[Podcasts]], and [[Apple TV]].
-== Future Versions ==
+'''11 "Big Sur"''' - Released in November 2020, it marked a major redesign and was the first version to support [[Apple silicon]] Macs.
-Apple continues to develop and release new versions of macOS annually, with each version typically introducing new features, enhancements, and security updates.
+'''12 "Monterey"''' - Released in October 2021, it introduced [[Universal Control]] and [[Shortcuts (app)|Shortcuts]].
-== See Also ==
+'''13 "Ventura"''' - Released in October 2022, it introduced [[Stage Manager (software)|Stage Manager]] and improvements to [[Mail (Apple)|Mail]] and [[Safari (web browser)|Safari]].
-* [[History of Apple Inc.]]
+== Related Pages ==
-* [[List of Macintosh software]]
+* [[Apple Inc.]]
-* [[Comparison of operating systems]]
+* [[Macintosh]]
+* [[NeXTSTEP]]
+* [[Unix]]
+* [[iOS]]
 [[Category:MacOS]]
-[[Category:Apple Inc. software]]
+[[Category:Apple Inc.]]
-[[Category:Operating system timelines]]
+[[Category:Operating systems]]
-{{macOS}}
-{{Apple Inc.}}
-{{Operating systems}}
-{{tech-stub}}