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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 if you want the latest features and security protections.
Read on to find out exactly which Macs are supported by each version of the Mac operating system.
The latest macOS version is macOS 26 Tahoe, which can run on all M-series Macs and a small number of Intel-powered Macs from 2019, but the older Macs don’t get all the new features. There are also two versions of macOS that receive security updates: macOS 15 Sequoia and macOS 14 Sonoma.
Apple releases a new version of the Mac operating system every year—but the newest version of the Mac operating system does 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.
Here’s a simple table you can use to identify the version of macOS your Mac can run based on the year it was introduced. Note there are some exceptions where only certain models are compatible with a macOS version. For more details of specific models check the sections later on in this article.
For advice about installing macOS read: How to install macOS on your Mac and read our guide to every version of macOS released to find out about the latest version.
There were fears that macOS Tahoe would not support any Intel-powered Macs – luckily this isn’t the case, but Apple has confirmed this will be the last version of macOS to support Macs that don’t run on Apple’s own silicon.
To drill in to exactly which Mac model run macOS Tahoe you can browse the chart below:
Apple lists the following Macs as compatible with macOS 26 Tahoe and the Apple Intelligence-powered features:
These are the Intel Macs that run macOS Tahoe (but don’t support Apple Intelligence):
The following Macs that were supported by 2024’s macOS Sequoia, and any that are older than these, are not able to run Tahoe:
Which Macs run Sequoia? All the M-series Macs!
Apple
Sequoia (macOS 15) became available on Tuesday, September 16, 2024. The software was regularly updated prior to the introduction of Tahoe, but now that Tahoe is here Sequoia will only get security updates when required.
Latest version: macOS Sequoia 15.7.5 on March 24, 2026.
All M-series Macs can support Sequoia (and Apple Intelligence features), including:
The following Intel Macs can run Sequoia. None of these models can support the Apple Intelligence features though.
The following Macs that were supported by 2023’s macOS Sonoma, and any that are older than these, are not able to run Sequoia:
For more information read: Can my Mac run Sequoia?
macOS Sonoma
IDG
macOS 14 Sonoma became available on Tuesday, September 26, 2023. Apple is still issuing security updates for Sonoma.
Latest version: macOS Sonoma 14.8.5 on March 24, 2026.
For more information read: Can my Mac run Sonoma?
Apple
Apple released macOS 13 Ventura to the public on October 24, 2022. Apple is still issuing security updates for Ventura, the most recent was 13.7.8 in August 2025, this may be the last Ventura update now Tahoe is here, as Apple tends to only support the past two versions with security updates.
Latest version: macOS Ventura 13.7.8, August 2025.
For more information read: Can my Mac run Ventura?
Apple
macOS 12 Monterey was made available to download on October 15, 2021 (latest version 12.7.6 in July 2024). Apple is no longer issuing security updates for Monterey.
Latest version: macOS Monterey 12.7.6, July 2024.
Apple
macOS 11 Big Sur was the version of macOS that arrived on November 12, 2020. Apple is no longer issuing security updates for Big Sur, but it did issue an update in February 2026 to address a certificate issue with FaceTime and Messages.
Latest version: macOS Big Sur 11.7.11, February 2026.
Catalina arrived in October 2019. Apple is no longer issuing security updates for Catalina, but it did issue an update in February 2026 to address a certificate issue with FaceTime and Messages.
Latest version: macOS Catalina 10.15.8, February 2026.
Note that the M-series Macs will not be able to run Catalina or earlier.
Mojave arrived in September 2018 (latest version 10.14.6 in July 2021) and can run on the following Macs:
High Sierra arrived in September 2017 (latest version 10.13.6) and can run on the following Macs:
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:
El Capitan arrived in September 2015 (latest version 10.11.6) and can run on the following Macs:
Yosemite arrived in October 2014 (latest version 10.10.5) and can run on the following Macs:
Mavericks arrived in October 2013 (latest version 10.9.5) and can run on the following Macs:
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:
Wondering how long Apple will support your Mac for? Read: How long do Macs last?
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—but you can take a look at how to install old versions of macOS or OS X for other Macs. 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 x86.
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 can use. You’ll also find that information below. You can also see a complete list of all the different versions of macOS and Mac OS X. Not sure which Mac you own? Check our article about how to identify your Mac.
Karen has worked on both sides of the Apple divide, clocking up a number of years at Apple’s PR agency prior to joining Macworld more than two decades ago. Karen’s career highlights include interviewing Apple’s Steve Wozniak and discussing Steve Jobs’ legacy on the BBC. Having edited the U.K. print and online editions of Macworld for many years, more recently her focus has been on SEO and evergreen content as well as product recommendations and buying advice.
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