Apple Releases macOS 11, watchOS 10, and watchOS 9 Updates to Keep iMessage and FaceTime Working on Older Devices

[MacRumors]

Apple today released macOS 11.7.11, watchOS 10.6.2, and watchOS 9.6.4 for older Macs and Apple Watches that are not able to run the current watchOS and macOS 26.

According to Apple's release notes, the updates extend the certificate that features like device activation, iMessage, and FaceTime use. The certificate update ensures that these functions will continue to work after January 2027.

On the Mac, the update can be installed through the Settings app, while on the Apple Watch, the updates can be installed through the Apple Watch app on iPhone.

watchOS 9.6.4 and the update that preceded it are the final versions of watchOS that support devices like the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X, which are limited to iOS 16 and cannot be updated to iOS 17. watchOS 10.6.2 is available for the Apple Watch Series 4, Apple Watch Series 5, and the original Apple Watch SE.

Update: Apple has also released macOS Catalina Security Update 2026-001 and watchOS 6.3.1 for older devices.



Article Link: Apple Releases macOS 11, watchOS 10, and watchOS 9 Updates to Keep iMessage and FaceTime Working on Older Devices

 

[wellander1]

Build numbers?

 

[FoxyKaye]

11.7.11? Wow, I actually had to confirm I was seeing this correctly. Good on that, I suppose.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

And I’m sure there will be a new thread in approximately 30 minutes of someone screaming about how they “ARE FORCING TAHOE ON ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Apple BAD!!!!! TIM CROOK!!!!!!!”

 

[PotentPeas]

Nothing for watchOS 8? My wife is still using Apple Watch Series 3. I wonder if it is going to be dead (for messaging) in a year?

[Edit] I see the article was updated to add a watchOS 6 entry, so I've got to believe they did one for watchOS 8 as well...

 

[svish]

Great to see updates for older devices. Long software support is very welcome and is needed.

 

[wellander1]

What about Mojave?

 

[Astuces iOS]

And watchOS 6, looks like you forgot Macrumors

 

[PotentPeas]

What about Mojave?

They might not do this one ...?
All "standard configuration" Macs that can run Mojave can also run Catalina.

 

[wellander1]

They might not do this one ...?
All "standard configuration" Macs that can run Mojave can also run Catalina.

The Mac Pro 2010 and 2012 models are maxed out at Mojave and it is the last to support 32 bit applications.

 

[tywebb13]

Build numbers?

macOS 11.7.11 (20G1443)
macOS 10.15.8 (19H2036)
watchOS 10.6.2 (21U594)
watchOS 9.6.4 (20U512)
watchOS 6.3.1 (17U224)

also there is

iOS 16.7.14 (20H370)
iPadOS 16.7.14 (20H370)

 

[jent]

Are these only available for models that aren’t capable of later OSes? I usually keep my device one generation behind on iOS, watchOS, and macOS, and I find that when operating system updates are released, only the latest OS version pops up, when previously I used to see the current-gen OS and installed-OS point updates side-by-side as options.

 

[PBG4 Dude]

11.7.11? Wow, I actually had to confirm I was seeing this correctly. Good on that, I suppose.

Mac OS X Tiger went to 10.4.11 so it isn’t the first time. 🙂

 

[wellander1]

Catalina got updated to 10.15.8 now build 19H2036

 

[ifxf]

Will they have it disappear in a week like they did with 18.7.3?

 

[Slix]

Man, this is great that we are still getting updates for devices as old as the Series 1 Apple Watch, iPhone 6s, and as far back as the 2012 MacBook/iMac line this past week. :O

 

[minik]

Pretend I don't see them and upgrade to major release.

 

[Jerry Fritschle]

What about Mojave?

What about System 7?

 

[wellander1]

Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; Intel Mac OS X 10_15_8) AppleWebKit/605.1.15 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/15.6.1 Safari/605.1.15 User agent from Safari.

 

[rappelz]

This is really HUGE news! Took me some seconds to realize that macOS 11 = macOS Big Sur! I just re-installed it on my 2013 Intel MacBook Pro (ran Linux Mint) and my 2020 M1 MacBook Air (ran macOS Tahoe). Remember that Big Sur has full Rosetta 2 support, so x86/x86-64 software will work, no bloatware, and no AI support.

 

[ikir]

This is really HUGE news! Took me some seconds to realize that macOS 11 = macOS Big Sur! I just re-installed it on my 2013 Intel MacBook Pro (ran Linux Mint) and my 2020 M1 MacBook Air (ran macOS Tahoe). Remember that Big Sur has full Rosetta 2 support, so x86/x86-64 software will work, no bloatware, and no AI support.

I'm happy for you, macOS 11 was a great release imho. Still sto the hate for AI tools, they are pretty simple and useful on macOS. I understand and share the hate for Ai bubble, AI chatbot but not AI tools running locally!

 

[Darmok N Jalad]

Gosh, it’s been so long since my AW4 received an update, I hope it remembers how to do it.

 

[klm9210]

And I’m sure there will be a new thread in approximately 30 minutes of someone screaming about how they “ARE FORCING TAHOE ON ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Apple BAD!!!!! TIM CROOK!!!!!!!”

LIQUID GLASS KILLED MY ENTIRE FAMILY!!!

 

[centauratlas]

What about Mojave?

I am waiting for what about "Mac OS 9.0.4"? Will they do a 9.0.4.1? 🙂 It is only ~27 years old.

I have to say that releasing updates for "older" devices like this is something that Apple often does very well.

 

[PBG4 Dude]

Gosh, it’s been so long since my AW4 received an update, I hope it remembers how to do it.

I had to use my iPhone to accept the terms and conditions before it would install on my 4.