Is it finally safe to upgrade to latest Catalina from Mojave?

[davys]

I’m on a late 2014 27” iMac, happily running the final version of Mojave. Having now transferred my old Aperture library to Capture One, I‘m now thinking of updating to Catalina which has been running fine with no issue on my new 16” MacBook Pro.

Am I daft think about this, am I better missing out Catalina altogether and waiting to see what software we get later this year (which may be no better than Catalina, mind!).

Thanks for any advice offered.

 

[Erehy Dobon]

You are the best person to answer your own question.

A wise person would clone his/her Mojave boot drive (using Carbon Copy Cloner or SuperDuper) to an external SSD, then upgrade the latter to Catalina to test it out. If he/she didn't like it, he/she could simply reboot from the Mojave internal drive and continue on with life as if nothing happened.

It is up to you to decide whether or not you are one of these people.

Regardless, having a bootable clone of your working system drive is a sensible practice anyhow.

 

[J.Gallardo]

You are the best person to answer your own question.

A wise person would clone his/her boot drive (using Carbon Copy Cloner or SuperDrive) to an external SSD, then upgrade the latter to Catalina to test it out. If he/she didn't like it, he/she could simply reboot from the internal drive and continue on with life as if nothing happened.

It is up to you to decide whether or not you are one of these people.

Regardless, having a bootable clone of your working system drive is a sensible precaution anyhow.

I wish it was so easy... I really wanted going this way.
I was thinking about just doing as you tell. In fact, I acquired a M2 1TB blade & usb 3.1 gen 2 case; surpassing 900mb/s read speed. I thought that perhaps it would be my preferred bootdisk if Catalina goes ok, and could occasionally use some 32bit apps I need booting in Mojave.
But my most worrying concern was about all iCloud and services and synchronization across all my devices... with a possible no way back.
So I thought about disconnecting from internet when testing this new Catalina installation... And this is almost a nonsense; using an unconnected mac is possible and maybe enough for many, but impossible for my basic tasks and running apps (Dropbox, Keychain, OneDrive, AppleMusic...).
Being a happy Mojave user, I still haven’t found something that Catalina would do better for my use. And I don’t have the time for planning all this new sync & possible way back if I don’t like Catalina. The problem is the cloud, an important part of system now.
I won’t even try this new OS on external, till I find a good reason. (Mojave is running without a hiccup in my 2019 iMac).

If someone can dilute my concerns about “cloud upgrading and going back” with technical information, I give thanks in advance.

 

[Erehy Dobon]

The easiest way would be to create a new user on your Mojave drive, log into that at least once and do not set up any cloud services.

Then clone the Mojave boot drive to an external drive and upgrade the latter to Catalina.

When you reboot from the new Catalina test drive, log into the newly created account that has no cloud services activated. Unmount your Mojave drive if you'd like then test the Catalina operating system and various applications without committing your personal account information to any cloud services.

I have a couple of user accounts like this including a backup admin account that also has no cloud services enabled.

 

[QCassidy352]

I'm still on Mojave and won't upgrade to Catalina. I don't want to lose my 32-bit apps, and I've read a lot of bad stories about Catalina… but mostly, I just don't see the point. Probably the only new feature I'd really want is sidecar, and my Mac is too old to support that anyway.

 

[SalisburySam]

My late 2017 iMac is on Mojave, and I’ve seen nothing in the marketing nor here in the forum that compels a change to Catalina for me. Although my testing shows no 32-bit apps, I don’t use Sidecar nor need to, and I have not seen any new feature or service I want. I’m reasonably happy. Now I should go wash my hands again.

 

[MacGizmo]

I've seen no "compelling" reason to upgrade to any OS since Mountain Lion. Nonetheless, I'm running Catalina on multiple Macs dating back to 2015 with no issues at all. Each OS version tends to bring lots of "little things" that make life better/easier - I've found that to be the case with Catalina, as well as every previous OS release.

 

[SalisburySam]

Each OS version tends to bring lots of "little things" that make life better/easier

Such as?

 

[MacGizmo]

Such as?

One of the biggest things for me was when Apple added the File Rename capabilities and the ability to select a bunch of files and generate a new folder containing those items, both built-in and via the contextual menu item. I don't remember what OS version (might have been Mojave) those were added in, but it's things like that which makes an OS worth updating to for me... not so much the hero features.

Catalina's features I like are the complete stripping of iTunes into multiple apps, the iOS Finder integration, improved Mail handling, better/full dark mode support, the image/file editing extension built-in to the Finder, improvements to Notes and Reminders apps.

 

[Ritsuka]

10.15.5 will be out next week (or the one after). I find the last beta to be quite stable.

 

[Janeilfen]

One of the biggest things for me was when Apple added the File Rename capabilities and the ability to select a bunch of files and generate a new folder containing those items, both built-in and via the contextual menu item. I don't remember what OS version (might have been Mojave) those were added in, but it's things like that which makes an OS worth updating to for me... not so much the hero features.

Catalina's features I like are the complete stripping of iTunes into multiple apps, the iOS Finder integration, improved Mail handling, better/full dark mode support, the image/file editing extension built-in to the Finder, improvements to Notes and Reminders apps.

Improved Mail handling?????
I just bought a Mac mini refurb and Mail is a lot worse than my previous old 2010 MacBook Pro Running high Sierra.
It just refuses, intermittently, to connect to various Mail servers for my accounts. I use Apple Mail across my iPad and iPhone (iOS obviously) so I keep them in sync and they work perfectly well.

 

[xgman]

I would still be on mojave, but, last night Appstore broke and cound't be repaired by any know means, so I was forced to update finally to catalina. It was actually pretty smooth and fast and most stuff works since I have been preparing and ridding 32 bit fragments. But I'm glad I waited till now.

 

[QCassidy352]

One of the biggest things for me was when Apple added the File Rename capabilities and the ability to select a bunch of files and generate a new folder containing those items, both built-in and via the contextual menu item.

hey, that's very cool! I didn't know that existed. I have always used (and still used, until today, apparently) an Automator workflow to do this.

 

[chrono1081]

It's been safe since Catalina was released.

 

[axboi87]

I'm running Catalina (only recently upgraded) on all of our office computers (mostly late 2015 5k iMacs), my early 2013 15" Retina MBP, my trashcan MP and on a 2009 Unibody MacBook (using dosdude patch) and everything is more or less running without a hitch (only complaint is the Apple Mail popup which we also experienced starting with Mojave. Generally speaking, since most folks are working with blueprints, etc. the Metal 2.0 upgrade in Catalina has actually increased performance and reduced memory usage in this area. I do always recommend people do a fresh install and then restore from Time Machine via Migration Assistance with ANY Mac OS upgrade, as well as do a clean install/restore every year regardless as a regular maintenance (same for iOS). My two cents regarding the 32-bit app support is that Apple has provided plenty of time since the POWERPC G5 CAME OUT NEARLY TWO DECADES AGO (!!!) for developers to update. I tend to like the walled garden as a best or nothing approach (obviously not always perfect), and really wish they'd require iOS developers for example to have iPad formatted apps.

 

[Taz Mangus]

I’m on a late 2014 27” iMac, happily running the final version of Mojave. Having now transferred my old Aperture library to Capture One, I‘m now thinking of updating to Catalina which has been running fine with no issue on my new 16” MacBook Pro.

Am I daft think about this, am I better missing out Catalina altogether and waiting to see what software we get later this year (which may be no better than Catalina, mind!).

Thanks for any advice offered.

I would say you probably have already answered your own question as you find Catalina works well on your 16" MacBook Pro.

In my case, I am using Catalina (10.15.4) on 2 MacBook Pro computers and it runs very well for me. I do however have noticed a few insignificant inconveniences with Catalina vs Mojave such as fast user switching is slower, the dock does not disappear when logging out or rebooting. I really like some of the nice touches that Catalina added such as file stacks on the Desktop.

 

[History366]

One of the biggest things for me was when Apple added the File Rename capabilities and the ability to select a bunch of files and generate a new folder containing those items, both built-in and via the contextual menu item. I don't remember what OS version (might have been Mojave) those were added in, but it's things like that which makes an OS worth updating to for me... not so much the hero features.

Catalina's features I like are the complete stripping of iTunes into multiple apps, the iOS Finder integration, improved Mail handling, better/full dark mode support, the image/file editing extension built-in to the Finder, improvements to Notes and Reminders apps.

I am on High Sierra. My computer is running great and I have no problems with files or programs. However, I have been notified by TurboTax that the 2020 edition will not run on my present IOS and I need to upgrade to Catalina. What to do? Shall I take the plunge?

 

[Daverich4]

I am on High Sierra. My computer is running great and I have no problems with files or programs. However, I have been notified by TurboTax that the 2020 edition will not run on my present IOS and I need to upgrade to Catalina. What to do? Shall I take the plunge?

According to Intuit, Mojave will be required to run 2020, not Catalina. No reason to ditch your 32bit apps if you don’t want to as unlike Catalina, Mojave will still run them.

Mojave OS for Apple computers is required for 2020. Thousands of 2011 Apple computers will be unable to run TurboTax. Is there a way to let Intuit know of that problem?

Solved: Mojave OS for Apple computers is required for 2020. Thousands of 2011 Apple computers will be unable to run TurboTax. Is there a way to let Intuit know

ttlc.intuit.com

 

[LizKat]

I'm still on Mojave and won't upgrade to Catalina. I don't want to lose my 32-bit apps, and I've read a lot of bad stories about Catalina… but mostly, I just don't see the point. Probably the only new feature I'd really want is sidecar, and my Mac is too old to support that anyway.

I'm leaving my mid-2012 MBP at Mojave. I too have some 32 bit apps I still like to use (a slew of Ultralingua dictionaries among other things).

For Catalina I ordered an MBA coming next week or so. I don't ask much of a computer any more really, but I'm not used to not having a current MacOS in the house so it was past time already.

With the MBP I also have got tired of not being able to transfer files easily without a third party app operating between iOS13 music and Mojave OS; I still have stuff in iTunes I like to be able to transfer from the laptop. I can't connect the mobiles to the notebook anymore through iTunes, so I've resorted to use of iMazing. Also the whole thing about being unable to get my Audible files from Mojave to iOS13 Books app is a pain in the neck. I don't happen to want to use the Audible app on my mobiles. So the whole music and audibooks thing is headed for the new MBA and ability to drag and drop the files in Catalina on the laptop and iOS13 on the mobiles.​

I still have an (obsolete) modified mid-2010 MacBook with an SSD running El Capitan. It gets the job done for serving up movies and TV shows already bought from iTunes, plus owned music libraries and stuff on DVDs. Apple still lets you download El Capitan for Macs that can't run Mojave, but it appears to have ceased doing security updates for El Cap. So this machine's on the skids to the e-cycle, basically. I don't use it on the net.

 

[Janeilfen]

I'm running Catalina (only recently upgraded) on all of our office computers (mostly late 2015 5k iMacs), my early 2013 15" Retina MBP, my trashcan MP and on a 2009 Unibody MacBook (using dosdude patch) and everything is more or less running without a hitch (only complaint is the Apple Mail popup which we also experienced starting with Mojave. Generally speaking, since most folks are working with blueprints, etc. the Metal 2.0 upgrade in Catalina has actually increased performance and reduced memory usage in this area. I do always recommend people do a fresh install and then restore from Time Machine via Migration Assistance with ANY Mac OS upgrade, as well as do a clean install/restore every year regardless as a regular maintenance (same for iOS). My two cents regarding the 32-bit app support is that Apple has provided plenty of time since the POWERPC G5 CAME OUT NEARLY TWO DECADES AGO (!!!) for developers to update. I tend to like the walled garden as a best or nothing approach (obviously not always perfect), and really wish they'd require iOS developers for example to have iPad formatted apps.

Can I ask what you mean by “only complaint is the Apple Mail popup”?

 

[lexvo]

As far as I can tell, the SMB bug (connecting to another server on the samen network) is still present. This is the reason I am still on Mojave.

 

[honestone33]

10.15.5 will be out next week (or the one after). I find the last beta to be quite stable.

Yeah, I was going to suggest waiting until V10.15.5 is released.

Myself, I did not "move" from Mojave to Catalina until all my third party applications were compatible with Catalina. Because of that, and Tech Tool Pro being the last to provide an update, I did not move to Catalina until V10.15.3 of it had been released. By that time, just about all the bugs in the initial releases of Catalina were fixed. I've had no issues at all with Catalina, and I'm now on V10.15.4.

The key is to make the proper preparations for the move/upgrade. Myself, when I move from one OS to the next, I always do a clean, fresh installation of the new OS, then migrate/copy all the necessary files, folders, settings, apps, etc. from a just completed SuperDuper! backup/clone. Of course, prior to that, as I mentioned above, I had already insured that all my third party applications are compatible with the new OS. That has always worked well for me, and I have never encountered any issues with such a move. (When I upgraded from V10.15.3 to V10.15.4, I just downloaded and applied the OS 10.15.4 Combo Updater. I will do the same when V10.15.5 is released (should be real soon)).

For some individuals, there are some 32 bit applications that they must use, without a 64 bit alternative. For that case, of course, it is best (and mandatory) to stay with Mojave. That was/is not the case for me, but certainly understandable.

If you are going to move/upgrade, you should at least take the following steps:

1. Insure that all your third party applications are compatible with Catalina. That might mean the need to download and apply updates to some of these programs, or like in the case of Onyx (there might be others), downloading a Catalina-only version and installing it after the upgrade/move.

2. Do as much disk cleanup, maintenance, and repairs as possible. You can do a lot of disk cleanup on your own, and there are some excellent programs available to help you with those tasks. Myself I use (and rely on) Onyx and Tech Tool Pro for those tasks.

3. Make a final backup/clone with your "clean" Mojave system, using either SuperDuper! or Carbon Copy Cloner, to an external device (preferably an SSD).

 

[LizKat]

I'll be continuing to lead a somewhat divided life...

Leaving my mid-2012 (and somewhat beat-up) MBP at Mojave over some 32 bit apps (and a rotational drive).​

​

Catalina comes installed on the 2020 MBA that will land on my porch pretty soon. It's what there is so I'll get used to it. I stopped reading about issues with Catalina while it was still in beta so I assume a lot of my concerns from then have been ironed out. Hope I'm not wrong but anyway I'll have to join the rest of the world and get over it.​

​

El Capitan still lives on in no-longer-maintained glory on a now-vintage mid-2009 modified MacBook I use to serve purchased entertainment including DVDs. That "backup" machine doesn't cozy up to the net any more. So it's not much of an actual backup any more, hence my realization it was time to get a newer laptop and let the MBP become my sorta-usable spare.​

I sometimes worry that my lackadaisical approach to keeping up with the Joneses on laptop hardware / OS will eventually also make some of my data on external storage devices inaccessible. On the other hand, that thought is what keeps third party adapter cable makers in biz, no? Anyway not sure why it pays to worry about leaving some data behind when I'm at the age I could leave it ALL behind on short notice anyway. But in the meantime I've certainly been the target market for all manner of adapters and dongles.

 

[edubfromktown]

I'll be continuing to lead a somewhat divided life...

Leaving my mid-2012 (and somewhat beat-up) MBP at Mojave over some 32 bit apps (and a rotational drive).​

​

Catalina comes installed on the 2020 MBA that will land on my porch pretty soon. It's what there is so I'll get used to it. I stopped reading about issues with Catalina while it was still in beta so I assume a lot of my concerns from then have been ironed out. Hope I'm not wrong but anyway I'll have to join the rest of the world and get over it.​

​

El Capitan still lives on in no-longer-maintained glory on a now-vintage mid-2009 modified MacBook I use to serve purchased entertainment including DVDs. That "backup" machine doesn't cozy up to the net any more. So it's not much of an actual backup any more, hence my realization it was time to get a newer laptop and let the MBP become my sorta-usable spare.​

I sometimes worry that my lackadaisical approach to keeping up with the Joneses on laptop hardware / OS will eventually also make some of my data on external storage devices inaccessible. On the other hand, that thought is what keeps third party adapter cable makers in biz, no? Anyway not sure why it pays to worry about leaving some data behind when I'm at the age I could leave it ALL behind on short notice anyway. But in the meantime I've certainly been the target market for all manner of adapters and dongles.

I keep old stuff around primarily to help others recover from train wrecks (on neglected systems with no hope of recovery other than pulling a drive; mounting elsewhere) and also because it is cool/I have storage space to do so. Powerbook 170, White 24" iMac running 10.7.5 and on up the line...

2020 hardware has forced me into Catalina-land. Not always bad to slide on the bleeding edge a bit haha.

I haven't experienced too much on the negative with the newest OS thus far...

 

[loby]

I hope that the next version of Catalina fixes some of the issues when using FCPX.

Both my macbook pro 2018 and 12-Core Mac Pro 2013 seems to not use all of the graphics cards for transcoding the video. It also takes longer (slows down) to process then when using Mojave.

I downgraded both systems back to Mojave and now things run faster, including graphic cards transcoding (using both cards now with dual D500 cards in the mac pro 2013).

Hope the next version of Catalina fixes this. Would prefer to upgrade to Catalina, but might have to sit it out on Mojave for video editing.