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Mac OS support length
- Thread starter Samtb
- Start date
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macOS Intel version | Latest update | Final Security Update | iMac | Macbook Pro | Macbook Air | Mac Pro | Mac mini | iMac Pro | Macbook |
2025 macOS 16 | To Be Released | 2028 | 2020 | 2020 | 2020 | 2019 | - | ? | - |
2024 macOS 15 | To Be Released | 2027 | 2019 | 2019 | 2019 | 2019 | - | 2017 | - |
2023 Sonoma | Sep 2023 | 2026 | 2019 | 2018 | 2018 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | - |
2022 Ventura | Sep 2023 | 2025 | 2017 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2017 |
2021 Monterey | Sep 2023 | 2024 | 2015 | 2015 | 2015 | 2013 | 2014 | 2017 | 2016 |
2020 Big Sur | Sep 2023 | 2023 | 2014 | 2013 | 2013 | 2013 | 2014 | 2017 | 2015 |
2019 Catalina | Jul 2022 | 2022 | 2012 | 2012 | 2012 | 2013 | 2012 | 2017 | 2015 |
2018 Mojave | Jul 2021 | 2021 | 2012 | 2012 | 2012 | 2013 | 2012 | 2017 | 2015 |
2017 High Sierra | Nov 2020 | 2020 | 2009 | 2010 | 2010 | 2010 | 2010 | 2017 | 2009 |
2016 Sierra | Sep 2019 | 2019 | 2009 | 2010 | 2010 | 2010 | 2010 | - | 2009 |
2015 El Capitan | Jul 2018 | 2018 | 2007 | 2007 | 2008 | 2008 | 2009 | - | 2008 |
2014 Yosemite | Jul 2017 | 2017 | 2007 | 2007 | 2008 | 2008 | 2009 | - | 2008 |
2013 Mavericks | Jul 2016 | 2016 | 2007 | 2007 | 2008 | 2008 | 2009 | - | 2008 |
2012 Mountain Lion | Aug 2015 | 2015 | 2007 | 2007 | 2008 | 2008 | 2009 | - | 2008 |
2007 Leopard | Aug 2009 | 2009 | 2003 | 2002 | - | 2001 | 2005 | - | 2003 |
2005 Tiger | Nov 2007 | 2007 | 1999 | 2000 | - | 1999 | 2005 | - | 2000 |
By comparison since 2007 Windows Vista Microsoft has provided Software Support for 122 months.
Depending on device
- iOS is 100-112 months long
- iPadOS is 8-10 years long
For majority of 1st owners/users with the means to replace the device should do so before the final Security Update.
If you are using a hand me down or bought used should ignore what I recommend.
Last edited:
Not entirely true. It got upgrades (new major versions of macOS) up to Monterey macOS 12 in 2021. It had updates (new minor versions with feature and bug fixes) to macOS 12.6 in September 2022, and is currently receiving security updates (last being macOS 12.6.9 August 2023) and is expected to get some security updates for another year.
That time frame is typical of Apple's practice in recent years. 5 years to 12.0, 6 years to 12.6 and likely 8 years to 12.6.x.