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Apple macOS Sonoma system requirements – can macOS 14 run on your Mac?

Apple's latest macOS 14 software is here, but which devices make the cut?

Connor Jewiss Connor Jewiss
MacOS Sonoma widgets transparent

The latest version of macOS is always a must-download for any modern MacBook, especially the ones found on our best laptops list. The latest version of Apple’s Mac operating system is known as macOS Sonoma.

It was unveiled at WWDC 2023, and it’s now fully available as a free downloadable update. Go to System Settings on the Apple menu in the top left. Then click on General > Software Update.

As with all recent releases of macOS (since 2013’s Mavericks if you must know), it’s named after a Californian place – the North Bay city of Sonoma in this case.

There are a bunch of changes in Sonoma, notably widgets making there way to the desktop, new wallpapers, new video calling features, new features in Safari, extra apps, and some additional gaming tweaks for Apple’s computing machines. 

macOS Sonoma doesn’t support Macs released before 2018, with the exception of 2017’s iMac Pro. That includes some pretty powerful Macs that were previously supported by macOS Monterey, such as 2013’s cylindrical Mac Pro (the ‘trashcan’ one) which although hideously expensive at launch is now a decade old, of course. It also excludes the more affordable, but controversial, MacBook from 2017.

Note that this list still supports a bunch of Intel Macs, despite the transition to Apple silicon-powered machines. We’d imagine within 3-4 years we’ll be talking about new macOS versions only supporting Apple silicon hardware, which has now been with us for almost three years. 

macOS Sonoma supported Macs: full list 

  • 2019 iMac and later
  • 2017 iMac Pro and later
  • 2018 MacBook Air and later
  • 2018 MacBook Pro and later
  • 2019 Mac Pro and later
  • 2018 Mac mini and later
  • 2022 Mac Studio and later

Read more: What’s next for Apple Mac?

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About

Connor is a writer for Stuff, working across the magazine and the Stuff.tv website. He has been writing for around six years now, with writing across the web and in print too. Connor has experience on most major platforms, though does hold a place in his heart for macOS, iOS/iPadOS, electric vehicles, and smartphone tech. Just like everyone else around here, he’s a fan of gadgets of all sorts! Aside from writing, Connor is involved in the startup scene. This exciting involvement puts him at the front of new and exciting tech, always on the lookout for innovating products.

Areas of expertise

Mobile, macOS, EVs, smart home