macOS Versions in Order: Complete Mac OS X and macOS History

macOS Versions in Order

Apple did not release major public versions called macOS 16 through macOS 25. The company moved from macOS 15 Sequoia to macOS 26 Tahoe.

Where Did Mac OS X Come From?

Mac OS X was built using technology from NeXT, a company founded by Steve Jobs. Apple bought NeXT in 1997. This helped Apple create a new operating system for the Mac.

Mac OS X looked very different from the older Mac operating system. It introduced a new design, the Dock, and a stronger system foundation.

Apple released the Mac OS X Public Beta in 2000. The first main consumer version arrived in 2001.

Mac OS X 10.0 Cheetah

Release date: March 24, 2001

Cheetah was the first major consumer version of Mac OS X. It introduced the Aqua design and the Dock. The system also had a new foundation that was more stable than the older Mac operating system.

Cheetah was still an early version. It could feel slow on some Macs. Many users continued using Mac OS 9 while Apple improved Mac OS X.

Mac OS X 10.1 Puma

Release date: September 25, 2001

Puma improved many of the problems found in Cheetah. Apple made the system faster and more stable. It also improved support for DVDs, printers, and other devices.

Puma helped make Mac OS X more useful for everyday Mac users.

Mac OS X 10.2 Jaguar

Release date: August 24, 2002

Jaguar brought several useful changes to Mac OS X. Apple improved graphics performance and added iChat and Address Book.

Jaguar was also the first version where Apple strongly promoted the animal name as part of its Mac OS X branding.

Mac OS X 10.3 Panther

Release date: October 24, 2003

Panther introduced several features that became popular with Mac users. Exposé made it easier to see all open windows. Fast User Switching allowed different people to switch between accounts more quickly.

Panther also added FileVault and brought improvements to Finder and Safari.

Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger

Release date: April 29, 2005

Tiger was an important release in Mac OS X history. It introduced Spotlight, which made it easier to search for files, emails, and other information on a Mac.

Tiger also added Dashboard and Automator. Apple improved several parts of the system and prepared the Mac for its move to Intel processors.

Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard

Release date: October 26, 2007

Leopard added some of the most well-known Mac features. Time Machine made it easier to back up a Mac. Spaces allowed users to create separate work areas. Quick Look allowed users to preview files without opening them.

Apple also included Boot Camp. It allowed supported Intel Macs to run Windows. Leopard was the last major Mac OS X version to support PowerPC Macs.

Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard

Release date: August 28, 2009

Snow Leopard focused more on speed and stability than on adding many new features. It was made for Intel-based Macs. Apple improved many parts of the system and reduced the amount of storage it needed.

Snow Leopard could run many older PowerPC apps through Apple’s Rosetta software.

Mac OS X 10.7 Lion

Release date: July 20, 2011

Lion brought several new features to the Mac. The Mac App Store became a major way to install Mac apps. Apple also added Launchpad, Mission Control, and full-screen apps.

Apple also added features such as Auto Save, Resume, and AirDrop.

OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion

Release date: July 25, 2012

Mountain Lion was the first major version to use the shorter OS X name. Apple added Messages, Notification Center, Reminders, Notes, and Game Center.

It also added AirPlay Mirroring and improved the connection between the Mac and iCloud.

OS X 10.9 Mavericks

Release date: October 22, 2013

Mavericks changed Apple’s naming style. Instead of using big cat names, Apple started using names connected to California.

Mavericks was also the first major OS X upgrade that Apple offered for free. It introduced Finder Tabs, Tags, iBooks, and Maps. Apple also improved battery life and overall system performance.

OS X 10.10 Yosemite

Release date: October 16, 2014

Yosemite brought one of the biggest design changes to OS X. Apple introduced a cleaner and simpler look. The Mac also became more closely connected to the iPhone and iPad.

Handoff allowed users to start a task on one Apple device and continue it on another. Mac users could also make phone calls and send text messages from their Mac.

OS X 10.11 El Capitan

Release date: September 30, 2015

El Capitan focused on speed, stability, and everyday use. Apple improved Mission Control and added Split View. Split View allowed users to place two apps side by side.

Apple also improved Spotlight and Notes. El Capitan also brought Apple’s Metal graphics system to the Mac.

macOS 10.12 Sierra

Release date: September 20, 2016

Sierra was an important release because Apple changed the name from OS X to macOS. Siri came to the Mac for the first time.

Sierra also introduced Universal Clipboard. This allowed users to copy something on one Apple device and paste it on another. Other additions included Apple Watch Auto Unlock, iCloud Desktop and Documents, and Apple Pay on websites.

macOS 10.13 High Sierra

Release date: September 25, 2017

High Sierra focused on improving the system rather than changing its appearance. Apple introduced a new file system called APFS. It was designed to work better with modern Mac storage.

Apple also improved graphics, video support, Photos, and Safari. High Sierra looked similar to Sierra, but many changes happened behind the scenes.

macOS 10.14 Mojave

Release date: September 24, 2018

Mojave introduced Dark Mode to macOS. It also added Desktop Stacks, which helped users keep their desktop files organized.

Apple redesigned the Mac App Store and added Mac versions of News, Stocks, Voice Memos, and Home. Mojave was also the last major macOS version that could run 32-bit apps.

macOS 10.15 Catalina

Release date: October 7, 2019

Catalina made one of the biggest changes to Mac app support. Apple stopped supporting 32-bit apps. From Catalina onward, Mac apps needed to be built for the newer 64-bit system.

Apple also replaced iTunes with separate Music, TV, and Podcasts apps. Catalina introduced Sidecar, Screen Time, Find My, and Voice Control.

Sidecar allowed a compatible iPad to work as a second screen for a Mac.

macOS 11 Big Sur

Release date: November 12, 2020

Big Sur brought a major redesign to macOS. Apple changed the look of menus, icons, Control Center, and Notification Center.

Big Sur was also important because it supported Apple’s new M1 chips. This started Apple’s move away from Intel processors. Apple included Rosetta 2 to help many Intel-based Mac apps work on newer Macs with Apple silicon.

Read more about macOS Big Sur on AllMacWorld.

macOS 12 Monterey

Release date: October 25, 2021

Monterey focused on making Macs work better with other Apple devices. Universal Control allowed users to control a Mac and iPad with the same keyboard and mouse.

AirPlay to Mac allowed users to send content from another Apple device to a Mac. Monterey also added Shortcuts, Live Text, Visual Look Up, SharePlay, and improvements to Safari.

You can also read our page about macOS Monterey.

macOS 13 Ventura

Release date: October 24, 2022

Ventura introduced Stage Manager. It gave users a new way to organize open apps. Apple also brought the Weather and Clock apps to the Mac.

System Settings received a new design. It looked more like the Settings app on the iPhone and iPad. Ventura also added Continuity Camera, Passkeys, and improvements to Mail, Safari, and Spotlight.

See our detailed macOS Ventura guide for more information.

macOS 14 Sonoma

Release date: September 26, 2023

Sonoma introduced widgets that could be placed on the desktop. Apple also added new screen savers and improved video calling features.

Game Mode was another important addition. It helped supported games make better use of the Mac’s resources. Safari also received improvements, including support for profiles and web apps.

Read more about macOS Sonoma on AllMacWorld.

macOS 15 Sequoia

Release date: September 16, 2024

Sequoia added several new features to the Mac. One of the biggest was iPhone Mirroring. It allows users to see and control their iPhone from a Mac.

Apple also introduced the Passwords app and improved window management. Sequoia also brought new Apple Intelligence features to supported Macs.

Visit our macOS Sequoia page for more details.

macOS 26 Tahoe

Release date: September 15, 2025

Tahoe brought a major change to the look of macOS. Apple introduced the Liquid Glass design, which gives parts of the system a more transparent appearance.

Tahoe also added a new Control Center design and more ways to customize folders, icons, and widgets. Spotlight received a major update. Apple also added the Phone app to the Mac and introduced Live Activities.

You can learn more on our macOS Tahoe page.

macOS 27 Golden Gate

Release date: September 14, 2026

macOS 27 Golden Gate is the latest major version of macOS. Apple released it in September 2026. It continues the design and feature changes introduced in recent versions.

Golden Gate also brings more improvements for Apple Intelligence, Siri, and other Apple services.

One major change is hardware support. macOS 27 requires an Apple silicon Mac. Intel-based Macs cannot install this major version.

Read the dedicated macOS Golden Gate guide on AllMacWorld.

Why Did Apple Change the Name From Mac OS X to OS X?

Apple used the name Mac OS X from version 10.0 through version 10.7. The name became OS X with Mountain Lion 10.8.

Apple changed the name again with Sierra 10.12. From that point, the operating system became known as macOS. The new name matched Apple’s other operating systems, such as iOS, watchOS, and tvOS.

Why Did Apple Stop Using Big Cat Names?

The early versions of Mac OS X used big cat names. These included Cheetah, Puma, Jaguar, Panther, Tiger, Leopard, Snow Leopard, and Lion.

Mountain Lion was the final big cat name. Apple then started using names connected to California. Mavericks was followed by Yosemite, El Capitan, Sierra, High Sierra, Mojave, and Catalina.

Later versions included Big Sur, Monterey, Ventura, Sequoia, Tahoe, and Golden Gate.

Why Did Apple Skip From macOS 15 to macOS 26?

Apple did not release major public versions called macOS 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, or 25. After macOS 15 Sequoia, Apple released macOS 26 Tahoe.

The newer numbering approach uses a major version number that matches the release year more closely.

Intel Macs and Apple Silicon Macs

Mac computers have used different types of processors over the years. The early versions of Mac OS X supported PowerPC Macs.

Apple later moved to Intel processors. This change started in the mid-2000s. Leopard supported both PowerPC and Intel Macs. Snow Leopard required an Intel Mac.

Apple later moved from Intel to its own Apple silicon chips. The first Apple silicon Mac used the M1 chip and launched in 2020. Big Sur was the first major macOS version to support Apple silicon.

Apple used Rosetta 2 to help many older Intel apps work on Apple silicon Macs. macOS 27 Golden Gate now requires Apple silicon.

Which macOS Version Stopped Supporting 32-Bit Apps?

macOS Catalina 10.15 stopped supporting 32-bit apps. Mojave 10.14 was the last major macOS version that could run them.

This is important if you still use an old Mac app. An app that worked on Mojave may not work on Catalina or newer versions.

What Is the Latest macOS Version?

As of October 2026, macOS 27 Golden Gate is the latest major version. Apple released it on September 14, 2026.

It requires a supported Mac with Apple silicon.

How to Check Your macOS Version

Checking your Mac’s version is simple. Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of your screen. Select About This Mac.

You will see the name and version of macOS installed on your Mac. You can also open System Settings and select General > Software Update to check for available updates.

macOS History at a Glance

Mac OS X began in 2001 with Cheetah. Apple then released Puma, Jaguar, Panther, Tiger, Leopard, Snow Leopard, and Lion.

Mountain Lion continued the Mac OS X story but used the shorter OS X name. Mavericks started Apple’s California-based naming system.

Yosemite brought a major design change. El Capitan focused on speed and stability. Sierra changed the name from OS X to macOS.

High Sierra improved the system. Mojave introduced Dark Mode. Catalina ended support for 32-bit apps. Big Sur brought a major redesign and started Apple’s Apple silicon era.

Monterey, Ventura, Sonoma, and Sequoia added new features and improved connections between Apple devices. Tahoe introduced a new design and a new version number. Golden Gate is the latest step in the history of macOS.

Related Mac Resources on AllMacWorld

Final Thoughts

The history of macOS covers more than 25 years of Mac development. The system has changed from the early Mac OS X releases into the modern macOS platform.

Apple has changed the design, added new features, improved security, changed processor technology, and connected the Mac more closely with the iPhone and iPad.

The move from PowerPC to Intel was an important change. The move from Intel to Apple silicon was another major step.

Today, macOS is designed around Apple’s own hardware and services. From Cheetah to Golden Gate, every major release has helped shape the modern Mac.