Software Updates

Ask Adam’s recommended macOS and iOS versions

It’s critical to keep your operating system and applications up to date. Turn on automatic updates for your operating system and App Store apps, and restart your computer frequently to allow other apps to check for updates.

Recommended versions of Apple operating systems:

macOS Sequoia 15.1

If your Mac supports it, you should be running macOS Sequoia 15.1. If you have an older Mac, you should be running macOS Sonoma 14.7.1 or macOS Ventura 13.7.1 and Safari 18.1.

If your Mac can’t run macOS 13 Ventura, Apple is no longer keeping your Mac secure, and you should think about getting a new Mac.

To see what version of macOS you have, click on the Apple menu and choose “About This Mac”.

Update macOS on Mac (apple.com)
How to download and install macOS (apple.com)
What’s new in the updates for macOS Sequoia
What’s new in the updates for macOS Sonoma
macOS Sequoia is compatible with these computers
 macOS Sonoma is compatible with these computers
macOS Ventura is compatible with these computers

Screenshot of macOS System Preferences > Software Update > Advanced with automatic updates enabled

iOS & iPadOS: 18.1 or 17.7.1

Your iPhone and iPad should be running the latest versions of iOS & iPadOS. The latest iOS for iPhone is 18.1. If you can’t (or prefer not to) update to 18, 17.7.1 is acceptable.

If your device is too old to be updated, it should be replaced.

Update your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch (apple.com)
iPhone models compatible with iOS 18 (apple.com)
Identify your iPhone model
iPad models compatible with iPadOS 18 (apple.com)
Identify your iPad model
About iOS 18 Updates
About iPadOS 18 Updates

Screenshot of iOS Settings > > General > Software Update > Automatic Updates with automatic updates enabled

Other updates

Is my browser out of date? (whatismybrowser.com)
How to update your Apple TV (apple.com)
How to update your Apple Watch (apple.com)
Apple security releases (apple.com)

(Featured image “Upgrade” by Ged Carroll licensed under CC BY 2.0)