Apple regularly releases new operating systems. As of 2026, the most recent versions include:
- macOS 16 (Current)
- macOS 15 Sequoia
- macOS 14 Sonoma
- macOS 13 Ventura
- macOS 12 Monterey
- macOS 11 Big Sur
A Brief History of Naming
It is helpful to note that Apple changed its naming convention over the years:
- 2001 – 2011: Mac OS X (Cheetah to Lion)
- 2012 – 2015: OS X (Mountain Lion to El Capitan)
- 2016 – Present: macOS (Sierra to the current version)
Compatibility Note
[IMPORTANT
Most modern software, including Office 2024 Home & Business, typically requires one of the three most recent macOS versions to function correctly and receive security updates.
macOS Version Timeline
| Era | Version Range | Notable Names |
| Current | 14, 15, 16 | Sonoma, Sequoia |
| Modern | 11, 12, 13 | Big Sur, Monterey, Ventura |
| Legacy | 10.12 – 10.15 | Sierra, High Sierra, Mojave, Catalina |
| Vintage | 10.0 – 10.11 | Cheetah to El Capitan |
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