On this article, we cowl the foremost options of macOS Massive Sur, model 11 of the Mac working system, in addition to reply incessantly requested questions.
Editor’s be aware: Up to date 10/26/21 with details about the 11.6.1 replace.
The most recent: 11.6.1 replace launched
Apple has launched model 11.6.1 of macOS Massive Sur. You might have missed it, as a result of macOS’s Software program Replace might present the macOS Monterey replace as an alternative. If you happen to do see Monterey, search for the part beneath the Monterey replace that claims, “One other replace is on the market” and click on on the “Extra data” hyperlink.
As of this writing, the discharge notes for the safety patch usually are not obtainable for the replace.
How you can replace macOS Massive Sur
Earlier than updating your Mac, it’s a good suggestion to again up your knowledge, simply in case the replace causes issues.
To put in the replace, you want an web connection. Additionally, your Mac might want to restart as a way to end the set up. Listed here are the steps.
- Click on on the Apple menu.
- Choose About this Mac.
- Within the window that seems, go to the Overview tab if it’s not already open.
- Click on on the Software program Replace button. This may open the Software program Replace system desire.
- The macOS Monterey replace will seem. If you need the Massive Sur 11.6.1 replace, click on on the “Extra data” hyperlink under Monterey.
- A window for the 11.6.1 replace ought to seem. When you’re prepared to put in, click on on the Set up Now button. The set up takes a number of minutes, relying on the velocity of the web connection.
How you can get macOS Massive Sur
Prior to installing the replace, you must again up you Mac. This might turn out to be useful in case you discover that the replace provides your Macs issues and it is advisable to restore your knowledge.
Apple makes macOS Big Sur available through the Mac App Store. The obtain will probably be a number of gigabytes in dimension, and the set up can take fairly some time (an hour or extra in some instances), so use a dependable web connection and know that you simply’ll not have the ability to use your Mac for anything aside from the set up.
Future point-release updates are delivered by means of the macOS software program replace mechanism. Click on on the Apple menu on the left fringe of the menu bar and choose About This Mac. Within the Overview part of the window that seems, click on on the Software program Replace button. Your Mac will examine for the replace, and as soon as it’s discovered, you’ll be able to proceed. The set up will take a number of minutes and requires your Mac to restart. Alternatively, you can too open System Preferences and click on on Software program Replace.
What Macs are appropriate with macOS Massive Sur?
- MacBook: 2015 and later
- MacBook Air: 2013 and later
- MacBook Professional: Late 2013 and later
- Mac mini: 2014 and later
- iMac: 2014 and later
- iMac Professional: 2017 and later
- Mac Professional: 2013 and later
What are the brand new options?
Refined person interface
The person interface inconsistencies between Apple’s cell and desktop working methods are notable, and in comparison with iOS, macOS appears to be like slightly dated. With Massive Sur, Apple lastly addresses the macOS UI, implementing the primary main adjustments because the launch of Mac OS X.
“Depth, shading, and translucency are used to create hierarchy,” stated Alan Dye, VP Human Interface, in the course of the WWDC20 keynote. “These new supplies are wealthy, they usually’re vibrant.”
The UI in macOS Massive Sur options reworked icons, menus, Notification Heart, and Widgets.
Apple has modified the icons of the built-in apps in order that they extra carefully resemble iOS icons, but nonetheless preserve their “Mac persona,” as Apple places it. The Dock, which prominently shows app icons, seems to drift on the display. Toolbars and Sidebars in apps look cleaner, and buttons disappear once they aren’t in use.
Menus in macOS Massive Sur are translucent, and menu bar gadgets show extra performance.
Apple additionally up to date the menu bar in order that it’s much more helpful. It’s now translucent, and menus have a cleaner look and extra space. Apple has additionally added Management Heart to the menu bar, which works just like the Management Heart in iOS. It provides you entry to many system controls, reminiscent of community connectivity, show brightness, sound quantity, and music controls. And, like in iOS, you’ll be able to customise it with the controls you need. If there’s a Management Heart management you need to make a everlasting a part of your menu bar, you’ll be able to drag it out of the Management Heart and on to the menu bar.
The Mac now has Management Heart, just like the one present in iOS.
The Notifications menu bar icon is gone in Massive Sur. Notification Heart might be accessed by clicking on the time within the menu bar, and now you can click on on Notifications and Widgets within the Heart to get extra data. Massive Sur may also have a gallery that shows all of the Widgets you’ll be able to add (together with third-party Widgets) to the Notification Heart.
Apple has refined the system sounds, too. They’re variations of the sounds we’re all aware of in prior variations, so they’re recognizable however recent.
Messages
Messages on the Mac has lagged behind the iOS model in its characteristic set. Apple adjustments that in Massive Sur, having used Mac Catalyst to transform the iOS model of Messages to a model that runs on the Mac.
Messages now has improved search to make it simpler to search out what you’re on the lookout for in your message checklist. Search outcomes are grouped into Conversations with the search time period highlighted, Hyperlinks (web site URLs), and Pictures.
Apple has improved search in Messages so it’s simpler to search out what you want.
Apple made a ton of enhancements to the instruments you utilize to create a message. A redesigned picture picker makes it quicker so that you can discover the pictures and movies you need to ship. Your title and picture or Memoji might be set to robotically share with the particular person you’re speaking with, whether or not that particular person is in your contact checklist or not. Talking of Memoji, Apple will present a Memoji editor so you’ll be able to customise your look, and the brand new Memoji stickers can be utilized to graphically talk a sense or concept. A brand new #pictures characteristic can assist discover GIFs and pictures on the web.
Different Messages options assist set up your conversations. You’ll be able to pin as much as 9 conversations on the prime of your checklist, and your pins seem in your iPhone and iPad, too. In a gaggle dialog, you’ll have the ability to reply to a particular message to keep up context; you don’t have to fret about your response being out of the movement. And you’ll assign a picture to a gaggle dialog, which helps it stand out in your itemizing.
New results reminiscent of confetti and lasers can assist set a tone to a dialog.
Safari
Apple says that Safari in Massive Sur has been optimized in order that it’s even quicker than earlier than. The corporate claims that the brand new Safari is as much as 50 p.c quicker than Google Chrome.
A brand new Privateness toolbar button can present internet trackers and in addition show a full privateness report that exhibits a listing of blockers trackers from the previous 30 days. You may also add a Privateness Report back to your begin web page.
If you happen to use the net usually, you most likely use a whole lot of passwords to log into websites and providers. Safari’s password monitoring checks if passwords have been concerned in an information breach and generate new passwords if needed.
Safari’s Privateness Report tells you what trackers might be discovered on a web site.
Apple additionally put extra give attention to extensions made by third events. Builders can get instruments to transform Google Chrome extensions into ones for Safari. Customers will have the ability to peruse extensions within the App Retailer, with descriptions to inform you about every one, and a chart to let which of them are standard. And you’ll designate when an extension works on a web site.
As for the person interface, Safari’s begin web page could have extra customization choices. Favicons will seem in web page tabs, and for those who maintain your cursor over a tab, you’ll be able to see a preview of the webpage. Safari may also have instruments so you’ll be able to translate web sites in English, Spanish, Chinese language, French, German, Russian, or Brazilian Portuguese.
Safari might be custom-made with your individual wallpaper.
Pictures
The Pictures app might be probably the most used app on the Mac. (It’s the app most individuals ask about in our Mac 911 column.) So new options that make Pictures higher to make use of are all the time a very good factor.
Pictures in macOS Massive Sur could have extra modifying instruments. For pictures, there may be now a Vibrance impact, the place you’ll be able to alter the depth of filters and Portrait Lighting. The Retouch instrument is enhanced with machine studying to make your changes look higher. There are additionally extra instruments you should use on movies.
To offer extra context to your pictures and movies, Pictures will allow you to add and edit captions. With the assistance of iCloud, captions will sync together with your iPhone and iPad.
Maps
Apple hopes the enhancements to Maps will make it extra helpful for planning journeys on the Mac. Apple stated that the brand new model of Maps began with the iOS model, which was transformed to the Mac utilizing Mac Catalyst.
You’ll be able to lastly save places as Favorites. That is a kind of options that you are able to do in on the iPhone and iPad, however may by no means do on a Mac.
Maps’ new Guides provide you with details about places on show. This could possibly be useful for vacationers, however at launch, guides will probably be obtainable just for London, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco. Extra guides are within the works, however within the meantime, Maps will allow you to create your individual information.
Maps on the Mac lastly has Favorites.
New route planning is on the market for cyclists and electrical automobiles. Biking routes present elevations, visitors, and different potential obstacles. Electrical car routes assist observe your automobile’s cost and present charging stations. Each forms of routes might be despatched out of your Mac to an iPhone.
Different Maps options embody:
- Indoor maps
- Look Round, which exhibits eye-level images of a location
- The flexibility to observe an individual’s commute
- Estimated time of arrival of associates
- Congestion zones
Notes
The Notes app presently permits you to pin notes in order that they all the time seem on the prime of your itemizing. In macOS Massive Sur, you’ll have the ability to collapse and broaden the checklist of pinned notes, which is a pleasant if in case you have a whole lot of them.
If you wish to make your notes extra useful, the Massive Sur model of Notes could have a number of textual content type that you could apply.
The search ends in Notes will now present High Hits that will help you discover what you want.
What’s Mac Catalyst?
Launched in 2019, Catalyst is utilized by builders to deliver their iOS apps to the Mac. Apple stated that Catalyst has been up to date in order that apps can make the most of the Mac show’s native decision. Builders may also have entry to new menu and keyboard APIs.
Mac Catalyst is a developer’s instrument, however customers will profit from it. You probably have an app you want to make use of in your iPhone, you would have the ability to apply it to your Mac, too.
What model of macOS is that this?
Apple revealed that macOS Massive Sur is formally model 11 of the working system. It marks the top of model 10, which was launched on March 24, 2001.
When was macOS Massive Sur launched?
Apple launched macOS Massive Sur at about 10am PST on November 12, 2020.
Roman has coated know-how because the early Nineties. His profession began at MacUser, and he is labored for MacAddict, Mac|Life, and TechTV.