How long is iMac 2017 21" 4K expected to be supported?

[Unhyper]

I have an iMac 2017 that is booting off an external SSD and is still as fast as I could hope for a desktop to be, having never tasted Apple's M series machines. This machine does all I need it for, and has no failing parts.

However, it is stuck at Ventura and won't get macOS updates. For how long can I expect, based on Apple's history on these things, for it to keep receiving security updates?

Thank you.

 

[bradman83]

Apple doesn't have a firm policy on this but they generally provide security updates for 2 macOS versions down from the current one, so once Sequoia (15) is released they'll (most likely) continue providing security updates for Sonoma (14) and Ventura (13). Updates for Ventura will likely end when macOS 16 is released.

 

[coffeemilktea]

My old 2013 MacBook Air got its latest security update last September (for 2020's mac OS 11 Big Sur). I think this means your 2017 iMac might get security updates as late as 2027? 🤔

 

[Significant1]

Use open core legacy patcher and you will not be stuck as long as Apple supports macOS on Intel.

OpenCore Legacy Patcher

Experience macOS just like before

dortania.github.io

 

[basdeninard]

No one can provide guarantees because Apple does not have a public support cycle, but security updates for macOS 13 are likely to end during the summer or autumn of 2025. As mentioned, you can use OpenCore Legacy Patcher to install unsupported versions of macOS on older hardware.

I also have a 2017 iMac, the 27-inch model with an 3.4 GHz processor and 1 TB Fusion Drive. I recently had the Fusion Drive replaced with a standalone 1 TB SSD by an Apple Authorised Service Provider. I would normally upgrade to a new iMac by now, as I've had this machine for 7 years. Even with the SSD, the machine is starting to show its age, but Apple seem to think a 24-inch iMac is a suitable upgrade for 27-inch iMac customers when it is not.

I recognise that I can buy a Mac mini with an Apple Studio Display, but that package along with a keyboard and mouse costs absurdly more in real terms than the 27-inch iMacs they discontinued. Not good value.

The SSD upgrade helped quite a bit, and temperatures are now slightly lower as the inside of the machine was also cleaned during the upgrade, but the processor is becoming a bit of a bottleneck with the professional software that I use. It's still functional, but the computer is starting to show its age.

 

[bzgnyc2]

I have an iMac 2017 that is booting off an external SSD and is still as fast as I could hope for a desktop to be, having never tasted Apple's M series machines. This machine does all I need it for, and has no failing parts.

However, it is stuck at Ventura and won't get macOS updates. For how long can I expect, based on Apple's history on these things, for it to keep receiving security updates?

Thank you.

I expect Ventura to receive security updates through the fall of 2025. That assumes Apple releases a successor to Sequoia about that time. It could get support for longer if Apple decides to slow their macOS release cycle or change their support policy but I wouldn't count on it.

As others have mentioned OCLP might give you an extra year or more (future versions possibly requiring USB dongles to restore Wifi, Ethernet, etc if Apple drops drivers for the builtin hardware in a future version).

Otherwise it won't turn into a pumpkin at the stroke of midnight September 1, 2025 or anything like that but Apple won't make any effort to patch security holes nor will it release new versions of Safari for it going into the fall. Other browsers like Firefox, Chrome, Orion, etc should be as safe to use on the web as Safari after that. They typically retain compatability with macOS versions 4-5 years after Apple.