macOS Sequoia 15.2 Beta 4 - Bug fixes, changes, and more

[WilliApple]

Release Date ― November 20, 2024
Build Number ― Pending
Apple Silicon System Firmware Version ― Pending
T2 BridgeOS System Firmware Version ― Pending

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New Features & Changes (Found something new? Please press "Edit" on the bottom of this post and add it here)

Resolved Issues
New Issues
(If you are encountering any issues, please press "Edit" on the bottom of this post and add it here)

Remaining Issues

• Alarms may not play when your display is asleep for a long period of time (FB10086690)
  • Workaround: Make your display not fall asleep in Settings > Lock Screen > Turn display off on ____ when inactive. You can turn your brightness off.
  • Issue present since macOS 13.0
• General Bluetooth reliability issues (mouse and keyboard lag, audio lag, audio distortion) with 3rd party and Apple accessories per reports on Reddit and elsewhere.

Untested Issues

• Time Machine causes kernel panics - if you experience this issue either unplug the drive or set TM to run manually. NOTE - seems to be a beta 2 issue

Additional Notes

• Please know, Memory Management has always been an issue on any OS (not just Apple's). If you believe there is a Memory Leak, please go to the Apple Menu > Restart > Restart to fix it.
• When a new macOS release comes out, all issues automatically go to "Untested Issues" until they are moved by someone. Issues that stay in Untested for 3 releases (beta or smooth) will be removed from all future threads. When there is a new macOS release, please be sure to let us know about the issue's status by moving it to either "Remaining Issues" or "Resolved Issues"
• macOS 15 Sequoia will be installed via a Delta Update in System Settings. Please be aware about this and the update won’t install with an installer.
• macOS 15 is officially supported on the following devices. If your device is not listed below, it has unfortunately been dropped by Apple. Any efforts of trying to get your Mac running macOS 15, including bugs should be discussed in this thread.
  • MacBook Air: Intel 2020, M1, M2, M3
  • MacBook Pro: 2018, 2019, Intel 2020, M1, M1 Pro/M1 Max, M2, M2 Pro/M2 Max, M3/M3 Pro/M3 Max, M4/M4 Pro/M4 Max
  • Mac mini: 2018, M1, M2/M2 Pro, M4/M4 Pro
  • iMac: Pro 2017, 4K 2019, 5K 2019, 5K 2020, M1, M3, M4
  • Mac Pro: 2019, M2 Ultra
  • Mac Studio: M1 Max/Ultra, M2 Max/Ultra
• macOS Sequoia 15.0 Beta Release Notes
• macOS Sequoia Preview
• macOS 15 Release Notes
• Apple Security Updates
• Become an Apple Beta Tester

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Feel free to add in any issues or new features that you have spotted in this release by clicking the "Edit" button below.

 

[christophermn]

For those who installed this, does it bring categories to Mail.app?

 

[Adora]

Finally there. Took long today.

 

[Adora]

For those who installed this, does it bring categories to Mail.app?

Where do I have to look for that? But I think I still need half an hour. Download is finished in about 7 minutes.

 

[christophermn]

Where do I have to look for that? But I think I still need half an hour. Download is finished in about 7 minutes.

Once it's installed, you can open Mail.app, and see if it brings the same categories that were added to iOS. There were some screenshots from Apple that indicated this feature was also coming to MacOS, but it hasn't been activated as of 15.2 DB3.

 

[Adora]

Once it's installed, you can open Mail.app, and see if it brings the same categories that were added to iOS. There were some screenshots from Apple that indicated this feature was also coming to MacOS, but it hasn't been activated as of 15.2 DB3.

Okay, in iOS it's not oversee-able. I think I'll find it if it's in macOS too.

I have to get rid of that bold font that I set yesterday. It's somehow annoying.

 

[Adora]

It's always the same for "Preparing". It is showing 30 minutes and then suddenly after a few minutes it's ready.

Or a few minutes more... Still 30.

It feels like updating Macs and iPhones doesn't get faster in the last 10 years.

Sometimes i fear it got stuck with all those progress bars that doesn't show anything. No time, no percentage and not what is done.

 

[izzmann]

Just updated, no mail categories and no Genmoji creator in messages for Mac in this update

 

[slomtbr]

No full installer yet. Ran "softwareupdate --fetch-full-installer 15.2" via terminal, and got "This disk cannot be downgraded" when trying to install.

 

[yukari]

No full installer yet. Ran "softwareupdate --fetch-full-installer 15.2" via terminal, and got "This disk cannot be downgraded" when trying to install.

softwareupdate --fetch-full-installer 15.2
Scanning for installer
Installing: 1.0%

Looks like it is now available.

 

[slomtbr]

softwareupdate --fetch-full-installer 15.2
Scanning for installer
Installing: 1.0%

Looks like it is now available.

It did download, but apparently it's an older version.
I got the message when running the installer.

 

[Adora]

Once it's installed, you can open Mail.app, and see if it brings the same categories that were added to iOS. There were some screenshots from Apple that indicated this feature was also coming to MacOS, but it hasn't been activated as of 15.2 DB3.

Nothing new in Mail at first sight. Instead Safari crashed with only this tab open.

It did download, but apparently it's an older version.
I got the message when running the installer.

You can also see if there is a full installer when you search for "macOS Sequoia Beta" in the AppStore. There you can also see the date when it had been released and the number of the beta. Beta 4 is in there since an hour ago.

 

[Adora]

Full installer:

‎macOS Sequoia Beta

‎Get an early preview of the next major release of macOS. When you install the macOS beta, you can try out upcoming apps, features, and technologies and let us know what you think. It’s easy to send your feedback to Apple through the built-in Feedback Assistant app. The feedback you provide will...

apps.apple.com

 

[slomtbr]

Full installer:

‎macOS Sequoia Beta

‎Get an early preview of the next major release of macOS. When you install the macOS beta, you can try out upcoming apps, features, and technologies and let us know what you think. It’s easy to send your feedback to Apple through the built-in Feedback Assistant app. The feedback you provide will...

apps.apple.com

Thank you.

 

[Adora]

Thank you.

This should also be the full installer of that version:

Sorry the direct link was not a beta version, so it could only be 18.1.1.

When the update is already installed and you need a full installer, I won't recommend to use the AppStore because it downloads the file completely and than it's immediately deleted. At least it wasn't in my Applications Folder.

This one has to be "installed" to get in the Application folder.

 

[WilliApple]

For those who installed this, does it bring categories to Mail.app?

Still not there.
No code changes, categories are still in the code.

 

[yukari]

It did download, but apparently it's an older version.
I got the message when running the installer.

Nothing new in Mail at first sight. Instead Safari crashed with only this tab open.
View attachment 2453913


You can also see if there is a full installer when you search for "macOS Sequoia Beta" in the AppStore. There you can also see the date when it had been released and the number of the beta. Beta 4 is in there since an hour ago.

Yup. That showed up in App Store.

 

[Adora]

This should also be the full installer of that version:

https://swcdn.apple.com/content/downloads/14/63/072-29965-A_JR3Q5P9LW7/qtu6yl2s14vidrhfnunfi1t7wid5dzxajm/InstallAssistant.pkg

When the update is already installed and you need a full installer, I won't recommend to use the AppStore because it downloads the file completely and than it's immediately deleted. At least it wasn't in my Applications Folder.

This one has to be "installed" to get in the Application folder.

In Terminal is strangely still Beta 3. I hope that link is not the 15.1.1 update from yesterday. Beta 4 is 24C5089c.

When I downloaded that one from the package link I can see if it's a beta or a regular version.

 

[Adora]

The direct link was wrong, no beta. I think I can only find it, when it's also in Terminal. So only the AppStore for now.

 

[slomtbr]

…I won't recommend to use the AppStore because it downloads the file completely and than it's immediately deleted. At least it wasn't in my Applications Folder.

When the download completes and the Installer opens, go to your Applications Folder and option-drag the installer wherever you wish.

 

[mattopotamus]

On the most recent betas, have anyone of you been seeing the "beach ball" more often. I swear I never used to see it and now I get it often when waking up my laptop.

 

[ylluminate]

Are we seeing any CoreOS / kernel and other stability and base-feature improvements in this release? The AI is not really interesting to some of us as we're really hoping to see some improvements in other areas of the system, including news on the userland-based filesystem initiative FSKit...

 

[flowrider]

Well, I do have another issue. Clicking on a link in Gmail in the new Safari (V18.2) is now very sluggish. And, sometimes (because of the long wait time), I need to cancel the operation and click on the link a second time.

Posted the above in Beta 2:

Finally fixed in Beta 4.

Lou

 

[luzsa2004]

Very smooth build. Install took longer than expected. Even still, the functionality -- on this '24 Air 15 inch -- is spectacular. One stand out is the iPhone mirroring feature. Who even needs to reach for the phone anymore (smile)?

 

[glindon]

On this beta, my Apple touchID extended KB (lightning) connected automatically on reboot after the installation. Previously, I'd have to plug it in before Bluetooth would work after reboots or on the first plugin to my studio display if the Macbook was kept closed.