macOS Sequoia 15.4 Beta 2 - Bug fixes, changes, and more

[WilliApple]

Release Date ― March 3, 2025
Build Number ― 24E5222f
Apple Silicon System Firmware Version ― 11881.100.991.505.1
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

• Virtual Machines may not work as expected
• AirDropping from an iPhone to a Mac may freeze out in some cases
  • Issue present since macOS 15.2/iOS 18.2

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

Untested Issues
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 15.4 Release Notes
• macOS Sequoia Overview
• macOS 15 Release Notes
• Apple Security Updates
• Become an Apple Beta Tester
• Full Installer (App Store)
• Full Installer (direct download link)

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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.

 

[nortonandreev]

 

[ssn637]

macOS 15.4 Beta 2 Release Notes

Virtual Machines​

Known Issues​

• Upon update to macOS 15.4 beta 1, M4 Macs will be unable to launch virtual machines and attempts will result in a system restart. (145309647) (FB16542958)
  Workaround: Do not launch virtual machines. If virtual machine applications launch upon login, boot to Safe Mode and disable in system settings.

 

[Al Ferguson]

macOS 15.4 Beta 2 Release Notes

Virtual Machines​

Known Issues​

• Upon update to macOS 15.4 beta 1, M4 Macs will be unable to launch virtual machines and attempts will result in a system restart. (145309647) (FB16542958)
  Workaround: Do not launch virtual machines. If virtual machine applications launch upon login, boot to Safe Mode and disable in system settings.

So far looks like macOS 15.4b2 has fixed b1's issues with Virtualization. OrbStack, Docker Desktop, and Parallels Are all working on my M4 with b2 again.

 

[ssn637]

So far looks like macOS 15.4b2 has fixed b1's issues with Virtualization. OrbStack, Docker Desktop, and Parallels Are all working on my M4 with b2 again.

Thank you! I'll give it a try.

 

[nollimac]

Updated and got this, see image below, but I tried again and new virtual box opens then crashed, then I reopened and it was okay...updated Proxmox and all is good. I am on 2018 intel MBP though...

 

[Adora]

Just updated. Again no full installer anywhere. All are still 15.3.1.

15.2 had it's first full installer with Beta 4.

I hope there will be one tomorrow maybe. The 15.3 Betas had one mostly one day after release if I remember correctly.

 

[Adora]

Updated and got this, see image below, but I tried again and new virtual box opens then crashed, then I reopened and it was okay...updated Proxmox and all was good. I am on 2018 intel MBP though...

View attachment 2488011

On my M4 it worked on first try.

Is Proxmox running in an VM? Just heard of it for the first time and searched for it.

 

[Adora]

New rule for me: Never write anywhere before the first coffee is empty. 🙃 I didn't expect the update was so fast.

 

[Adora]

So far looks like macOS 15.4b2 has fixed b1's issues with Virtualization. OrbStack, Docker Desktop, and Parallels Are all working on my M4 with b2 again.

I got this several times on my M4 Pro mini. There was an update and then I got it again but it seemed Windows 11 ARM is starting because the window went black and caught my mouse. I forgot how to get it out there again. I didn't now if everything crashed but somehow with pressing all keys the cursor was there again. 🙈

 

[Adora]

VMware Fusion seems to work...

Maybe a reinstall will fix it for me in Parallels. Here the crashed new VM was completely gone.

 

[Adora]

UTM is working too.

And VirtualBox gave me this:

Maybe not supported or I am too stupid to set it up.

 

[Adora]

Parallels working now too, it seems it was just stuck in suspended mode because it crashed before the installation even started last time.

I stopped and rebooted it and it is now finishing the installation.

There were about 20 Little Snitch alerts because of several Microsoft connections. The other ones just install it without needing that.

 

[MrWeenus]

does iPhone mirroring work in the EU in this build?

 

[Adora]

does iPhone mirroring work in the EU in this build?

No.

 

[bogdanw]

Workaround: Do not launch virtual machines.

Excellent workaround, Apple! 👍

 

[Ismelito]

Posting it here as well... It's probably just bad luck, but I’m giving you a heads-up so you can be careful. This specific Beta 2 update messed up my hard drive and my Mac Studio won’t start :/, and the only option I have is to reinstall the system…

 

[Adora]

Posting it here as well... It's probably just bad luck, but I’m giving you a heads-up so you can be careful. This specific Beta 2 update messed up my hard drive and my Mac Studio won’t start :/, and the only option I have is to reinstall the system…

Have you updated from Beta 2 or 15.3(.1)? There was something similar with the update to Beta 1 on a M4 Pro mini like mine I think.

The Beta 1 thread got really big. Don't find what it was exactly.

 

[nmt1900]

And VirtualBox gave me this:
View attachment 2488099
Maybe not supported or I am too stupid to set it up.

Windows 11 ARM is not supported on Virtualbox, but does work well on UTM

 

[Adora]

Full installer:

https://swcdn.apple.com/content/downloads/29/56/072-90270-A_921DQOPTRF/pbl4gmyhrbc0s6qn2kv62wp352xwgpgdvm/InstallAssistant.pkg

Just install the package and then you have the real installer in your Application folder.


It's also listed in Terminal, but the download command doesn't work somehow.

App Store is still listing 15.3 Beta 3.

Getting more and more confusing.

 

[nollimac]

On my M4 it worked on first try.

View attachment 2488088
Is Proxmox running in an VM? Just heard of it for the first time and searched for it.

Are you running the latest version as here:

Yes, Proxmox is runinng okay and updated; however since Sequoia, one cannot passthrough resources to virtual machine on Proxmox.

 

[Adora]

Are you running the latest version as here:
View attachment 2488451Yes, Proxmox is runinng okay and updated; however since Sequoia, one cannot passthrough resources to virtual machine on Proxmox.

Yes exactly that one is installed, but a few posts over yours someone wrote that Windows 11 ARM is not supported. But I am also more interested in trying an learning Linux and want to install several distributions.
Windows was just used because Paralles an VMware could download it themselves and VMware left an ISO that I used in the others like UTM and VirtualBox. I just wanted to see if all virtualizing apps work again

I remeber VirtualBox also as being slow. Now that VMware Fusion is free I can use that, I have no clue what UTM is, but it also worked, just a little slower. I installed Windows 11 ARM in 3 apps at the same time and my mini didn't Mac any noise or slowed down what I was doing at the same time. It was like nothing is running in the background when I did my normal surfing activities.

I have also Virtual Buddy, that only supports macOS and Linux. Viably (for macOS) and Liviably (for Linux) are also there.

I bought this Mac mainly for using VMs.

Are there any others I missed? I like opensource.

I don't think I will buy Parallels. It seems to be the best for Windows. But I don't like subscriptions or when you can use the one-time-purchase version only with the recent macOS. At least when I last had it, I had to buy a new version every year. I just looked and I have license keys for version 8, 9, 10 and 11.

They also had good bundles back then. I still use 1Password 6 with a license from a Parallels bundle.

 

[Adora]

Are you running the latest version as here:
View attachment 2488451Yes, Proxmox is runinng okay and updated; however since Sequoia, one cannot passthrough resources to virtual machine on Proxmox.

I just installed a newer test build:

What does "on cocoa" mean behind the Qt version?


@nmt1900

I now see this, when I want to create a new VM, so it seems to be supported. I'll try it later. Before there was no mentioning of Windows anywhere.

 

[macmus12]

i get random freezes and slowdowns on my mac m4 ...

 

[cmatuk]

Is anyone else having trouble using a VPN ONLY with Safari since this update?