Need to delete public beta download after official release comes out?

[pcd213]

This may be a dumb question, but do I need to delete the 8gb public beta file for 10.15 after the official release finally comes through? Or is that somehow automatically deleted from my hard drive? I had to install the beta twice so I’m trying to make sure I’m not holding onto 16gbs of space that I don’t need. Thanks for your patience with the newbee question.

 

[mikecwest]

This may be a dumb question, but do I need to delete the 8gb public beta file for 10.15 after the official release finally comes through? Or is that somehow automatically deleted from my hard drive? I had to install the beta twice so I’m trying to make sure I’m not holding onto 16gbs of space that I don’t need. Thanks for your patience with the newbee question.

If you mean the app "Install Catalina", it normally replaces any older version of it when you download the new one, and after install, the file gets smaller when the backup partition is created.

 

[pcd213]

If you mean the app "Install Catalina", it normally replaces any older version of it when you download the new one, and after install, the file gets smaller when the backup partition is created.

Ok, I should add I did a bad thing and didn’t do a time machine backup before I installed Catalina, but I installed it at the 9th beta so felt it was an ok risk. But when you say partition, I didn’t necessarily install Catalina on a separate partition. Or perhaps I did and didn’t realize, but I didn’t explicitly do it.

 

[Peadogie]

The "Install Catalina Beta" app should be removed when you install. When Apple releases the official release you need to open Software Update and click on "Details.." and choose "Restore Defaults" to receive future OS updates and remove the "Feedback Assistant" app.

Hope this helps.

Edit: I always save the "Install" app to my latest bootable backup disc so that I don't have download it again if I need it in the future.

 

[pcd213]

Very helpful! I had just restored to default after downloading the GM so I got get off beta once the regular update comes through. Just wanted to make sure I wasn’t holding the beta file and it’s large size somewhere on the HD. Many, many thanks!

 

[mikecwest]

Ok, I should add I did a bad thing and didn’t do a time machine backup before I installed Catalina, but I installed it at the 9th beta so felt it was an ok risk. But when you say partition, I didn’t necessarily install Catalina on a separate partition. Or perhaps I did and didn’t realize, but I didn’t explicitly do it.

No, I meant, when you install OSX (for like the past 8 years or so), it makes a hidden "recovery partition," which is made up pretty much of the contents of the "installer" app...

I don't recommend installing Catalina on a partition separate from Mojave or whatever else you have, unless you REALLY know what you are doing, and understand the implications of what is happening in the Catalina install. (the whole separation of user/system partitions...

With no backup, you will likely be OK, unless you require 32 bit apps....