Will macOS Sonoma replace macOS Monterey?

[LetteIT]

Hello, everyone!

Will macOS Sonoma replace macOS Monterey and macOS Monterey won't be available for updates anymore or there will be an update for Monterey as well (macOS Monterey 12.7.1?) ?

I’m currently on macOS Monterey 12.5 (Macbook Pro 16 2021), and there are two update options for me - macOS Ventura 13.6 and macOS Monterey 12.7 (under a sign “Other updates are available”). So, after macOS Sonoma release, will there be three update options for me or Sonoma will replace one of two current options? How does it work? How long Apple will be signing macOS Monterey? Thank you!

 

[fisherking]

sonoma replaces ventura. monterey is the system previous to ventura. if there are no more updates for monterey at some point soon (likely), the OS will still continue to work.

if you don't want to upgrade to the newer OS, you don't have to...

 

[LetteIT]

sonoma replaces ventura. monterey is the system previous to ventura. if there are no more updates for monterey at some point soon (likely), the OS will still continue to work.

if you don't want to upgrade to the newer OS, you don't have to...

But does it mean that macOS Monterey 12.7 update option won't be available for me after the macOS Sonoma release? Or, if it still will be available, would you recommend to update to the latest macOS Monterey or macOS Sonoma when the version 1.x... will be released?

 

[fisherking]

But does it mean that macOS Monterey 12.7 update option won't be available for me after the macOS Sonoma release? Or, if it still will be available, would you recommend to update to the latest macOS Monterey or macOS Sonoma when the version 1.x... will be released?

the monterey update will still be there, it has no relationship to the newer OS (isonoma). i'd always advise updating to the latest version of the OS one is running... usually bug fixes, tweaks. but you can do that (or not) whenever you want to.

upgrading to sonoma requires some research (ie making sure the apps you use are compatible, etc). if you're fine on monterey, you're.... fine on monterey 👍

 

[LetteIT]

the monterey update will still be there, it has no relationship to the newer OS (isonoma). i'd always advise updating to the latest version of the OS one is running... usually bug fixes, tweaks. but you can do that (or not) whenever you want to.

upgrading to sonoma requires some research (ie making sure the apps you use are compatible, etc). if you're fine on monterey, you're.... fine on monterey 👍

Thank you for clearing things out for me! Although, one more novice question 😓😊 - if macOS Sonoma has nothing to do with macOS Monterey, then why it's replacing macOS Ventura? Is it because my mac's OS out of the box was macOS Montetey and not Ventura?

 

[Mr. Rod]

If your Mac came pre-installed with Monterey it's a new-ish machine from either late 2021, early 2022 or mid 2022, and it's elegible to the latest macOS version for a good few years (usually 5 like the iPhones). It doesn't matter if you are 1, 2 or more versions behind the latest OS, as long as your machine is elegible you can upgrade.

Like the poster above said, you don't have to update if you don't want, but it usually comes with bug fixes and new features that work seamlessly with the latest iPhones and iPads.

 

[galad]

macOS releases are subdivided in major and minor releases. Major ones increment the number by one, minor ones by .1 or less.
Major releases are annual, adds new features and might introduce some little issues, so Apple releases security updates to the previous two major releases for two years.

macOS 12 Monterey will receive security updates for another year. It's up to you to decide if you want to update the next major release or stay on macOS 12.
However, you should at least do the minor update to 12.7.1.

macOS updates are not limited in time like iOS, you will always be able to install the version you want.

 

[LetteIT]

If your Mac came pre-installed with Monterey it's a new-ish machine from either late 2021, early 2022 or mid 2022, and it's elegible to the latest macOS version for a good few years (usually 5 like the iPhones). It doesn't matter if you are 1, 2 or more versions behind the latest OS, as long as your machine is elegible you can upgrade.

Like the poster above said, you don't have to update if you don't want, but it usually comes with bug fixes and new features that work seamlessly with the latest iPhones and iPads.

Thank you for your reply!

 

[LetteIT]

macOS updates are not limited in time like iOS, you will always be able to install the version you want.

But though I won't be able to update to macOS Ventura, right? This update will disappear today for me? Am I missing something out not being able to try this OS anymore?

 

[cleanton]

Just update to the latest version. Than you don't need to ask these kind of questions. ))

 

[GH1852]

But though I won't be able to update to macOS Ventura, right? This update will disappear today for me? Am I missing something out not being able to try this OS anymore?

You will be able to update to MacOS Venutura, if you wish. It won't truly disappear. You have 3 options -

1) Continue with minor security updates to macOS Monterey for the next 11-12 months. However, the security updates will then end, and any new vulnerability, no matter how serious, will not be remedied by Apple. Monterey will be "dead" around August or September, 2024.

2) Update to macOS Ventura when you wish. There IS some possibility that it will disappear as an upgrade option in Software Update on your Mac (replaced by Sonoma). But there are still many other ways to get it, with the App Store being the very straightforward. Just go HERE and click View in App Store. Then, click Get. Apple will stop providing any security updates for MacOS Ventura in 23-24 months. So you get an extra year of security patches compared to Monterey.

3) Use Software Update to upgrade to MacOS Sonoma. If you have concerns about the initial 14.0 release being buggy, it's okay to wait for a 14.1 or 14.2 release, while continuing with Monterey security updates.

Does this help?

 

[ATC]

On our 2019 MBA running Monterey, under Software Update, the Update to Ventura option changed to Sonoma, replacing it completely. So the choices are either stay with Moneterey or update to Sonoma; Ventura is no longer an option, at least not that I see. Anyhow, updating to Sonoma now, hopefully it goes smoothly.

 

[unrigestered]

you should still be able to download most macOS versions that are not completely ancient (by Apple's definitions) on the App Store.... just enter their name in the search field

of course you won't be able to downgrade your system to a lesser version than it has been originally released with, but if you should decide to download Ventura in a couple of years, it should still be possible

other than that, there's also a site dedicated to preserving macOS installers,
mrmacintosh.com

 

[LetteIT]

You will be able to update to MacOS Venutura, if you wish. It won't truly disappear. You have 3 options -

1) Continue with minor security updates to macOS Monterey for the next 11-12 months. However, the security updates will then end, and any new vulnerability, no matter how serious, will not be remedied by Apple. Monterey will be "dead" around August or September, 2024.

2) Update to macOS Ventura when you wish. There IS some possibility that it will disappear as an upgrade option in Software Update on your Mac (replaced by Sonoma). But there are still many other ways to get it, with the App Store being the very straightforward. Just go HERE and click View in App Store. Then, click Get. Apple will stop providing any security updates for MacOS Ventura in 23-24 months. So you get an extra year of security patches compared to Monterey.

3) Use Software Update to upgrade to MacOS Sonoma. If you have concerns about the initial 14.0 release being buggy, it's okay to wait for a 14.1 or 14.2 release, while continuing with Monterey security updates.

Does this help?

Thank you so much for your explanation! Your reply fully cleared things out for me. 👍 I wonder, why don't we have the same choice options with iOS and iPadOS updates?

 

[LetteIT]

you should still be able to download most macOS versions that are not completely ancient (by Apple's definitions) on the App Store.... just enter their name in the search field

of course you won't be able to downgrade your system to a lesser version than it has been originally released with, but if you should decide to download Ventura in a couple of years, it should still be possible

other than that, there's also a site dedicated to preserving macOS installers,
mrmacintosh.com

Thank you for your reply! Good to know! 👍

 

[GH1852]

Thank you so much for your explanation! Your reply fully cleared things out for me. 👍 I wonder, why don't we have the same choice options with iOS and iPadOS updates?

IOS and iPadOS are referred to by many as Apple’s “walled garden”. You always have the option of staying put with the version of iOS you have. And there are websites where you CAN find links to almost any version of iOS (.ipsw installers) that could ever run on your device - going back as much as 5 years, with direct links to Apple’s servers. And you can use your Mac to download them for use. But there is a step during installation when your Mac reaches out to Apple via the Internet for the iOS update to be signed (authorized) by Apple. The installation cannot proceed without signing. When a new iOS comes out, Apple WILL sign the immediate prior release for roughly 10 days, allowing users to roll back in case of a major issue. But then they stop signing everything prior to the latest version. In summary, all the installers ARE readily available, directly from Apple. But Apple won’t let you install them.

For one thing, it significantly discourages jailbreaking of iOS and iPadOS devices.

You can also use software that doesn’t come from the Mac App Store on a Mac. Not going to happen for iOS.

 

[420benz]

I am running monterey 12-6-8 if i switch to sonoma and don’t like it can i switch back?

 

[Fishrrman]

"I am running monterey 12-6-8 if i switch to sonoma and don’t like it can i switch back?"

That is not so easily done.

You'd probably have to create a bootable flash drive installer,
then
boot from the flash drive installer,
then
ERASE the ENTIRE internal drive,
then
RE-install Monterey,
and finally,
restore your data from the backup.

You might do much better if you bought a small (256gb or even 128gb) 2.5" SSD, put it into an external USB3.1 gen2 enclosure (about $12), and then installed Sonoma onto the EXTERNAL drive.

This way, you can boot and run from it externally for a while, for purposes of experimentation.
The idea is to see if it works for you BEFORE you "commit the internal drive" to it.

 

[MrScratchHook]

I am running monterey 12-6-8 if i switch to sonoma and don’t like it can i switch back?

im not sure what machine your on but i strongly recommend another ssd. there is no downgrading macos only reinstalling or time macnine, but im no expert on that.

 

[diocan]

You all are forgetting that you can update through the terminal using the softwareupdate command, which gives you the possible versions that you can install.
This is just to say you always have more than one option (upgrading to the latest release)

 

[nathansz]

On our 2019 MBA running Monterey, under Software Update, the Update to Ventura option changed to Sonoma, replacing it completely. So the choices are either stay with Moneterey or update to Sonoma; Ventura is no longer an option, at least not that I see. Anyhow, updating to Sonoma now, hopefully it goes smoothly.

you can still download and update to Ventura, or any macOS version you like really