Should I Update My Computer Operating System?
Upgrading your operating system is a big step when going to the next major release. You have to be sure that your computer hardware can handle the next version and you need to verify that any programs that you are currently using are compatible with the new operating system.
Check software developer support sites such as ADOBE or MICROSOFT to see if there are reports of incompatibility issues.
BEFORE MOVING TO A NEW OPERATING SYSTEM BE SURE YOU HAVE AN UP-TO-DATE BACKUP OF YOUR COMPUTER
THEN VERIFY YOU HAVE ENOUGH FREE DISK SPACE FOR THE NEW OPERATING SYSTEM
Content information sourced from:
https://setapp.com/how-to/full-list-of-all-macos-versions
macOS Monterey brings Shortcuts — the ability to set up quick actions with different apps to automate your flow. Apart from that, there’s Universal Control, a natural transitioning across your Mac and iOS devices (for example, you can move your cursor between Mac and iPad); redesigned Safari with tab groups, and a range of cool FaceTime enhancements.
Monterey was released in 2021.
There’s no macOS 10.16, because Big Sur deserves a more epic version name — 11.0. Bringing a huge design change and transition to Apple’s M1 Macs, macOS Big Sur is the one to remember. This is the first operating system that allows running iOS apps natively on Mac — the so-called Universal apps.
Big Sur was released in 2020.
macOS Catalina marks the death of iTunes, splitting Apple’s top-destination for media content into three dedicated apps — Music, Podcasts, and Movies. Apple continues aligning iOS and macOS with Sidecar, a feature that lets your connect an iPad screen to your Mac, and the ability for developers to port iOS apps to macOS.
Catilina was released in 2019.
NOTE: Catilina was the first operating system that no longer supported 32bit applications. If you need to use an application that is 32bit, do not upgrade to Catalina or newer
Dark Mode! Mac users can now move through their day-and-night routine, with the colors of the screen moving with them, thanks to Dynamic Desktop feature. There are more and more apps that arrive from iOS, including Stocks, News, and Home.
Mojave was released in 2018.
NOTE: Mojave was the last operating system to support 32bit applications. If you need to use an application that is 32bit, do not upgrade past Mojave.