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macOS Version End of Life (2026)

macOS Version End of Life (2026)

DodaTech Updated Jun 20, 2026 2 min read

Apple releases a new version of macOS every September. While Apple does not publish a formal end-of-life policy, the practical support window for each major release is roughly two to three years. Understanding macOS version support timelines helps developers, IT admins, and home users plan upgrades and assess security exposure.

Version Support Table

VersionRelease DateApproximate EOL
macOS Ventura 13Oct 2022Sep 2024
macOS Sonoma 14Sep 2023Sep 2025
macOS Sequoia 15Sep 2024Sep 2026
macOS 16Sep 2025~Sep 2027

Support Policy

Apple typically provides security updates for the latest three major versions of macOS. When a new version ships, the oldest of the three drops out of support. For example, when macOS Sequoia shipped in September 2024, macOS Ventura (released 2022) became unsupported. This means each version receives approximately two years of active security patches.

Apple does not offer paid extended support or LTSC channels. Once your macOS version is no longer receiving updates, running it carries increasing security risk. Critical vulnerabilities (such as those disclosed in zero-days) are patched only for the supported versions.

Older hardware that cannot run the latest macOS often receives a few additional security patches for the last compatible OS version, but this is neither guaranteed nor documented.

How to Check Your macOS Version

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select About This Mac. The version number (e.g., 15.0 for Sequoia) and build number appear in the overview.

sw_vers

Or from the terminal:

system_profiler SPSoftwareDataType | grep "System Version"

Both commands display the exact macOS version and build.

FAQ

Does Apple have an official EOL policy?
No, Apple does not publish a formal end-of-life document. The practical support window is based on observation: Apple typically supports the latest three major macOS releases with security updates and drops the oldest when a new version ships.
Can I still use an unsupported macOS version?
Yes, but your system will miss security patches. Browsers and third-party apps may gradually drop support for older macOS versions. For production or security-sensitive environments, running a supported version is strongly recommended.
How long are older Macs supported?
Apple provides macOS updates for roughly 5–7 years per hardware generation. A Mac that shipped with macOS Ventura may not support macOS Sequoia or later. Apple occasionally releases a security patch for the last supported OS on older hardware, but this is not guaranteed.

Related

  • Python Version EOL Schedule
  • macOS Overview
  • iOS Version End of Life
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