Have you heard? There’s a new MacOS in the works – yes, again. MacOS Ventura is almost here, so we thought it’d be a good idea to give you a quick primer guide in how to make sure you prep for the latest update! Enjoy!
It’s Almost That Time Again!
Keeping your Mac up-to-date can be vital for how effectively it can run all the latest software, as well as ensuring that it’s keeping up with the latest security updates. A major change is coming in the form of a new operating system, macOS Ventura, and you might want to follow the steps below to ensure that you’re ready for it.
What is an OS?
To put it simply, your operating system is the core software that runs on your computer. It’s a system that manages all of the programs, hardware, and processes, allocating the resources such as your CPU and memory effectively. The operating system is also what provides the graphical interface that allows you to interact with the machine in the first place. As such, when you update your operating system, you are going to notice changes, from visual changes to changes in how you access certain features and functions.
The Benefits of Updating
New operating systems and OS versions aren’t as common an update as the little patches you might have to download now and then. A big upgrade like the newest Mac operating system comes with a lot of improvements. This can include the ability to sync up with your iPhone for new features (such as using it as a webcam), tools like “Stage Manager” that can make it easier for people working on the device to access all of the apps they need much more quickly, and various other upgrades. Most importantly, as Ventura becomes more widely used, the previous operating systems are going to get updated less frequently. Eventually, they will stop receiving updates altogether, including the ones that keep your device secure.
Check that Your Device is Compatible
You might be willing to take the plunge and get ready for updating to the new Mac operating system, but you have to make sure that your machine feels the same way. Every Mac OS has its own system requirements and sometimes, older machines might not have the components to keep up with the demands of the newer machine. They might not have the memory or processing power to run it as effectively as they should. If this is the case, then you might have to look at the prospect of replacing your device entirely. If it was a PC, you might be able to replace some components, but Mac internal components come soldered to the motherboard so they cannot be replaced without breaking the warranty.
Give Your Mac a Health Check
A big update is going to require time and plenty of processing power. You have to make sure that your Mac is able to undergo that journey. To that end, you should make use of the First Aid feature on your Mac, which can be found in the Disk Utility Menu. If there are any health issues with your Mac, this feature is going to highlight precisely what you can do to make sure that it’s running as it should be. You can also use the Apple Diagnostics tool to check for problems that First Aid might not be able to find alone.
Have Enough Space for the Operating System
Currently, the next macOS, Ventura, is in beta, so no one is really quite certain how much space it’s going to require on your device. However, operating systems are big. You’re going to need to keep your current OS on, for some time, until you can download and install the latest version. Read the article linked to find out more about how you can clear some space on your device if you’re having trouble. You’re going to need roughly 25GB, most are speculating, in order to ensure you have plenty of room for your new operating system.
Remember to Back Up Your Data
An operating system is a big download as well as a big install. There are times when something can go wrong with the installation and when it does, you want to make sure that the data on your device is not at risk. For that reason, make sure that you take the time to back up your Mac. You can use the Time Machine feature to copy all of your data and your current version of the operating system to an external hard drive. That way, if there is an issue, you can use Time Machine again to return to the older version and to make sure that all of your files are intact. With your most important files, such as your important photos and documents or sensitive data, you might want an extra backup on the Cloud or elsewhere. We have a series here on backup basics that will help guide you through this!
Expect Some Software Changes
As mentioned, changing to a new operating system is going to result in some differences in how your Mac looks and how certain features and functions work. It may also require a change with some software that you use. Most of the standard Mac tools are going to still be available, albeit with some new changes. Other software that you have downloaded might not be the same, however. Some older software that hasn’t been updated in a while might not have a version that’s compatible with your new OS. In other cases, you might have to download a new version of the software that you were using previously. For those that don’t have a compatible version available, start looking at their alternatives online.
With the tips above, hopefully, you see the benefit of keeping your Mac up to date with the newest operating system as well as the steps you can take to ready it for the transition. It can take a little time to get all the kinks worked out, but it’s usually worth it!
