Apple announced macOS 26 (Tahoe) at WWDC 2025, with a public release expected this September. Since its debut in 2001, the macOS system has undergone several visual, performance, and feature transformations. Regardless of how recent updates have landed, Apple has done more than just rename its operating system. Now’s a good time to look back. Whether you’re a longtime Mac user or just curious about Apple’s OS history, here’s a complete list of macOS versions in order, from Cheetah to Tahoe.
macOS Versions in Order: Chronological List
Here’s a list of all macOS names and their dates of public release:
- Mac OS X 10.0 Cheetah – March 24, 2001
- Mac OS X 10.1 Puma – September 25, 2001
- Mac OS X 10.2 Jaguar – August 23, 2002
- Mac OS X 10.3 Panther – October 24, 2003
- Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger – April 29, 2005
- Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard – October 26, 2007
- Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard – August 28, 2009
- Mac OS X 10.7 Lion – July 20, 2011
- OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion – July 25, 2012
- OS X 10.9 Mavericks – October 22, 2013
- OS X 10.10 Yosemite – October 16, 2014
- OS X 10.11 El Capitan – September 30, 2015
- macOS 10.12 Sierra – September 20, 2016
- macOS 10.13 High Sierra – September 25, 2017
- macOS 10.14 Mojave – September 24, 2018
- macOS 10.15 Catalina – October 7, 2019
- macOS 11 Big Sur – November 19, 2020
- macOS 12 Monterey – October 25, 2021
- macOS 13 Ventura – October 25, 2022
- macOS 14 Sonoma – September 26, 2023
- macOS 15 Sequoia – September 16, 2024
- macOS 26 Tahoe – Expected September 2025
What is the Latest macOS Version?
The latest macOS release, macOS 26 or macOS Tahoe, was officially announced at WWDC on June 9, 2025. This major update marks Apple’s shift to year-based version numbering across all its software. It’s currently in developer beta and is scheduled for worldwide public release in September 2025.
How to Check Which macOS Version You’re Using
Time needed: 3 minutes
Not sure which macOS version is running on your Mac? Here’s how to check:
- Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of your screen.
- Select About This Mac from the dropdown menu.
- A window will pop up showing some system specs along with your macOS name and version number.
What Version of macOS is No Longer Supported?
As of 2025, Apple no longer supports MacOS 11 Big Sur and earlier versions. And since they don’t and won’t receive security updates or compatibility improvements, they leave you far more vulnerable to bugs and threats.
If you’re still using Big Sur (2020) or an older version like Catalina, Mojave, or High Sierra, I strongly recommended upgrading to a newer version. You can try macOS 12 Monterey, macOS 13 Ventura, macOS 14 Sonoma, macOS 15 Sequoia, and the latest macOS 26 Tahoe.
You may also want to check out the official macOS Tahoe device compatibility list to see if your Mac makes the cut.