Supported Operating Systems (macOS)

Issue/Question

What versions of macOS does WKU ITS support?

Resolution

Apple releases a new operating system (OS) about once a year. Generally, each major version of macOS gets a year’s full support, with bug and security fixes, then 2 years of security updates. After that time, the OS can become susceptible to malicious attacks.

WKU ITS strongly encourages our community to stay current with the latest version of macOS. As of October 2021, the fully supported macOS is Big Sur (macOS 11), with Catalina (macOS 10.15) still eligible for security updates. To check what version of macOS is installed and upgrade if possible:

  1. Click (Apple menu button) in the top-left corner of your screen.
  2. Select About This Mac.
  3. The name and version number of macOS will be displayed.
  4. Click Software Update... .
  5. Ensure that Automatically keep my Mac up to date is enabled.
  6. Click Update Now to install the latest updates for the currently installed version of macOS. Or click Upgrade Now to install a new version of macOS.
    Note: Upgrading to a new OS takes a significant amount of time, generally between one and two hours. Follow this process when you will not need the computer for an extended amount of time.
If your Mac is running an older version of macOS and cannot be updated or upgraded, please contact the ITS Service Desk or submit a service request.
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