How to get your Mac ready for macOS Sonoma

You might be so keen to install the latest version of macOS that you jump into System Settings > General > Software Update to find the new version as soon as you hear it is available for download. But, before you start to download the software you need to check that there are no issues with the software. Sometimes it is wise to wait for others to find out there are problems before you do.

So, our advice is always to wait a few days before you install a big software update just in case there are bugs in the software that have slipped through the beta testing stage. Apple is usually quick to fix vulnerabilities and problems in macOS updates, but they do slip through from time to time, so it’s always worth checking that people aren’t experiencing problems.

We have details of the latest version of macOS Sonoma, which will include any problems people are having. Also read our Complete list of Mac OS X & macOS versions.

Related to the above, you should check that your Mac will actually run the version of macOS you want to install – and that you will actually be able to take advantage of the new features that appeal to you most. To find out if your Mac is supported read: Sonoma compatibility list.

While you won’t be able to install a version of macOS that isn’t supported by your Mac (it won’t show up in Software Update or the Mac App Store) there are situations where the version of macOS will be available to you, but your Mac won’t be able to enjoy all the new features on offer, or even worse, installing the update will mean you lose access to Mac features you rely on currently.

Another thing to check for is software compatibility. Read: Which Apps don’t work and Which Apps work on an M1 Mac. Don’t update your Mac only to then discover your version of Photoshop doesn’t work anymore!

If your Mac’s not supported that doesn’t mean you can’t run that version of macOS – doing so is just a little more complicated (and risky). Read: How to install macOS on an old unsupported Mac.

Apple suggests that you should have 20GB of free space on your Mac’s drive before you install a new version of macOS – although you may not need that much.

We generally recommend that you always have 10% of the total space of your Mac free at all times as this does tend to avoid issues.

There’s a good reason why you need the space. The installer for Monterey was more than 12GB, while for the Big Sur beta was also about 12GB, but Big Sur needed even more space to install itself –in some cases, people couldn’t update unless they had around 40GB free! Read: Don’t bother trying to update to Big Sur if you have a 128GB Mac.

If you lack the necessary space, read this to get some tips on what to delete: How to free space on Mac. You may also find How to delete Mac Other storage and How to delete System storage on a Mac useful. How to delete Cache on a Mac is also worth a look.

When we needed to clear space for Big Sur in 2020 we used CleanMyMac X to delete files, which is one of our top choices in our round-up of best Mac cleaner apps. We also discuss how to use CleanMyMac X.

You should also make sure that your Mac is completely healthy before installing a big update to the system. It’s easy to do this by running Disk Utility, which a program included on your Mac.

1. Open Disk Utility (in Applications/Utilities).
2. Select your startup drive from the list on the left.
3. Click the First Aid tab to the right.
4. Click Verify.

If Disk Utility finds problems with your drive, you’ll need to boot from a different volume to perform the actual repairs. You can do this from Recovery mode. To boot into Recovery mode you need to hold down Command+R at startup on an Intel Mac, or press and hold the Power Button at start up on an M1 or M2 Mac. Once in Recovery Mode, you’ll be able to access Disk Utility and carry out the recommended repairs.

You can also run the Apple Hardware Test (for Macs older than June 2013) or Apple Diagnostics (for Macs from June 2013 or later). Both tests check your Mac for other hardware issues, such as bad RAM.

Read more about using Disk Utility to fix a Mac.

Before you perform any big update to your Mac – and especially if you are installing a beta version of macOS – you should back up your Mac so that you have a copy of how things were before you installed the new operating system.

Luckily, Apple makes it easy to back up your Mac using Time Machine, so there is no excuse not to create a Time Machine backup before installing a new version of macOS – all you need is a hard drive or SSD to do it on. We have this article about how to back up your Mac using Time Machine. We also have a guide running through all the ways you can back up a Mac.

iCloud is heavily integrated into many Apple apps and system services. Make sure you’re logged into iCloud before you start updating and things should go smoothly.

We advise that you make sure you are on a trusted network–so avoid downloading software in hotels and cafes or any public networks because you don’t know what or who might lurk there.

If you’re downloading and installing software we advise that you do so at home, at work, or at your place of education. You will probably find the download is much faster. Downloading at home or work could mean you can plug your Mac into the network rather than rely on a slow wireless download speed.

To find out how to keep your Mac safe from security vulnerabilities read our Mac security tips.

Before you upgrade to the new version of macOS, make sure you install the latest updates to the version of macOS that you’re currently running. From time to time there will be software updates to improve stability, for example, and there is always a chance that you may have a problem updating to the new version of the Mac operating system if you hadn’t pre-installed this essential update to the previous version, so do your housework first.

In Ventura go to System Settings > General > Software Update. Pre Ventura it was System Preferences > Software Update.

You should also make sure you have updated any third-party apps too. Those updates may include changes that are required for upgrading to the latest macOS and if you don’t run the updates they may not work properly once you have updated.

To update apps you’ve bought from the Mac App Store, launch the Mac App Store app and click the Updates button in the toolbar. Then click Update All, simply providing your Apple ID and password when prompted.

For apps that you purchased elsewhere, you’ll need to manually install updates. You can check if there are updates available from the application’s menu, in Microsoft Word, for example, it’s a case of clicking on Help > Check for Updates.

As we mentioned above, it’s important to check compatibility with your third-party apps before updating the macOS. That way you will be up and running immediately, rather than being frustrated by your favorite apps and add-ons not working.

If you want more help updating your apps on your Mac read this: How to update all your Mac apps.