Apple on Thursday released macOS Sonoma 14.4, an update to the Mac operating system. The release comes a day before the new M3 MacBook Air starts shipping to pre-order customers and the arrival of the laptop in the Apple Store.
macOS Sonoma 14.4: New features
macOS Sonoma 14.4 is expected to bring many features that are also in iOS 17.4. Those features include:
- New emoji
- Enhanced functionality with episode text in the Podcasts app
- Business Updates in Messages for Business
- An “icons only” option for the Safari Favorites Bar
- Security and bug fixes
macOS Sonoma 14.4 release notes
Below are the release notes included with macOS Sonoma 14.4.
macOS Sonoma 14.4 introduces new emoji as well as other features, bug fixes, and security updates for your Mac.
Emoji
• New mushroom, phoenix, lime, broken chain, and shaking heads emoji are now available in emoji keyboard
• 18 people and body emoji support facing the opposite direction
This update also includes the following improvements and bug fixes:
• Podcasts Episode text can be read in full, searched for a word or phrase, clicked to play from a specific point and used with accessibility features such as Text Size, Increase Contrast, and VoiceOver
• Business Updates in Messages for Business let you get updates that you’ve opted into, like order status, flight notifications, fraud alerts or other transactions from trusted businesses
• Safari Favorites Bar adds an option to show only icons for websites
Some features may not be available for all regions, or on all Apple devices.
For detailed information about the security content of this update, please visit: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201222
macOS Sonoma 14.4: How to install
Before installing the update, we recommend backing up your Mac’s data. The installation requires an internet connection, and the Mac will need to restart.
- Click on the Apple menu and select System Settings.
- In the left column, click on General.
- In the main section click on Software Update.
- The Mac will check for the update. If it’s available to install, you can click Update Now to proceed. If you do not see the update, check again later.
For more information, check out our macOS Sonoma superguide.
Author: Roman Loyola, Senior Editor
Roman has covered technology since the early 1990s. His career started at MacUser, and he's worked for MacAddict, Mac|Life, and TechTV.