MacBook Air M3, still running Sonoma (14.8.4)
Everything runs fine. I’ve hesitated to upgrade to 26 because I don’t want to bump into apps that no longer work with 26.
What steps would you recommend?
1 Like
You could try updating to Sequoia first. It is still receiving security updates and will help you delay changing to Tahoe for another few months. Plus, it is often less disruptive to jump up a single OS version than two or more.
4 Likes
I agree. The Sequoia user interface is much less controversial than the Tahoe interface, too. I’d encourage you to look up the new features in Tahoe and Sequoia to decide which is best for your specific situation.
I have Tahoe installed in a virtual machine, but I plan to keep my main Mac on Sequoia as long as Apple continues to release security updates for it. There just aren’t enough new features in Tahoe to justify wrestling with the Liquid Glass interface, at least for my use cases.
5 Likes
Another way to “test” a new OS before actually upgrading to it…
Get an SSD. Doesn’t have to be large. Even a 128gb 2.5" SATA SSD will work for test purposes.
Install the new OS onto the EXTERNAL SSD. Migrate accounts and apps over the standard way.
Now, boot and run from the external SSD “for testing”.
This will give you the opportunity to “try things out” before you commit yourself to an upgrade of the internal SSD.
If you’re satisfied that things will work OK, update the OS on the internal drive.
You can then erase the external boot SSD if you wish…
Aside: I, too, prefer Sequoia to Tahoe. I just “like the look” more. In fact, I like it so much that I have no plans to upgrade my m4 Mini beyond Sequoia in the immediate years-to-come…
3 Likes
If you have enough space on your drive, I would divide it into two containers and use one for your current OS and then install the newer OS on the other one and migrate your data later if you like the newer OS. I have this setup on my M1 Air with Sequoia being my main partition and Tahoe is on the other one. I use Automator scripts to copy my mail folder as well as Firefox folder (and also my iTunes folder) from Sequoia to Tahoe as needed if I think I’m going to stick with the newer OS but like many others, I’ve decided to stay on Sequoia for the time being and will update the Tahoe partition to the next OS when it comes out.
1 Like