#Macbook el capitan vs sierra how to
#Macbook el capitan vs sierra install

That way, you gain the ability to play with its features and test its stability while retaining the option to easily switch to Big Sur or any other version of macOS that’s installed on your main system drive.Įven though it’s generally perfectly safe to upgrade to Monterey via Software Update, you should make a backup so that you can recover your data, applications, and settings should anything go wrong.

#Macbook el capitan vs sierra install

The clean install method is a good option if you want to install Monterey on an external drive. I decided to go with the former method, and I’m happy to report that it went smoothly.

#Macbook el capitan vs sierra how to

Whenever the next macOS release becomes available, you have two options on how to install it: you can update from the current version via Software Update, or you can start with a clean slate. Low Power Mode preserves battery power for when you need it.Notes app improvements keep you organized.Live Text and Visual Lookup make research easier.Universal Control and AirPlay to Mac enable seamless control and content sharing.Shortcuts app makes task automation simpler.How I switched from Big Sur to Monterey.But just because cosmetic changes and major new features are few and far between doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot to talk about, so let’s dive right in. Indeed, Monterey has far more in common with updates like El Capitan, Sierra, or High Sierra than it does with updates like Yosemite, Catalina, or Big Sur.

It’s possible that Apple deliberately named the current major release of its operating system after a place that’s just a short drive away from Big Sur because the average user might easily fail to spot any obvious changes. Interestingly, Big Sur is located less than 40 miles away from Monterey Bay. Monterey is the successor to the seventeenth major release of macOS, named Big Sur after the mountainous section of the Central Coast of California. I’ve been testing Monterey since the first public macOS Monterey preview version was released at the beginning of July 2021, so this review is based on the last few months of use-not just the last few days. The macOS Monterey release date is now in the past, and that means I’m ready to share with you my thoughts and impressions. Apple’s recent “Unleashed” event revolved around the introduction of Apple silicon MacBooks Pro, but it also announced that the next major version of Apple’s operating system, called macOS 12 Monterey, would become available on October 25th.