MacOS Big Sur was released on November 12, 2020, and it brought several new features and enhancements to the Mac operating system. As for how long macOS Big Sur will be supported, Apple typically provides software updates and support for its operating systems for several years after their initial release. However, the exact length of support can vary depending on various factors.
In general, Apple has a track record of supporting its macOS versions for around five to seven years. This means that you can expect macOS Big Sur to receive regular updates, bug fixes, and security patches for at least the next few years. These updates are crucial for keeping your Mac secure and ensuring that it runs smoothly.
To get a better understanding of how long macOS Big Sur will be supported, let’s take a look at Apple’s past software support patterns. macOS Catalina, the predecessor to Big Sur, was released in October 2019 and is still currently supported. This means that it has been receiving updates for over two years, and it is likely to continue receiving support for a few more years.
Looking further back, macOS Mojave, released in September 2018, is also still supported by Apple. This indicates that Apple generally provides support for its macOS versions for around three to four years after their release.
It’s worth noting that macOS Big Sur introduced a major redesign in terms of the user interface and brought significant changes under the hood, which may have an impact on its longevity of support. However, Apple has shown a commitment to supporting its operating systems for a reasonable amount of time, even with major updates.
Another factor to consider is Apple’s transition from Intel-based processors to its own custom-designed Apple Silicon chips. This transition began with the release of the M1 Macs, which are powered by Apple Silicon. As Apple continues to release new Mac models with its own chips, it is possible that future macOS updates may be tailored to better support these newer hardware architectures. This could potentially impact the support timeline for macOS Big Sur and future versions.
While it is difficult to provide an exact timeline for how long macOS Big Sur will be supported, based on Apple’s past practices, you can reasonably expect to receive software updates and support for at least the next few years. It is crucial to keep your Mac up to date with the latest software updates to ensure security, performance, and compatibility with newer technologies.