What’s new in the updates for macOS Big Sur

: June 7, 2024
: Apple

Table of Contents

What’s new in the updates for macOS Big Sur
images helps you find and add trending GIFs to messages

What’s new in the updates for macOS Big Sur

Learn what has changed in the updates available for macOS Big Sur.

macOS Big Sur updates improve the stability, performance, or compatibility of your Mac and are recommended for all macOS Big Sur users. After installing macOS Big Sur, choose System Preferences from the Apple menu , then click Software Update to check for the latest updates. You can also learn about the security content of these updates and what’s new for enterprise.

macOS Big Sur 11.5.2

macOS Big Sur 11.5.2 includes bug fixes for your Mac.

macOS Big Sur 11.5.1

macOS Big Sur 11.5.1 provides important security updates and is recommended for all users.

macOS Big Sur 11.5

macOS Big Sur 11.5 includes the following improvements for your Mac:

Podcasts Library tab allows you to choose to see all shows or only followed shows

This release also fixes the following issues:

Music may not update play count and last played date in your library
Smart cards may not work when logging into Mac computers with the M1 chip

macOS Big Sur 11.4

macOS Big Sur 11.4 adds Apple Podcasts subscriptions and channels and includes important bug fixes.

Podcasts

Apple Podcasts subscriptions are available for purchase via monthly and annual subscriptions
Channels group together collections of shows from podcast creators

This release also fixes the following issues:

Bookmarks in Safari may get reordered or moved into a folder that can appear hidden
Certain websites may not display correctly after your Mac wakes from sleep
Keywords may not be included when exporting a photo from the Photos app
Preview may become unresponsive when searching PDF documents
16-inch MacBook may become unresponsive when playing Civilization VI

macOS Big Sur 11.3.1

macOS Big Sur 11.3.1 provides important security updates and is recommended for all users.

macOS Big Sur 11.3

macOS Big Sur 11.3 **** adds support for AirTag, includes iPhone and iPad app improvements for Macs with M1, introduces separate skin tone variations for emoji with couples, and adds more diverse voice options for Siri.

AirTag and Find My

Support for AirTag to keep track of and find your important items like your keys, wallet, backpack, and more, privately and securely in the Find My app
The Find My network with hundreds of millions of devices can help you find your AirTag, even when it isn’t nearby
Lost Mode notifies you when your AirTag is found, and you can enter a phone number where you can be contacted

iPhone and iPad apps on Macs with M1

Option to change an iPhone and iPad app’s window size
Support for displaying the highest resolution version of an iPhone or iPad app in full screen
Keyboard support for iPhone and iPad games designed to use device tilt
Keyboard, mouse, and trackpad support for iPhone and iPad games that support game controllers

Emoji

Support for separate skin tones for each individual in all variations of the couple kissing emoji and couple with heart emoji
New face emojis, heart emojis, woman with a beard emoji

Siri

Siri now includes more diverse voice options

Apple Music

Autoplay keeps music playing by automatically playing a similar song, once you’ve reached the end of a song or playlist
City charts showcase what’s popular in over 100 cities from all over the world

Podcasts

Podcasts Show Pages are redesigned to make it easier to start listening
Option to save and download episodes, automatically adding them to your Library for quick access
Download behavior and notification settings can be customized on a show-by-show basis
Top Charts and popular categories in Search help you discover new shows

News

Redesigned News+ feed enables Apple News+ subscribers to quickly find, download, and manage magazine and newspaper issues
All-new Search experience that helps you find relevant topics, channels, and stories

Safari

Start Page section order can now be customized
Additional WebExtensions API lets developers offer extensions that replace the new tab page
Web Speech API lets developers incorporate speech recognition into their webpages for real-time captioning, dictation, and voice navigation
WebM and Vorbis video and audio format support

Reminders

Ability to sort Today Smart list
Support for syncing the order of reminders in lists across your devices
Option to print your reminder lists

Gaming

Xbox Series X|S Wireless Controller or Sony PS5 DualSense Wireless Controller support

Mac computers with the M1 chip

Hibernation support

About This Mac

About this Mac displays Apple warranty status and AppleCare+ coverage in the Service tab when signed in with Apple ID
Support for purchasing and enrolling in AppleCare+ for eligible Mac computers from About This Mac

This release also fixes the following issues:

Reminders created via Siri may be unintentionally set for early morning hours
iCloud Keychain might not turn off
AirPods audio routing to incorrect device for Automatic Switching
AirPods Automatic Switching notifications might be missing or duplicated
External 4K monitors may not display in full resolution when connected over USB-C
Login window may not display properly after restarting Mac mini (M1, 2020)
The Dwell feature may not work in the Accessibility Keyboard

Some features may not be available for all regions or on all Apple devices, and require an Apple ID.

macOS Big Sur 11.2.3

macOS Big Sur 11.2.3 provides important security updates and is recommended for all users.

macOS Big Sur 11.2.2

macOS Big Sur 11.2.2 prevents MacBook Pro (2019 or later) and MacBook Air (2020 or later) models from incurring damage when they are connected to certain third-party, non-compliant powered USB-C hubs and docks.

macOS Big Sur 11.2.1

macOS Big Sur 11.2.1 addresses an issue that may prevent the battery from charging in some 2016 and 2017 MacBook Pro models.

Some features may not be available for all regions, or on all Apple devices.

macOS Big Sur 11.2

macOS Big Sur 11.2 improves Bluetooth reliability and fixes the following issues:

External displays may show a black screen when connected to a Mac mini (M1, 2020) using an HDMI to DVI converter
Edits to Apple ProRAW photos in the Photos app may not save
iCloud Drive could turn off after disabling the iCloud Drive Desktop & Documents Folders option
System Preferences may not unlock when entering your administrator password
Globe key may not display the Emoji & Symbols pane when pressed

Some features may not be available for all regions, or on all Apple devices.

macOS Big Sur 11.1

macOS Big Sur 11.1 introduces support for AirPods Max, TV app enhancements, Apple News widgets, and privacy information on the App Store. This release also includes bug fixes for your Mac.

AirPods Max

Support for AirPods Max, new over-ear headphones
High fidelity audio for rich sound
Adaptive EQ adapts sound in real time to the personal fit of ear cushions
Active Noise Cancellation to block out environmental noise
Transparency mode to hear the environment around you

Apple TV

An all-new Apple TV+ tab makes it easy to discover and watch Apple Original shows and movies
Enhanced search so you can browse by category such as genre and see recent searches and suggestions as you type
Top search results shown with the most relevant matches across movies, TV shows, cast, channels, and sports

Apple News

Apple News widgets are now available in Notification Center

App Store

New privacy information section on App Store pages that includes a developer-reported summary of the app’s privacy practices
In-game dashboard within Arcade games recommends new Arcade games to play

iPhone and iPad apps on Macs with M1

New window options for iPhone and iPad apps let you switch between landscape and portrait orientations or expand a window to fill the entire screen

Photos

Apple ProRAW photos can be edited in the Photos app

Safari

Ecosia search engine option in Safari

Air Quality

Available in Maps and Siri for locations in China mainland
Health recommendations are provided in Siri for the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, India, and Mexico at certain air-quality levels
Data in Maps and Siri reflects updated national scales for Germany and Mexico

This release also addresses the following issues:

QuickTime Player might quit when opening a movie with a timecode track after upgrading from macOS Catalina
Bluetooth connection status was not displayed in Control Center
Reliability of unlocking your Mac automatically with your Apple Watch
Trackpad scrolling speed may be faster than expected on MacBook Pro models
LG UltraFine 5K Display may incorrectly display at 4K resolution on Macs with M1

Some features may not be available for all regions, or on all Apple devices.

macOS Big Sur 11.0.1

Design

New design for apps makes it easier to focus on your content and take action with space efficient toolbars and full height sidebars
Updated menu bar features wider spacing and a new translucent material that becomes more vibrant when you interact with it
Refreshed system sounds include the boot chime and sounds for transferring files, moving items to the trash, locking files, and more

Control Center

Control Center puts your favorite menus and controls in one handy place in the menu bar so you can quickly adjust settings as you work
Additional controls appear when you click to expand Control Center menus
Support for pinning favorite menus from Control Center to the menu bar

Notification Center

Updated Notification Center brings notifications and widgets together in one view
Interactive notifications display additional information and actions when you expand them
Beautiful, new data-rich widgets for Calendar, Clock, Notes, Photos, Podcasts, Reminders, Screen Time, Stocks, and Weather
Edit view lets you to add new widgets and customize their size
Support for widgets from third-party apps

Safari

World’s fastest desktop browser with industry-leading performance and energy efficiency*
Customizable new start page lets you set a background image and decide what appears, including Reading List, iCloud Tabs, Privacy Report and more
Expanded extensions support and new dedicated category in the App Store for discovering new extensions
New tab design featuring favicons in tabs, and website previews that appear when you hover over a tab
Translation (beta) for English, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, French, German, Russian or Brazilian Portuguese [US-English and Canadian-English only]
Privacy Report gives you visibility into how Safari keeps your browsing your business, with an overview of trackers blocked by Intelligent Tracking Prevention
Safari password monitoring securely screens saved passwords for any that may have been involved in a data breach
Safari privacy prompts for extensions let you choose when a website can work with an extension

Messages

Pinned conversations keep up to nine of your favorite threads at the top of the list
Mentions let you direct a message to an individual in a group conversation
Inline replies let you reply to a specific message earlier in the conversation
Message effects for balloons, confetti, lasers and more
images helps you find and add trending GIFs to messages
Memoji makes it simple to create a personalized character and send stickers that match your mood and personality

Maps

Guides offer recommendations for places to go and things to do, curated by a selection of trusted brands
Look Around to explore cities in a high-resolution, interactive 3D experience
Indoor maps for major airports and shopping centers
Cycling directions helps you find bike-friendly routes to your destination
Electric vehicle routing helps you plan trips for supported vehicles that you add on iPhone

Some features may not be available for all regions, or on all Apple devices.