Sierra

macOS Sierra 10.12.6 beta 6 now available for developer testing

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 5, 2017

Aside from releasing a sixth developer beta of iOS 10.3.3 for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, Apple today seeded a sixth beta of the forthcoming macOS Sierra 10.12.6 software update.

macOS Sierra 10.12.6 beta 6 has a build number 16G24b.

It can be downloaded and installed on a compatible Mac using the Software Update mechanism through the Mac App Store's Updates tab. Only Apple's registered developers and members of the paid Apple Developer Program are allowed to beta-test macOS Sierra 10.12.6.

The new beta arrived nearly ten days following macOS Sierra 10.12.6 beta 5.

Like with iOS 10.3.3, users won't see any important outward-facing changes in macOS Sierra 10.12.6 when it releases for public consumption. This is a point release that will fix bugs and improve the security and performance of your Mac.

Apple is currently testing macOS High Sierra with its developers ahead of its release in the fall.

Apple seeds fourth macOS Sierra 10.12.6 beta to developers

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 19, 2017

Apple on Monday released a fourth beta of what would become the sixth major update to macOS Sierra since its official debut last fall. The most recent macOS Sierra 10.12.6 beta 4 (build number 16G18a) is now available through Apple's Software Update feature via Mac App Store's Updates tab on any supported Mac with an appropriate configuration profile installed.

This new build is being released to Apple's registered developers and members of the Apple Developer Program. Public beta testers should see it popping up on their devices later today or tomorrow. When it releases later this summer, macOS Sierra 10.12.6 will be a mostly bug-fix update with security and performance improvements.

macOS Sierra 10.12.6 beta 4 arrived less than a week after the third beta dropped and more than a month after the bug-fix macOS Sierra 10.12.5 update released on Mac App Store.

Apple, of course, previewed macOS High Sierra at the Worldwide Developers Conference.

The next major version of the desktop operating system powering Macs, macOS High Sierra is currently available as a developer-only preview. It should hit Apple Beta Software Program later this month or in July, ahead of its official release this Fall.

macOS 10.12.5 fixes issues with USB headphones & Windows 10, lays the groundwork for future macOS releases

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 15, 2017

Apple today released the mostly maintenance macOS Sierra 10.12.5 software update alongside updates to iOS, watchOS and tvOS. According to release notes accompanying the download, 10.12.5 fixes issues with USB headphones and Windows 10 installations while laying the groundwork for future macOS releases.

Plus, this version of macOS “enhances compatibility of Mac App Store with future software updates.” Apple is expected to preview the next major version of macOS at its annual developers conference next month.

macOS Sierra 10.12.5 can be installed via the Mac App Store's Updates tab.

Read Apple's support doc for detailed information about the update's security content.

Safari 10.1.1, which comes included in the 10.12.5 update, patches for more than half a dozen WebKit-related vulnerabilities while fixing yet another instance of address bar spoofing that could fool users into believing they're visiting a genuine rather than a maliciously crafted webpage designed for phishing attacks.

It's available for OS X Yosemite 10.10.5, OS X El Capitan 10.11.6 and macOS Sierra 10.12.5.

A minor update to iTunes for Mac and Windows was also pushed today.

iTunes 12.6.1 comes with unspecified app and performance improvements along with a fix for a WebKit exploit on Windows 7 and later which could result in arbitrary code execution after processing maliciously crafted web content.

macOS Sierra 10.12.5 beta 5 rolls out to developers

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 1, 2017

Monday, Apple issued a fifth beta for the upcoming macOS Sierra 10.12.5 software update to its registered developers and members of the Apple Developer Program. The latest macOS Sierra 10.12.5 beta 5 (build 16F71b) software can be obtained via the Mac App Store's Updates tab on supported Mac models with a prior beta and an appropriate configuration profile.

Second betas of iOS 10.3.2 and macOS Sierra 10.12.5 now available to public beta testers

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 13, 2017

Both iOS 10.3.2 beta 2 and macOS Sierra 10.12.5 beta 2 are now available to the general public via the Apple Beta Software Program. Public betas of iOS 10.3.2 and macOS Sierra 10.12.5 follow their developer-only releases yesterday. If you're enrolled in Apple's public beta program, you should receive the latest iOS 10.3.2 and macOS Sierra 10.12.5 betas through the Software Update mechanism in Settings on iPhone, iPad and iPod touch and via the Updates tab in Mac App Store on your Mac.

Apple seeds macOS Sierra 10.12.4 beta 8 and watchOS 3.2 beta 7

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 20, 2017

Apple on Monday seeded an eighth beta of macOS Sierra 10.12.4 and a seventh beta of watchOS 3.2 to its registered developers and members of the Apple Developer Program. Both macOS Sierra 10.12.4 beta 8 (build 16E192b) and watchOS 3.2 beta 7 (build 14V5249a) can be deployed over-the-air on devices running a prior beta and a using a special configuration profile that can be downloaded from Apple's portal for developers and beta-testers.

Seventh betas of iOS 10.3 and macOS Sierra 10.12.4 now available

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 16, 2017

Apple on Thursday seeded seventh betas of what would become the third major software update to iOS 10 and the fourth major update to macOS Sierra 10.12.4. Members of the Apple Developer Program can now install iOS 10.3 beta 7 (build 14E5277a) and macOS Sierra 10.12.4 beta 7 (build 16E191a) over the air, via the Software Update mechanism, on devices with a special configuration profile that's available through Apple's portal for developers.

Apple seeds macOS Sierra 10.12.4 beta 5 to registered developers

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 13, 2023

Apple on Tuesday seeded a fifth beta of what would become the fourth major update to Sierra. macOS Sierra 10.12.4 beta 5 (build 16E183b) can be deployed over the air on Macs with a prior beta and an appropriate configuration profile via the Mac App Store's Updates tab. We'll let you know if we find any outward-facing improvements in this beta.

Apple seeds fourth betas of iOS 10.3, macOS Sierra 10.12.4 and watchOS 3.2 to developers

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 27, 2017

Apple today seeded fourth betas of iOS 10.3, macOS Sierra 10.12.4 and watchOS 3.2 to members of the Apple Developer Program. iOS 10.3 beta 4 (build number 14E5260b), macOS Sierra 10.12.4 beta 4 (build number 16E175b) and watchOS 3.2 are now all available as over-the-air downloads through the Software Update mechanism on devices with an appropriate configuration profile. We'll update the article if we find new features or important under-the-hood changes in the new betas.

Beta 3 of iOS 10.3 and macOS Sierra 10.12.4 released for public beta testing

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 21, 2017

iOS 10.3 beta 3 with Find My AirPods and other enhancements and macOS Sierra 10.12.4 beta 3 with Night Shift Mode and other perks are both now available for public beta-testing, assuming you've enrolled in Apple's Beta Software Program. After signing up on the web at beta.apple.com, deploy a special configuration profile on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch or Mac and you'll be able to install the latest beta over-the-air via Apple's standard Software Update mechanism.

macOS 10.12.4 beta 3 seeded to developers

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 20, 2017

Aside from watchOS 3.2 beta 3, tvOS 10.2 beta 3 and iOS 10.3 beta 3 with a new name and shame list for legacy apps, Apple today seeded a third beta of what would become the fourth major update to Sierra since its launch last fall. macOS Sierra 10.12.4 beta 3 (build 16E163f) with Night Shift Mode and other perks is now available to registered developers.

You can deploy the latest beta over the air on your Mac through the Mac App Store's Updates tab. Today's release is only for developers but a version aimed at public beta testers should drop in the next 24 hours.

macOS Sierra 10.12.4 now available to public beta testers

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 9, 2017

macOS Sierra 10.12.4 beta 2 with Night Shift Mode and other improvements is now available to public beta testers, two days after the software was seeded to Apple's registered developers.

Public beta testers can deploy the latest beta of Sierra over the air via the Software Update mechanism provided they have installed an appropriate configuration profile through Apple's Beta Software Program website.