Here's a brief history of Mac OS X including a complete list of all the Mac operating systems and their names and code-names. Plus we explain how to find out what is the latest macOS version and which version of macOS you are running.

Wondering what the name of the latest macOS version is? Curious about the versions of Mac OS X that came before? Here we'll fill you in on the names of the different versions of the Mac operating system: from the newest macOS to the first version of Mac OS X and the codenames that Apple used for them. We'll also show you how you can check which version of macOS you are running and find out what the latest version of macOS is.

Mac OS X was first introduced almost 20 years ago in September 2000. With that anniversary coming up we have high hopes for the 20th anniversary version of the Mac operating system, but that's in the future. In this article we are interested in the history of Mac OS X, or macOS as it is now known. 

For an overview of the features of the various versions of the Mac operating system, showing how it has developed over time, take a look at our video above. If you want to know the names Apple assigned to Mac OS X over the years, and the codenames that were used internally, read on.

List of macOS versions

Here's an overview of every version of macOS and Mac OS X Apple has released. You'll find a complete list of OS X version code names, along with internal code names (if available):

• OS X 10 beta: Kodiak - 13 September 2000

• OS X 10.0: Cheetah - 24 March 2001

• OS X 10.1: Puma - 25 September 2001

• OS X 10.2: Jaguar - 24 August 2002

• OS X 10.3 Panther (Pinot) - 24 October 2003

• OS X 10.4 Tiger (Merlot) - 29 April 2005

• [OS X 10.4.4 Tiger (Chardonnay)]

• OS X 10.5 Leopard (Chablis) - 26 October 2007

• OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard - 28 August 2009

• OS X 10.7 Lion (Barolo) - 20 July 2011

• OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion (Zinfandel) - 25 July 2012

• OS X 10.9 Mavericks (Cabernet) - 22 October 2013

• OS X 10.10: Yosemite (Syrah) - 16 October 2014

• OS X 10.11: El Capitan (Gala) - 30 September 2015

• macOS 10.12: Sierra (Fuji) - 20 September 2016

• macOS 10.13: High Sierra (Lobo) - 25 September 2017

• macOS 10.14: Mojave (Liberty) - 24 September 2018

• macOS 10.15: Catalina (Jazz) - 7 October 2019

We have a full list of which Macs run which versions of Mac OS X and macOS here.

Mac OS X & macOS names

As you can see from the list above, with the exception of the first OS X beta, all versions of the Mac operating system from 2001 to 2012 were all named after big cats, from Cheetah to Panther to Mountain Lion.

But while the public-facing builds were named after big cats, internally, they were named after wines (aside from OS X 10.6 and macOS 10.13, both of which had no codename).

Even after Apple switched public-facing code-names to places in California back in 2013, it carried on naming them after wines internally until 2014. In 2015, Apple decided to change the theme of internal code-names from wines to types of apple. Original.

We find it amusing that in 2019 Apple's Californian names circled back to a cat-theme with Catalina (which is named after a Californian island).

In 2016, Apple took the plunge to unify the branding of its operating systems by rebranding Mac OS X to macOS, which sits nicely alongside iOS, tvOS and watchOS.

What's the latest macOS

Wondering what the latest version of macOS is? It is currently macOS Catalina, also known as macOS 10.15. You can find the details of the latest version of Catalina here and download latest version from Apple here.

Prior to the release of Catalina we had macOS 10.14 Mojave. Version 10.14.6 arrived on 26 September 2019. The latest version is here.

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Before Mojave was, macOS High Sierra, with the 10.13.6 update being the most recent. High Sierra is available here.

If you want an older version of macOS take a look at our article about getting old versions of macOS and Mac OS X.

Whichever version of macOS you are running you should always keep it up-to-date with Apple's latest updates and security fixes.

Apple releases various updates to the OS throughout the year, so you can expect updates from time to time. Read about the latest version of Catalina here, and find out about the latest version of macOS Mojave here.

How to tell which macOS you are running

You can tell which version of macOS you are running by clicking on the Apple logo in the top left and choosing About This Mac.

How to update to the newest macOS

If you want to update your Mac to a newer version of macOS the method will be determined by the version of macOS you are running.

In older versions the Mac operating system updates came via the Mac App Store, while in newer versions the updates come via System Preferences > Software Update. 

In fact many years ago system updates came via Software Update - it's only been in recent years that they arrived via the Mac App Store. As of Mojave, which arrived in 2018, there has been a new pane in System Preferences where you can find Software Updates.

You can get to System Preferences from the Apple menu: Click on the Apple logo in the top left and choose System Preferences. You may be taken straight to the Software Update pane, if not click on the Software Update cog icon. Your Mac will search for an update and if there is one you can choose Update Now.

Some Macs will be set to update automatically. If you want your Mac to update automatically follow these steps:

In Mojave or Catalina:

1. Open System Preferences.
2. Click on Software Update.
3. Check the box beside Download new updates when available.
4. Now select the box Install macOS updates.

In High Sierra or earlier:

1. Open System Preferences.
2. Click on App Store.
3. Check the box beside Automatically check for updates - it should have a tick in it as should the four options below that…
4. Now deselect the box beside Download newly available updates in the background.

Read all about how to update your Mac here.

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• Mac,
• Mac Software

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