Written by
Connie Yang
Summary: This post discusses "What is the latest operating system for old MacBook Pro and MacBook Air?" It lists the latest Mac OS for old Macs and helps you identify whether your Mac is too old to update.
You might have the question "What is the latest operating system for an old MacBook?" in mind for a period until you keep receiving error messages with the old Mac OS and determine to update your Mac.
Don't worry too much. Our post will list the Mac operating systems that are compatible with your device and tell you the most up-to-date operating system that your aging MacBook Pro or MacBook Air can handle.
What is the latest operating system for an old MacBook?
Usually, a MacBook discontinued over seven years ago is considered an old machine by the brand itself, and it won't support updates anymore. If a MacBook has been discontinued for five to seven years, it is vintage but may support the update.
Here's the checklist for Mac OS compatibility. You can learn the latest operating system for an old MacBook from it.
macOS 15 Sequoia compatibility
- MacBook Pro (2024 - 2018)
- MacBook Air (2024 - 2020)
To upgrade these Mac devices to macOS Sequoia, they should currently run macOS Mojave or later.
macOS 14 Sonoma compatibility
- MacBook Pro (2023 - 2018)
- MacBook Air (2024 - 2018)
To upgrade these Mac devices to macOS Sonoma, they should be running macOS Mojave or later.
macOS 13 Ventura compatibility
- MacBook Pro (2023 - 2017)
- MacBook Air (2023 - 2018)
- MacBook (2017)
To upgrade these Mac computers to macOS Ventura, they should be running High Sierra or later.
macOS 12 Monetery compatibility
- MacBook Pro (2022 - 2015)
- MacBook Air (2022 - 2015)
- MacBook (2017 - 2016)
To install macOS Monetery on these Mac machines, they should be running OS X 10.11 El Capitan or later.
macOS 11 Big Sur compatibility
- MacBook Pro (2020 - late 2013)
- MacBook Air (2020 - mid 2013)
- MacBook (2017 - 2015)
To upgrade these Mac models to macOS Big Sur, they should be running OS X 10.9 Mavericks or later.
macOS 10.15 Catalina compatibility
- MacBook Pro (2020 - 2012)
- MacBook Air (2020 - mid 2012)
- MacBook (2017 - 2015)
To install macOS Catalina on these Mac computers, all of them should be running OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion or later.
In a word, the latest operating system for an old MacBook Pro (2018), the latest OS is macOS Sequoia, while for an old MacBook Air (2018), the latest OS is macOS Sonoma.
If you have an older MacBook Pro or MacBook Air like the 2013-produced one, the latest OS is macOS Big Sur.
Share this Mac OS compatibility checker with others.
Can your Mac be too old to update?
If your Mac was delivered over 7 years ago, it no longer qualifies for service, support, or the macOS update.
You can go to About This Mac to check the year when your Mac was produced and verify if it is too old to update.
Simply click the Apple menu > About This Mac. Then, compare it with the above checklist to learn whether your Mac is too old to update to the macOS version you want.
Even though your Mac won't support the macOS version you want to upgrade to, there are still ways to install macOS on an unsupported Mac.
How to install macOS Monterey on unsupported Mac
How to install macOS Ventura on unsupported Mac
How to install macOS Sonoma on unsupported Mac
How to install macOS Sequoia on unsupported Mac
Mac OS latest version download
The latest Mac OS version is the macOS 15 Sequoia. Since Apple releases new macOS versions every year, macOS Sonoma, macOS Ventura, macOS Monterey, and macOS Big Sur are also the latest versions in recent years.
You can click the links below to quickly finish the Mac OS latest version download.
If our post helps you learn the latest operating system for your old Mac, share it with others.
