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macOS Catalina facts for kids
Version of the macOS operating system | |
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![]() Screenshot of the macOS Catalina desktop in dark mode
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Developer | Apple Inc. |
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OS family | |
Source model | Closed, with open source components |
General availability |
October 7, 2019 |
Latest release | 10.15.7 Security Update 2022-005 (19H2026) (July 20, 2022 ) |
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Update method | Software Update |
Platforms | x86-64 |
Kernel type | Hybrid (XNU) |
License | APSL and Apple EULA |
Preceded by | macOS Mojave |
Succeeded by | macOS Big Sur |
Tagline | The power of Mac. Taken further. |
Support status | |
Unsupported as of November 30, 2022. Finder is still able to download driver updates to sync to newer devices. |
macOS Catalina (version 10.15) was a big update for macOS. This is the computer program that runs on Apple's Macintosh computers. It came after macOS Mojave. Apple first showed it off on June 3, 2019, and released it on October 7, 2019.
Catalina was special because it only worked with programs made for 64-bit computers. It also introduced a new safety feature called Activation Lock. It was the last macOS version to be numbered 10. The next one, Big Sur, was version 11.
The operating system is named after Santa Catalina Island. This island is located off the coast of southern California. macOS Catalina was the last version to support some older MacBook Pro models.
Contents
Mac Computers That Can Run Catalina
All standard Mac computers that could run macOS Mojave also supported macOS Catalina. However, some older Mac Pro models from 2010 to 2012 were no longer supported. Catalina needed at least 4 GB of computer memory to run.
Supported Mac Models
- iMac (Late 2012 or newer)
- iMac Pro (2017)
- MacBook (Early 2015 or newer)
- MacBook Air (Mid 2012 or newer)
- MacBook Pro (Mid 2012 or newer)
- Mac Mini (Late 2012 or newer)
- Mac Pro (Late 2013 or newer)
It was also possible to install Catalina on some older Macs. These computers were not officially supported by Apple. This required using a special tool to change the installation file.
New Features and Changes
macOS Catalina brought many new features and important changes. These updates aimed to make Macs easier to use and more secure.
System Updates
Catalyst for Apps
Catalyst is a special tool for app developers. It lets them create apps that work on Macs, iOS (for iPhones), and iPadOS (for iPads). This means an app can be built once and run on different Apple devices. Apple showed off apps like Jira and Twitter using Catalyst.
System Extensions
System extensions are a new way for apps to add features to your Mac. They are safer than older methods because they run separately from the main computer system. There are three types: Network, Endpoint Security, and Driver Extensions. Catalina was the last macOS version to support older system extensions.
Gatekeeper Security
Gatekeeper is a security feature that helps keep your Mac safe. For apps to run on macOS Catalina, Apple had to check and approve them. This process is called "notarization." It makes sure apps are safe before you open them.
Activation Lock for Macs
Activation Lock is a security feature that helps protect your Mac if it's lost or stolen. It prevents anyone from using or erasing your device without your permission. This feature works on Macs that have a special Apple T2 security chip.
Dedicated System Volume
In Catalina, the main part of the operating system runs on its own special space. This space is "read-only," meaning you can't accidentally change or delete important system files. This helps keep your Mac stable and secure.
Voice Control
Voice Control lets you use your voice to control your Mac. You can give detailed commands to open apps, click buttons, and navigate your computer. It uses your Mac's own processing power to understand your commands better.
Sidecar Feature
Sidecar lets you use an iPad as a second screen for your Mac. You can connect it wirelessly. If you have an Apple Pencil, you can also use your iPad like a drawing tablet for your Mac. Sidecar works with newer Macs and iPads that support Apple Pencil.
Game Controller Support
macOS Catalina added official support for popular game controllers. You could connect PlayStation 4's DualShock 4 and Xbox One controllers to your Mac. This made gaming on a Mac much easier and more fun.
Time Machine Changes
Time Machine is the backup software on your Mac. Catalina made some changes to how it saves backups, especially for network drives. These changes were not compatible with older macOS versions.
Application Updates
iTunes Replaced
In macOS Catalina, the iTunes app was split into several new apps. These included Music, Podcasts, TV, and Books. Managing your iPhone or iPad was moved to the Finder app. The TV app on Mac also supported high-quality video and sound features.
Find My App
The separate "Find My Mac" and "Find My Friends" apps were combined. They became one app called Find My. This app helps you locate your Apple devices and friends in one place.
Reminders App Improved
The Reminders app got a new look and new features. You could add attachments to your reminders. Siri could also help you set reminders more smartly, guessing when you might need them.
Voice Memos Update
The Voice Memos app, which lets you record audio, was updated to version 2.1. It had been brought to the Mac in the previous macOS version, Mojave.
Removed or Changed Parts
macOS Catalina only supported 64-bit applications. This meant that older 32-bit applications would no longer work. Apple also removed all 32-bit-only apps from the Mac App Store.
Z shell (called "zsh") became the main command-line shell in Catalina. It replaced Bash, which had been the default since 2003. Bash and other shells were still available.
The Dashboard feature, which showed small widgets, was removed in macOS Catalina. The ability to add backgrounds in Photo Booth was also removed. The command-line GNU Emacs app was no longer included.
Older versions of scripting languages like Perl, Python 2.7, and Ruby were still included for compatibility. However, future macOS versions might not include them by default.
Older AirDrop for connecting with very old Macs was also removed.
Security Information
macOS Catalina had a security issue that was later fixed. This issue could have allowed a special kind of harmful software to be installed on a Mac. This problem was reported to Apple in August 2021. Apple released an update for Catalina in September to fix it. However, the fix had already been available for newer macOS versions much earlier. Some experts criticized Apple for not fixing important security problems in older versions sooner. They also wanted Apple to be clearer about which security updates older versions received. Newer macOS versions always get all the latest security updates.
Release History
This table shows the different updates that were released for macOS Catalina. Each update brought bug fixes and security improvements.
Version | Build | Date | Darwin version | Release Notes | Standalone download |
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10.15 | 19A583 | October 7, 2019 | 19.0.0 | Original Software Update release
Security content |
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19A602 | October 15, 2019 | Supplemental update | |||
19A603 | October 21, 2019 | Revised Supplemental update | |||
10.15.1 | 19B88 | October 29, 2019 | 19.0.0 xnu-6153.41.3~29 |
About the macOS Catalina 10.15.1 Update
Security content |
macOS 10.15.1 Update |
10.15.2 | 19C57 | December 10, 2019 | 19.2.0 xnu-6153.61.1~20 |
About the macOS Catalina 10.15.2 Update
Security content |
macOS 10.15.2 Update
macOS 10.15.2 Combo Update |
19C58 | |||||
10.15.3 | 19D76 | January 28, 2020 | 19.3.0 xnu-6153.81.5~1 |
About the macOS Catalina 10.15.3 Update
Security content |
macOS 10.15.3 Update
macOS 10.15.3 Combo Update |
10.15.4 | 19E266 | March 24, 2020 | 19.4.0 xnu-6153.101.6~15 |
About the macOS Catalina 10.15.4 Update
Security content |
macOS 10.15.4 Update
macOS 10.15.4 Combo Update |
19E287 | April 8, 2020 | Supplemental update | macOS 10.15.4 Supplemental Update | ||
10.15.5 | 19F96 | May 26, 2020 | 19.5.0 xnu-6153.121.1~7 |
About the macOS Catalina 10.15.5 Update
Security content |
macOS 10.15.5 Update
macOS 10.15.5 Combo Update |
19F101 | June 1, 2020 | 19.5.0 xnu-6153.121.2~2 |
Supplemental update
Security content |
macOS 10.15.5 Supplemental Update | |
10.15.6 | 19G73 | July 15, 2020 | 19.6.0 xnu-6153.141.1~9 Jul 5 00:43:10 PDT 2020 |
About the macOS Catalina 10.15.6 Update
Security content |
macOS 10.15.6 Update
macOS 10.15.6 Combo Update |
19G2021 | August 12, 2020 | 19.6.0 xnu-6153.141.1~1 Jun 18 20:49:00 PDT 2020 |
Supplemental update | macOS 10.15.6 Supplemental Update | |
10.15.7 | 19H2 | September 24, 2020 | 19.6.0 xnu-6153.141.2~1 Mon Aug 31 22:12:52 PDT 2020 |
About the macOS Catalina 10.15.7 Update
Security content |
macOS 10.15.7 Update
macOS 10.15.7 Combo Update |
19H4 | October 27, 2020 | ||||
19H15 | November 5, 2020 | 19.6.0 xnu-6153.141.2.2~1 Thu Oct 29 22:56:45 PDT 2020 |
Supplemental update
Security content |
macOS 10.15.7 Supplemental Update
macOS 10.15.7 Supplemental Update (Combo) |
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19H114 | December 14, 2020 | 19.6.0 xnu-6153.141.10~1 Tue Nov 10 00:10:30 PST 2020 |
About the security content of Security Update 2020-001 | Security Update 2020-001 (Catalina) | |
19H512 | February 1, 2021 | 19.6.0 xnu-6153.141.16~1 Tue Jan 12 22:13:05 PST 2021 |
About the security content of Security Update 2021-001 | Security Update 2021-001 (Catalina) | |
19H524 | February 9, 2021 | Supplemental Update
Security content |
macOS Catalina 10.15.7 Supplemental Update 2 | ||
19H1030 | April 26, 2021 | 19.6.0 xnu-6153.141.28.1~1 Mon Apr 12 20:57:45 PDT 2021 |
About the security content of Security Update 2021-002 | Security Update 2021-002 (Catalina) | |
19H1217 | May 24, 2021 | 19.6.0 xnu-6153.141.33~1 Thu May 6 00:48:39 PDT 2021 |
About the security content of Security Update 2021-003 | Security Update 2021-003 (Catalina) | |
19H1323 | July 21, 2021 | 19.6.0 xnu-6153.141.35~1 Thu Jun 22 19:49:55 PDT 2021 |
About the security content of Security Update 2021-004 | Security Update 2021-004 (Catalina) | |
19H1417 | September 13, 2021 | 19.6.0 xnu-6153.141.40~1 Tue Aug 24 20:28:00 PDT 2021 |
About the security content of Security Update 2021-005 | Security Update 2021-005 (Catalina) | |
19H1419 | September 23, 2021 | 19.6.0 xnu-6153.141.40.1~1 Thu Sep 16 20:58:47 PDT 2021 |
About the security content of Security Update 2021-006 | Security Update 2021-006 (Catalina) | |
19H1519 | October 25, 2021 | 19.6.0 xnu-6153.141.43~1 Tue Oct 12 18:34:05 PDT 2021 |
About the security content of Security Update 2021-007 | Security Update 2021-007 (Catalina) | |
19H1615 | December 13, 2021 | 19.6.0 xnu-6153.141.50~1 Sun Nov 14 19:58:51 PST 2021 |
About the security content of Security Update 2021-008 | Security Update 2021-008 (Catalina) | |
19H1713 | January 26, 2022 | 19.6.0 xnu-6153.141.51~3 Thu Jan 13 01:26:33 PST 2022 |
About the security content of Security Update 2022-001 | Security Update 2022-001 (Catalina) | |
19H1715 | February 14, 2022 | Security Update 2022-002 | Security Update 2022-002 (Catalina) | ||
19H1824 | March 14, 2022 | 19.6.0 xnu-6153.141.59~1 Tue Feb 15 21:39:11 PST 2022 |
About the security content of Security Update 2022-003 | Security Update 2022-003 (Catalina) | |
19H1922 | May 16, 2022 | 19.6.0 xnu-6153.141.62~1 Mon Apr 18 21:50:40 PDT 2022 |
About the security content of Security Update 2022-004 | Security Update 2022-004 (Catalina) | |
19H2026 | July 20, 2022 | 19.6.0 xnu-6153.141.66~1 Tue Jun 21 21:18:39 PDT 2022 |
About the security content of Security Update 2022-005 | Security Update 2022-005 (Catalina) |
See also
In Spanish: MacOS Catalina para niños