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macOS High Sierra facts for kids
"MacOS 10.13" redirects here. For macOS 13, see macOS Ventura.
| Version of the macOS operating system | |
 |
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macOS High Sierra desktop with the default wallpaper
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| Developer | Apple Inc. |
|---|---|
| OS family | |
| Source model | Closed, with open source components |
| General availability |
September 25, 2017 |
| Latest release | 10.13.6 Security Update 2020-006 (17G14042) (November 12, 2020) |
| Repository |
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| Update method | Mac App Store |
| Platforms | x86-64 |
| Kernel type | Hybrid (XNU) |
| License | APSL and Apple EULA |
| Preceded by | macOS Sierra |
| Succeeded by | macOS Mojave |
| Tagline | Your Mac. Elevated. |
| Support status | |
| Unsupported as of November 12, 2020. iTunes is no longer being updated, but is able to download driver updates to sync to newer devices. | |
macOS High Sierra (version 10.13) is a big update for macOS, which is Apple Inc.'s computer operating system for Macintosh computers. Apple announced macOS High Sierra at an event called WWDC on June 5, 2017. It was then released to everyone on September 25, 2017.
The name "High Sierra" comes from a beautiful mountain area in California. This name shows that this version was mostly about making the previous macOS version, macOS Sierra, work even better. It focused on making things faster and improving the technology behind the scenes, rather than adding lots of new features. It was similar to other macOS updates like Snow Leopard and El Capitan. Some apps, like Photos and Safari, got some cool new changes.
macOS High Sierra was the last version of macOS that supported some older Mac computers. These included the Unibody iMac and the Polycarbonate Unibody MacBook. The next version, macOS Mojave, stopped supporting these older models.
System Requirements for High Sierra
If your Mac could run macOS Sierra, it could also run macOS High Sierra. Here are the types of Macs that supported it:
- iMac (made in late 2009 or later)
- MacBook (made in late 2009 or later)
- MacBook Air (made in late 2010 or later)
- MacBook Pro (made in mid 2010 or later)
- Mac Mini (made in mid 2010 or later)
- iMac Pro (2017 model)
- Mac Pro (made in mid 2010 or later)
To install macOS High Sierra, your computer needed at least 2 gigabytes (GB) of memory (RAM). It also needed about 20 GB of free space on your computer's hard drive.
What's New in High Sierra?
Default Wallpaper
The main picture on your desktop, called the desktop picture, was a beautiful image of North Lake. This lake is located in the High Sierra region.
System Changes
Apple File System (APFS)
With High Sierra, Apple introduced a brand new way for your Mac to store and organize files. It's called Apple File System (APFS). This new system replaced an older one called HFS Plus. APFS is designed to work super fast with modern storage, like the flash memory found in many Macs. It helps speed up common tasks, such as copying a file or finding out how much space a folder uses. APFS also has built-in security features, like encryption, and helps protect your data if something goes wrong.
Metal 2 for Graphics
Metal is a special technology that helps your Mac's graphics work smoothly and quickly. In High Sierra, it was updated to Metal 2. This new version brought exciting improvements, like better support for virtual reality (VR) experiences. It also helped with machine learning, which is when computers learn from data. Metal 2 even allowed Macs to use external GPUs, which are extra graphics cards you can plug in for more power.
New Media Formats
macOS High Sierra added support for new ways to handle videos and photos. It could now use High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) for videos and High Efficiency Image File Format (HEIF) for pictures. These formats make files smaller while keeping good quality. This means you can store more videos and photos on your Mac. Some Macs could even use special hardware to make these formats work even faster. High Sierra also supported FLAC and Opus audio files, which are great for high-quality sound.
Other System Updates
- Security for Programs: In High Sierra, some special programs, called "kernel extensions," needed your clear permission before they could run. This helped keep your Mac safer.
- Battery Notification: The way your Mac told you the battery was low got a new, simpler look.
- Locking Your Screen: You could now quickly lock your screen by pressing the keys Cmd+Ctrl+Q at the same time. This is a handy way to keep your computer private when you step away.
- External Graphics: An update to High Sierra (version 10.13.4) added support for using external graphics cards with Macs that had Thunderbolt 3 ports. These external cards give your Mac more power for games or graphics-heavy tasks.
- 32-bit App Warning: Starting with version 10.13.4, if you opened an older app that was 32-bit, your Mac would show a warning. This warning let you know that these apps might not work with future macOS versions.
Application Changes
Photos App Updates
The Photos app in macOS High Sierra got some cool new features. It had an updated sidebar, which made it easier to find your way around. It also added new tools for editing your pictures. Plus, the Photos app could now sync the people you've tagged in your photos with your iOS 11 devices, like an iPhone or iPad.
Mail App Improvements
The Mail app became smarter in High Sierra. Its search feature, called Spotlight, got "Top Hits" to show you the most important emails first. Mail also used less storage space on your Mac, which is great for saving room. You could even use the Mail app in split-screen mode, letting you see two apps at once.
Safari Web Browser
macOS High Sierra included Safari 11, which had some important new features for browsing the internet.
- Intelligent Tracking Prevention: This smart feature used machine learning to stop websites from secretly tracking what you do online. It helped protect your privacy.
- Block Auto-Playing Videos: Safari could now stop videos from automatically playing when you visited a website, which was a nice way to avoid sudden sounds or distractions.
- Reader Mode: You could set "Reader Mode" to always be on. This mode removes ads and clutter from web pages, making them easier to read.
Siri Gets Smarter
Siri, Apple's voice assistant, got a more natural and expressive voice in High Sierra. It sounded more like a real person. Siri also used machine learning to understand what you were asking for even better. Plus, Siri could now share information between your Mac and your iPhone or iPad. This meant your Siri experience was the same no matter which Apple device you were using.
Messages in iCloud
With the macOS High Sierra 10.13.5 update, the Messages app gained support for "Messages in iCloud." This feature allowed all your messages to sync across all your Apple devices that used the same iCloud account. If you deleted a message on one device, it would be deleted on all of them. Also, messages stored in iCloud didn't take up space on your device anymore, which helped save storage. To use this feature, you needed to turn on two-factor authentication for your Apple ID.
Images for kids
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The official logo for macOS High Sierra.
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The desktop of macOS High Sierra with its default wallpaper.
See also
In Spanish: MacOS High Sierra para niños