macOS Ventura: Everything you need to know about macOS 13

Apple has revealed some of the new features coming to macOS later this year. During the WWDC keynote Apple revealed the name of the next version of macOS as well as details of new innovations and updates to its Mac apps Mail, Safari and more.

Update: Apple issued the seventh developer beta on September 9, having indicated that the full version of Ventura will be available to the public in October.

macOS 13 name: Ventura

You might think it sounds a bit like Windows Vista, but Ventura is the name for macOS 13.

The name maintains Apple’s tradition of giving every version of macOS a name in addition to a version number. As usual, the name is taken from a landmark or area in California as has been the tradition since Mavericks launched in 2013. Prior to that large cats were used as names for Apple’s Mac operating systems. This time the version number will be 13 (unlucky for some, but that didn’t stop Apple from calling the 2021 iPhone the iPhone 13).

The name of the next version of macOS is Ventura.

macOS Ventura: Release date

Apple discussed the features coming to the next version of macOS during the WWDC 2022 keynote on June 6 at 10 a.m. PT. The software will not be released to the public until much later in the year.

Apple normally promises the update will be “Coming this fall” but on the Ventura Preview webpage it now says “coming this October”. We believe this was a change made to the page following the September 7 event.

In 2021, macOS Monterey arrived on Monday, October 25, so we expect a similar time frame for macOS 13. It is likely to follow the anticipated October Apple Event. Read about the next Apple Event.

macOS Ventura beta: latest version

The first developer beta was made available shortly after Apple’s preview of the new macOS. Apple released the seventh developer beta on September 9, 2022.

Public beta testers are also able to sign up to try out the beta (here’s how to take part in Apple’s beta program and how to install Ventura beta). The public beta arrived on July 11. The latest version of the public beta is version 4, which arrived on August 26. We expect the next public beta to be released in the week of September 12. See how to install macOS Ventura public beta.

macOS Ventura: Compatibility

Apple has conformed that the following Macs are supported by macOS Ventura:

MacBook models from 2017 or laterMacBook Air models from 2018 or laterMacBook Pro models from 2017 or laterMac mini models from 2018 or lateriMac models from 2017 or lateriMac Pro (all models)Mac Pro models from 2019 or laterMac Studio (all models)This means the following Macs, that were previously supported by Monterey, have now fallen off the list:

iMac (models from 2015)MacBook Air (models from 2015 and 2017 models)MacBook Pro (2015 and 2016 models)Mac mini (2014 models) Mac Pro (2013 model – cylinder/trash can) MacBook (2016 model)The 2014 Mac mini was sold until 2018, the ‘trash can’ Mac Pro until 2019, and the 2017 MacBook Air was sold until July 2019. We had thought that for Apple wouldn’t remove those Macs from the supported list, since people might have purchased the model just such a short time ago. At least they will still be supported by macOS Monterey for at least two more macOS generations. See: This is how long Apple supports Macs for. To find out if your Mac will support Ventura read: macOS 13 Ventura compatibility: Can your Mac run the latest version?

Some of the Macs that are supported by Ventura may not support all the new functions. Read: New macOS features that will only work on the newest models.

Here’s an overview of the Macs that could run Monterey.

MacBook models from 2016 or laterMacBook Air models from 2015 or laterMacBook Pro models from 2015 or laterMac mini models from autumn 2014 or lateriMac models from autumn 2015 or lateriMac Pro (all models)Mac Pro models from 2013 or laterMac Studio (all models)Wondering how Ventura compares to Monterey? Read macOS Ventura vs Monterey.

macOS Ventura: New features

Here’s an overview of what’s coming in macOS 13 Ventura.

Apple discussed two new features coming to macOS in a lot of detail: Stage Manager and Continuity Camera. Read the Top 5 new features of macOS Ventura for more details about the best new features. We also have 10 useful macOS Ventura features you might have missed.

Stage Manager

Continuity continues to evolve with the introduction of Stage Manager – a new way to manage your desktop clutter which reminds us a little bit of Spaces, because it allows you to organise working areas and hide them away, albeit at the side of your screen, rather than the top. Here’s how to use Stage Manager to organise your windows.

Continuity Camera

Another continuity related feature coming to Macs will allows you to use your iPhone as a webcam as well as Handoff a FaceTime call from your iPhone or iPad to your Mac. Continuity camera looks like a great way to benefit from the superior camera on the iPhone. One really impressive feature is Desk View, which displays two views to the person you are calling – your face and your desk. Using the iPhone camera means that Mac users can benefit from features like Portrait mode and Centre Stage and the new Studio Light feature. Read about how to use your iPhone as a webcam for your Mac.

Spotlight

Apple’s method to search your Mac – Spotlight – will be getting a revamp. Quick Look will allow you to preview files. You will be able to search photos by location, objects, people, and more. Live Text improvements mean that you will be able to search test within images and videos. Users will even be able to create a new document, start a timer, or more, from within Spotlight. More information here: How Apple has improved Spotlight search in Ventura.

Reminders

In macOS Ventura, Apple has added several new features to make Reminders more helpful. You’ll be able to see your reminders grouped by time and date, you will be able to pin a list and save lists to be used as templates. Read about the new features in Reminders here: Reminders in macOS Ventura.

System Settings

System Settings is the new name for System Preferences. A name that iOS users will likely feel at home with. Read about how Apple has revamped System Preferences in macOS Ventura in our in-depth article. Unfortunately, we think that System Settings in Ventura is a bit of a mess.

White noise

You will be able to play soothing white noise on your Mac in Ventura, including the sound of rain, the ocean, or a stream. Read: How to play soothing white noise in macOS Ventura.

macOS Ventura: App updates

Over the years at the same time as Apple has updated the Mac operating system it has also made changes to various apps that ship with the Mac, and we can expect more this year. Apple has revealed some of the new features coming to Safari and Mail along with updates to Weather, the Clock, new accessibility tools (such as Live Captions).

Mail

Mail will bring improved search, but probably the most anticipated feature will be the ability to cancel delivery of an email after clicking send (we imagine there is a time limit here) and also schedule sending an email. Both are features offered by third parties, but it’s good to see them coming to Apple’s email software. Read How to unsend and schedule email in Apple Mail for more information.

There is some confusion over the inclusion of the Hide My Mail feature, which should mean that it isn’t a requirement to share your email with third parties. Initially Apple referred to the feature, but this has since been erased from the webpage describing email features in Ventura, at least in some countries. Hide My Email isn’t new to Ventura – it arrived in Monterey in 2021, but in Ventura Apple was expected to extend it to third parties.

Messages

Like its iOS counterpart, Messages on the Mac will allow users to edit a message once sent and recover accidentally deleted messages.

Safari

Passkeys will be generated as a more secure means of identifying you and are associated with Touch ID or Face ID. These will replace passwords. Apple claims that “Passkeys are unique digital keys that stay on device and are never stored on a web server,” therefore they are more secure because it is impossible to leak one, or for anyone to phish one from you.

Gaming

Expect gaming on the Mac to truly take off (well Apple does anyway). Apple says that every new Mac will be able to run AAA games “with ease”. Improvements in Metal 3, MetalFX Upscaling and Fast Resource Loading API should benefit games developers.

AirPods

In macOS Monterey and earlier, users didn’t get to control much of the AirPod’s settings, but that’s changing in Ventura. When Ventura launches users will finally get access to the full complement of AirPods settings, just like in iOS. Read more here: Full AirPods settings coming to your Mac.

You may like to read about what to expect from Apple in 2022 as well the latest information about iOS 16.

Mac, MacOS, Personal Software