Upgrade to Ventura
When recommending a new version of macOS, we err on the side of caution. If you upgrade too soon, the new macOS version could make key apps inoperable or create workflow interruptions. On the other hand, waiting too long can cause problems—it’s important to stay in sight of the cutting edge for security reasons and to take advantage of Apple’s advances. Upgrading is not an if question; it’s a when question.
That when could be now. There’s no reason you must upgrade to macOS 13 Ventura right away, but if you want to, you should now be able to do so without undue interruptions. Ventura has been quite stable and has received only three updates since its initial release in October 2022:
macOS 13.0.1 provided just unspecified bug fixes and two security fixes.
macOS 13.1 introduced the Freeform digital whiteboard app, Advanced Data Protection for iCloud, improved searching for photos in Messages, participant cursors for shared notes in Notes, and the option to play sounds in the Find My app. There were also a couple of bug fixes and important security fixes.
macOS 13.2 added support for Security Keys for Apple ID for those who need the utmost security, fixed a few bugs, and blocked more security vulnerabilities.
If desired, you can continue to delay upgrading as long as you’re running macOS 11 Big Sur or macOS 12 Monterey and are staying up to date with Apple’s security releases. (Both have received important updates recently.) Earlier versions of macOS no longer receive security fixes, rendering them more vulnerable to attack.
Before You Upgrade
Once you’ve decided to upgrade to Ventura, you have three main tasks:
Update apps: Make sure all your apps are as up-to-date as possible. If you regularly put off updates, now’s the time to let them complete so you have Ventura-compatible versions.
Clear space: Ventura needs about 25 GB of free space to upgrade, and the Ventura installer itself is about 12 GB, so we recommend making sure you have at least 37 GB free. Don’t cut this close—you should always have at least 10–20% free space for virtual memory, cache files, and breathing room. Check by choosing About This Mac from the Apple menu and then clicking Storage.
Make a backup: Never, ever install an update to macOS without ensuring that you have at least one current backup first. In an ideal world, you’d have an updated Time Machine backup, and a cloud backup.
Upgrading
After completing the above-listed tasks, ensure you don’t need your Mac for an hour or two. There’s no telling exactly how long the upgrade will take, so never start an upgrade if you need the Mac soon.
Initiating the upgrade is just a matter of opening System Preferences > Software Update, clicking the Upgrade Now button, and following the instructions.
After You Upgrade
Part of the reason to set aside plenty of time for your Ventura upgrade is that there are usually cleanup tasks afterward. Here are a few situations we’ve encountered:
macOS may need to update its authentication situation by asking for your Apple ID password, your Mac’s password, and if you have another Mac, its password too. Don’t worry that your Mac has been compromised by malware—it’s fine.
Some apps may have to ask for various permissions even though you previously granted them. Again, that’s fine and won’t happen again.
If you use Gmail, Google Calendar, or other Google services, you may need to log in to your Google account again.
Websites that usually remember your login state may require that you log in again. If you’re using a password manager like 1Password, that’s easy.
You may have to re-enable text message forwarding to your Mac. You do this on your iPhone in Settings > Messages > Text Message Forwarding.
With all that housekeeping done, it’s time to check out all the new features in Ventura!