How Long Does macOS Get Security Updates?
Apple has never published an end-of-life calendar for macOS, which makes a simple question — will Tahoe still get security updates next year? — surprisingly hard to answer. But Apple's behaviour has been consistent for a decade, and it is predictable enough to plan around. This guide sets out the rule, the estimated support end date for every macOS version, and what to do when yours runs out.
Table of Contents
The Three-Version Rule
Apple keeps three macOS versions in the security window at any one time, and it has done so consistently for years:
The current release — everything
New features, bug fixes, Safari updates and every security patch. Today that is macOS Tahoe 26, currently at 26.6 (build 25G72).
The previous release — security only
No new features, but serious vulnerabilities are still patched. That is macOS Sequoia 15, currently at 15.7.8.
The one before that — security only, final year
The last year of patches before the version drops off entirely. That is macOS Sonoma 14, currently at 14.8.8.
Each autumn a new macOS ships, everything shuffles down one place, and the oldest version quietly stops receiving patches. Apple does not announce this — the updates simply stop arriving. In practice that gives every macOS version about three years of security coverage from its release date.
One important caveat
The two older versions get most security fixes, not always all of them, and they can lag the current release by days or weeks. If a vulnerability is being actively exploited, the safest position is always the newest macOS your Mac supports.
Security Support Dates by macOS Version
Apple publishes no end-of-life dates, so the figures below are projections from the three-version pattern, not commitments. They are accurate enough to plan a hardware refresh or a fleet upgrade around.
| macOS Version | Released | Status Today | Estimated Security Updates Until |
|---|---|---|---|
| macOS 27 Golden Gate | Expected September 2026 | Public beta | ~Autumn 2029 |
| macOS Tahoe 26 | September 2025 | Current — full support | ~Autumn 2028 |
| macOS Sequoia 15 | September 2024 | Security updates only | ~Autumn 2027 |
| macOS Sonoma 14 | September 2023 | Security updates only — final year | ~Autumn 2026 |
| macOS Ventura 13 | October 2022 | No longer supported | Ended |
| macOS Monterey 12 | October 2021 | No longer supported | Ended |
| macOS Big Sur 11 | November 2020 | No longer supported | Ended |
Every release listed here, with its exact build number and date, is in the macOS update history tracker.
How Long Will macOS Tahoe 26 Be Supported?
Roughly until autumn 2028. Tahoe 26 shipped in September 2025, so it holds the current-release slot until macOS 27 Golden Gate arrives this September, then spends two more years in the security-only window before macOS 29 pushes it out.
Two things make that date matter more than usual:
- Tahoe 26 is the last macOS for Intel Macs. No Intel Mac will ever run macOS 27, so autumn 2028 is effectively the security cut-off for Intel hardware — there is no later version to upgrade to.
- It is a long tail for a mature release. Tahoe 26.6 alone patched more than 150 vulnerabilities, and security-only point updates in the 26.6.x and 26.7 range are expected to continue after macOS 27 ships.
If you are on an Intel Mac
Install macOS Tahoe 26.6 if you have not already. It is both the newest and the final macOS your machine will receive, so staying on it is the only way to keep getting patches through 2028.
Monterey, Ventura and Older Versions
If your Mac is running macOS Monterey 12 or anything older, it is outside the security window and newly disclosed vulnerabilities are not being patched on it.
- macOS Monterey 12 — the last version was in the 12.7.x line; macOS Monterey 12.7.3 was among its final security releases. Support ended once Sonoma 14 pushed it out of the three-version window.
- macOS Big Sur 11 — finished in the 11.7.x line and has been unsupported for longer still.
- macOS Ventura 13 — dropped out of the window when Tahoe 26 shipped in September 2025.
Apple does occasionally make an exception and back-port a fix for an actively exploited flaw to an older release, as covered in our roundup of critical security updates for older macOS versions. Those are one-offs, not a support commitment — do not plan around them.
Check Whether Your Mac Is Still Supported
Find the version you are running
Open the Apple menu → About This Mac. The macOS name and version number appear at the top; click the version to reveal the build number.
Compare it against the table above
Tahoe 26, Sequoia 15 and Sonoma 14 are in the window today. Anything older is not.
Check what your Mac can actually run
Open System Settings → General → Software Update. If a newer macOS is offered, your Mac supports it. If only smaller patches appear — or nothing at all — you have reached the last version your hardware can take.
What to Do When Support Ends
An unsupported Mac keeps working perfectly well. The risk is not that it stops — it is that every vulnerability found from that point on stays open. In rough order of preference:
- Upgrade macOS if your Mac is compatible. This is free and solves the problem outright. See how to update macOS, and free up storage first if the installer complains about space.
- Keep the browser current. Safari stops getting new versions with the OS, but Chrome and Firefox support older macOS releases for a while longer. Most real-world attacks arrive through the browser.
- Reduce what the Mac is exposed to. Turn off remote access, avoid using it for banking or email, and keep it off untrusted networks. Our macOS security best practices guide covers the settings worth changing.
- Plan the replacement. If the hardware cannot take a supported macOS, the clock has run out on it as a primary machine — our 2026 Mac buying guide covers the current line-up.
FAQ
Until what date will macOS Tahoe 26 get security updates?
Approximately autumn 2028, on Apple's three-version pattern. Tahoe holds the current slot until macOS 27 ships in September 2026, then spends two years in the security-only window. Because Tahoe is the last macOS for Intel Macs, that is also the practical security cut-off for Intel hardware.
Does Apple publish official macOS end-of-life dates?
No. Apple has never committed to a public support calendar for macOS, which is why every date on this page is an estimate drawn from a decade of consistent behaviour rather than a published policy.
What was the last version of macOS Monterey?
Monterey finished in the 12.7.x line, with macOS Monterey 12.7.3 among its final security releases. It left the support window once Sonoma 14 shipped.
Is macOS Sonoma 14 still getting security updates?
Yes, for now. macOS Sonoma 14.8.8 shipped on July 27, 2026 alongside Sequoia 15.7.8. Sonoma is the oldest version in the current window, so it is expected to drop out when macOS 27 Golden Gate arrives.
Do older versions get every patch the current one gets?
Not always. Apple back-ports the serious fixes, but some patches are current-release-only, and older versions can lag by days or weeks. The newest macOS your Mac supports is always the best-protected option.
Is it safe to keep using an unsupported Mac?
For low-risk, mostly offline use, yes. For everyday browsing, email and banking, no — unpatched WebKit and kernel flaws accumulate. Upgrade if the hardware allows it; otherwise limit what the machine is used for.