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If you have a compatible Mac, that is any Mac running macOS 14 Sonoma, with the exception of the 2018 and 2019 MacBook Airs. Then you are now eligible for a free upgrade to macOS 15 Sequoia. If you’re wondering if it’s worth installing the update, let’s go over some of the new key features.
While not as feature-packed as iOS 18, macOS 15 Sequoia is still a notable upgrade. It will also be ready for the new Apple Intelligence features rolling out in the coming months, although these AI features are not included in the initial release.
1. Snap the windows into place
Windows has had it for years, third-party applications have been making it possible on Macs for years, and now macOS has some real window tiles built into the software. If you want your open programs to be neatly arranged, this is for you.
You can drag windows to the edge of the screen to snap them into place, or you can hover over the green zoom button in a window to view some layout options. The same pop-up menu allows you to display apps in full screen or send apps to another screen.
2. Mirror your iPhone on the desktop
This will likely be a popular option: as long as your iPhone and Mac are signed in with the same Apple account and connected together with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on, you can get a mirror image of your iPhone on your Mac screen by tapping the icon clicking in the dock.
The icon should appear automatically when iPhone mirroring is available. You can then drag and drop files between the two devices, access your iPhone notifications on your Mac, and more. It is a very convenient way to use both devices together.
3. Do more with the Notes app
Whenever Apple updates macOS, the built-in apps are also updated, and that is also the case with Sequoia. Notes is one of the apps that has received a series of more noticeable improvements, including headings and subheadings that can be expanded and collapsed.
You can also add voice clips to Notes (click the sound wave icon on the toolbar) and do calculations in a note (try writing down a sum and see what happens). Text can also be highlighted in multiple colors: highlight the text, click the Aaa and then use the pen icon on the right.
4. Remove distractions in Safari
Safari has also been treated to some additional features in macOS 15 Sequoia. Load a page in Apple’s browser, click the icon to the left of the address bar (it should look like a rectangle above two lines) and you’ll find an option to Hide distracting items.
You can then click on images, text, menus, and other items that distract your attention from the main article, and they will disappear with a wave (it doesn’t work well with ads, as they quickly reappear). When you are happy with the new layout, click Finished.
5. Manage passwords in their own app
Apple devices have offered to manage your login details via iCloud for a while now, but macOS 15 Sequoia comes with its own separate Passwords app – and it appears on iPhones and iPads too, to keep all your information in sync.
You’ll find the Passwords tool in the Finder’s Applications panel, or you can launch it from Spotlight. Different types of logins can be managed, including passcodes and authentication codes, and the app also alerts you to compromised passwords.
6. Schedule messages to send later
There are a ton of new features to explore in Messages, most of which are limited to conversations with iMessage. These include the ability to add text effects (like shake and expand), and they also match the upgrades added to Messages in iOS 18.
Perhaps one of the most useful improvements is the ability to send a message on a schedule, in case you don’t want this to happen right away. When you’ve written your message, tap the + (plus) button to the left and then select Send later to choose a time and day.
7. Try out new backgrounds
Every new version of macOS always comes with a selection of stylish new wallpapers, and Sequoia is no different. You might not think of it as a major upgrade from macOS 14 Sonoma, but a new wallpaper can really change the look of the operating system.
You can access the available wallpapers in the normal way by opening the file Apple menu and then select System settings And Wallpaper. One of the best new dynamic wallpapers is retro Macintosh computer one, which displays a selection of Mac symbols in your background.