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How to Get MacOS Catalina

Jason Cohen
 & Jason Cohen Senior Editor, Help & How To

Our team tests, rates, and reviews more than 1,500 products each year to help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology.

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Everyone loves new features on their computer, and the latest version of Apple's macOS, Catalina, arrived this week. Among other notable features, Catalina will eliminate iTunes on the Mac in favor of three separate apps. Here's how to get your hands on the new macOS.

Check Compatibility

Before you look to download macOS Catalina, make sure your system can handle it. Apple says the following devices can be updated to Catalina:

  • MacBook Pro (mid-2012 and newer)
  • MacBook Air (mid-2012 and newer)
  • MacBook (early 2015 and later)
  • iMac (late 2012 or newer)
  • iMac Pro (2017 or newer)
  • Mac Pro (late 2013 or newer)
  • Mac Mini (late 2012 or newer)

If you're not sure which Mac you have, open the Apple menu in the upper-left corner of the screen and select About This Mac. The Overview screen will tell you the specific make and year of the device.

Back Up Your Mac

Before you make the leap to Catalina, it's a good idea to back up your files. If you have Time Machine set up, it will make hourly backups for the past 24 hours, daily backups for the past month, and weekly backups for all previous months. Or back up via your own external hard drive.

How to Get macOS Catalina

Once you've backed up and confirmed your Mac can handle Catalina, click the Apple icon on the top left of your desktop and select System Preferences > Software Update. (Or go to the App Store's Catalina page.)

Check for Updates

Your Mac will check to see which updates are available.

Available Updates

Your Mac will tell you which programs need updates before Catalina can be installed. Click install now.

Download & Restart

You may need to finish downloading other updates before Catalina can be installed. Click Download & Restart.

Downloading New Updates

Those updates will install.

Upgrade Now

Click "Upgrade now" to begin the Catalina update.

Install Catalina

Follow the on-screen directions to complete the install.

Join Apple's Developer Program

If you're already thinking about next year and you like to get your mitts on new software as soon as it's available, enroll in Apple's developer program for $99 per year. You'll just need an Apple ID protected with two-factor authentication enabled. As new versions of Catalina or next-year's macOS arrive, you'll get first dibs. It might be a good idea to install this on an extra Mac you have lying around, not your primary device. (Photo by Christoph Dernbach/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Sign Up for the Public Beta

If you'd rather not fork over $99, Apple will open up a public beta when its next version of macOS is almost ready for primetime. Sign up now and Apple will send a notification when it's available for download. The purpose of the public beta is to give a small number of users early access in order to discover any bugs or glitches that have yet to be found by Apple's official testing efforts.

What to Expect From macOS Catalina

In addition to the demise of iTunes, macOS Catalina adds a new feature called Sidecar, which will allow you to use your iPad as an external monitor for Mac. Screen Time will also make the jump from iOS to macOS, while Find My Friends and Find My iPhone will be merged into one consolidated app. Here's what else to expect.

How to Get iOS 13

If you're looking to get Catalina, chances are you also own an iPhone. Apple iOS 13 arrived last month; here's how to get it. Like Catalina, iOS 13 adds a lot of new stuff to the iPhone, including a dark mode, video-editing tools, a number of security and privacy features, and more.

About Our Expert

Jason Cohen

Jason Cohen

Senior Editor, Help & How To

My Experience

As PCMag's editor of how to content, I have to cover a wide variety of topics and also make our stories accessible to everyday users. Considering my history as a technical writer, copywriter, and all-around freelancer covering baseball, comics, and more at various outlets, I am used to making myself into an expert.

I believe tech corporations are bad, but you might as well know how to use technology in everyday life. Want more how to content delivered right to your inbox? Sign up for the tips and tricks newsletter that I curate twice a week.

The Technology I Use

My job as how-to guru means I use just about every gadget under the sun, so I can figure out how everything works. I work from a Lenovo ThinkPad running Windows 11, but also have a very large Dell Inspiron 17 3000 and Apple silicon MacBook. I also have a Google Pixel 6a for personal use and use a Galaxy Z Flip 4 for additional Samsung-related testing. For iOS coverage, an iPhone 13 mini works like a charm, though it's already becoming a little long in the tooth.

My desktop situation includes a dual monitor setup with a modest Acer monitor. I also use a Logitech mouse (who can use these ThinkPad trackpads) and a Havit keyboard (my first mechanical keyboard; I love it but my wife hates it!). I'm a recent convert from wired headphones; I have Anker Soundcore Liberty Air wireless earbuds for personal use and have taken to the Sennheiser HD 450BT headphones for work.

Whenever I have a second to myself, I'm probably gaming on my Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, or Xbox Series S. I also still have a bunch of classic consoles lying around as well.

  • Breaking down complicated and confusing processes into simplified instructions
  • Finding new tech problems to solve
  • OS-level tips and tricks

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