How to install macOS Sonoma

The new Apple’s operating system macOS 14 brings many exciting  features and improvements. If you can’t wait for the official public release this fall, try the beta version that was announced on June 5, 2023 and is now available to anyone with a free Apple Developer account, without the need for a developer subscription. In this guide, we’ll show you how to install macOS Sonoma and how to prepare your Mac for installation.

macOS 14 Sonoma system requirements 

Before you jump into our step-by-step guide, please take a moment to verify that your Mac is capable of running macOS 14. You can install macOS Sonoma on the following machines:

• iMac Pro (2017 and later)
• iMac (2019 and later)
• Mac Pro (2019 and later)
• Mac Studio (2022 and later)
• MacBook Air (2018 and later)
• Mac Mini (2018 and later)
• MacBook Pro (2018 and later).

If you’re looking to install the new macOS on an older Mac that is not officially supported, there may be workarounds available in the form of patchers developed by third-party developers.

How to get your Mac ready for macOS Sonoma

If you are planning to upgrade to macOS Sonoma, there are a few steps you should take to prepare your Mac and protect your data.

Clean up your Mac

One of the first things to do before installing a new macOS is to clean up some of the junk that has been sitting on your Mac for a while. You can do this manually, but it will likely take forever! Use CleanMyMac X instead. The app’s Smart Scan feature performs a system-wide check and helps you reclaim space and optimize performance in just a few clicks. This step will ensure your Mac is running smoothly and at its best before you upgrade.

We bet you’ll want to use CleanMyMac X many more times after you install macOS Sonoma. Once you start using your Mac and get everything set up just right, you’ll start collecting junk that you can clean up. After just a month of a clean macOS install, you may find from a few to dozens of GB of junk that can be discarded. 

CleanMyMac X offers more than just cleaning up junk files. It includes features such as malware removal, privacy protection, optimization tools, an uninstaller for complete app removal, maintenance scripts for system upkeep, and more.

Back up important data

The next step we recommend you take is to make sure you have a reliable backup of your current Mac setup.

A lot of people use Apple’s native Time Machine to back up their files, but we don’t recommend it. Users report that Time Machine has a tendency to carry over macOS problems into new installations. In addition, it can’t make bootable backups, which means you’ll have to go through a lengthy recovery process if your hard drive crashes or something goes wrong. 

Get Backup Pro is a reliable backup utility that will make sure that you run no risk at all when you install macOS Sonoma or any other version of macOS. Get Backup Pro lets you create both backups and bootable clones, so you can easily move your data to a backup drive if something goes wrong. You also get great features like compression, backup scheduling, and the ability to select specific files for backup.

Here’s how to create a backup with Get Backup Pro:

1. Connect your external device to your Mac
2. Open Get Backup Pro and click the Backup button
3. Add a new backup project by clicking the plus button 
4. Name your project and make sure you choose your external device as the backup destination (click the Settings icon in the lower left)
5. Start adding files and app data to the backup
6. Once you’ve added everything, click the Start button to begin the backup process.
7. Your bootable backup will now be stored on the external device.

macOS Sonoma download and guide

If you’ve followed the precautions above, it’s time to install macOS Sonoma beta on your Mac. Here are the steps that will help you.

1. Register as an Apple Developer. To download the macOS 14 Sonoma beta, you must first become a registered Apple developer. It’s free. To do so, visit Apple’s developer website and navigate to the Account page

   

2. Then go to Apple menu > System Settings > General > Software Update
3. In the Software Update window, look for the “i” button next to the beta updates option. Click it and select macOS Sonoma Developer Beta from the drop-down menu. Save your selection by clicking the Done button to indicate your willingness to receive beta updates from Apple
4. After enabling beta upgrades, return to the Software Update screen. The macOS 14 Sonoma update is now available for download
5. Click the Upgrade Now button to begin the installation of macOS 14 Sonoma. Your Mac will then download and install the update. You may need to restart your Mac to complete the process.

   

macOS Sonoma installation toolkit

So that’s how you install macOS Sonoma beta on your Mac. Simply join the Apple Developer Program and download the macOS Sonoma beta. However, first of all, we recommend you prepare your Mac and protect your data. For this, use CleanMyMac X to get rid of unnecessary files and free up some disk space. Then get Get Backup Pro to create a backup or a bootable clone, so you can easily move your data to a backup drive if something goes wrong. 

You can get both apps for free for 7 days through Setapp, an app subscription service for macOS and iOS. If you like it, you can become a paid member for $9.99/month and keep using 240+ great apps for almost any job. In the meantime, we hope you’re excited about the upcoming Sonoma experience and all the exciting features it will bring to your Mac.

FAQ:

Is macOS Sonoma stable?

macOS Sonoma is currently in beta, and while it brings exciting features, it may still contain some bugs and stability issues.

Which Macs support Sonoma?

You can install macOS Sonoma on the following machines:

• iMac Pro (2017 and later)
• iMac (2019 and later)
• Mac Pro (2019 and later)
• Mac Studio (2022 and later)
• MacBook Air (2018 and later)
• Mac Mini (2018 and later)
• MacBook Pro (2018 and later).

When will the new macOS be released?

Apple is expected to release macOS 14 Sonoma in fall of 2023. A developer beta of macOS Sonoma is already available to anyone with a free Apple Developer account, without the need for a developer subscription.

What’s new in macOS Sonoma?

macOS Sonoma introduces a host of new features and enhancements, including improved video conferencing, desktop widgets, new screensavers, Game Mode, and more. Check out the best macOS Sonoma features. 

Is Ventura better than Sonoma?

Both MacOS Sonoma and Ventura offer unique features and enhancements. However, whether one is better than the other depends on individual preferences and specific needs.

All we can say is that Sonoma comes with such cool features as desktop widgets. Users will be able to place widgets on their desktop from the new widget gallery, which appears to include apps like Weather, Clock, Notes, Photos, and Reminders. macOS Ventura does not support such widgets, forcing you to open each app to see any information.

You can also enjoy a new Game Mode and fascinating screensavers introduced in Sonoma.