Apple will launch macOS Mojave in September 2018. It brings new features like Dark Mode, Dynamic Desktop, Mark Up tools in Quick Look and new apps from iOS. You can read more about Mojave here. What you’ll be wondering, though, is will macOS Mojave work on your Mac? The older a Mac gets, the greater the risk that it might not be up to the task of running a brand-new OS.
Which Macs are compatible with macOS Mojave?
Before we get into physical system requirements, there’s the question of whether or not your Mac will be eligible for Mojave full stop. Here is a full list of the Macs that will be able to download the upgrade:
- MacBook models from early 2015 or later
- MacBook Air models from mid-2012 or later
- MacBook Pro models from mid-2012 or later
- Mac mini models from late 2012 or later
- iMac models from late 2012 or later
- iMac Pro (all models)
- Mac Pro models from late 2013 (plus mid-2010 or mid-2012 models with certain Metal-capable graphics processor)
This means that some Macs that were able to run High Sierra won’t be able to run Mojave. Macs that could run High Sierra included:
- MacBook (Late 2009 or later)
- MacBook Air (2010 or later)
- MacBook Pro (2010 or later)
- Mac mini (2010 or later)
- Mac Pro (2010 or later)
- iMac (Late 2009 or later)
Obviously, it’s disappointing to find out that your Mac isn’t compatible, particularly when El Capitan was available to Macs stretching back to 2007.
If you want to run High Sierra on an older Mac you can read about how to install macOS High Sierra on older Mac here. Until Mojave launches we won’t know for sure if this method will work there.
You can also read about how macOS compares with Windows here.
Mojave system requirements
Even if you have a Mac that meets the above criteria there are a few other things that you will need in order to run Mojave.
Apple suggests that you should have 20GB of free space on your Mac’s drive before you install macOS Mojave – although you may not need that much. Mac operating systsm installers aren normally between 5GB and 6GB, but you’ll also need to allow some room for temporary files.
If you want to install Mojave here’s how to do that.
Author: Karen Haslam, Editor
Macworld editor since 2008, Karen has worked on both sides of the Apple divide, clocking up a number of years at Apple's PR agency prior to joining Macworld almost two decades ago.
Karen's career highlights include interviewing Apple's Steve Wozniak and discussing Steve Jobs’ legacy on the BBC. Her focus is Mac, but she lives and breathes Apple.