A new Mac may have a different build number of the same version of macOS, for instance, or Apple may push out a silent security update that changes the build number. A window opens, displaying the name (macOS High Sierra shown here) and version (10.13.4) of the running version of macOS.Įvery now and then, it can be important to learn the build number too-it’s one step more specific than the version number. On the Mac, click the Apple menu in the upper-left corner of the screen and choose About This Mac. And, although they aren’t quite in the same category, Apple’s AirPods and HomePod both have system software that can be updated as well.įor the next time you’re experiencing a problem, here’s how to find the version of each of Apple’s operating systems. The same is true of Apple’s other operating systems: iOS, watchOS, and tvOS. In Troubleshooting 101, one of the first questions is always, “What version of the operating system are you running?” There’s a big difference between Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard and macOS 10.13 High Sierra, and the solution to any particular problem will likely revolve around knowing what operating system is in play.
