MacOS 15 – what’s new and is it worth updating?

In September, Apple released a new operating system for Mac—macOS 15 Sequoia. The new features make interacting with the system even more convenient. Control your smartphone and respond to messages from your computer, solve math problems in notes, manage windows—and that’s not all the cool features of macOS Sequoia. We’ve gathered a list of the top capabilities of the OS.

Control your iPhone directly from your Mac

The iPhone Mirroring feature lets you control your smartphone and view its content on your computer.

For the feature to work, sign in with the same Apple ID on both your smartphone and computer. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth need to be on, and the devices should be close to each other

On your Mac, open the “iPhone Mirroring” app, enter the device’s passcode, and choose “Always Ask” or “Sign In Automatically.”

To rearrange apps and widgets on your home screen, tap any icon and select “Edit Home Screen.”

Here’s what you can do with this feature:

·       Check your bank account

·       Type texts using the keyboard

·       Play games

·       Launch any iPhone apps from your Mac

With iPhone Mirroring, there’s no need to install messaging apps or other software on both devices—having them on your smartphone is enough. The keyboard, mouse, and trackpad are supported, allowing you to scroll and swipe through pages. 

What’s interesting about this feature is its execution: after activation, a life-sized iPhone will appear on your Mac screen as if it were “stuck” to it.

Later this year, another cool feature will be added: the ability to drag and drop documents and media files from your iPhone to your Mac.

Receive notifications on your MacBook

One of the iPhone Mirroring options allows you to receive smartphone notifications on your Mac automatically, and if the feature is enabled, you can respond to them. This way, you won’t miss important messages while working on your computer if your phone is in another room.

You can choose which apps send notifications: messaging apps, games, banking services. Go to “Settings” on your phone, then “Apps,” select the app, click on “Notifications,” and activate the “Show on Mac” option.

Organize Windows Your Way

Managing your workspace is now easier. You can open 2, 3, or 4 apps simultaneously and arrange them any way you want on the screen.

How to manage windows:

·       Drag to the edge of the screen (right, left, or top), then release—the system will suggest expanding the window to fit that section of the screen.

·       Drag to the corner or side of the screen while holding the Option key, and the window will occupy the corresponding part of the desktop.

·       Find the green “Maximize” button in the top-left corner of the window, hover over it, and choose one of the preset configurations. macOS Sequoia analyzes how you use apps and suggests optimal arrangements.

You can also manage tiled windows through the “Window” menu at the top of the screen—adjust their size, position, center them, or fill the entire screen.

Keyboard shortcuts also allow you to move windows. To expand a window across the entire workspace, press Fn + Control + F. To move it to either side of the screen, press Fn + Control + the right/left arrow. More shortcuts can be found on Apple’s website.

To remove gaps between windows, go to “System Settings” > “Desktop & Dock” and disable the “Show Tiled Windows with Gaps” option.

Store all your passwords in one place

The “Keychain” feature existed before, but it was hidden in the settings. Now it’s much easier to use with the new “Passwords” app. Here you can store all your login credentials, including passwords and verification codes. You can copy any of them with just a few clicks, especially if you add the app icon to your quick access menu. This makes it easy to quickly share Wi-Fi access with a friend, among other things.

Data syncs across all devices using your Apple ID—Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple Vision Pro, and even Windows devices. You can also share them via AirDrop. When using autofill, passwords and codes are automatically entered into forms.

After updating macOS, this feature should be enabled by default. To check, sign in to your iCloud account and look for “Passwords” in the settings.

Color your notes and record them with your voice

In the updated Notes app, you can:

·       Collapse/expand sections with headings and subheadings via the “Paragraph Styles” option. This makes it easier to view large entries.

·       Highlight words with different colors for quicker identification—select “Font” > “Highlight.”

·       Record audio, attach recordings to notes, and convert voice to text (transcription currently only supports English).

·       Solve math problems and equations. Write an equation, add the “=” sign, and the answer will appear instantly.

By the way, the calculator is available in other programs too, like messaging apps. Write an equation, add “=,” and you’ll get an answer.

Block ads in Safari and watch videos in the background

Several interesting features were added to the browser:

·       Distraction Control: Removes annoying pop-ups and ad banners. Open a website, tap the stack icon in the address bar on the right, and select “Hide distracting objects…” Then highlight the pop-up, and it will disappear.

·       Video Viewer: Watch videos in “picture-in-picture” mode or stream them to a TV using AirPlay. When you switch to another site or scroll the page, playback continues.

·       Safari Highlights: Highlights important data—maps, booking buttons, etc.

In reading mode, you can select fonts and colors, view the article’s table of contents, and read its summary before diving in (if the article is in English).

Add effects to Messages

New emojis, stickers, and animations have arrived—regular text now bursts with emotion. You can instantly react to a message by sending Tapback emojis.

A very useful feature in macOS Sequoia is delayed messages. If your friend’s birthday is tomorrow, send your congratulations in advance, and it will arrive right on time. You can schedule messages up to 2 weeks in advance.

What else is new in macOS Sequoia?

Developers have added great options to various apps. The update will allow you to:

·       Create, view, and edit reminders in the Calendar.

·       Answer Siri questions with gestures.

·       View photos and videos in the Photos app by groups of people, days, and pets. Collections are automatically sorted into categories.

·       Plot walking routes in Maps. The app includes trails and landmarks, and you can save routes and open them offline.

·       Choose backgrounds for video calls and conferences in FaceTime and other apps. The background can be static or dynamic.

·       Convert currencies and units of measurement in Calculator, with calculations available in four modes: standard (simple actions), scientific (roots, powers, and other complex operations), programmer (binary code operations), and math notes (instant equation solutions directly in Notes).

What about Apple Intelligence? AI capabilities will be available on devices with Apple M-series chips later this fall with the release of macOS 15.1 Sequoia.

How to install macOS Sequoia on your computer

Before updating, it’s recommended to back up all important data using Time Machine or other backup methods.
Open the Apple menu, and click “System Settings.” In the sidebar, select “General,” then “Software Update.”
In earlier versions of macOS, the path might be: “System Settings” > “Software Update.”

If you can’t find the “Software Update” section on your computer, download macOS Sequoia from the App Store.

Here’s the full list of supported devices for macOS Sequoia:

If you’re unable to install the update on your own, visit iSpace. We’ll show you how macOS Sequoia works on a Mac and help you update it. You can also test out new Apple devices in-store.