Why You Should Wait Before Updating macOS

When Apple releases a new version of macOS, it’s tempting to upgrade immediately. New features and design changes are exciting! But, it’s important to remember that early releases are often the least stable ones. Bugs, crashes, and performance issues are common in the first few weeks, even after beta testing. Many users across legitimate threads and forums will report problems with early adoption.

Other risks may include software compatibility and performance issues. Many critical applications, drivers, and security tools lag behind macOS releases. This means that the app you love to use may not be ready to work on the new platform just yet. And, performance can also suffer early on. New background services like indexing or other system changes often result in higher CPU and memory usage. This can result in slower boot times and reduced battery life, particularly on older hardware.

In most cases, the best move is to wait. By holding off until a higher version (like in the .3 or .4 range) is out, you might avoid being a guinea pig. Stability is almost always worth more than being first.