Apple OS history
Updated: 11/30/2020 by Computer Hope
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1978 | In June 1978, Apple introduced Apple DOS 3.1, the first operating system for the Apple computers. |
| 1984 | Apple introduced System 1 in 1984. |
| 1985 | Apple introduced System 2 in 1985. |
| 1986 | Apple introduced System 3 in 1986. |
| 1987 | Apple introduced System 4 in 1987. |
| 1988 | Apple introduced System 6 in 1988. |
| 1991 | Apple introduced System 7 operating system on May 13, 1991. |
| 1995 | Apple allowed other computer companies to clone its computer by announcing it licensed the Macintosh operating system rights to Radius on January 4. |
| 1997 | Apple introduced macOS 8 in 1997. |
| 1997 | Apple bought NeXT Software Inc. for $400 million and acquired Steve Jobs, Apple co-founder, as a consultant. |
| 1999 | Apple introduced macOS 9 in 1999. |
| 1999 | Apple released macOS X Server 1.0 on March 16, 1999. |
| 2001 | Apple introduced macOS X 10.0, code-named Cheetah, and became available on March 24, 2001. |
| 2001 | Apple introduced macOS X 10.1, code-named Puma, and became available on September 25, 2001. |
| 2002 | Apple introduced macOS X 10.2, code-named Jaguar, and became available on August 23, 2002. |
| 2003 | Apple introduced macOS X 10.3, code-named Panther, on October 25, 2003. |
| 2004 | Apple introduced macOS X 10.4, code-named Tiger, at the WWDC on June 28, 2004. |
| 2007 | Apple introduced macOS X 10.5, code-named Leopard, on October 26, 2007. |
| 2008 | Apple introduced MobileMe at the WWDC on June 9, 2008. |
| 2009 | Apple introduced macOS X 10.6, code-named Snow Leopard, at the WWDC on June 8, 2009. |
| 2010 | Apple introduced macOS X 10.7, code-named Lion, at the "Back to the Mac" event on October 20, 2010. The operating system was later released on July 20, 2011. New features included AirDrop, Gatekeeper, and many more. |
| 2012 | Apple released macOS X 10.8, code-named Mountain Lion, on July 25, 2012. |
| 2013 | Apple introduced macOS X 10.9, code-named Mavericks, at the WWDC on June 10, 2013. |
| 2014 | Apple introduced macOS X 10.10, code-named Yosemite, at the WWDC on June 2, 2014. Yosemite was later released on October 16, 2014. |
| 2014 | Apple introduced Force Touch, a haptic feedback system for macOS. Simultaneously, they launch a similar feedback system for iOS called 3D Touch. |
| 2015 | Apple introduced macOS X 10.11, code-named El Capitan, at the WWDC on June 8, 2015. |
| 2016 | Apple introduced macOS X 10.12, code-named Sierra, at the WWDC on June 13, 2016. |
| 2017 | Apple introduced macOS X 10.13, code-named High Sierra, at the WWDC on June 5, 2017. |
| 2018 | Apple introduced macOS X 10.14, code-named Mojave, at the WWDC on June 4, 2018. |
| 2018 | Apple introduced Dark Mode in macOS X 10.14 (Mojave), a feature that turns the background to black and text to white. Dark Mode is easier on users' eyes at night, reducing eye strain. |
| 2019 | Apple introduced macOS X 10.15, code-named Catalina, at the WWDC on June 3, 2019. |