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How long can I put off upgrading to macOS 26? (lemmy.world)
submitted 11 months ago by to c/macos@lemmy.world
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I'm running macOS 18 and since I depend on dark mode, macOS 26 seems like a step backwards for my eye sensitivity.

So I'd like to stay on 18 for as long as it receives security updates and consider upgrade options some time later. Do the ISOs tend to remain available? Because my understanding is that when it comes to iOS, if you miss the last chance to upgrade, you're stuck with whatever you have.

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[–] 6 points 11 months ago (3 children)

You should be able to stay on 18 for quite some time. There will be security updates for a while.

Also, what’s wrong with dark mode in 26? I’ve been using it without issues. What am I missing?

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  • [–] [S] 1 point 11 months ago* (2 children)

    Thanks. The icons and some buttons have a silver outline on the top left and bottom right. I have ADHD, but also light sensitivity, and find that asymmetric visual noise very distracting. It's noticeably more difficult for me to scan the UI and find what I need.

    Overall, the colour uniformity that's available is actually an improvement, but those highlights are a new kind of problem I haven't had to contend with before, so I'll delay as long as possible.

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  • [–] 1 point 11 months ago* (1 child)

    Have you tried Settings --> Accessibility --> Reduce transparency? It is my understanding that this basically changes everything back to how it was before Liquid Glass.

    There's also a new Liquid Glass "Clear" vs. "Tinted" toggle in Settings --> Appearance.

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  • [–] [S] 2 points 11 months ago

    I appreciate that! My understanding from the videos I've seen is that these help with text legibility, but not the numerous UI highlights that have been introduced (and are more pronounced in dark mode). But, I can't be certain because the videos that show dark mode are not the videos that show those settings being toggled.

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    • [–] 5 points 11 months ago (3 children)

    What? No, Apple wants you to upgrade to the latest iOS so you can always install the latest supported version.

    You can’t downgrade versions though. Once the signing window is up for the old version there’s no going back. But going forward is never a problem.

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  • [–] [S] 2 points 11 months ago (2 children)

    Thanks, that solves my confusion about iOS.

    For macOS, I like to hang back a release or two. So will it be possible to upgrade to macOS 26 in 2027/28?

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  • [–] 2 points 11 months ago (1 child)

    Once they move on to newer versions it can be harder to find installers for previous versions, but they do continue to host them. I think you usually have to find them via a support page.

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    • [–] 3 points 11 months ago (1 child)

    Probably until OS 27. I expect with the new leadership, it will be much improved.

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    • [–] 2 points 11 months ago (1 child)

    The only time you’re locked to an OS release is if your hardware can no longer support it. In the case of Apple hardware, that tends to be five or six or even seven years after that particular hardware was last sold. And even then you may still get the odd security update for a few years after that.

    My 2015 MacBook Pro is currently running Mojave (by choice). I can upgrade to a newer macOS whenever I want, but because this hardware is a decade old I can only upgrade up to Monterey. I cannot upgrade to Tahoe, I would need a newer computer.

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    • [–] 2 points 11 months ago (1 child)

    I'm still running Sequoia on my M2 Air, because I have 0 interest in macOS 26. So far as I'm aware there's no real push from Apple to ensure eligible machines are upgraded, you'll just get to a point where the OS is no longer officially supported. In theory it'll still work just fine.

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