macOS Catalina public beta is now available to download
Be amongst the first to try macOS Catalina
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If you can’t wait until later this year to test outApple’s latestoperating system, then you can now download the macOS Catalina public beta.
Apple has now released the early version ofmacOS Catalinafor anyone with a compatible Mac to try out. Initially, macOS Catalina was released as a Developer Preview, which required people to enrol in the Apple Developer Program, which costs $100 (about £69, AU$140).
However, the public beta is free. Check out our guide onhow to download and install the macOS 10.15 Catalina public betafor steps on how to get the software.
Use with caution
As the macOS Catalina public beta is an early version of Apple’s operating system for Macs and MacBooks, you should only install it if you’re happy with the risk of running a beta version. Because it’s an early version, there will be incomplete features – as well as bugs and other issues – that come part and parcel with a beta release.
The aim of releasing beta versions is for people to test the software and report back with any problems. This will allow Apple to fix those issues before the official release of macOS Catalina, which we expect to be around September 2019, going by previous macOS releases.
If you rely on your Mac for important tasks and don’t want to risk running into any bugs or errors, we recommend holding off until later this year.
However, if you want to try out the very latest features then you can sign up for theApple Beta Software Program. Just make sure youback up your Mac first.
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Matt is TechRadar’s Managing Editor for Core Tech, looking after computing and mobile technology. Having written for a number of publications such as PC Plus, PC Format, T3 and Linux Format, there’s no aspect of technology that Matt isn’t passionate about, especially computing and PC gaming. He’s personally reviewed and used most of the laptops in our best laptops guide - and since joining TechRadar in 2014, he’s reviewed over 250 laptops and computing accessories personally.
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