This page only shows primary logo variants. For other related logos and images, see:
|
1984–1988 | 1988–1994 | 1994–2002 | 2001–2003 |
2003-2012 | 2012–2016 | 2016–2017 | 2017–present |
Macintosh System Software[]
1984–1988[]
The logo appeared on startup disks for the system software, it consisted of the Macintosh illustration under a line with a red Apple logo crossing over the text "Macintosh System Software" followed by the version number.
1988–1994[]
System 6[]
1988–1991[]
System 7[]
1991–1992[]
1992–2001[]
A new logo began to be used from version 7.1 onwards.
Mac OS[]
1994–2002[]
|
|
|
Mac OS 7 (System 7.5.1)[]
1995–2001[]
The Mac OS logo and rebranding marks its debut on version 7.5.1. Released on March 23, 1995.
Mac OS 8[]
1997–2001[]
Mac OS 8 was released in July 26, 1997, and presents the most visible modifications in the lineup. It introduces the Platinum interface, an updated multithreaded Finder and the HFS Plus file system.
The box art would feature a different logo, forming in a shaded panel the shape of an eight, images of a smiling person and a globe were typically featured inside the circles. Support ended on May 2001.
Mac OS X Server 1.x[]
1999-2001[]
Mac OS X Server 1.x initially released on March 16, 1999, is the first operating system commercially released by Apple to be based on NeXT technology. It is based on the Rhapsody project, which was previously met with negative reactions by software vendors regarding its intention to run all existing classic Mac OS code in a virtual machine, requiring a large rewrite of applications in order to run natively. Support ended on March 24, 2001.
Mac OS 9[]
1999–2002[]
Mac OS 9 was released on October 23, 1999, it features compatibility with PowerPC microprocessor, Sherlock 2, iTools services integration and software update control panel for automatic download and installation of system software updates. It was the first version supporting multiple users.
The logo on the box art featured a glossy orange nine in a style similar to the logo Mac OS X would subsequently use. Versions that came with Sherlock 2 preinstalled had a magnifying glass next to the logo. Support ended on May 2002.
Mac OS X[]
2001–2003[]
BETTER LOGO NEEDED |
Cheetah, Puma[]
2001–2006[]
This logo was used for the Mac OS X v10.0, code-named "Cheetah", and v10.1, code-named "Puma". These versions were preceded by the Mac OS X Public Beta, code-named "Kodiak". This version was made for software developers to be able to create their software so it was ready for the release of v10.0. Cheetah and Puma were the first major releases of the operating system and were branded with a thin, light blue "X" representing the brand. Following v10.0 and v10.1, Mac OS X v10.2 was released with a rebranded logo, despite this logo still remaining as the foundation of the next logo and in some parts of the interface, including the about screen and others.
Note: Each time period for each Mac OS X Version starts with the year the OS was released and ends with the year of the end of its support. This applies to OS X and macOS as well.
Jaguar[]
2002–2007[]
In 2002, Mac OS X v10.2, code-named "Jaguar", was released with a brand new logo. The logo was an "X" that had a jaguar print instead of the previous blue "X". This was the first release of Mac OS X in which the OS was actually marketed using the code name, Jaguar. Following v10.2, Mac OS X Panther was released in 2003.
2003–2012[]
BETTER LOGO NEEDED |
Panther[]
2003–2007[]
Mac OS X Panther was released in October 2003, with the logo redesigned into a thick, gray "X". Panther was followed by Tiger in late April of 2005.
Tiger[]
2005–2009[]
Mac OS X Tiger was released on April 29, 2005, with the "X" transformed into a metallic, bright "X". The operating system included many new features and became the best-selling system in comparison to its predecessors. In 2007, Leopard was released to follow Tiger.
Leopard[]
2007–2011[]
On October 26, 2007, Mac OS X Leopard was released. The logo was redesigned into a glistening, black "X". The Leopard system also brought a major redesign to the interface itself.
Snow Leopard[]
2009–2014[]
Following Leopard, Mac OS X Snow Leopard was released in 2009. There were no changes made to the logo, especially when installing OS X Lion (2011) or Mountain Lion (2012), until the release of OS X Mavericks in 2013. The primary reason for this is that Snow Leopard was intended to be a refined and more efficient version of Leopard instead of a complete redesign of the system's interface or features. Snow Leopard is still being sold on the Apple website but is not recommended to use due to security vulnerabilities.
Lion[]
2011–2014[]
Mac OS X Lion was released in 2011, with the classic "X" being abandoned in this release. The logo was instead replaced with a circle containing an image of a lion. Lion was intended to be only available from the Mac App Store, unlike previous operating systems. Following Lion, Mountain Lion was released only a year later. Lion is still available on Apple's website.
OS X[]
2012–2016[]
Mountain Lion[]
2012–2015[]
OS X Mountain Lion was released in 2012, with a simple change from the previous logo. The lion in the previous logo was replaced with a mountain lion. The system was dubbed "Mountain Lion" to signify its purpose as a refinement from Lion. Along with that, Mountain Lion was also made to enable better synchronization between iOS devices and OS X. Mountain Lion is succeeded by 10.9 Mavericks which followed a year later. Mountain Lion is still available on Apple's website.
Mavericks[]
2013–2016[]
OS X 10.9 Mavericks was announced at WWDC 2013 with the X returning in this version along with the green and blue wave inside it, and new features are available in this version. This was the first operating system in the OS X family to stop naming after big cats and start naming after locations in California. It was released later that year.
Yosemite[]
2014–2017[]
OS X 10.10 Yosemite was first revealed at the annual WWDC on June 2, 2014. This release saw yet another major redesign to the OS' interface since Lion in 2011, adopting the flat look since iOS 7, which since then became the standard for all future revisions to the OS family. It finally came out on October 16, 2014. Yosemite is still available on Apple's website for older Macs.
El Capitan[]
2015–2018[]
OS X 10.11 El Capitan was announced at WWDC 2015. The X became thinner. This version was discontinued in late 2018. El Capitan is still available on the Mac App Store.
macOS[]
2016–2017[]
Sierra[]
2016–2019[]
As part of WWDC 2016, OS X revealed a name change to macOS, thus making a throwback to the same name used in the Classic era from versions 7.5.1-9.2.2 (1995-2002). The reason behind this was to make the name "so much cleaner and so much more elegant"[1]. This name took full effect when Apple's latest version of macOS, Sierra came out in September 2016. Sierra is still on the Mac App Store.
2017–present[]
High Sierra[]
2017–2020[]
High Sierra is still available on the Mac App Store.
Mojave[]
2018–2021[]
Mojave is still available on the Mac App Store.
Catalina[]
2019–2022[]
Catalina is still available on the Mac App Store.
Big Sur[]
2020–2023[]
Big Sur was revealed at WWDC 2020 and marks the transition from Intel-x86 chips to Apple Silicon ARM-based chips. Additionally, Big Sur is officially macOS version 11.0, making it the first time macOS has changed its version number since Mac OS X "Cheetah" in 2001. Big Sur is available on the Mac App Store.
Monterey[]
2021–2024[]
Monterey was announced at WWDC 2021, and has been released on October 25, 2021. It is available on the Mac App Store. For the first time since 2016, Monterey does not use real scenic photo as the version icon. Instead, it used a virtual purple pseudo-mountain-like photo as the version icon.
Ventura[]
2022–2025[]
Sonoma[]
2023–2026[]
References[]
macOS
|
---|
Applications and services Activity Monitor | AirPort Utility | App Store | Audio MIDI Setup | Automator | Bluetooth File Exchange | Books | Boot Camp Assistant | Calculator | Calendar | Chess | Classroom | ColorSync Utility | Compressor | Console | Contacts | Dictionary | Digital Color Meter | Directory Utility | Disk Utility | DVD Player | FaceTime | Feedback Assistant | Find My | Font Book | Freeform | Game Center | GarageBand | Grapher | Home | iCloud | Image Capture | iMovie | Impulse Response Utility | iWork (Keynote | Pages | Numbers) | Keychain | Launchpad | Mail | MainStage | Maps | Messages | Mission Control | Motion | Music | News | Notes | Photo Booth | Photos | Podcasts | Preview | Reminders | Remote Desktop | Safari | Screen Sharing | Screenshot | Script Editor | Shortcuts | Siri | Spotlight | Stocks | System Information | System Settings | Terminal | TextEdit | Time Machine | TV | Voice Memos | VoiceOver | Wallet Discontinued |