How to install macOS Sonoma beta

macOS Sonoma was launched at Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference in June 2023. As soon as it was announced, a beta version was announced for developers, so they could start to test it with their applications. And Apple announced that a public beta version would be available later in the summer. In this article, we’ll show you how to install both versions of the beta.

What is macOS Sonoma?

macOS Sonoma is the latest version of Mac operating system. It replaces macOS Ventura, which was released in 2022 and replaced Monterey. Sonoma has several new features and improvements, including profiles in Safari, interactive Widgets, and the ability to overlay the video of yourself on the screen you’re sharing during a video call.

Tip

If you encounter any problems while running macOS Sonoma beta, they may be caused by junk files, launch agents or login items, malware, or just the need for you to run macOS maintenance scripts or repair permissions. Diagnosing the cause of problems and then fixing them one at a time is a laborious process and may make you want to revert back to Ventura. But, before you do, there is an easy way to troubleshoot and fix problems. CleanMyMac X can do all the tasks described above, including checking for malware and running maintenance scripts. And all it takes is a few clicks. Best of all, you can download it for free here and try it for yourself.

Before you install macOS Sonoma beta

Back up your Mac. Do it now. Before you do anything else. Use Time Machine if possible. Running a beta version of macOS could result in data loss, and making a Time Machine backup is the easiest way to recover your data or roll back to macOS Ventura.

How to install macOS developer beta

The macOS developer beta is intended for developers only and, as such, is only available for users enrolled in Apple’s developer program. You can enroll in the program for a fee, usually $99, here.

At the time of writing, the developer beta is also available to anyone who has previously enrolled in Apple’s public beta program. If you have enrolled in the public beta program in previous years, skip to Step 5 below.

1. In Safari, go to developer.apple.com and click Account at the top right of the window.
2. Sign in using your Apple ID and enter the two-factor authentication code when it’s sent to you.
3. Click Account at the top of the window.
4. Agree to the terms and conditions and click I Agree.
5. Next, you need to check you are using the latest version of macOS Ventura. Click on the Apple menu and choose System Settings > General > Software Update. If there is an update to Ventura available, install it.
6. When you’re running the latest version of Ventura, go back to System Settings > General > Software Update and wait for it to check for updates.
7. You should see an option for beta updates in the window. Click on the menu and choose macOS Sonoma, then click Done.
8. Wait for a few seconds, and you should see the latest beta of macOS Sonoma in the window, with ‘Upgrade Now’ next to it.

How to install macOS Sonoma public beta

The process for installing the macOS Sonoma public beta is similar to that for the developer beta. However, you don’t have to be a member of the developer program or have enrolled in the public beta program in previous years to install it.

1. The first step is to enroll in the public beta program.
2. In Safari, go to Apple’s public beta enrollment page
3. Click on Sign Up and type in your Apple ID details.
4. Enter the two-factor authentication code.
5. Click Enroll Your Devices at the top of the screen.
6. Click Download the macOS Public Beta Access Utility.
7. From the Downloads folder, open the newly downloaded .dmg file to launch the installer.
8. Follow the on-screen instructions to install the enrollment.

After you’ve enrolled your Mac, follow the process for the developer beta above from step 6 onwards.

How to roll back to macOS Ventura

There are a number of ways to leave the public beta program and reinstall Ventura. Firstly, go to System Settings > General > Software Update and click the menu next to Beta Updates and choose Off. That way, you won’t update Sonoma.

Next, go back to Software Update to check for updates. If it offers a version of Ventura, you can click Update Now to reinstall Ventura. If there’s no option in Software Update and you backed up your Mac using Time Machine, you can reboot into recovery mode and recover using that Time Machine backup. Bear in mind, though, that any files you’ve saved while you were using Sonoma will revert back to their earlier versions or be lost, so save copies of those first. To boot into recovery mode on an Intel-based Mac, hold down Command-R and press the power button until you see the Apple logo. On a Mac with Apple silicon, hold down the power button until you see the startup options screen.

If you don’t have a Time Machine backup, you can download Ventura from the App Store here and reinstall it from the disk image.

macOS Sonoma has lots of new features and improvements, and installing the beta version allows you to try them out and check that the apps you use regularly work with it. Before you do that, make sure you back up your Mac. Then, follow the instructions above to install the developer or public beta versions of macOS Sonoma. And, if you don’t like it, you can always roll back to macOS Ventura.

Frequently asked questions

What beta versions of Sonoma are available?

There is a developer beta that was released at WWDC and is available to registered developers, and a public beta available to anyone.

Can I roll back to Ventura from the beta?

Yes, follow the instructions in this article to go back to using Ventura.

When will the final version of Sonoma be released?

Apple hasn’t announced a date, but macOS releases are usually in the Fall, around October time.