The latest macOS Ventura update has left owners of old Macs stranded in a sea of problems, raising a chorus of complaints
macOS Ventura update woes: lag, bugs, and connectivity fails
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Users ofmacOS Ventura, the predecessor tomacOS Sonoma(the latestoperating systemfor modern Macs andMacBooks), have discovered some problems after installing the newest update, macOS Ventura 13.6.6. The update was released on March 25 alongside Sonoma version 14.4.1. Apparently, those looking to upgrade macOS Ventura were met with firmware-related issues (firmware refers to software components that bridge a device’s hardware and software).
Ventura is the last macOS system that many older Mac models can run, as macOS Sonoma only supports Macs and MacBooks from 2018 onwards (theiMac Profrom 2017 is also supported), so updates for the older operating system are especially important for security and functionality reasons.
Since the update’s release, users have taken to websites likeApple’s community forums to express their dissatisfaction with Ventura 13.6.6.GottaBeMobile has catalogeda number of these posts which discuss issues including Wi-Fi connectivity issues, email problems,Time Machine backupissues, issues with users’ displays, noticeable lag in the user interface (UI), problems with external accessories, issues with both first-party apps (apps byApple) and third-party apps such asMicrosoft Teams, and more. According to GottaBeMobile, this is just a selection and part of a larger number of problems that users are facing with Ventura 13.6.6.
GottaBeMobile checked for itself how Ventura 13.6.6 runs after its release on a2017 MacBook Pro, confirming other users’ reports of frustration-inducting lag in the UI.
Now, affected users are hoping to see another update for Ventura that will put things right, but this could take some weeks. Until then, users will have to try solutions suggested by others, such as turning Wi-Fi andBluetoothon and off, restarting the device, and others. However, if these issues are caused by a fundamental problem with the Ventura update, these solutions may only be temporary.
Hope for a fix-filled update
Apple is currently developing and testing new software versions for a range of its products, including Mac, iPhone,Apple Watch, and others, which are expected to be released in May, or possibly atWWDC, its software-centric conference in June.
It’s likely we’ll see macOS 15, the follow-up to macOS 14 Sonoma, atWWDC, and macOS Ventura may get an update around this time to fix those problems.
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As Apple presumably sees Ventura as a legacy operating system, it’s unlikely to make a big song and dance over any update (especially if it’s to fix embarrassing bugs) when it would rather show off the latest version of macOS.
I hope that Apple hears user feedback, as it’s pretty loud and clear, and takes time to fix Ventura. I understand that much like its peers, Apple is keen to push for users to update to newer hardware and software, but in this economic climate, that might not be possible for many people. In the meantime, it should make sure that customers who can’t upgrade to the latest version of macOS are still looked after.
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Kristina is a UK-based Computing Writer, and is interested in all things computing, software, tech, mathematics and science. Previously, she has written articles about popular culture, economics, and miscellaneous other topics.
She has a personal interest in the history of mathematics, science, and technology; in particular, she closely follows AI and philosophically-motivated discussions.
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