Running macOS Sierra Public Beta on Your Mac

If you're eager to get your hands on the latest version of macOS, but don't have a second Mac to spare, there are still ways to run the public beta without risking data loss or compromising your primary machine's stability. However, we strongly advise against installing the beta on your primary Mac, especially in the early stages of development.

If you do decide to install the public beta, make sure to back up your Mac before upgrading and consider setting up a separate volume for testing purposes. This will help you avoid any potential issues with your primary operating system.

To get started, open the Software Update panel in System Settings and click on 'Upgrade Now.' You'll then be prompted to check for updates and eventually see the Sonoma Developer Beta as an upgrade option.

If you have a developer account tied to a different Apple ID than usual, you can change that here. Also, make sure that Beta Updates are turned on (if they aren't already). You should see two options: Automatic Updates and Beta Updates. We recommend keeping both enabled for the smoothest testing experience.

For users running macOS Ventura 13.4 or later, we advise against running Sonoma on your primary Mac and instead recommend setting up a separate volume for testing purposes. This will help you avoid any potential issues with your primary operating system.

The public beta is available to anyone who has signed up for the Public Beta program on Apple's website and enrolled their Mac. While developers may get access to new features not available in the public beta, public beta testers are essentially helping Apple detect bugs and offering feedback on the features.

It's worth noting that betas are by nature unstable, so we recommend exercising caution when installing them. The public beta is generally considered a safer option than the developer beta, which is released first to developers and may receive more frequent updates.

In conclusion, if you're not a developer, we don't recommend installing the developer beta. Instead, wait for the public beta, which is now available. With this option, you can still get your hands on the latest version of macOS without compromising your primary Mac's stability or risking data loss.

Macos sierra public beta