How to check your macOS version
Click the Apple menu in the upper left corner and choose About This Mac. The window shows your macOS name and version number. Click the version number to see the build number. Apple notes the window layout might differ between versions, but it always shows both.
Steps
- Click the Apple menu at the upper left of the screen.
- Choose About This Mac.
- Read the macOS name and version number in the window. For example, Apple’s page lists names such as macOS Tahoe 26 and macOS Sequoia 15.
- To see the build number, click the version number.
Name and number
Every release has both. The name is a word, such as Sonoma or Tahoe, and the number is the major version, such as 14 or 26. The number after the dot is the update level. Apple’s page lists the latest version of each major release, as it stood when checked on 4 November 2026. See macOS version names and numbers for the table.
Why you need it
- App requirements. App pages state a minimum macOS. NotchStar needs macOS 14 or later.
- Settings menus. Names of settings can change between versions, so use the version when you follow a guide. Apple’s help guides have a version selector.
- Compatibility. Whether your Mac can run a newer system depends on the model. See which Macs support macOS Tahoe.
- Notch fixes. Apple’s Scale to fit setting and Menu Bar options sit in different places in different versions. See Scale to fit below built in camera.
Updating
If About This Mac shows an older number than Apple’s latest for your major release, check System Settings for updates. Apple’s page lists the latest version for each release, including older ones such as macOS Ventura 13 and macOS Sonoma 14.
And your model
The model name is in the same window. See how to find your MacBook model and year to tell whether you have a notch.
NotchStar’s Home tab needs macOS 14 or later, so About This Mac is the first place to look before you try it.
