Guide

macOS Sonoma is here: all the new features you should know about

27.9.2023

Translation: Patrik Stainbrook

Only a few days after rolling out iOS 17, Apple has now launched its «big» operating system, macOS 14 Sonoma. I went in for a first impression and explored the coolest new features for you.

In autumn, digital apples are harvested. After the iPhone with iOS 17, new Mac software now comes into play. macOS 14 Sonoma made its way to Macs yesterday evening. The new operating system isn’t a paradigm shift like BigSur was three years ago. However, you’ll still find numerous new features and small yet snazzy improvements to existing apps. The update’s main focus lies on your privacy and the Apple ecosystem.

New homescreen widgets

Widgets themselves aren’t big news. You can find them on every Mac since Big Sur. However, until now they were exclusive to the Notification Center. App widgets like Weather, Notes or Apple News could be opened by moving the mouse cursor to the upper left corner. Now you can place widgets directly on the desktop. They’re neither intrusive nor do they clutter the desktop. If you don’t use them actively, they become transparent and take on the tones of the background image.

If you don’t use widgets, they fade into the background.
Source: Florian Bodoky

And they aren’t «look, don’t touch» any more either. Depending on the widget, you can use it to control devices or edit your to-do list without having to open the app. Alternatively, you can also edit your to-do list without having to open the app.

Interactive widgets are now available on the desktop.
Source: Florian Bodoky

Right-click on your desktop and select «Edit Widgets». Bam! You can already set them up however you want.

Game Mode

Hardcore gamers will probably never get a Mac. It’s something Cupertino has to live with. Nevertheless, Apple has made a new attempt. The novel Game Mode isn’t something you can see or click on. Rather, it ensures that your Mac prioritises gaming processes between the CPU and GPU. Background activities are reduced to a minimum to ensure a smooth frame rate. In addition, input lag from external controllers will be reduced too.

New features in Safari

Private tabs are locked

Pages you visit in a private tab aren’t displayed in your browser history, of course. In macOS 14 Sonoma, private tabs will now be locked as soon as they’re considered inactive. If you move away from your Mac, a password or Touch ID is required to view its contents.

Safari locks private tabs with a password – if you want.
Source: Florian Bodoky

To enable this feature, open Safari. After that, click on «Safari», «Settings» and «Privacy». There, just check the box labelled «Private browsing: Require Touch ID to view locked tabs».

Websites in the dock

If you visit certain websites very often, you can now create a shortcut and save it in the Dock. It’ll appear next to your apps. If you click on it, Safari will open and take you directly to the website.

Websites can be copied to the Dock along with their logo. Here we have Digitec and Galaxus.
Source: Florian Bodoky

To do this, go to your page of choice, click on «File» and select «Add to Dock»

Tracking parameters removed

At your request, Safari now removes tracking parameters from web links. This tracking is used to collect your browsing activities, for example. Companies want to know where you’re from and what you’re interested in. On this basis, they build a profile and show you ads that they think might interest you. Parameters that can measure this are often built into a URL. By the way: Google is also trying to curb tracking with its Topics API.

Apple wants to stop third-party tracking in Safari.
Source: Florian Bodoky

To enable the feature in macOS Sonoma, open Safari. After that, click on «Safari», «Settings» and «Privacy». There, check «Website tracking: Prevent cross-site tracking».

Are you getting the update?

Apple is also removing a few older Macs from the support list this year. Nevertheless, some computers from 2017 will still receive macOS 14 Sonoma:

Mac 2019 and newer
Mac Pro 2019 and newer
iMac 2017 and newer
Mac Studio 2022 and newer
MacBook Air 2018 and newer
Mac mini 2018 and newer
MacBook Pro 2018 and newer

How can I get macOS 14 Sonoma?

To download macOS 14 Sonoma, click on the Apple icon on the top left of your desktop. Go to «System Preferences». There, click on «General», then «Software Update».

In the System Preferences, macOS will tell you if an update is available.
Source: Florian Bodoky

Your Mac will then tell you if the update is available.

Header image: Florian Bodoky

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Florian Bodoky

Editor

Florian.Bodoky@digitecgalaxus.ch

I've been tinkering with digital networks ever since I found out how to activate both telephone channels on the ISDN card for greater bandwidth. As for the analogue variety, I've been doing that since I learned to talk. Though Winterthur is my adoptive home city, my heart still bleeds red and blue.

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