Mac Operating Systems Timeline

• Mac Operating Systems In Order

How to get space on mac. Since the release of System 1 in January 1984, Apple has played an integral role in designing and implementing the graphical user interface (GUI) as we know it.

By the time Apple transitioned to Mac OS X in 2012, the company hadn't sold 68000-based Macs for years. The same thing happened with the transition from PowerPC to Intel processors. Apple introduced macOS X 10.7, code-named Lion, at the 'Back to the Mac' event on October 20, 2010. The operating system was later released on July 20, 2011. New features included AirDrop, Gatekeeper, and many more. 2012: Apple released macOS X 10.8, code-named Mountain Lion, on July 25, 2012.

With the announcement of OS X Mountain Lion this week, Apple is continuing the process it started with Lion by streamlining the connection between the Mac and iOS.

We wanted to take a look at some of the biggest changes in the history of the Mac Operating System over the last 28 years. Looking back, I can't help but be struck by how many elements of the original Macintosh OS are still there more than 30 years after the project started taking shape.

It's a testament to the work of Bill Atkinson, Andy Hertzfeld, Bud Tribble and the other members of the original Macintosh team that so many aspects from System 1 have become integral to personal computing as we know it today.

There are a few phases in the evolution of the Mac OS that are of particular note. System 7 was the longest-running release for Apple (until OS X); it shipped with all Macintosh machines from 1991 to 1997. If you're in your mid-to-late 20s and used a Mac in elementary or middle school, chances are it was running some iteration of System 7.

One of the many challenges Apple faced in the 1990s was figuring out a new operating system strategy. As revolutionary as the original Mac OS work was, by 1994 it was starting to look stagnant and stale. This was especially true after the first release of Windows NT in 1993, which cemented Microsoft's place in the corporate and enterprise space.

After the Copland project was cancelled in 1996, Apple was left to search for an operating system it could acquire. That led to the purchase of NeXT and its NeXTSTEP operating system.

Not only would NeXT technology serve as the foundation for the future of Apple as it is known today (OS X and iOS are direct descendants of NeXTSTEP), it was responsible for bringing Steve Jobs back to Apple.

It would end up taking ten years from the beginning of the search for a next-generation Mac OS. But the hunt finally reached its quarry with the release of Mac OS X in 2001. But it would take until Mac OS X 10.2 (Jaguar) before the system was really able to hold its own.

Over the last decade, OS X has evolved into a powerful desktop and server platform — while also serving as the core for iOS. With OS X Mountain Lion, Apple is bringing more of the elements and features of its mobile OS to the desktop.

Vintage computer fans who want to take a look at more screenshots of classic Mac OS versions should check out Marcin Wichary's GUIdebook Gallery and Nathan Lineback's collection of GUI history.

Gallery created by Chelsea Stark

Mac Operating Systems In Order

Year	Event
1978	In June 1978, Apple introduced Apple DOS 3.1, the first operating system for the Apple computers.
1984	Apple introduced System 1 in 1984.
1985	Apple introduced System 2 in 1985.
1986	Apple introduced System 3 in 1986.
1987	Apple introduced System 4 in 1987.
1988	Apple introduced System 6 in 1988.
1991	Apple introduced System 7 operating system on May 13, 1991.
1995	Apple allowed other computer companies to clone its computer by announcing it licensed the Macintosh operating system rights to Radius on January 4.
1997	Apple introduced macOS 8 in 1997.
1997	Apple bought NeXT Software Inc. for $400 million and acquired Steve Jobs, Apple co-founder, as a consultant.
1999	Apple introduced macOS 9 in 1999.
1999	Apple released macOS X Server 1.0 on March 16, 1999.
2001	Apple introduced macOS X 10.0, code-named Cheetah, and became available on March 24, 2001.
2001	Apple introduced macOS X 10.1, code-named Puma, and became available on September 25, 2001.
2002	Apple introduced macOS X 10.2, code-named Jaguar, and became available on August 23, 2002.
2003	Apple introduced macOS X 10.3, code-named Panther, on October 25, 2003.
2004	Apple introduced macOS X 10.4, code-named Tiger, at the WWDC on June 28, 2004.
2007	Apple introduced macOS X 10.5, code-named Leopard, on October 26, 2007.
2008	Apple introduced MobileMe at the WWDC on June 9, 2008.
2009	Apple introduced macOS X 10.6, code-named Snow Leopard, at the WWDC on June 8, 2009.
2010	Apple introduced macOS X 10.7, code-named Lion, at the 'Back to the Mac' event on October 20, 2010. The operating system was later released on July 20, 2011. New features included AirDrop, Gatekeeper, and many more.
2012	Apple released macOS X 10.8, code-named Mountain Lion, on July 25, 2012.
2013	Apple introduced macOS X 10.9, code-named Mavericks, at the WWDC on June 10, 2013.
2014	Apple introduced macOS X 10.10, code-named Yosemite, at the WWDC on June 2, 2014. Yosemite was later released on October 16, 2014.
2014	Apple introduced Force Touch, a haptic feedback system for macOS. Simultaneously, they launch a similar feedback system for iOS called 3D Touch.
2015	Apple introduced macOS X 10.11, code-named El Capitan, at the WWDC on June 8, 2015.
2016	Apple introduced macOS X 10.12, code-named Sierra, at the WWDC on June 13, 2016.
2017	Apple introduced macOS X 10.13, code-named High Sierra, at the WWDC on June 5, 2017.
2018	Apple introduced macOS X 10.14, code-named Mojave, at the WWDC on June 4, 2018.
2018	Apple introduced Dark Mode in macOS X 10.14 (Mojave), a feature that turns the background to black and text to white. Dark Mode is easier on users' eyes at night, reducing eye strain.
2019	Apple introduced macOS X 10.15, code-named Catalina, at the WWDC on June 3, 2019.