Apple Releases Second macOS Sierra Public Beta

Apple today released the second public beta of macOS Sierra, the newest operating system designed for the Mac. Today's second public beta comes two weeks after the release of the first macOS Sierra public beta and just a few days after the launch of the third developer beta of macOS Sierra. The second public beta and the third developer beta offer the same features.

Beta testers who have signed up for Apple's beta testing program will receive the macOS Sierra beta through the Software Update mechanism in the Mac App Store.

Those who want to be a part of Apple's beta testing program can sign up to participate through the beta testing website, which gives users access to both iOS and OS X betas.


macOS Sierra is a significant update that brings Siri to the Mac, allowing users to conduct voice searches to find files, look up information, and more. New Continuity features include an "Auto Unlock" option for unlocking a Mac with an Apple Watch, and a Universal Clipboard for copy paste that works across multiple devices.

Deeper iCloud integration makes files stored on the desktop or the Documents folder of a Mac available on all of a user's devices, and Photos features new deep learning algorithms for facial, object, and scene recognition. Messages includes rich links, bigger emoji, and "Tapback" response options, and the macOS Sierra update will bring Apple Pay to the web.

For full details on all of the new features included in macOS Sierra, make sure to check out our macOS Sierra roundup.

Related Forum: macOS Sierra

Top Rated Comments

blacktape242 Avatar
100 months ago
Ill wait for the next one and then DL it. I'm excited tbh about this release.
Actually I lied, i took the plunge!
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Dilster3k Avatar
100 months ago
Yaaaas, finally. Waited for the second beta and downloading Sierra for the first time.

Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
wilsonlaidlaw Avatar
100 months ago
I hope they fix issues with Adobe CC programs in this.
Agreed but it is not just CC apps with problems, mostly print related and using graphic co-processing as accelerator, it is also older Adobe apps like Acrobat X Pro (10.1.16), where the printing is 100% broken. I am not going to update to Acrobat DC - it is just too expensive and X Pro does everything I need.

PB2 did not want to download, as update to PB1, so downloading whole OS at the moment 4.86GB, Assume current OS download will be PB2.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ajay96 Avatar
100 months ago
Is the on/off Switch for time machine in system preferences no longer a feature or is it a glitch with my beta?
I think it's gone. I just see a check box with "Backup Automatically".
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
randolorian Avatar
100 months ago
I've been using PIA with the built-in VPN settings since upgrading to Sierra. Tunnelblick has been very unreliable. The only downside is that I have to manually connect/reconnect every time the computer reboots or is unlocked . . .
Use Viscosity! Works great with PIA and is easy to use.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jsgtpd Avatar
100 months ago
Still haven't fixed my issue. Saving a file always goes to the wrong folder :(
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iPhone 16 Camera Lozenge 2 Perspective Gray

Five Key Upgrades Coming to iPhone 16

Friday March 15, 2024 1:45 pm PDT by
The iPhone is Apple's top-selling product, and it gets an update every year. In 2024, we're expecting the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro lineup, with an arguably more interesting feature set than we got with the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Capture Button All four iPhone 16 models are set to get a whole new button, which will be...
When To Expect New iPads Feature 1

Apple to Announce New iPads on March 26, Rumors Claim

Monday March 18, 2024 4:02 am PDT by
Apple is widely expected to release new iPad Air and OLED iPad Pro models in the next few weeks. According to new rumors coming out of Asia, the company will announce its new iPads on Tuesday, March 26. Chinese leaker Instant Digital on Weibo this morning 日发布%23">claimed that the date will see some sort of announcement from Apple related to new iPads, but stopped short of calling it an...
airpods 3 orange

Two New AirPods 4 Models Expected to Launch in September or October

Sunday March 17, 2024 7:56 am PDT by
Apple suppliers will begin production of two new fourth-generation AirPods models in May, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Based on this production timeframe, he expects the headphones to be released in September or October. Gurman expects both fourth-generation AirPods models to feature a new design with better fit, improved sound quality, and an updated charging case with a USB-C...
M3 iPad Feature 3

New iPads Likely to Begin Shipping in April

Monday March 18, 2024 9:52 am PDT by
Apple's new iPad Pro models with OLED displays will likely begin shipping to customers in April, according to information shared today by Ross Young, CEO of display industry research firm Display Supply Chain Consultants. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman also said the new iPad Pro models might not ship until "deeper" into April in his Power On newsletter on Sunday:I've repeatedly said that new...
iphone se 4 modified flag edges

iPhone SE 4 Expected to Depreciate Heavily

Tuesday March 12, 2024 9:04 am PDT by
Resale value trends suggest the iPhone SE 4 may not hold its value as well as Apple's flagship models, according to SellCell. According to the report, Apple's iPhone SE models have historically depreciated much more rapidly than the company's more premium offerings. The third-generation iPhone SE, which launched in March 2022, experienced a significant drop in resale value, losing 42.6%...
General iOS 17 Feature Orange Purple

iOS 17.4.1 Update for iPhone is Imminent

Monday March 18, 2024 5:27 am PDT by
iOS 17.4.1 and iPadOS 17.4.1 should be released within the next few days, with a build number of 21E235, according to a source with a proven track record. MacRumors previously reported that Apple was internally testing iOS 17.4.1. As a minor update for the iPhone, it will likely address software bugs and/or security vulnerabilities. It is unclear if the update will include any other changes. ...
Reasons to Not Upgrade to macOS Sonoma 14

macOS Sonoma 14.4: Reasons Not to Update

Monday March 18, 2024 9:36 am PDT by
Since Apple unveiled macOS Sonoma 14.4 on March 7, the transition to the latest software update has not been entirely smooth for everyone, and a number of issues have been reported by users that significantly impact their daily workflow. This article lists the most prominent challenges users have faced since updating to macOS Sonoma 14.4, and offers potential solutions where available. USB...