Apple Seeds Fourth macOS Sierra 10.12.1 Beta to Developers and Public Beta Testers

Apple today seeded the fourth beta of an upcoming macOS Sierra update to developers and public beta testers for testing purposes, one week after seeding the third beta and three weeks after releasing the new macOS Sierra operating system to the public.

macOS Sierra 10.12.1 beta 4 can be downloaded from the Apple Developer Center or through the Software update mechanism in the Mac App Store for those who already have an earlier 10.12.1 beta installed.

macossierra
macOS Sierra 10.12.1 appears to focus on bug fixes and under-the-hood performance improvements to address issues that have been found since the operating system's release, and it's also likely adding features designed for next-generation MacBook Pro models set to be released later this year.

Few outward-facing changes were discovered in the first three betas, but it does include Photos support for the new iPhone 7 Plus Portrait feature introduced with iOS 10.1. New features discovered in the fourth 10.12.1 beta will be listed below.

macOS Sierra is a significant update that brings features like Siri support, a new storage optimization option, cross device copy paste, auto unlocking with the Apple Watch, and more. For full details on macOS Sierra, make sure to check out our roundup.

Related Forum: macOS Sierra

Popular Stories

maxresdefault

Apple Shows Off a Key Reason to Upgrade to the iPhone 17

Saturday February 7, 2026 9:26 am PST by
Apple today shared an ad that shows how the upgraded Center Stage front camera on the latest iPhones improves the process of taking a group selfie. "Watch how the new front facing camera on iPhone 17 Pro takes group selfies that automatically expand and rotate as more people come into frame," says Apple. While the ad is focused on the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, the regular iPhone...
wwdc sans text feature

Apple Rumored to Announce New Product on February 19

Thursday February 5, 2026 12:22 pm PST by
Apple plans to announce the iPhone 17e on Thursday, February 19, according to Macwelt, the German equivalent of Macworld. The report, citing industry sources, is available in English on Macworld. Apple announced the iPhone 16e on Wednesday, February 19 last year, so the iPhone 17e would be unveiled exactly one year later if this rumor is accurate. It is quite uncommon for Apple to unveil...
Apple Logo Zoomed

Tim Cook Teases Plans for Apple's Upcoming 50th Anniversary

Thursday February 5, 2026 12:54 pm PST by
Apple turns 50 this year, and its CEO Tim Cook has promised to celebrate the milestone. The big day falls on April 1, 2026. "I've been unusually reflective lately about Apple because we have been working on what do we do to mark this moment," Cook told employees today, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. "When you really stop and pause and think about the last 50 years, it makes your heart ...
Finder Siri Feature

Why Apple's iOS 26.4 Siri Upgrade Will Be Bigger Than Originally Promised

Friday February 6, 2026 3:06 pm PST by
In the iOS 26.4 update that's coming this spring, Apple will introduce a new version of Siri that's going to overhaul how we interact with the personal assistant and what it's able to do. The iOS 26.4 version of Siri won't work like ChatGPT or Claude, but it will rely on large language models (LLMs) and has been updated from the ground up. Upgraded Architecture The next-generation...
iOS 26

iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Tuesday February 3, 2026 7:47 am PST by
While the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate is now available ahead of a public release, the first iOS 26.4 beta is likely still at least a week away. Following beta testing, iOS 26.4 will likely be released to the general public in March or April. Below, we have recapped known or rumored iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 features so far. iOS 26.3 iPhone to Android Transfer Tool iOS 26.3 makes it easier...

Top Rated Comments

Jeremy1026 Avatar
122 months ago


macOS Sierra is a significant update that brings features like Siri support, a new storage optimization option, cross device copy paste, auto unlocking with the Apple Watch, and more. For full details on macOS Sierra, make sure to check out our roundup ('https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/macos-sierra/').
We get it.
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
edgonzalez32 Avatar
122 months ago
Remember when Apple used to make computers? So sad those days have passed. Been waiting a year for an updated MBP and will probably have to give up and buy a PC instead. Sad tears.
I mean, just wait a couple weeks. How bad do you need one? And why does it seem like everyone here needs a new Mac every 3 years? My 2007 MBP lasted all the way until 2013. I'm now using a 2013 rMBP, everything maxed out and I don't see myself buying a new Mac until at least 2020. What else could I possibly need?
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jmh600cbr Avatar
122 months ago
BRING ON THE MACS
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SamVilde Avatar
122 months ago
I mean, just wait a couple weeks. How bad do you need one? And why does it seem like everyone here needs a new Mac every 3 years? My 2007 MBP lasted all the way until 2013..
Oh, so you know exactly what it's like to be sitting here with an awesome much-loved 2008 MacBook, with its outdated and degraded screen, replacement battery barely able to hold an hour charge, refreshing the MacRumors feed because there's no way we're paying full price on an already-outdated upgrade a month before the launch of something better, and because after 8 years we really do deserve an improved machine in exchange for our frugality and patience. You know what it's like to be in this position.

How badly do I need one? I can wait a few weeks. I can wait a few months if I have to. But I don't feel like I'm being pathetic in wanting a replacement.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ipodlover77 Avatar
122 months ago
Any hints towards the new macs?
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
32828870 Avatar
122 months ago
Interesting to see if Siri will handle HomeKit...

...and new Mac's? Maybe? No? Prada Watchbands?

Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)