Apple today released macOS Catalina 10.15.3, the third update to the macOS Catalina operating system that was released in October. macOS Catalina 10.15.3 comes over a month after the release of macOS Catalina 10.15.2.

‌‌macOS Catalina‌‌ 10.15.3 can be downloaded from the Mac App Store for free using the Update feature in the System Preferences app, and it is available to anyone who has a compatible Mac.

macos catalina wallpaper
macOS Catalina 10.15.3 has code in it that suggests a new "Pro Mode" is coming to Apple's Macs. Pro Mode appears to be an optional setting that overrides fan speed limits and energy saving restrictions to improve performance. The code says that apps "may run faster" but battery life could decrease and fan noise could increase.

It's not entirely clear if Pro Mode is coming to Macs in the 10.15.3 release, but the code is there so it is a possibility. According to Apple's release notes, the update includes Pro Display XDR optimizations and multi-stream video editing improvements.

The macOS Catalina 10.15.3 update improves the stability, reliability and security of your Mac, and is recommended for all users.
This update:
- Optimizes gamma handling of low gray levels on Pro Display XDR for SDR workflows when using macOS
- Improves multi-stream video editing performance for HEVC and H.264 encoded 4K video on the 16-inch MacBook Pro (2019)

For more on everything that's new in ‌macOS Catalina‌, make sure to check out our dedicated macOS Catalina roundup.

Related Forum: macOS Catalina

Top Rated Comments

sugargliderdude Avatar
76 months ago
i said i would install Catalina once its at 10.15.3 but still not sure if i should... hearing so many horror stories.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jb-net Avatar
76 months ago
Biggest question: Will it fix Mail's data loss bug? Or is Mail.app on Catalina still randomly deleting E-Mails?
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
pavvel Avatar
76 months ago

Fingers crossed for Notes syncing with iCloud again.
Never had a problem with notes syncing since the first version.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
VanNess Avatar
76 months ago

I would switch the Apple Mail if it did one thing Outlook did. Separate days in my inbox. I have today, yesterday, last week and older in my main view in Outlook. Apple Mail is just here you go, sort it out.
You can set up smart mailboxes ('https://support.apple.com/guide/mail/use-smart-mailboxes-mlhlp1190/mac') for today, yesterday, last week, etc. Pretty easy to do and I have it set up that way with links copied to the favorites bar. Since they are smart mailboxes your inbox remains untouched. Since doing this I rarely access my inbox. No need.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macintoshmac Avatar
76 months ago

Biggest question: Will it fix Mail's data loss bug? Or is Mail.app on Catalina still randomly deleting E-Mails?
It was said to have been fixed in the third beta. If this build is the same or higher, the bug may be fixed. MR has stopped giving build numbers long back, so just wait for someone to provide you with a build number. I am downloading it, but did not bother to catch the build so can't tell you right now.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Steve121178 Avatar
76 months ago

I just installed the update and the issue with the external monitor and the fans is still there, right now the fans are running at 3200 RPM and the machine is really hot just by browsing the web to get to this page.

I talked to Apple support (again) and now they want a video of the machine so they can hear the fans running, I can't believe that a company that just announced that made 92 billions in revenue in the last quarter can't replicate this issue on their offices. I'm starting to think that their priorities have changed
Not being funny, but you should know the Mac and macOS isn't a priority. The Mac has been severely neglected for many years and macOS gets a token annual update that doesn't really add very much and just further aligns the desktop OS with iOS in one way or another. There's been very little innovation and advancements with macOS.

The number of bugs and issues with Catalina is inexcusable, but do they really care? NO, they don't.

All the talent has been pulled from macOS over the years to work on iOS & it's variants as that is Apple's future. The Mac isn't.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Early Black Friday Deals 1

The Best Early Black Friday Apple Deals on AirPods, Apple Watch, iPad, and More

Saturday November 8, 2025 6:16 am PST by
We're officially in the month of Black Friday, which will take place on Friday, November 28 in 2025. As always, this will be the best time of the year to shop for great deals, including popular Apple products like AirPods, iPad, Apple Watch, and more. In this article, the majority of the discounts will be found on Amazon. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When ...
2024 iPhone Boxes Feature

Apple Adjusts Trade-In Values for iPhones, iPads, Macs, and More

Thursday November 6, 2025 11:12 am PST by
Apple today updated its trade-in values for select iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch models. Trade-ins can be completed on Apple's website, or at an Apple Store. The charts below provide an overview of Apple's current and previous trade-in values in the U.S., according to its website. Maximum values for most devices either decreased or saw no change, but the iPad Air received a slight bump. ...
All Screen iPhone 2027 Feature 1

Apple to Hide Selfie Camera Under Display of 20th Anniversary iPhone

Monday November 10, 2025 1:55 am PST by
Apple will conceal the front-facing camera under the screen of its 2027 iPhone, a Chinese leaker said today, corroborating reports that Apple's 20th anniversary iPhone will have no visible cutouts in the display. Weibo-based account Digital Chat Station said Apple's development of under-screen camera technology was progressing as planned for adoption in 2027, one year after it will...
m1 chip slide

Five Years of Apple Silicon: M1 to M5 Performance Comparison

Monday November 10, 2025 1:08 pm PST by
Today marks the fifth anniversary of the Apple silicon chip that replaced Intel chips in Apple's Mac lineup. The first Apple silicon chip, the M1, was unveiled on November 10, 2020. The M1 debuted in the MacBook Air, Mac mini, and 13-inch MacBook Pro. The M1 chip was impressive when it launched, featuring the "world's fastest CPU core" and industry-leading performance per watt, and it's only ...
Apple fitness plus feature

Future of Apple Fitness+ 'Under Review'

Sunday November 9, 2025 5:30 am PST by
The future of Apple Fitness+ is "under review" amid a reorganization of the service, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In the latest edition of his "Power On" newsletter, Gurman said that Apple Fitness+ remains one of the company's "weakest digital offerings." The service apparently suffers from high churn and little revenue. Nevertheless, Fitness+ has a small, loyal fanbase that...
iphone air thinness

iPhone Air Sales Are So Bad That Apple's Delaying the Next-Generation Version

Monday November 10, 2025 11:41 am PST by
The thin, light iPhone Air sold so poorly that Apple has decided to delay the launch of the next-generation iPhone Air that was scheduled to come out alongside the iPhone 18 Pro, reports The Information. Apple initially planned to release a new iPhone Air in fall 2026, but now that's not going to happen. Since the iPhone Air launched in September, there have been reports of poor sales...
Liquid Glass General Feature

Apple Shares Liquid Glass Design Gallery

Thursday November 6, 2025 2:45 pm PST by
Apple is promoting the new Liquid Glass design in iOS 26, showing off the ways that third-party developers are embracing the aesthetic in their apps. On its developer website, Apple is featuring a visual gallery that demonstrates how "teams of all sizes" are creating Liquid Glass experiences. The gallery features examples of Liquid Glass in apps for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac. Apple...
iOS 26

iOS 26.1 Available Now With These 8 New Features

Monday November 3, 2025 5:54 am PST by
Following more than a month of beta testing, Apple released iOS 26.1 on Monday, November 3. The update includes a handful of new features and changes, including the ability to adjust the look of Liquid Glass and more. Below, we outline iOS 26.1's key new features. Liquid Glass Toggle iOS 26.1 lets you choose your preferred look for Liquid Glass. In the Settings app, under Display...
iPhone Satellite Feature

Apple Developing These 5 New Satellite Features for iPhone

Sunday November 9, 2025 6:07 am PST by
Apple is working on a series of new satellite connectivity features for the iPhone, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports. In this week's "Power On" newsletter, Gurman revealed that the new features in development include: Apple Maps via satellite: Navigation in Apple Maps without cellular or Wi-Fi connectivity. Photos in Messages via satellite: Support for sending photos in the Messages...
maxresdefault

In-Depth iPhone Battery Experiment Pits Slow Charging Against Fast Charging

Friday November 7, 2025 1:19 pm PST by
HTX Studio this week shared the results from a six-month battery test that compared how fast charging and slow charging can affect battery life over time. Using six iPhone 12 models, the channel set up a system to drain the batteries from five percent and charge them to 100 percent over and over again. Three were fast charged, and three were slow charged. Another set of iPhones underwent...