Apple Releases macOS Big Sur 11.4 With Apple Podcasts Subscription Support

by

Apple today released macOS Big Sur 11.4, the fourth major update to the ‌macOS Big Sur‌ operating system that launched in November 2020. ‌macOS Big Sur‌ comes one month after the release of macOS Big Sur 11.3, an update that added M1 optimizations, AirTag integration, and more.

macOS Big Sur Feature Orange
The new ‌‌‌‌‌macOS Big Sur‌‌‌‌ 11.4 update can be downloaded for free on all eligible Macs using the Software Update section of System Preferences.

‌macOS Big Sur‌ 11.4 lays the groundwork for two upcoming Apple Music features: Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos and Lossless Audio, both of which will be available on the Mac.

It also adds support for Apple Podcasts subscriptions, and fixes a number of bugs, as outlined in Apple's release notes.

‌macOS Big Sur‌ 11.4 adds ‌Apple Podcasts‌ subscriptions and channels and includes important bug fixes.

Podcasts
- ‌Apple Podcasts‌ subscriptions are available for purchase via monthly and annual subscriptions
- Channels group together collections of shows from podcast creators

This release also fixes the following issues:
- Bookmarks in Safari may get reordered or moved into a folder that can appear hidden
- Certain websites may not display correctly after your Mac wakes from sleep
- Keywords may not be included when exporting a photo from the Photos app
- Preview may become unresponsive when searching PDF documents
- 16-inch MacBook may become unresponsive when playing Civilization VI

For more detailed information about this update, please visit: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT211896
For detailed information about the security content of this update, please visit: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201222

Apple's attention will soon be focused on the next-generation version of macOS, macOS 12, which is expected to be unveiled at the Worldwide Developers Conference that kicks off on June 7.

Related Roundup: macOS Big Sur
Related Forum: macOS Big Sur

Top Rated Comments

PBG4 Dude Avatar
PBG4 Dude
4 weeks ago

Nearly 4 GB download every time!! What ever happened to incremental updates? ?
That is an incremental update. Full install is over 12GB.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Reason077 Avatar
Reason077
4 weeks ago
Nearly 4 GB download every time!! What ever happened to incremental updates? ?
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Reason077 Avatar
Reason077
4 weeks ago

There are reports that 11.4 allegedly fixes SSD "thrashing" issue on M1 Macs. I can't test that personally cause i have Intel MacBook.
macOS thrashed the SSD pretty hard on my Intel MacBook too: 119 TB over ~36 months. But it does seem even worse on M1: 27.7 TB after 3 months! In fact it's gone up 0.2 TB since this morning. Both 8 GB machines.

[Update June 8th: Disk writes are now at 30.1 TB, so I am averaging 0.17 TB per day in the 14 days since installing the 11.4 update. Still seems pretty high?]
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
9927036 Avatar
9927036
4 weeks ago

Don't waste your time with that. It won't help.
Agreed. All they know is "reinstall macOS".
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Westside guy Avatar
Westside guy
4 weeks ago
Seems like a relatively unimportant update. Think I'll hold off and let the guinea pigs... er, eager beavers update first.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
csalm87 Avatar
csalm87
4 weeks ago

Apple released Intel Macs in 2006 on Tiger 10.4. You could upgrade a PPC Mac to Leopard 10.5, but no further. Snow Leopard in 2009 did no support PPC Macs.

I'll give you two more versions after Big Sur, tops. But macOS 14 or whatever will be Silicon only.
Honestly, I think this time will be different. Apple has many, many more Intel Macs out there now than they did PPC ones back then. I can't see them dropping support that quickly. There are rumors that an updated Mac Pro is on the way with an Intel chip, which will most likely be Apple's last Intel Mac. If this is the case, I can see support for Intel Macs for at least another 5 years.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments

Top Stories

YouTube Picture in Picture Feature

YouTube Says iOS Picture-in-Picture Coming to All US Users

Friday June 18, 2021 9:41 am PDT by
After a long wait, YouTube for iOS is officially gaining picture-in-picture support, allowing all users, non-premium and premium subscribers, to close the YouTube app and continue watching their video in a small pop-up window. In a statement to MacRumors, YouTube says that picture-in-picture is currently rolling out to all premium subscribers on iOS and that a larger rollout to all US iOS...
Read Full Article • 192 comments
Top Stories 63 Feature

Top Stories: Beats Studio Buds Announced, Apple Watch Series 7 Rumors, and More

Saturday June 19, 2021 6:00 am PDT by
The Apple news cycle started to move beyond WWDC this week, but that doesn't mean there still wasn't a lot to talk about, led by the official debut of the much-leaked Beats Studio Buds that might give us a hint of what to expect for the second-generation AirPods Pro. With no hardware announcements at WWDC, we also took a look at when we might finally see the long-rumored redesigned MacBook...
Read Full Article • 15 comments
ios wifi settings

iOS Bug Causes Specific Network Name to Disable Wi-Fi on iPhones

Sunday June 20, 2021 4:15 am PDT by
A wireless network naming bug has been discovered in iOS that effectively disables an iPhone's ability to connect to Wi-Fi. Security researcher Carl Schou found that after joining a Wi-Fi network with the name "%p%s%s%s%s%n" his iPhone's Wi-Fi functionality was left "permanently disabled." Changing a hotspot's SSID did nothing to correct the problem, with even a reboot failing to make a...
Read Full Article • 142 comments
maxresdefault

Video: 20 Annoyances Apple Fixed in iOS 15 and macOS Monterey

Friday June 18, 2021 11:36 am PDT by
With iOS 15 and macOS Monterey, Apple is adding several quality of life improvements, which are designed to address some of the complaints that people have had with these operating systems for years now. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. In our latest YouTube video, we're highlighting some of our favorite "fix" features that address long-running problems in iOS and...
Read Full Article • 132 comments
16 inch macbook pro m2 render

When Can We Expect the Redesigned MacBook Pros Now?

Wednesday June 16, 2021 7:11 am PDT by
With no sign of redesigned MacBook Pro models at this year's WWDC, when can customers expect the much-anticipated new models to launch? A number of reports, including investor notes from Morgan Stanley and Wedbush analysts, claimed that new MacBook Pro models would be coming during this year's WWDC. This did not happen, much to the disappointment of MacBook Pro fans, who have been...
Read Full Article • 234 comments
space gray magic accessories trio

Apple Stops Selling Magic Accessories in Space Gray

Friday June 18, 2021 9:16 am PDT by
Apple this week stopped selling its Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad, Magic Mouse 2, and Magic Trackpad 2 accessories for the Mac in a Space Gray color, around three months after discontinuing the iMac Pro, which also came in Space Gray. Last month, Apple listed the Space Gray accessories as available while supplies last, and the company has now removed the product pages from its website...
Read Full Article • 138 comments
m1 v intel thumb

Intel Processor Market Share May Fall to New Low Next Year Due to Apple Silicon

Friday June 18, 2021 2:06 am PDT by
Intel may see its market share fall to a new low next year, in large part thanks to Apple's decision to move away from using Intel processors in its Mac computers and instead use Apple silicon. Apple announced last year that it would embark on a two-year-long journey to transition all of its Mac computers, both desktops, and laptops, to use its own in-house processors. Apple is expected to...
Read Full Article • 162 comments
3nm apple silicon feature

Apple Supplier TSMC Readies 3nm Chip Production for Second Half of 2022

Friday June 18, 2021 6:59 am PDT by
Apple supplier TSMC is preparing to produce 3nm chips in the second half of 2022, and in the coming months, the supplier will begin production of 4nm chips, according to a new report from DigiTimes. Apple had previously booked the initial capacity of TSMC's 4nm chip production for future Macs and more recently ordered TSMC to begin production of the A15 chip for the upcoming iPhone 13,...
Read Full Article • 161 comments
2021 back t0 school

Apple Launches 2021 Back to School Promotion: Free AirPods With Eligible Mac or iPad Purchase

Thursday June 17, 2021 4:56 am PDT by
Apple today launched its seasonal back-to-school sale for the upcoming school year in the United States and Canada, offering students free AirPods alongside purchases of select Macs and iPad models. Similar to last year's promotion, this year's offer includes free AirPods alongside the purchase of a MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, the new 24-inch iMac, the Mac Pro, Mac mini, and the new M1-powered ...
Read Full Article • 92 comments
applecare lower prices

Apple Lowers Prices of AppleCare+ Plans for M1 MacBook Air and MacBook Pro

Thursday June 17, 2021 7:33 am PDT by
Apple today lowered the prices of AppleCare+ plans for MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro models equipped with the M1 chip. Coverage offered by the plans, as well as accidental damage fees, appear to remain unchanged. In the United States, AppleCare+ for the MacBook Air now costs $199, down from $249. The new price applies to both M1 and Intel-based MacBook Air models, although Apple no...
Read Full Article • 157 comments