Apple Releases macOS Big Sur 11.5 With Podcast App Updates and Bug Fixes

Apple today released macOS Big Sur 11.5, the fifth major update to the macOS Big Sur operating system that launched in November 2020. macOS Big Sur 11.5 comes two months after the release of macOS Big Sur 11.4.

macOS Big Sur Feature Orange
The new ‌‌‌‌‌macOS Big Sur‌‌‌‌ 11.5 update can be downloaded for free on all eligible Macs using the Software Update section of System Preferences.

macOS Big Sur is a minor update focusing on small changes and bug fixes. According to Apple's release notes, the update improves the Podcasts app by allowing the Podcasts Library tab to be adjusted to show all shows or only followed shows.

It also addresses an issue that could cause Apple Music not to update play count or the last played date in the library, and it fixes a bug that caused smart cards not to work when logging into M1 Macs.

macOS Big Sur 11.5 is likely to be one of the final updates to the macOS Big Sur operating system as Apple shifts its attention to macOS Monterey, which is set to be released this fall.

Related Forum: macOS Big Sur

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Top Rated Comments

Soba Avatar
49 months ago

I'm excited for it! (And as always, I remain convinced that this update fixes more bugs than the 3-4 small things they mention... I haven't noticed the size before starting the update, but it's usually above 1 Gb.)
Indeed! I’ll reiterate my usual complaint that Apple provides totally deficient documentation for these updates.

I don’t expect an exhaustive set of release notes detailing every single fix, but the docs they release these days are almost nonexistent. There must be dozens or even hundreds of bug fixes in these point releases and they don’t document any of them.

Why is everything just a black box?
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
greenbreadmmm Avatar
49 months ago

Call me crazy but I miss the days of the tick tock for major OS releases. One to introduce new features then one to improve performance and security but introduce less. I’d like that approach more than major features every year for the sake of having something for marketing to float about every year.
Let's go a step further and not force a yearly release of a major OS.


It clearly hasn't been working for apple

My gosh IOS is on .7 already?!

I remember when .3 meant it was perfect and done till next year.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CheesePuff Avatar
49 months ago
"‌macOS Big Sur‌ is a minor update focusing on small changes and bug fixes."

Editor really needs to proof read these posts before publishing
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Wildkraut Avatar
49 months ago
WOW, a whole OS update of 3.84GB to fix Apple Music, Podcast App and a Smartcard function.
/me shakes head
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nwcs Avatar
49 months ago
Call me crazy but I miss the days of the tick tock for major OS releases. One to introduce new features then one to improve performance and security but introduce less. I’d like that approach more than major features every year for the sake of having something for marketing to float about every year.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dspdoc Avatar
49 months ago

I hope more is fixed.
I hope way more is fixed!
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)