Apple Releases macOS Big Sur 11.5 With Podcast App Updates and Bug Fixes - MacRumors
Skip to Content

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

Popular Stories

iOS 26

iOS 26.4 Adds Two New Features to CarPlay

Tuesday March 24, 2026 1:55 pm PDT by
iOS 26.4 was released today, and it includes a couple of new features for CarPlay: an Ambient Music widget and support for voice-based chatbot apps. To update your iPhone 11 or newer to iOS 26.4, open the Settings app and tap on General → Software Update. CarPlay will automatically offer the new features so long as the iPhone connected to your vehicle is running iOS 26.4 or later....
AirPods Pro Firmware Feature

Apple Releases New Firmware for AirPods Pro 3, AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4

Tuesday March 24, 2026 12:31 pm PDT by
Apple today released new firmware for the AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, and the AirPods 4. The firmware has a version number of 8B39, up from 8B34 on the AirPods Pro 3, 8B28 on the AirPods Pro 2, and 8B21 on the AirPods 4. There is no word on what's included in the firmware, but Apple has a support document with limited notes. Most updates are limited to bug fixes and performance...
apple tv 4k new orange

tvOS 26.4 Adds These New Features to Your Apple TV

Wednesday March 25, 2026 3:33 pm PDT by
Apple this week released tvOS 26.4, and the software update includes a handful of new features and changes for the Apple TV. tvOS 26.4 is compatible with all Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD models released since 2015. To update your Apple TV, open the Settings app on the device, navigate to System → Software Updates, and select Update Software. Below, we have recapped what is new in tvOS...

Top Rated Comments

Soba Avatar
61 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)
61 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
61 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)
nwcs Avatar
61 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)
Wildkraut Avatar
61 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)
dspdoc Avatar
61 months ago

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