Apple Seeds macOS Sonoma 14.4 Release Candidate - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple Seeds macOS Sonoma 14.4 Release Candidate

Apple today seeded the release candidate version of an upcoming macOS Sonoma 14.4 update to developers for testing purposes, with the software coming a week after the release of the fifth beta. The release candidate marks the final version of the macOS Sonoma 14.4 update that will be provided to the public.

sonoma desktop wwdc
Registered developers can opt-in to the beta through the Software Update section of the System Settings app. Note that an Apple ID associated with an Apple Developer account is required to get the beta.

macOS Sonoma 14.4 introduces new emoji characters, podcast episode text, and an option to only show icons for websites in the Safari Favorites Bar. The update also supports the new MacBook Air models that were introduced today.

macOS Sonoma 14.4 introduces new emoji as well as other features, bug fixes, and security updates for your Mac.

Emoji
- New mushroom, phoenix, lime, broken chain, and shaking heads emoji are now available in emoji keyboard
- 18 people and body emoji support facing the opposite direction

This update also includes the following improvements and bug fixes:
- Podcasts Episode text can be read in full, searched for a word or phrase, clicked to play from a specific point and used with accessibility features such as Text Size, Increase Contrast, and VoiceOver
- Business Updates in Messages for Business let you get updates that you've opted into, like order status, flight notifications, fraud alerts or other transactions from trusted businesses
- Safari Favorites Bar adds an option to show only icons for websites

Some features may not be available for all regions, or on all Apple devices.

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

macOS Sonoma 14.4 could see a public release as soon as this week.

Related Forum: macOS Sonoma

Popular Stories

apple pro tell logo

Apple Launching Five New Products This Friday

Monday November 2, 2026 1:22 am PST by
Apple is releasing five new products this Friday, November 6, following pre-orders that opened last week, including its first touchscreen MacBook Pro models. The following new products will be available from Friday: iPad mini with OLED display and A20 Pro chip iMac with M6 chip 14-inch MacBook Pro with M6 chip 14-inch MacBook Pro with OLED touchscreen 16-inch MacBook Pro with OLED...
iPhone Duo Display Cracking

Apple Alerts Stores to iPhone Duo's Display Cracking Issue

Friday October 30, 2026 3:20 pm PDT by
In a memo shared with Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers this week, and later obtained by MacRumors, Apple provided technicians with guidance on how to diagnose and address the iPhone Duo's inner display cracking issue. If a customer reports the issue, Apple advised technicians to inspect the iPhone Duo and repair or replace it in accordance with their standard procedures....
Apple Logo Gradient 16x9 1

Apple Isn't Done With 2026: Here's What's Still Coming

Monday November 2, 2026 7:27 am PST by
Apple's busiest season isn't over yet. Far from it. With two hardware launch dates still to come in November, plus software updates and new smart home accessories running into December, there's more on the way from Apple before the end of 2026, so be sure to stick around. Below, we've rounded up what's still coming, along with one date in particular that's worth watching if you're a holiday...

Top Rated Comments

zorinlynx Avatar
35 months ago

more dumb features, meanwhile bug fixes and stability remains ignored

no competition to macOS either so this will never change

im so checked out
MacOS has been rock solid for me for the past couple years. I'm really wondering what y'all complaining about stability are doing.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
35 months ago
more dumb features, meanwhile bug fixes and stability remains ignored

no competition to macOS either so this will never change

im so checked out
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
35 months ago
I find it ridiculous how emojis are repeatedly highlighted as update features, when that's like one of the least important or useful things and should just be footnotes.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
roncron Avatar
35 months ago

Nothing is better than a new macOS RC. Nothing.
Sex, a vacation, your jerk boss getting fired, a new car, winning the lottery, your best friend getting engaged (unless it's to the person that just dumped you). A new Mac to replace the one you've been using for 6 years.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
35 months ago

Try amphetamine
We do, and it works, but it sucks having to use a 3rd party workaround on a $3000 laptop.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Edgecrusherr Avatar
35 months ago

MacOS has been rock solid for me for the past couple years. I'm really wondering what y'all complaining about stability are doing.
Tends to be a use case. I have a stack of RAIDs, and do everything from IT work, graphics design, video editing, files sharing, screen sharing, using my Mac as a media server, virtualization, emulation, gaming, scripting,and some minor coding. I throw a lot at it, in a lot of different areas, so you may just be lucky. My sample size includes myself and about 200 users.

Starting around 10.14, there's been major issues with icnonserivcesagent, that was only partially fixed in 10.15, and become pretty bad again in 13 (Ventura). Apple Music Home Sharing started having issues in 10.15, and has not ever been fixed. Screen sharing and file sharing became very unreliable in 13. Early 14 (current Sonoma) had some crazy GPU system crashes when using large amounts of memory, that was eventually resolved around the .2 release. 14 also introduced major issues with IO, including external storage, typically seen in larger volumes. 14 also has login Window and Dock crashes when using an external display on a desktop (Mac mini, Mac Pro, and Mac Studio). There's really a lot of graphics related issues with external display. Waking from sleep and properly connecting to an external display has been rough for a few years. Apple still doesn't support / promptly communicate EDID data that's been industry standard for years. Don't get me started on ultra-wide support.

Apple's hardware reliability has gotten a lot better since moving from intel. Though, Bluetooth on the Mac mini and Mac Studio is shockingly terrible with ambient noise and range, especially compared to their other products.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Latest Stories
Apple Requiring Developers to Disclose Location Sharing and Dating Features in Apps
Apple Requiring Developers to Disclose Location Sharing and Dating Features in Apps
3 hours ago
Apple's Q4 2026 Earnings Call Takeaways
Apple's Q4 2026 Earnings Call Takeaways
3 hours ago
Apple Dodges Question on More Price Hikes as Memory Costs Climb
Apple Dodges Question on More Price Hikes as Memory Costs Climb
4 hours ago
Apple CEO Ternus Says iPhone Duo Shortages Have No End Date in Sight
Apple CEO Ternus Says iPhone Duo Shortages Have No End Date in Sight
6 hours ago
Apple Reports 4Q 2026 Results: $30.7B Profit on $114.5B Revenue
Apple Reports 4Q 2026 Results: $30.7B Profit on $114.5B Revenue
6 hours ago
Early Black Friday Brings Steep Price Drops on Apple's Latest iPhone Cases
Early Black Friday Brings Steep Price Drops on Apple's Latest iPhone Cases
9 hours ago
John Ternus Hosting His First Earnings Call as Apple CEO Today
John Ternus Hosting His First Earnings Call as Apple CEO Today
10 hours ago
Here's What Spotify Looks Like on Apple's HomeView
Here's What Spotify Looks Like on Apple's HomeView
11 hours ago
iOS 27.2.1 Coming Soon, iOS 27.3 Beta Likely Available Tomorrow
iOS 27.2.1 Coming Soon, iOS 27.3 Beta Likely Available Tomorrow
11 hours ago
Mark Gurman: Apple Initially Aimed to Release iPhone Duo in November
Mark Gurman: Apple Initially Aimed to Release iPhone Duo in November
12 hours ago
Best Early Black Friday Deals on Apple Products Available Now
Best Early Black Friday Deals on Apple Products Available Now
12 hours ago
Apple Isn't Done With 2026: Here's What's Still Coming
Apple Isn't Done With 2026: Here's What's Still Coming
12 hours ago
Apple 'HomeView Ultra' With 9-Inch 360º Screen Detailed in New Report
Apple 'HomeView Ultra' With 9-Inch 360º Screen Detailed in New Report
13 hours ago
Apple TV 4K Pre-Order Discount Returns at Amazon
Apple TV 4K Pre-Order Discount Returns at Amazon
13 hours ago
Zoom and These Microsoft Apps Now Optimized for iPhone Duo
Zoom and These Microsoft Apps Now Optimized for iPhone Duo
13 hours ago
Canva Brings Free All-in-One Affinity App to iPad
Canva Brings Free All-in-One Affinity App to iPad
14 hours ago
iPhone Duo: Latest Buyer Wait Times
iPhone Duo: Latest Buyer Wait Times
15 hours ago
iPhone Duo Owners Can't Change Display Zoom After Setup
iPhone Duo Owners Can't Change Display Zoom After Setup
11 hours ago
Apple HomeView Could Double as a Security Camera
Apple HomeView Could Double as a Security Camera
18 hours ago
Apple Launching Five New Products This Friday
Apple Launching Five New Products This Friday
18 hours ago
Nearly Every M5 MacBook Air Now $200 Off on Amazon
Nearly Every M5 MacBook Air Now $200 Off on Amazon
1 day ago
Apple's HomeView Ships With Six-Month-Old Software
Apple's HomeView Ships With Six-Month-Old Software
2 days ago
Three New iPads Rumored to Launch in First Half of 2027
Three New iPads Rumored to Launch in First Half of 2027
2 days ago
Apple Offers Steps to Fix Daylight Saving Time Bug on Apple Watch
Apple Offers Steps to Fix Daylight Saving Time Bug on Apple Watch
2 days ago
Apple Watch Ultra 4 Hits All-Time Low Price With Amazon's $99 Discount
Apple Watch Ultra 4 Hits All-Time Low Price With Amazon's $99 Discount
2 days ago
Reminder: Apple's Big Discount on Beats 360 Ear Cushions Ends Today
Reminder: Apple's Big Discount on Beats 360 Ear Cushions Ends Today
2 days ago
Here's a New Tour of Apple's HomeView Software
Here's a New Tour of Apple's HomeView Software
2 days ago
Apple Reveals New iPad Mini's Battery Capacity
Apple Reveals New iPad Mini's Battery Capacity
3 days ago
Top Stories: Apple's Big MacBook Pro, iPad mini and iMac Updates
Top Stories: Apple's Big MacBook Pro, iPad mini and iMac Updates
3 days ago
'Pluribus' Season 2 Reportedly Starts Production Today
'Pluribus' Season 2 Reportedly Starts Production Today
3 days ago