macOS 13 Ventura Frequently Asked Questions FAQ

Article ID = 280
Article Title = macOS 13 Ventura Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
Article Author(s) = Graham Needham (BH)
Article Created On = 6th July 2021
Article Last Updated = 11th April 2023
Article URL = https://www.macstrategy.com/article.php?280

Article Brief Description:
Frequently Asked Questions about macOS 13 Ventura

WARNINGS!

Ventura changes System Preferences to System Settings and styles it more like iOS/iPadOS
Ventura removes support for PostScript and Encapsulated PostScript files in Finder Preview
Older Mail application "plug-ins" are now deprecated and will stop functioning in a future version of macOS
Ventura has an OS version of 13.x instead of 10.x, 11.x, or 12.x - this could affect some older software installers and scripts if they check the OS version in the wrong way
Just like Big Sur and Monterey, Ventura:

Notes have the option of tagging and mentions - if you use either of these new features, Notes including them will be hidden on devices not running iOS 14.5 or later | macOS 11.3 or later
Removes support for kernel extensions used by online storage services such as Microsoft OneDrive, Google Drive, Box, and Dropbox - if you use any of these applications update to the latest versions before installing Ventura. Microsoft has in-depth information on the new "Files On-Demand" feature and TidBits has great coverage in their Apple's File Provider Forces Mac Cloud Storage Changes article.
Removes Python 2.x - use Python 3 instead (once macOS 13 is installed, run the stub /usr/bin/python3 in Terminal which will prompt you to install the latest Xcode developer tools that includes Python 3.x)
Removes PHP - use Homebrew to install it or install via a third party software stack such as MAMP/MAMP PRO
does not support 32-Bit Applications
does not support legacy media formats
does not support legacy System/Kernel Extensions (KEXTs)
no longer trusts TLS certificates signed with the SHA-1 hash algorithm
has a Signed System Volume - this means if you install it in the same APFS "container" as another version of macOS you will have issues booting. If you wish to install macOS Ventura on the same storage device as older versions of macOS (such as a dual boot configuration) you must create a new "container" (partition) for macOS Ventura and install it to that separate container/partition!
has a dedicated system volume - third party backup/cloning/disk repair software should be checked and updated/upgraded if necessary to work with this version of macOS
VPN connections via L2TP over IPSec now require "HMAC-SHA-256" security at the third-party server end - make sure your VPN server is compatible!
does not support Apple's hardware RAID and Apple's RAID Utility has been removed
does not support installing on and booting from FireWire storage
splits iTunes into separate applications but also removes support for Playlist XML files - many popular DJ applications may need to be upgraded
has removed the Dashboard feature - it is no longer available in the Mission Control System Preferences
disables legacy smart card support that uses TokenD
changes the default shell to Zsh (from Bash)

Safari no longer supports any legacy NPAPI browser plug-ins including Adobe Flash
Safari no longer supports .safariextz packaged Safari Extensions
macOS 10.15 and later have an upgraded version of the Reminders app - when using Reminders - if you choose to upgrade to the new format, Reminders will only synchronise with iOS 13 or later | macOS 10.15 or later
OS X 10.10 and later have a newer Notes format - if you choose to upgrade to the new format, Notes will only synchronise with iOS 9 or later | OS X 10.10.5 or later

macOS 13 Ventura Frequently Asked Questions

Q. When will macOS 13 Ventura be released?

A. Ventura was released on the 24th October 2022.

Q. How much does macOS 13 Ventura cost?

A. It is a FREE download via the Mac App Store Download it now on the Mac App Store

- it has a download size of around ~12.5GB.

Q. In our family/household/business the different Macs have different iTunes / App Store accounts on them. Do I have to download Ventura multiple times?

A. No. You can have more than one iTunes / App Store authorisation on a single machine. Use one of the iTunes / App Store accounts to authorise each computer in the family/household/business in turn to download and install Ventura (in the App Store application click on the "Purchases" tab).
NOTE: Mac App Store authorisations (for consumers) are different to iTunes authorisations. Mac App Store authorisations are unlimited whereas the iTunes authorisation limit is 10.

Q. How do I install Ventura on multiple computers?

A. Option 1: Download Ventura individually on each computer at ~12.5GB in size each time.
A. Option 2: Download the Ventura installer on one computer (at ~12.5GB in size), quit the installer and copy the installer to each computer's Applications folder that you want to install Ventura on.
A. Option 3: Download the Ventura installer on one computer (at ~12.5GB in size) and create an external installation device to boot and use on each computer that you want to install Ventura on.

Q. Which Macs can I install Ventura on?

A. Apple has officially confirmed that only the following Macs are compatible with Ventura:

MacBook (2017 or newer)
MacBook Air (2018 or newer)
MacBook Pro (2017 or newer)
Mac mini (2018 or newer)
Mac Studio (2022 or newer)
iMac (2017 or newer)
iMac Pro (2017 or newer)
Mac Pro (2019 or newer)

NOTE: You will also need at least macOS 10.12 and an Apple ID to be able to obtain Ventura from the Mac App Store.

Q. How can I check what specifications my computer has or graphics capability it has?

Q. Which Mac do I have?

A. You can check "Processor", "Memory" and macOS/OS X/Mac OS X "Version" by going to Apple menu > About This Mac > Overview tab if necessary (hint - clicking on the version number will give you the "build" number).
A. To check your Mac's "Model Name" go to Apple menu > About This Mac > Overview tab if necessary > check for the computer name in the top line e.g. "MacBook Pro" (this can only be checked with OS X 10.7 or later)
A. To check your Mac's model date version go to Apple menu > About This Mac > Overview tab if necessary > check the details after the Model Name e.g. "Early 2015" (this can only be checked with OS X 10.7 or later) - to be more specific and exact you can check what "Model Identifier" your Mac has by:

If you are running Mac OS X 10.6 or earlier go to Apple menu > About This Mac > click the "More Info…" button > (the System Profiler application will open) select "Hardware" in the top left > check what it says for 'Model Identifier' on the right.
If you are running OS X 10.7 or OS X 10.8 go to Apple menu > About This Mac > click the "More Info…" button > (the System Information application will open) select "Hardware" in the top left > check what it says for 'Model Identifier' on the right under 'Hardware Overview'.
If you are running OS X 10.9 or later go to Apple menu > About This Mac > click the "Overview" tab in the top left > click the "System Report…" button > (the System Information application will open) select "Hardware" in the top left > check what it says for 'Model Identifier' on the right under 'Hardware Overview'.

A. To check what graphics capability your Mac has:

If you are running Mac OS X 10.6 or earlier go to Apple menu > About This Mac > click the "More Info…" button > (the System Profiler application will open) select "Graphics/Displays" under 'Hardware' in the top left (click the triangle down if necessary) > click on the 'Video Card' on the right to see the technical information below.
If you are running OS X 10.7 or OS X 10.8 go to Apple menu > About This Mac > click the "More Info…" button > (the System Information application will open) select "Graphics/Displays" under 'Hardware' in the top left (click the triangle down if necessary) > click on the 'Video Card' on the right to see the technical information below.
If you are running OS X 10.9 or later go to Apple menu > About This Mac > click the "Overview" tab in the top left > click the "System Report…" button > (the System Information application will open) select "Graphics/Displays" under 'Hardware' in the top left (click the triangle down if necessary) > click on the 'Video Card' on the right to see the technical information below. With OS X 10.11 or later here you will also find whether your GPU supports "Metal".

A. To check your Mac's "Model Number" it is usually printed/engraved on the outside of the computer somewhere (it usually begins with the letter A or M).

Q. I have macOS 10.12 or later but my internet connection is slow. Will this be a problem?

A. No, but be warned, the Ventura installer is ~12.5GB in size so it may take some time to download.

Q. I have macOS 10.12 or later but I don't have a permanent connection to the internet. Will this be a problem?

A. Yes. The Mac App Store download of Ventura will require an internet connection. See the options listed in answer to the next question.

Q. I have macOS 10.12 or later but I have an internet access data cap in place / I cannot download something that is ~12.5GB in size. What can I do?

A. Ventura will not be available on optical disc or a USB thumb drive so your options are:

Use a different internet connection to yours that does not have an internet access data cap in place.
Go to an Apple Retail Store where you can install Ventura from their local server.

Q. If there is no physical Ventura disc/USB thumb drive and I install Ventura but run into trouble what can I do?

A. If you downloaded Ventura from the Mac App Store:

When Ventura is installed it creates a special bootable emergency "recovery" area on your hard disk. You can Use the macOS "Recovery HD" to repair your hard disk and/or reinstall Ventura (internet connection required).
If you have a Time Machine backup disk it may have an macOS "Recovery HD" partition on it which you can use to repair your hard disk and/or reinstall Ventura (internet connection required).
If you have created an External Installation Device you can use it to boot your computer and repair your hard disk and/or reinstall Ventura - Apple Silicon Macs and Macs with a T2 chip require Startup Security > External Boot to be set to "Allow booting from external media".
If you have created an Emergency Boot Drive for macOS you can use it to boot your computer and repair your hard disk - Apple Silicon Macs and Macs with a T2 chip require Startup Security > External Boot to be set to "Allow booting from external media".

A. If your Mac came with macOS 13 Ventura:

Your Mac has a special bootable emergency "recovery" area on your hard disk. You can Use the macOS "Recovery HD" to repair your hard disk and/or reinstall Ventura (internet connection required).
If you have a Time Machine backup disk it may have an macOS "Recovery HD" partition on it which you can use to repair your hard disk and/or reinstall Ventura (internet connection required).
If your hard disk has died (or you have upgraded it) you can use your computer's "Internet Recovery Mode" to reinstall Ventura (internet connection required) - Apple Silicon Macs do not support Internet Recovery.
If you have created an External Installation Device you can use it to boot your computer and repair your hard disk and/or reinstall Ventura - Apple Silicon Macs and Macs with a T2 chip require Startup Security > External Boot to be set to "Allow booting from external media".
If you have created an Emergency Boot Drive for macOS you can use it to boot your computer and repair your hard disk - Apple Silicon Macs and Macs with a T2 chip require Startup Security > External Boot to be set to "Allow booting from external media".

Q. What new features does Ventura have?

A. See Apple's official macOS 13 Ventura web page. MacStrategy's recommended features to note are:

Passkeys
Messages enhancements:

Edit
Undo send
Mark thread as unread
SharePlay via Messages
Recover recently deleted messages

Stage Manager:

Switch between apps
Create your ideal workspace
Group apps together
Spaces and Mission Control integration

Handoff in FaceTime
Continuity Camera - use iPhone as your webcam
Clock app
Weather app
Redesigned System Settings (aka System Preferences)
Redesigned Home app (support for the new "Matter" protocol coming later this year)
Family sharing updates including iCloud Shared Photo Library
Freeform collaboration tools - coming later in a free upgrade to macOS 13
Game SharePlay
Enhanced Accessibility
Enhanced Dictation including automatic punctuation and emoji support

NOTE: For the minimum system requirements of various new features see the relevant Q&A further down this page. Some features may not be available for all Mac models, in all countries, or in all areas.

Q. Does macOS 13 support all 64-bit applications?

A. No. All components and resources used by the 64-bit application must also be 64-bit (compatible). Apple has stated some things will not work in macOS 10.15 or later:

Apple Aperture
Legacy media formats - useful article on finding and converting old media
Incompatible media in Final Cut Pro X

Q. Which Macs support the Universal Control feature included with macOS 12 and later?

A. It would appear that the following Macs are compatible with the Universal Control feature:

MacBook (Early 2016 or newer)
MacBook Air (Late 2018 or newer)
MacBook Pro 13"/15" (Mid 2016 or newer)
Mac mini (Late 2018 or newer)
iMac 21.5" (2017 or newer)
iMac 5K Retina 27" (Late 2015 or newer)
iMac Pro (2017 or newer)
Mac Pro (2019 or newer)

Q. Which Macs support the AirPlay to Mac feature included with macOS 10.12 and later?

A. It would appear that the following Macs are compatible with the AirPlay to Mac feature:

MacBook Air (Late 2018 or newer)
MacBook Pro 13"/15" (2018 or newer)
Mac mini (2020 or newer)
iMac (2019 or newer)
iMac Pro (2017 or newer)
Mac Pro (2019 or newer)

NOTE: Older Mac models may share content at a lower resolution to supported Mac models when "Allow AirPlay for" is set to "Everyone" or "Anyone on the same network" in Sharing preferences.

Q. Which Macs support the iPad Sidecar feature included with macOS 10.15 and later?

A. It would appear that the following Macs are compatible with the iPad Sidecar feature:

MacBook (Early 2016 or newer)
MacBook Air (Late 2018 or newer)
MacBook Pro 13"/15" (Mid 2016 or newer)
Mac mini (Late 2018 or newer)
iMac 21.5" (Late 2015 or newer)
iMac 27" (Late 2015 or newer)
iMac Pro (2017 or newer)
Mac Pro (2019 or newer)

Q: How do I use the Sidecar feature with an iPad?

NOTE: Sidecar requires a compatible Mac running macOS 10.15 Catalina or later and a compatible iPad running iPadOS 13 or later.

On your Mac, go to the AirPlay menu icon in your menu bar (the square above a triangle icon in the top right of your screen)

NOTE

If you have an iPad that's compatible with Sidecar it will show up in the AirPlay menu list with it's name
Select the iPad you want to use as a Sidecar additional display from the AirPlay menu list - the iPad should automatically switch to being an additional display

Some notes about Sidecar:

Apple has information/instructions for different versions of macOS in their help guide
The iPad can be used in Sidecar mode either over Wi-Fi or via a physical USB connection - using a USB connection will power the iPad
Most touch gestures on the iPad will be switched off while in Sidecar mode - a few things may still work such as scrolling a window
The Apple Pencil can be used on the iPad but it works as a mouse alternative
Any keyboard connected to the iPad still works
A control sidebar will appear on the iPad while in Sidecar mode - this can be moved or turned on/off via the Sidecar System Preferences pane / System Settings
A Touch Bar will appear on the iPad while in Sidecar mode (this is similar to the Touch Bar found on specific Touch Bar model MacBook Pros) - this can be moved or turned on/off via the Sidecar System Preference pane / System Settings
While an iPad is attached in Sidecar mode you get further options/controls at Apple menu > System Preferences / Settings > Sidecar
You can arrange the position of the Sidecar display in the normal way via Apple menu > System Preferences / Settings > Displays > Arrangement tab or the "Arrange…" button

Q. Which Macs support the Apple Watch unlocking and WPA3 Wi-Fi encryption features included with macOS 10.15 and later?

A. It would appear that the following Macs are compatible with these new features:

MacBook (Early 2015 or newer)
MacBook Air (Mid 2013 or newer)
MacBook Pro 13"/15" (Early 2013 or newer)
Mac mini (Late 2014 or newer)
iMac (Late 2013 or newer)
iMac Pro (2017 or newer)
Mac Pro (Late 2013 or newer)

Q. Which apps support Continuity Camera included with macOS 10.14 and later?

A. According to this Apple technote the following apps do:

Finder
Keynote v8.2 or later
Mail
Messages
Notes
Numbers v5.2 or later
Pages v7.2 or later
TextEdit

Q. Is AFP (Apple File Protocol) networking still supported?

A. As a client, yes. You can access AFP servers via the Finder > Go menu > Connect to Server…
A. As a server, no. "File Sharing" via AFP is no longer supported.

Q. Does Ventura include PHP?

A. No - PHP has been removed. Use Homebrew to install it or install via a third party software stack such as MAMP/MAMP PRO.

Q. Does Ventura use Core Storage?

A. Yes. Disk Utility (in Macintosh HD > Applications > Utilities folder) gives you access to some Core Storage features and formatting.

Q. Does Ventura use Apple File System (APFS)?

A. Yes. See our separate Apple File System (APFS) article.

Q. Does Ventura support "Back To My Mac"?

A. No. See this Apple support page for more information and alternative options.

Q. I've heard Ventura includes something called System Integrity Protection (SIP). Will this stop me installing and using older software?

A. Possibly. See our separate article all about System Integrity Protection (SIP).

Q. I've heard Ventura includes something called Gatekeeper. Will this stop me installing and using older software?

A. No. You can configure Gatekeeper in one of two different ways:

Mac App Store = only software downloaded and installed from the Mac App Store will run (highest security)
Mac App Store and identified developers = only software downloaded and installed from the Mac App Store or that have been digitally signed by an authorised developer will run (medium security - default)

Q. Does Ventura have the original Rosetta? Does it run PowerPC applications/software?

A. Not to be confused with the new Rosetta version 2, just like OS X 10.7 Lion and later, Ventura does not include the original version 1 of Rosetta.

Q. Does Ventura include X11?

A. No. X11 on Ventura now uses install on demand. When you first launch an app that requires X11 libraries, you are directed to a download location for the most up-to-date version of X11 for Mac e.g. XQuartz. However, if you have upgraded to Ventura XQuartz may get moved as part of the upgrade process and stop working. If you've upgraded to Ventura you are recommended to reinstall the software using the latest version e.g. v2.7.11 or later.

Q. Does Ventura include Xgrid Sharing?

A. No. Just like OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion and later it has been removed.

Q. Does Ventura include Java?

A. No. Java is available to download from Oracle - see our Java article for more information and download links to obtain the latest free Java software.

Q. If I install macOS 13 Ventura and don't like it can I easily downgrade back to macOS 12/11/10.15/10.14/10.13/10.12?

A. Unfortunately, depending on your Mac model it may not be very easy. We're working on an article about that - check back soon.

Q. What should I do to prepare and be ready for installing Ventura?

A. See this article.

Article Keywords: macOS 13 Ventura 1300 Frequently Asked Questions FAQ

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