Skip to main content

Don’t download the latest macOS Ventura update just yet

The 14-inch MacBook Pro with M3 Max chip seen from behind.
Luke Larsen / Digital Trends

We have a warning if your MacBook or other Mac machine is still running macOS Ventura. The latest macOS Ventura 13.6.6 update is bringing a lot of big bugs, and it is affecting the way that people are using their favorite Apple products, so you might want to hold off on downloading the update.

Originally released back on March 25, this problematic update came at the same time as macOS Sonoma 14.4.1, which patched issues with Java, USB hubs, and more. Unfortunately, though, macOS Ventura 13.6.6 is introducing some new issues of its own. Spotted by the folks at GottaBeMobile, Mac users have taken to Apple’s support forums to complain of everyday issues linked to this release that are breaking their Macs.

Recommended Videos

That includes issues not being able to send emails, Wi-Fi dropping out on certain 2017 MacBook Pro models, and not being able to log into Microsoft Teams. Some other issues with macOS Ventura 13.6.6 that are popping up include Touch ID not working on some Macs, and the Messages app not loading properly.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

On an iMac, meanwhile, some users report that their external DVD drive is not recognized after updating to this release. Additional issues include not being able to drag apps to a second display, or not being able to back up with Time Machine.

Users in Apple’s Community Forums report that running Wi-Fi or Bluetooth on or off could resolve some of these problems — but take that with a fine grain of salt. It is shaping up as though if you’re running into these issues, you’ll have to wait a few weeks for Apple to push out another update, possibly later in May. Submitting feedback is critical though, so you might want to talk about your own experience in the forums to bring this to Apple’s attention. The more reports on the issues, the higher the chance a fix will be rushed.

Unlike on Windows, there’s no easy way to uninstall or revert to a previous security update on macOS. That’s why it’s always a good idea to keep a full backup of your Mac with Time Machine, so if an update were to go bad, you can restore from it.

It should be noted that while Ventura isn’t the latest version of macOS, it’s the last to support a number of Macs, such as the 12-inch MacBook and the 2016 iMac.

Arif Bacchus
Arif Bacchus is a native New Yorker and a fan of all things technology. Arif works as a freelance writer at Digital Trends…
Two of the best Apple Intelligence features on Mac still need work
Apple Intelligence in macOS Sequoia being used to summarize a selection of text.

Recently, Apple launched the macOS Sequoia 15.1 beta, and with it came a bunch of new Apple Intelligence features. Not everything, mind you – many of the flagship tools, like the Image Playground and Siri’s more powerful capabilities, might not debut until next year. But there’s enough Apple Intelligence here to get a feel for the new system.

Ever since the beta came out, there have been two areas of Apple Intelligence I’ve wanted to focus my attention on: Mail summaries and Apple’s suite of Writing Tools. These are some of the most fleshed-out Apple Intelligence elements that exist in macOS Sequoia right now, and also potentially two of the most useful, so it made sense to channel my efforts toward them.

Read more
macOS Sequoia fixes a problem that’s bugged me for years
The iPhone Mirroring feature from macOS Sequoia being demonstrated at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2024.

Sometimes, people think it’s the big, headline features -- like Apple Intelligence -- that make an operating system great. But there’s one new feature in macOS Sequoia that shows the opposite is true -- that a collection of less glamorous, yet meaningful changes can have a much bigger impact.

I’m talking about Apple’s new iPhone Mirroring feature. Or rather, one particular element of iPhone Mirroring: its new drag-and-drop ability. Even in the few short days it’s been available, it’s managed to improve my daily workflow and fix an issue that’s been bugging me for years.

Read more
macOS Sequoia may be breaking important security tools
macOS Sequoia being introduced by Apple's Craig Federighi at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2024.

Apple released macOS Sequoia on Monday, but the update has broken the functionality for some networking and security tools from companies such as Microsoft, CrowdStrike, SentinelOne, and more, as Bleeping Computer reports. Affected users on Reddit are sharing their issues with security software such as ESET Endpoint Security and CrodStrike Falcon.

Other reported issues include firewalls causing packet corruptions, browser SSL failures, and the inability to use the "curl" or "get" commands. Users can fix the problem quickly by turning off the tools, which indicates an incompatibility issue with the network stack, but this is not the fix many may be looking for.

Read more