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Do you use an Apple Mac? Don’t update yet (Updated May 2021)

21 Sep 2018

Updated May 2021: IT Services have confirmed that our core applications work as expected, and we're now happy for Mac users to update their Operating Systems to macOS 11 (Big Sur)

Apple Macbook

We would like to remind staff to check that the versions of the applications they use regularly are compatible with macOS Big Sur, and to ensure that their important data is backed up before upgrading.


Note (January 2018): Now that macOS High Sierra is established, the information below has changed, and we advise users to stay up to date. However, Mac users will need to ensure they're using Microsoft Office 2016.


Original article:

IT Services advise Apple Mac users (including iMacs and Macbooks) not to upgrade to the new version of macOS, scheduled to be released on Monday 25 September.

We always advise against updating any Operating System immediately after release. This ensures that any potential bugs or incompatibility issues can be identified.

This is especially important with the imminent release of macOS 10.13 (known as ‘High Sierra’), as changes to the Operating System mean that a number of software packages will no longer work.

One of these software packages is Microsoft Office 2011, which many people use on campus. If you use Microsoft Office 2011 (which includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint and more) and upgrade to High Sierra, Office will stop working completely.

The latest version of Microsoft Office 2016 is compatible with macOS High Sierra, however it is not yet available on our Electronic Software Delivery system. We plan to make it available as soon as possible, but in the meantime you should not upgrade to High Sierra if you currently use Microsoft Office 2011.

IT Services