The rollout of macOS Sonoma, Apple’s latest operating system, has been relatively smooth with minimal reports of app compatibility issues. However, there are a few notable exceptions that users should be aware of.
One such app is Apple’s own Configurator app, which is in need of an update. While this might not be a major concern for most users, it poses a problem for enterprise mobile management. Configurator is used by IT administrators in business and education to mass-configure iPads and iPhones. Apple has acknowledged the issue and recommends continuing to use macOS Ventura or earlier until a future update resolves the problem.
Thankfully, some frequent offenders like Microsoft and Adobe have already updated their apps to be compatible with Sonoma. Microsoft 365 supports Sonoma with the September 2023 update (16.77), and Adobe advises Lightroom Classic customers to stick with Ventura until they work out the issue with shadow watermarks.
On the other hand, Intuit, maker of QuickBooks Desktop for Mac software, is currently experiencing compatibility issues with Sonoma. Users are still waiting for an update to address these problems, and support representatives have not provided a specific timeline for when a fix will be available.
Another consideration for users who rely on Virtual Machine (VM) software to run non-native apps, games, and operating systems is the compatibility of these VM tools with Sonoma. Parallels Desktop 19, a popular VM software, has released a major update that is optimized for Sonoma. This update resolves issues related to Sonoma’s removal of built-in PostScript support, improving the compatibility of Parallels Desktop with the new operating system.
In addition, CodeWeavers has released CrossOver 23.5, a compatibility layer software for Mac and other systems, which adds a new “D3DMetal” option to enhance compatibility and performance for DirectX 11 and DirectX 12 games on Macs with M1 chips or later.
Sonoma users interested in customizing their menu bar should be aware that Bartender, a popular Menu Bar reorganization tool, has been updated to version 5, optimized for Sonoma with new features and improved compatibility.
Before upgrading to macOS Sonoma, it is crucial to check with the developers of the apps you rely on to ensure compatibility with the new operating system. Many apps have been recently updated on the Mac App Store to support Sonoma and take advantage of its specific features. Exercising caution and doing proper research before upgrading will help avoid any show-stoppers or compatibility issues with third-party apps.
If you have encountered any compatibility issues or challenges with Sonoma and third-party apps, feel free to share your experiences in the comments section.