Are you contemplating upgrading to macOS X Catalina? Maybe you have a 16-inch Macbook Pro? It’s a great operating system and it brings with it many new features and upgrades designed to make your experience better.
But as with any new operating system, it’s not without its problems. And sometimes when you upgrade not everything goes to plan. Bugs do appear from time-to-time and not every Mac computer is the same.
All computers are different and respond differently to upgrades. Here are some classic macOS Catalina problems you might face and how to fix them.
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1. Problems Downloading or Installing Mac OS X Catalina
Are you having problems downloading OS X Catalina? It can be one of the most irritating problems you face when you are trying to set up your Mac with the latest software. Remember that the operating system was renamed last year to macOS but older versions still use the name OS X.
You might be eager to use all of the new features and then feel frustrated that the operating system doesn’t load or won’t download at all. However, there are some steps you can take to get over this.
Upgrade That Hardware
Firstly upgrade that hardware. If you have a very old Mac it won’t have the space or the storage to be able to run OS X Catalina.
Apple has a clear timeline where after a few years it stops older machines from being able to upgrade to the very latest software.
OS X Catalina will not work with Apple devices that are older than:
- iMac Pro (2017)
- Mac Pro (2013)
- 12″ MacBook (2015)
- MacBook Air (2012)
- MacBook Pro (2012)
- Mac mini (2012)
- iMac (2012)
If you have a machine that’s older than this then consider upgrading it. Apple does some great trade-in programs or you can sell it online as a second-hand product.
If this still doesn’t solve the problem or you have a computer that was built later than those models listed above consider taking your computer to one of the genius bar stations at any Apple Store.
Even if your machine is out of warranty it’s still worth talking to them as they might be able to give you some free advice. You might also be able to pay a fee upfront for them to fix or service your computer.
2. Operating System Gets Stuck
What happens if you are downloading the latest version of your OS and your computer freezes leaving you stuck on the loading system for hours on end?
This can be frustrating and can prevent you from doing any work for hours at a time. It’s particularly irritating if you have a deadline coming up.
Hard Reboot
The best way to resolve this issue to instigate a hard reboot of your system. This is where you force your computer to turn off.
Hold down the power button until it closes down. And then when your computer restarts press command, option, and R. This will bring up the recovery system menu and should give you some further options about what’s going wrong when you try to boot your OS.
If you are in any doubt be sure to reach out to an expert and PrintScreen this page so you can share it with them.
3. Remember 32Bit is out
It’s important to remember that OS X Catalina was the first operating system to stop supporting 32-bit apps. Instead, 64-bit apps are now standard.
If you have apps that only support 32 bit they won’t work. It’s worth reaching out to the development company and asking them if they have an upgraded app or checking the app store to make sure you’re running the latest version of the software.
Failing this you can find an alternative app that does the same job. But knowing which apps will work and which will stop working can be useful information to have before you make the upgrade to OS X Catalina.
You can find this out by running a specific app that can identify which apps are 32 bit and which ones are 64 straight away or you can use Google and search apps individually.
If there’s an app that’s fundamental to your work or social life that hasn’t yet been upgraded to 64 bit then you might want to reconsider your upgrade.
Another solution is purchasing a new computer to upgrade to OS X Catalina on one machine and to leave the other computer alone with the previous OS X.
4. Mail Issues
There have been some reports that Apple’s flagship Mail app crashes on OS X Catalina. There are a few solutions to this.
Reinstall the software. Uninstall the App and reinstall it. This will guarantee that you are upgraded to the latest version and might fix the problem to ensure better integration with OS X Catalina.
Failing this you can do some simple coding to resolve this issue. In Finder or Command Prompt look for Saved Application State and then send com.apple.mail or a similar link to the bin.
Then track down Envelope Index-shm and Envelope Index-wal and send them to trash as well.
If you’re having trouble with these steps be sure to consult a computer expert who can do it for you for a cheap price.
You can also do a mac system check to see if your system is functioning correctly.
Mac OS X Catalina: A Great System But Not Without Its Bugs
Max OS X Catalina is a great system but it’s not without problems that can beset it. Do your research first to find out what apps are available and which ones have been discontinued on Mac OSX.
Always consult a computer expert if you are having serious issues with Max OS X Catalina and they should be able to resolve them for you.
If you are interested in learning more about Mac OS X Catalina be sure to check out the rest of our site.
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