macOS Big Sur 11.5 Release Date: Tips & Tricks

Apple’s confirmed a new macOS Big Sur 11.5 update for Mac and the software is currently in testing ahead of an imminent release date.

The company’s pushed macOS Big Sur 11.5 into its beta programs and the pre-release version is available to developers and those enrolled in the company’s public Beta Software Program. The Beta Software Program is free to anyone with a compatible device and an Apple ID.

macOS Big Sur 11.5 is a milestone release which means it will bring new features, enhancements, bug fixes for lingering macOS Big Sur issues and security patches. It should also serve as one of the last macOS Big Sur updates.

It’s an exciting update and it’s one that Mac users should have their eyes on as we push deeper into July.

macOS Big Sur 11.5 Release Date

The company hasn’t confirmed a specific macOS Big Sur 11.5 release date, but it’s getting close. Apple is currently on its final version of the beta.

With the macOS Big Sur 11.5 release date on the horizon, it’s time to start thinking about its arrival. In this guide we’ll outline some tips and tricks that will come in handy as we close in on the next major macOS Big Sur update for Mac.

• Prepare for the macOS Big Sur 11.5 Release Date
• Get Familiar with macOS Big Sur 11.5
• Avoid the macOS Big Sur 11.5 Beta
• Monitor Feedback
• macOS Big Sur 11.5 Release Time
• macOS Big Sur 11.5 Download Size
• Prepare for Problems
• Be Ready to Downgrade
• Keep Your Apps Updated
• Take Your Time

Prepare for the macOS Big Sur 11.5 Release Date

The macOS Big Sur 11.5 release date is close which means you might want to start doing some prep work.

macOS Big Sur 11.5 will probably require a significant chunk of space on your Mac’s internal storage. Milestone upgrades typically do.

If you’re getting low on storage, use this time to do some cleanup. Go into your Mac’s storage and delete files you no longer need. This will help make room for macOS Big Sur 11.5 and it could improve your Mac’s overall performance.

You should also start backing up the data you store on your Mac. Data loss issues are rare, but there’s always a chance something goes wrong during the transition.

If you haven’t installed macOS Big Sur yet, macOS Big Sur 11.5 could log you out of your apps and services. We recommend having your Apple ID, iCloud information, third-party app login info handy just in case.

Get Familiar with macOS Big Sur 11.5 and Older Updates

You should get familiar with the changes coming with macOS Big Sur 11.5 ahead of its arrival.

We’ve released a guide that will walk you through the changes on board the next version of macOS Big Sur. It’s a great place to start.

If you’re still hanging around on an older version of macOS and you don’t have plans to upgrade to macOS Big Sur just yet, make sure you get familiar with newer versions of macOS.

Most People Should Avoid the macOS Big Sur 11.5 Beta

Installing the macOS Big Sur 11.5 beta on your Mac might be tempting, especially if you’re dealing with problems, but most people should avoid the beta and wait for the official release.

The beta will help Apple tackle bugs and performance issues before they become major headaches for millions of Mac users. It’s also fun to try out changes before they’re released to the general public. That said, beta software can be extremely problematic.

The macOS Big Sur 11.5 beta is causing problems for some testers and you could run into these very same issues if you decide to install it on your computer.

If you rely on your device to get through a day of school or work, you’ll want to stay put on whatever version of macOS you’re currently running.

Monitor Feedback from the macOS Big Sur 11.5 Beta

If you do decide to skip the macOS Big Sur 11.5 beta, make sure you monitor feedback from beta testers as we push toward the official release.

Monitoring feedback will alert you to potential problems and it will also alert you to potential benefits. More importantly, it might help you decide if you want to install macOS Big Sur 11.5 right away or wait.

We’ve seen macOS Big Sur 11.5 feedback emerge on sites like YouTube and Twitter. Check those sites if you’re curious about the software’s performance.

macOS Big Sur 11.5 Release Time

If you’ve owned a Mac and/or an iPhone for awhile you already know this, but for those of you who are new Apple’s ecosystem, here’s your PSA.

Apple almost always rolls software updates out around 10AM Pacific. That will likely be the case for the final version of macOS Big Sur 11.5.

Here’s what that looks like for other time zones in the United States:

• Eastern – 1 PM
• Central – 12 PM
• Mountain – 11AM

Keep this in mind if you plan to install the final version of macOS Big Sur 11.5 right away.

macOS Big Sur 11.5 Download Size

We don’t know how big the macOS Big Sur 11.5 download will be, but again, you can expect it to require quite a bit of free space.

You can expect long download times, especially right when Apple pushes the update live, but the installation process will probably take longer.

Prepare for macOS Big Sur 11.5 Problems

macOS Big Sur 11.5 has gone through an extensive beta process, but the final version won’t be perfect. Issues will slip into the final release.

Common macOS problems include abnormal battery drain, Bluetooth issues, Wi-Fi problems, app instability, UI lag, crashes, and Exchange issues. These problems appear after every single macOS release and there’s a good chance we’ll see them emerge in the aftermath of the macOS Big Sur 11.5 release.

It’ll be difficult to predict what kind of performance you’ll get once you move your Mac to new software so you’ll want to make sure you’re prepared to tackle any issues you encounter on day one and beyond.

We’ve released a list of fixes for common macOS Big Sur problems. If you don’t consider yourself a macOS expert, you’ll want to bookmark those fixes.

You’ll also want to bookmark or follow Apple Support on Twitter and bookmark the Apple Support page on the company’s website.

You should also be familiar with Apple’s Discussion forums.

Learn How to Downgrade

If you run into into issues with macOS Big Sur 11.5 you will be able to downgrade back to an older version of macOS.

If you aren’t familiar with the macOS downgrade process, today is a great day to get familiar with it.

Keep Your Apps Updated

If you want the best experience on macOS Big Sur 11.5, make sure you keep your apps updated.

As we speed toward the macOS Big Sur 11.5 release, keep an eye out for macOS support updates. These updates should help stabilize performance and help your device make a smooth transition to new software.

Before you download an app update, make sure you read reviews from users. These reviews will alert you to potential benefits and problems with the latest version.

Take Your Time with macOS Big Sur 11.5

macOS Big Sur 11.5 is an exciting upgrade and some of you might be tempted to install it the second it arrives.

For some of you, particularly those dealing with macOS Big Sur problems, this might be your best course of action. That said, some of you will be better off waiting a few hours, a few days or, in some cases, a few weeks before installing the firmware.

There are plenty of reasons to skip macOS software updates on day one. For one, macOS updates can wreak havoc on your device’s performance.

If you’re feeling leery, dig into feedback from Mac users who download macOS Big Sur 11.5 right away. If you’re still undecided, think about waiting.

Install macOS Big Sur 11.6.8 for Better Security

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If security is important to you, you should think about installing Apple's macOS Big Sur 11.6.8 update right now. macOS Monterey 11.6.8 has 25+ new patches on board and these will protect your Mac from harm. You can learn more about these changes over on Apple's website. If you've fallen behind on updates, you'll also get the patches from older versions of macOS when you upgrade.  The macOS Big Sur 11.6.6 update had 40 important security patches on board. If you're interested in the particulars, check out Apple's security page. macOS Big Sur 11.6.5 brought more than 15 security patches to Macs. You can learn more about those right here. Apple said macOS Big Sur 11.6.4 "improves the security of macOS" though it still hasn't outlined the patches in detail. macOS Big Sur 11.6.3 delivered seven new security patches. If you're interested in the details, head over to Apple's website. If you missed the macOS Big Sur 11.6.2 update, it brought more than 30 new security patches to macOS Big Sur users. It's a substantial list and you can learn more over on Apple's security site.  If you skipped macOS Big Sur 11.6.1 you'll get its patches when you upgrade your Mac. You can learn more about those patches over on the company's security site. If you missed macOS Big Sur 11.6, it had two important security patches on board. You can read about both of those over on Apple's security website.  If you missed macOS Big Sur 11.5.1, it brought a brand new security patch to Macs. You can read more about it on Apple's website.  If you missed macOS Big Sur 11.5, the update carried 35 new security patches that will help protect your Mac from harm. If you're interested in the details, check out the company's security site.  If you missed macOS Big Sur 11.4, you'll get the update's 50+ security patches when you upgrade. You can read more about them over on Apple's security site.  If you missed macOS Big Sur 11.3.1, it had two crucial security patches on board, both related to WebKit. If you want to learn more about them, head over to Apple's website.  If you skipped macOS Big Sur 11.3, it also had patches on board. The list included one for a vulnerability that escaped built-in malware protections. For more on macOS Big Sur 11.3's patches, head on over to Apple's security site.  If you missed earlier versions of macOS, you'll want to consider upgrading so you get their security patches as well.  macOS Big Sur 11.2.3 brought one security patch to Mac users. You can read more about it on Apple's website.  macOS Big Sur 11.2.1 had three security patches on board. You can read about them over on its security website. macOS Big Sur 11.2 had a ton of patches on board and you can learn more about them right here.  If you missed macOS Big Sur 11.1, it had 51 security patches on board. You can read about them right here. macOS Big Sur 11.1 also included a new privacy information section on App Store pages that includes a developer-reported summary of the app’s privacy practices. If you're moving up from macOS Catalina, you'll get macOS Big Sur 11.0.1's 50+ security patches. If you're interested these improvements, you can read about them over on Apple's website. In addition to those patches, macOS Big Sur comes with additional security and privacy upgrades including improvements to the App Store and Safari.  In Safari, you can now tap the Privacy Report button to better understand how websites handle your privacy. With macOS Big Sur on board you can now get information on the App Store that will help you understand the privacy practices of apps before you download them.  Researchers also discovered that Apple brought a new "BlastDoor" sandbox security system to macOS Big Sur, iOS 14, and iPadOS 14. The system is meant to prevent attacks from occurring via the Messages app.  You can read more about "BlastDoor" right here.

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