macOS Sonoma 14 Problems: 5 Things You Need to Know

Apple’s macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 update fixes problems, but we’re also seeing complaints about bugs, glitches, and performance issues.

macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 went through testing behind the scenes, but problems have slipped through the cracks into the public version of the software.

Some of these problems are brand new and exclusive to macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 while others have carried over from older versions of macOS.

In this guide to macOS Sonoma problems we’ll take you through the current state of its problems.

We’ll show you where to find potential fixes for the most common macOS Sonoma problems and provide you with some resources that should help if do you run into trouble.

We’ll also touch on the macOS downgrade and Apple’s plans to fix issues in new versions of macOS Sonoma.

macOS Sonoma 14 Problems

We’re seeing complaints about the following macOS Sonoma issues:

• Rapid battery drain
• iMessage issues,
• Lag and stuttering
• Touch ID issues
• Issues with first and third-party applications
• Wi-Fi problems
• Bluetooth problems
• Installation issues

If you haven’t downloaded the macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 update yet, we recommend preparing your Mac for the download. Some prep work ahead of time can help you avoid major headaches.

We’ve put together a step-by-step pre-installation process and it will take you through the best way to prepare for the move to a new version of macOS.

Where to Find macOS Sonoma Feedback

If you’ve already moved your Mac to macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 or if you’re planning to upgrade in the near future, you’ll want to dig through feedback from early adopters. This feedback will alert you to potential bugs and performance issues.

We recommend keeping an eye on YouTube, Apple’s discussion forums, social media sites like Reddit and Twitter, and the MacRumors forums for additional feedback about macOS Sonoma 14.4.1’s performance.

We’ve published two guides. One is a general guide for macOS Sonoma and the other takes a closer look at macOS Sonoma 14.4.1’s performance.

How to Fix macOS Sonoma Problems

Some of macOS Sonoma 14.4.1’s issues might require a fix from Apple, but there’s a chance you may be able to fix some problems on your own.

Before you make an appointment at your local Apple Store, have a look at our list of fixes for the most common macOS Sonoma problems. You may be able to find what you’re looking for there.

If your Mac’s battery is draining faster than it should be, we’ve released a guide that will show you how to fix macOS Sonoma battery life problems.

If you can’t find what you’re looking for in our guides, head on over to Apple’s discussion forums. If they can’t help you, you might want to get in contact with customer support via Apple’s website.

If you still can’t fix your issue(s), you might want to schedule an appointment to see a Genius at your local Apple Store. They should be able to diagnose your problem in a matter of minutes.

macOS Sonoma Downgrade

You can downgrade from macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 to older macOS firmware if you think it could help. There’s no time limit and it’s fairly easy if you have a good backup for your Mac.

If you want to get your Mac off of macOS Sonoma, you need to start your Mac in safe mode and choose Restore from Time Machine Backup.

This will take some time, so you’ll need to remain patient, but it’s an option if you can’t wait for Apple to release the next version of macOS Sonoma.

Next macOS Sonoma Update

If your Mac is struggling on macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 or an older version, you’ll be on your own for a bit.

macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 was the last confirmed macOS 14 update in Apple’s pipeline. We do expect the company to put a new macOS Sonoma 14.5 update into beta testing in the near future.

macOS Sonoma 14.5 probably won’t arrive until April or May.

Install macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 for Better Security

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If security is important to you, think about installing Apple's macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 update right away. macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 includes two security patches and these will help protect your device and it data from harm.  You'll also get patches from updates you missed when you upgrade to macOS Sonoma 14.4.1. macOS Sonoma 14.4 brought 50+ security updates to compatible Mac devices. The update also delivered quantum security protection for iMessage. Apple says the upgrade gives iMessage "the strongest security properties of any at-scale messaging protocol in the world." Apple's macOS Sonoma 14.3 update brought 16 new security patches to Mac. These will help keep your device and its data protected from harm.  macOS Sonoma 14.2.1 featured one security patch and it fixed an issue where a user who shares their screen may unintentionally share the incorrect content. macOS Sonoma 14.2 included a whopping 20 security patches for your Mac. If you want to learn more about them, head here. The software also included iMessage Contact Key Verification which improves the security of iMessage. macOS Sonoma 14.1.2 delivered two security patches, both related to WebKit. These patches were extremely important. macOS Sonoma 14.1 had numerous security patches on board and they addressed issues with Photos, Safari, Siri and more. You can learn more about them over at Apple. macOS Sonoma 14.0, the first version of macOS Sonoma, brought a ton of new security patches to Mac. And when we say a ton, we mean a ton.  It delivered over 50 security updates to Mac users. You can learn more about the particulars over on Apple's security site. In addition to the patches, macOS Sonoma brings additional enhancements to privacy and security including improvements to Communication Safety beyond Messages. It now includes content sent and received in the systemwide photo picker and third-party apps. You also have an option to blur out sensitive photos and videos before you choose to view them. There's also an expanded Lockdown Mode which will help protect you against cyber attacks and improved sharing permissions which means you have more control over what you share with the apps on your device.  If you skipped older versions of macOS, you'll get the security patches from those updates with your macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 update.

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