Apple Releases macOS Big Sur 11.6.4 With Security Fixes

Apple today released macOS Big Sur 11.6.4, a security fix update that is designed for Mac users who continue to use the Big Sur operating system instead of macOS Monterey.

macOS Big Sur Feature Orange
The ‌‌‌‌macOS Big Sur 11.6.4‌‌ update can be downloaded on all eligible Macs using the Software Update section of System Preferences.

Today's update comes about two weeks after the launch of macOS Big Sur 11.6.3, which was released alongside macOS Monterey 12.2. Apple usually releases new versions of macOS Big Sur alongside Monterey updates, but today's Big Sur software release is standalone.

According to Apple's release notes for the update, macOS Big Sur 11.6.4 "improves the security of macOS" and is recommended for all users.

Apple has also released a 2022-002 macOS Catalina security update for those who are still running macOS Catalina.

Related Forum: macOS Big Sur

Popular Stories

iOS 26

iOS 26.1 Coming Soon: New Features for Your iPhone and Release Date

Monday October 27, 2025 7:55 am PDT by
The upcoming iOS 26.1 update includes a handful of new features and changes for iPhones, including a toggle for changing the appearance of the Liquid Glass design, "slide to stop" for alarms in the Clock app, and more. Below, we outline key details about iOS 26.1. Release Date Given that Apple has yet to seed an iOS 26.1 Release Candidate, which is typically the final beta version, the...
iOS 26

6 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 26.1

Wednesday October 29, 2025 4:22 am PDT by
Apple is about to drop iOS 26.1, the first major point release since iOS 26 was rolled out in September, and there are at least six notable changes and improvements to look forward to. We've rounded them up below. Apple has already provided developers and public beta testers with the release candidate version of iOS 26.1, which means Apple will likely roll out the update to all compatible...
maxresdefault

Apple TV 4K Could Still Launch Before 2025 Ends: All the Rumored Features

Monday October 27, 2025 4:51 pm PDT by
Apple is designing an updated version of the Apple TV 4K, and rumors suggest that it could come out sometime in the next couple of months. We're not expecting a major overhaul with design changes, but even a simple chip upgrade will bring major improvements to Apple's set-top box. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. We've rounded up all the latest Apple TV rumors. ...
iOS 26

Apple Seeds iOS 26.1, iPadOS 26.1, and macOS Tahoe 26.1 Release Candidates

Tuesday October 28, 2025 1:07 pm PDT by
Apple today provided developers and public beta testers with the release candidate versions of upcoming iOS 26.1, iPadOS 26.1, macOS Tahoe 26.1, tvOS 26.1, watchOS 26.1, and visionOS 26.1 updates for testing purposes. The RCs betas come a week after Apple released the fourth betas. The new betas can be downloaded from the Settings app on a compatible device by going to General > Software...
M6 MacBook Pro Feature 1

M6 MacBook Pro: Release Date, Pricing, and What to Expect

Monday October 27, 2025 9:15 am PDT by
Apple this month refreshed the 14-inch MacBook Pro base model with its new M5 chip, and higher-end 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips are expected to follow in early 2026. However, these machines will represent the final update to the current design, with Apple reportedly developing a completely new version of the MacBook Pro packed with next-generation hardware...
iPhone 17 Pro Cosmic Orange

8 Reasons to Wait for Next Year's iPhone 18 Pro

Thursday October 30, 2025 4:42 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models at the same time, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 18 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. One thing worth...
macos tahoe

Here Are Apple's Release Notes for macOS Tahoe 26.1

Tuesday October 28, 2025 1:21 pm PDT by
Apple today provided developers and public beta testers with the release candidate version of macOS Tahoe 26.1, which means the update will likely see a public launch next week. The release candidate includes notes on what's in the update, so we have a full picture of the new features that Apple has included. macOS Tahoe 26.1 adds AutoMix support over AirPlay, improved FaceTime audio...
ipad mini 7 feature blue

OLED iPad Mini: Release Date, Pricing, and What to Expect

Wednesday October 29, 2025 7:13 am PDT by
Rumors are stoking excitement for the next-generation iPad mini that Apple is reportedly close to launching. So what should we expect from the successor to the iPad mini 7 that Apple released over a year ago? Read on to find out. Processor and Performance Apple is working on a next-generation version of the iPad mini (codename J510/J511) that features the A19 Pro chip, according to...
iPhone Car Key Kia

Another Vehicle Brand Gaining iPhone Car Keys Support

Tuesday October 28, 2025 5:27 am PDT by
Apple is preparing to bring support for its digital car key feature to Jetour vehicles, according to evidence uncovered on Apple's backend by MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris. Introduced in 2022, Car Keys allows an iPhone or Apple Watch to unlock a vehicle through the Wallet app. A digital version of a car key is stored in Wallet, and unlocking can be done by holding an Apple Watch or...

Top Rated Comments

warpdrive Avatar
49 months ago
I'm probably not alone in thinking that I can wait a while longer before upgrading from Big Sur to Monterey. Most these MacOS releases are pretty meh....nothing overly compelling to get me to upgrade right away.

So I'm glad they are still supporting previous OS with security updates
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AndiG Avatar
48 months ago
I remember the days when Snow Leopard was released. A new OS version was really great. Don‘t remeber if you had to pay for SL, but at least for the earlier updates one could get an update for some bucks.

Today is more like: Meh, an update? Again? Couldn‘t you just leave me alone with your da*n updates? Bugs, every year, bugs, bugs, bugs and after that, fixes, fixes fixes. Live, die, repeat e-v-e-r-y year!!!!

I like the way some Linux distros handle this. You can live on the edge or you can get LTS versions with ~8 years security fixes and you don‘t need an OS update for a new browser or new emojis. Wish Apple would slow down with UI and other „improvements“.

New OS version every 3-4 years? Release it when it is done? I don‘t want your latest and greatest, Apple. Just want a stable OS.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mr. Dee Avatar
49 months ago
Still on Big Sur, very stable, in no rush to upgrade. Will likely switch to Monterrey after macOS 13 launches.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MallardDuck Avatar
49 months ago
I SO wish I could be back on Big Sur. Monterey is the worst release in memory. They *still* haven't fixed the USB bugs.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jdclifford Avatar
49 months ago

Apple releases iOS 14.x update for those that do not want, cough, not yet ready to upgrade to iOS 15.x

Wishful thinking
And for those whose hardware Apple doesn't support anymore (i.e. can't upgrade to Monterey) like my 2015 MacBook 12".
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
eadnams Avatar
49 months ago
Wish they released Big Sur for M1 Pro & Max :(
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)