What’s New in the macOS Catalina 10.15.6 Update 19G73?

MrMacintosh.com - What’s New in the macOS Catalina 10.15.6 Update 19G73?
The final macOS Catalina point release update is live!

macOS Catalina 10.15.6 19G73 is now Available.

The final macOS Catalina 10.15.6 update is live! The update is now available for download as a full installer.app, delta and combo update. This update might include a fix for the fix for the MacBook Pro 16″ wake from sleep Kernel Panic Issue! NOTE: as in 10.15.5, the patch notes do not mention this issue. Did 10.15.6 fix the wake from sleep KP issue for you ? Let me know in the comments.

Let’s take a closer look at the final Catalina point release update. When I say final update, I mean that for the past 4 (10.11-10.14) macOS releases Apple has gone to .6. We could see a supplemental update or 2 (Mojave) if a serious defect is found in 10.15.6. Don’t count on this though, as all development is now being put into macOS Big Sur.

10.15.6 Patch Notes Summary

  • 2 New Features
  • 2 Resolved Issues
  • 4 Enterprise Fixes
  • 14 Security Fixes

Apple’s Public Patch Notes / Release Notes Documentation

NOTE: Apple Documentation takes a little while to show up online after release. I will update when the new articles are made available.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT210642

developer.apple.com/documentation/macos_release_notes

developer.apple.com/documentation/macos-release-notes/macos-catalina-10_15_6-release-notes

For more detailed information about this update and previous updates, please visit: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT210642

Apple Reverts softwareupdate –ignore changes from 10.15.5

You might remember my article talking about the changes Apple made in 10.15.5 and the 2020-003 security updates. mrmacintosh.com/10-15-5-2020-003-updates-changes-to-softwareupdate-ignore/. With the Catalina 10.15.6 & 2020-004 security updates, those changes were reverted back. After installing 10.15.6 or the 2020-004 updates, you can once again use softwareupdate --ignore to block minor and major updates. As long as the Mac is enrolled in Apple School Manager, Apple Business Manager or a User Approved MDM.

Previous 10.15 Releases + Previous Patch Notes

Catalina 10.15.6 Info & Download Links

Delta Update

The “Delta” update is smaller in size because it only includes fixes for the previous point release only.

Download Link – support.apple.com/kb/DL2047

Size = 2.96 GB

Product ID = 061-94461

Requirements = 10.15.5

Combo Update

The “Combo” update is for all previous versions of Catalina.

Download Link – support.apple.com/kb/DL2048

Size = 4.78 GB

Product ID = 061-94457

Requirements = 10.15.0, 10.15.1, 10.15.2, 10.15.3, 10.15.4 or 10.15.5

Full Installer.app

Link – Catalina 10.15.6 Mac App Store

Size = 8.74 GB

Product ID = 061-94403

Requirements – 10.15 Catalina Requirements

T2 BridgeOS Update

T2 BridgeOS was updated along with the 10.15.6 update.

Size = 391.3 MB

Product ID = 061-94409

BridgeOS Update Version = 17.16.16065

Previous BridgeOS Update Version = 17.16.15290

Security Content for Safari 13.1.2

Waiting on new link, the old link for 13.1.1 is below.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211177

New Apple Support Documents

Use your iPhone or Apple Watch as a car key – Some car makers offer the option to control your vehicle with a digital car key. If your car is compatible, you can add this key to the Wallet app on your iPhone.

support.apple.com/en-us/HT211234

How to turn notifications and emails on or off in Apple News – Learn how to turn notifications on or off for the channels that you follow, new issues of magazines in Apple News+, and Apple News Today audio briefings in the ..

support.apple.com/en-us/HT211230

Catalina 10.15.6 Update 19G73 Overview

support.apple.com/en-us/HT210642

macOS Catalina 10.15.6 introduces local news in your Today feed in Apple News and improves the security and reliability of your Mac.

New Features

Apple News

  • Local news in your Today feed provides extensive coverage of San Francisco, the Bay Area, Los Angeles, Houston, and New York City
  • More stories available from local news providers with a subscription to Apple News+
  • Your daily newsletter from Apple News can now be personalized with stories that reflect your interests

This update also includes bug fixes and other improvements.

  • Adds a new option to optimize video streaming on HDR-compatible Mac notebooks for improved battery life
  • Fixes an issue where the computer name may change after installing a software update
  • Resolves an issue where certain USB mouse and trackpads may lose connection

Enterprise Fixes

  • When using a Mac with a built in keyboard that has a non-US layout, the FileVault login window would not recognize passwords containing certain characters on devices without an Apple T2 Security Chip. These passwords are now recognized.
  • Command Line utilities that don’t not use CFnetwork such as curl to continue connecting to TLS servers that use certificates issued by the recently expired AddTrust External Ca Root.
  • After installing software that uses a sudo plugin, attempting to use sudo command would fail with an error about being unable to load the plugin.
  • Major releases of macOS can be hidden when using the softwareupdate command with the --ignore flag, if the Mac is enrolled in Apple School Manager, Apple Business Manager or a User Approved MDM. This change also affects macOS Mojave and macOS High Sierra after installing security update 2020-004

Some features may not be available for all regions, or on all Apple devices.

Security Content of macOS Catalina 10.15.6

support.apple.com/en-us/HT211289

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28 thoughts on “What’s New in the macOS Catalina 10.15.6 Update 19G73?”

  1. I have now gone 7-8 weeks without a Kernel Panic issue since Apple replaced my Logic Board. I no longer have to turn off any of the system preferences listed in many of the posts in this thread (ie. Automatic Graphics Switching, Enable Power Nap, Put Hard Drive to Sleep when Possible, Prevent Computer from Sleeping Automatically when the Display is off). Appears to be a Logic Board Issue with the 2019 16″ MacBook Pro.

  2. Having the KP problem of crashing on sleep. Didn’t have this problem until I upgraded to Cat 10.15.6. So much for ‘upgrades’.

  3. I’ve been having this kernal panic/random crash problem now for the past 3 months, and every time it crashes, the computer freeze, shoots up to ~65-70C and then just goes black. Sometimes it will reboot itself immediately, other times it just stays off and looks pretty freaking dead and will eventually just start working later. Nothing I do will make it boot back up before it decides to do so on its own, though, which to me is the worst part. Computer is out of warranty and this is a total nightmare.

  4. 3 days in a row now, I have had a kernel panic restart on my 2019 16″ MBPro. I am running macOS 10.15.6 (19G73). Really getting tired of throwing good money at Apple. I replaced my 2016 MBpro because of multiple issues (2 x keyboard failure, 1 x screen failure and 2 x Main Board failure). Thought this machine would be the silver bullet. Guess I was wrong there.

  5. I have kernel panics multiple times daily. Got a bit better when I did an OS recovery. New MBP 13″ i5/16/512. Ugh.

  6. New 16” MBP ordered came with 10.15.5… no KP… updated to 10.15.6…. still no KP!

    Last month I ordered a new 16” MBP and got KPs with shipping load and 10.15.4. Sent it back and just got the latest and as I said above, all good so far.

  7. The Kernel Panic issue is still not fixed in Catalina 10.15.6. After numerous calls to Apple Support over the last six months, I was recommended to bring my laptop in for repair. The was informed by I was two Senior Tech’s that Apple was aware of this issue and that I should wait for future updates to Catalina to resolve the issue. I am a super disappointed that my $4000 computer investment has been giving me so many issues. I have owned several Apple computers since 1999, and have never experienced anything like this.

    1. Same here, they even did remplace the mother board of my MBP 2014 13′ without any improvement…. Catalina has been the biggest disappointment in my experience with Apple since 2003….Apple is aware of this issue but does not communicate neither fix it….shameful !

    2. just disable power nap… the issue dissappears. Moreover, power nap is useless for most people. I’m of the opinion Apple should get rid of it, so it no more gets bored with a problem that may not be so simple to fix as fast as the market and consumers demand.

      1. Been there done that. Disabling Power Nap only works for a day or two. Apple just replaced the Logic Board. I have not experienced a Kernel Panic now in 7 days. Looks like Apple has a Logic Board issue . I have seen numerous online posts from other 16” MacBook Pro owners who have been directed by Apple to bring in for repair for Logic Board replacement.

    4. I have now gone 7-8 weeks without a Kernel Panic issue since Apple replaced my Logic Board. I no longer have to turn off any of the system preferences listed in many of the posts in this thread (ie. Automatic Graphics Switching, Enable Power Nap, Put Hard Drive to Sleep when Possible, Prevent Computer from Sleeping Automatically when the Display is off). Appears to be a Logic Board Issue with the 2019 16″ MacBook Pro.

  11. I have a Mac Mini (2104) that won’t stop crashing after this update. I keep getting “unauthorised caller” alerts followed by crashes. Can’t seem to fix it.

    3. I’m having the same issue, crashing several times a day… did you find a solution yet?

  12. Pingback: Michael Tsai - Blog - macOS 10.15.6

  13. I just updated and the problem is not fixed. Kernel Panic Issue is still there after waking from sleep. Unbelievable! 🙁

    1. If that kernel panic mentions something similar to ‘powerplay failed to initialize’ don’t bother waiting for an updated and return your mac for a warranty repair (the board replacement).

      A.

    2. Bring on for repair. After 7 months of constant sleep and kernel panic issues, Apple replaced my Logic Board. Apple acknowledged that its is a know issue with this laptop. I have gone 7 days now without an issue.

  15. Hi
    Awesome post as always

    “Major releases of macOS can be hidden when using the softwareupdate command with the –ignore flag, if the Mac is enrolled in Apple School Manager, Apple Business Manager or a User Approved MDM. This change also affects macOS Mojave and macOS High Sierra after installing security update 2020-004
    ”

    Does this mean we can use the –ignore flag to stop the macOS 11 (10.16) update ?

    1. To clarify, you can use the –ignore flag to block minor and major/minor updates on 10.13, 10.14 & 10.15. Once you upgrade to Big Sur, you will no longer be able to. The only option will be to use MDM with a max of 90 day deferral.

      1. so can I use the -ignore flag to stop device that are on 10.14 and 10.15 top update to 10.16 and use MDM when on 10.16 to defer ?

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