macOS Sonoma 14.4 Update (23E214) What’s New? SPRING RELEASE!

macOS Sonoma 14.4 is now Available!

UPDATED: 3/11/24

This article will be continually updated as new information comes in.

Apple just released macOS Sonoma’s 3rd major release update to the public! Let’s jump in and find out what’s new. This update is also known as the “Spring Release Update”. It includes the most changes we will see for Sonoma before macOS 15 is announced in June. This is also a HUGE security fix release with over 56 individual fixes and 6 Webkit fixes. I highly recommend this update as a few of the vulnerabilities have been exploited in the wild already.

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR OpenCore Legacy Patcher Users below👇

OpenCore Legacy Patcher 1.4.2 is live with built in support some MAJOR Sonoma 14.4 update changes!

OCLP 1.4.0 Patch notes mention SEVERAL warnings before updating to 14.4 #1. Don’t install 14.4 if you have a non-Metal Mac! #2. 1.4.0 MUST be installed before 14.4!

Update #1 OpenCore Legacy Patcher 1.4.1 was just released! It includes all the fixes in 1.4.0, including a very important fix for the MacBook Air (Mid 2013). I was trying to get my OCLP 1.4.0 video out last night, but there was so much info to cover. I’m hoping later tonight!

Update #2 Due to a CVE Fix included in both macOS Ventura and Monterey, legacy WiFi patches are currently broken for Macs around 2011/10/09 and older. The good new is, a fix is on the way! Will update as soon as more info comes in.

Update #3 OCLP 1.4.2 was just released to fix the Ventura 13.6.5 & Monterey 12.7.4 WiFi Issues.

macOS Sonoma Patch Notes Summary

  • 1. New Features/Improvements – 5
  • 2. Security Fixes – 57!!!
  • 3. Enterprise Changes – 8
  • 4. Safari Security (Webkit) – 6
  • 5. Full installer and M1 IPSW – 14.4 Apple Silicon IPSW and full installer packages are now available
  • 6. Safari 17.4 is included in the Sonoma 14.4 update and is available as a separate download and install for Ventura and Monterey users.
  • 7. OpenCore Legacy Patcher Users – WARNING!!! DO NOT INSTALL Sonoma 14.4. Ventura 13.6.5 or Monterey 12.7.4 UNTILL YOU READ ALL THE OCLP 1.4.2 PATCH NOTES!! https://github.com/dortania/OpenCore-Legacy-Patcher/releases/tag/1.4.2
  • 8. Kernel Debug Kit – Kernel Debug Kit 14.4 build 23E214
My macOS Sonoma 14.4 Update Video
My OpenCore Legacy Patcher 1.4.1/0 Update video

Full Apple Update Release list

macOS đź’» âś…

  • Sonoma – 14.4 (23E214)
  • Ventura – 13.6.5 (22G621)
  • Monterey – 12.7.4 (21H1123)
  • Safari – 17.4 (included in 14.4) Separate download for Ventura & Monterey
  • Xcode – 15.3 (15E204a)
  • Command Line Tools for Xcode – 15.3

Other Apple Releases📱✅

  • iOS/iPadOS – 17.4 (21E219) [3/05]
    iOS/iPadOS – 16.7.6 (20H320) [3/05]
    iOS/iPadOS – 15.8.2 (19H384) [3/05]
  • visionOS – 1.1 (21O211)
  • homePodOS – 17.4 (21L227)
  • tvOS – 17.4 (21L227)
  • watchOS – 10.4 (21T216)

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Table of Contents

  • 1. Apple macOS Sonoma Links
  • 2. Sonoma Final & Beta Release History
  • 3. macOS Sonoma Full Installer.app
  • 4. Apple Silicon M1 M2 & M3 IPSW Restore file Update
  • 5. macOS Sonoma Update sizes
  • 6. Apple Silicon System Firmware Version
  • 7. Apple Silicon OS loader Version (iBoot)
  • 8. Intel T2 BridgeOS Update
  • 9. Safari Update
  • 10. What’s new for enterprise in macOS Sonoma
  • 11. Security Content of macOS Sonoma
  • 12. macOS Sonoma Release Notes / Patch Notes / Changes

Click “Continue Reading” for the rest of the article.

1. Apple macOS Sonoma Links

macOS Sonoma Mac App Store download link = N/A

When Apple releases the official macOS Sonoma support links, they will be listed below.

  1. What’s new in the updates for macOS Sonoma – https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213895
  2. What’s new for enterprise in macOS Sonoma – https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213893
  3. Apple Security Updates Page – https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201222
  4. macOS Sonoma Mac App Store link – https://apps.apple.com/us/app/macos-sonoma/id6450717509
  5. macOS Sonoma features page – https://www.apple.com/macos/sonoma/
  6. Manage upgrading to macOS Sonoma in your organization
  7. If you see a message that macOS Server is not supported when upgrading to macOS Sonoma
  8. Platform Security Guide – New macOS Rapid Security Response system.
  9. Platform Guide Deployment – What’s new in Apple platform deployment

AppleSeed Notes Link = appleseed.apple.com/

Developer Public Link = developer.apple.com/documentation/macos-release-notes

macOS Deployment References Changes – https://support.apple.com/guide/deployment-reference-macos/document-revision-history-apd04dff7069/web

3. Sonoma Final & Beta Release History

  • 19. Sonoma 14.4 = 3/07/24
  • 18. Sonoma 14.3.1 = 2/08/24
  • 17. Sonoma 14.3 = 1/22/24
  • 16. Sonoma 14.2.1 = 12/19/23
  • 15. Sonoma 14.2 = 12/11/23
  • 14. Sonoma 14.1.2 = 11/30/23
  • 13. Sonoma 14.1.1 = 11/07/23
  • 12. Sonoma 14.1 – 11/25/23
  • 11. Sonoma 14.0 – 9/26/23
  • 10. Sonoma RC2
  • 9. Sonoma RC1
  • 8. Sonoma Beta 7 (23A5337a) – 8/30/23
  • 7. Sonoma Beta 6 () – 8/25/23
  • 6. Sonoma Beta 5 () – 8/08/23
  • 5. Sonoma Beta 4 () – 7/27/23
  • 4. Sonoma Public Beta () – 7/11/23
  • 3. Sonoma Beta 3 () – 7/06/23
  • 2. Sonoma Beta 2 () – 6/14/23
  • 1. Sonoma Beta 1 () – 6/06/23

4. macOS Sonoma Full Installer.app

Apple has released the full installer for macOS Sonoma. I list all the of the Full installers in the link below.

https://mrmacintosh.com/macos-sonoma-full-installer-database-download-directly-from-apple/

InstallAssistant.pkg = Full download. Installing this package will add the full “Install macOS Sonoma.app” to your applications folder.

5. Apple Silicon IPSW Restore file Update

Apple has released the full IPSW restore file of macOS for Apple Silicon M1 Macs. I keep track of all of them in my Apple Silicon Firmware Database

Get them here –> https://mrmacintosh.com/apple-silicon-m1-full-macos-restore-ipsw-firmware-files-database/

6. macOS Sonoma Update sizes

Sonoma Delta Update

The delta update will automatically change in size for exactly what your macOS version needs.

Full update with size 13.5 GB

Apple Silicon Updates

Delta from macOS Sonoma 14.3.1 with size = 3.54GB

Intel Updates

Delta from macOS Sonoma 14.3.1 with size = 2.01GB

Delta from macOS Ventura 13.6.5 with size = 4.88GB

Thank you DhinakG!!

7. Apple Silicon System Firmware Version

This update has a new firmware update. The version number is reported in System Information under “System Firmware Version“

Apple Silicon Firmware = Updated!

  • 19. macOS Sonoma 14.4 = 10151.101.3
  • 18. macOS Sonoma 14.3.1 = 10151.81.1
  • 17. macOS Sonoma 14.3 = 10151.81.1
  • 16. macOS Sonoma 14.2.1 = 10151.61.4
  • 15. macOS Sonoma 14.2 = 10151.61.4
  • 14. macOS Sonoma 14.1.2 = 10151.41.12
  • 13. macOS Sonoma 14.1.1 = 10151.41.12
  • 12. macOS Sonoma 14.1 = 10151.41.12
  • 11. macOS Sonoma 14.0 = 10151.1.1
  • 10. macOS Sonoma RC2
  • 9. macOS Sonoma RC1
  • 8. macOS Sonoma Beta 7 = 10151.1.1
  • 7. macOS Sonoma Beta 6 =
  • 6. macOS Sonoma Beta 5 =
  • 5. macOS Sonoma Beta 4 =
  • 4. macOS Sonoma Public Beta = No change
  • 3. macOS Sonoma Beta 3 =
  • 2. macOS Sonoma Beta 2 =
  • 1. macOS Sonoma Beta 1 =

8. Apple Silicon OS loader Version (iBoot)

OS Loader Version (iBoot) also referred to as “iBoot second-stage loader”, is Apple’s stage 2 bootloader. The OS loader version will be the same as the “System Firmware Version” on the latest OS. On previous versions of macOS Monterey and Big Sur, the OS loader version will be a version behind. Example = Monterey = 7459.121.3 & Big Sur = 6723.140.2

OS Loader version = Updated!

  • 19. macOS Sonoma 14.4 = 10151.101.3
  • 18. macOS Sonoma 14.3.1 = 10151.81.1
  • 17. macOS Sonoma 14.3 = 10151.81.1
  • 16. macOS Sonoma 14.2.1 = 10151.61.4
  • 15. macOS Sonoma 14.2 = 10151.61.4
  • 14. macOS Sonoma 14.1.2 = 10151.41.12
  • 13. macOS Sonoma 14.1.1 = 10151.41.12
  • 12. macOS Sonoma 14.1 = 10151.41.12
  • 11. macOS Sonoma 14.0 = 10151.1.1
  • 10. macOS Sonoma RC2 = 10151.1.1
  • 9. macOS Sonoma RC1 = 10151.1.1
  • 8. macOS Sonoma Beta 7 = 10151.1.1
  • 7. macOS Sonoma Beta 6 =
  • 6. macOS Sonoma Beta 5 =
  • 5. macOS Sonoma Beta 4 =
  • 4. macOS Sonoma Public Beta = No change
  • 3. macOS Sonoma Beta 3 =
  • 2. macOS Sonoma Beta 2 =
  • 1. macOS Sonoma Beta 1 =

9. Intel T2 BridgeOS Update

The Version of BridgeOS for your T2 Security Chip (2018-2020 Intel Macs) was updated.

BridgeOS version = Updated!

  • 19. macOS Sonoma 14.4 = 21.16.4222.0.0
  • 18. macOS Sonoma 14.3.1 = 21.16.3049.0.0
  • 17. macOS Sonoma 14.3 = 21.16.3049.0.0
  • 16. macOS Sonoma 14.2.1 = 21.16.2057.0.0
  • 15. Sonoma Sonoma 14.2 = 21.16.2057.0.0
  • 14. macOS Sonoma 14.1.2 = 21.16.1069.0.0
  • 13. macOS Sonoma 14.1.1 = 21.16.1069.0.0
  • 12. macOS Sonoma 14.1 = 21.16.1069.0.0
  • 11. macOS Sonoma 14.0 = 21.16.364.5.1
  • 10. macOS Sonoma RC2 = 21.16.364.5.1
  • 9. macOS Sonoma RC1 = 21.16.364.5.1
  • 8. macOS Sonoma Beta 7 = 21.16.364.5.1
  • 7. macOS Sonoma Beta 6 =
  • 6. macOS Sonoma Beta 5 =
  • 5. macOS Sonoma Beta 4 =
  • 4. macOS Sonoma Public Beta = No change
  • 3. macOS Sonoma Beta 3 =
  • 2. macOS Sonoma Beta 2 =
  • 1. macOS Sonoma Beta 1 =

10. Safari Update

The new version of Safari 17 is included in the macOS Sonoma update.

Safari = Updated!

  • 19. macOS Sonoma 14.4 = 17.4 (19618.1.15.11.12 )
  • 18. macOS Sonoma 14.3.1 = 17.3.1 (19617.2.4.11.12)
  • 17. macOS Sonoma 14.3 = 17.3 (19617.2.4.11.8)
  • 16. macOS Sonoma 14.2.1 = 17.2.1
  • 15. macOS Sonoma 14.2 = 17.2 (19617.1.17.11.9)
  • 14. macOS Sonoma 14.1.2 = 17.2.1 (19616.2.9.11.12)
  • 13. macOS Sonoma 14.1.1 = 17.1 (19616.2.9.11.7)
  • 12. macOS Sonoma 14.1 = 17.1 (19616.2.9.11.7)
  • 11. macOS Sonoma 14.0 = 17.0
  • 10. macOS Sonoma RC2
  • 9. macOS Sonoma RC1
  • 8. macOS Sonoma Beta 7 =
  • 7. macOS Sonoma Beta 6 =
  • 6. macOS Sonoma Beta 5 =
  • 5. macOS Sonoma Beta 4 =
  • 4. macOS Sonoma Public Beta = No change
  • 3. macOS Sonoma Beta 3 =
  • 2. macOS Sonoma Beta 2 =
  • 1. macOS Sonoma Beta 1 =

11. What’s new for Enterprise in macOS Sonoma

Enterprise changes in macOS Sonoma 14.4

  • MDM can now enforce FileVault for standard users at Setup Assistant.
  • MDM can now report on the battery health of Mac computers with Apple silicon.
  • Users are no longer prompted a second time for certificate trust after joining an 802.1X network during Setup Assistant.
  • Installing a software update declaration now overwrites previously installed declarations for the same OS version.
  • Registration for Platform SSO is now performed without user interaction after creating a new user at login.
  • Resolved an issue where installation of device-assigned apps may not use an available content caching service.
  • Values set in sysctl.conf are correctly applied for Mac computers with Apple silicon.
  • Resolved an issue where viewing a shared screen from Apple Remote Desktop failed.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213893

12. Security Content of macOS Sonoma

Security vulnerabilities in this Sonoma Update

Fixes addressed in this update = 62!!

Safari 17.4 = 6

Sonoma 14.3.1 = 56

13. macOS Sonoma Release Notes

Sonoma 14.4

macOS Sonoma 14.4 introduces new emoji as well as other features, bug fixes, and security updates for your Mac.

Emoji

• New mushroom, phoenix, lime, broken chain, and shaking heads emoji are now available in emoji keyboard

• 18 people and body emoji support facing the opposite direction

This update also includes the following improvements and bug fixes:

• Podcasts Episode text can be read in full, searched for a word or phrase, clicked to play from a specific point and used with accessibility features such as Text Size, Increase Contrast, and VoiceOver

• Business Updates in Messages for Business let you get updates that you’ve opted into, like order status, flight notifications, fraud alerts or other transactions from trusted businesses

• Safari Favorites Bar adds an option to show only icons for websites

https://developer.apple.com/documentation/macos-release-notes

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