The pros and cons of updating to macOS Catalina

Here’s a quick list of reasons you may want to stick with macOS Mojave.

I know I’m a bit late to the game; I started writing this four months ago 😅.

Why you may not want to install Catalina

• It deletes local copies of shared iCloud photo albums and doesn’t download them anymore, so you can’t back them up.
• It’s rather buggy and there are app permission popups that weren’t so prevalent in Mojave.
• 32-bit apps (and games) won’t run at all, and the use of 32-bit frameworks can also break parts of a program, so make sure to check for 32-bit software.
• You use software that isn’t ready for the death of iTunes. Here’s a thread keeping track of issues with the Music app.

So if you have processes that rely on shared photos, access to the iTunes library, or 32-bit programs, make sure to get those sorted out before upgrading.

Why you may want to upgrade

Still holding out like me? We may not be able to for much longer, especially if one of the following statements ring true.

• You need access to the new SDKs in Xcode 11.4 or want that sweet, sweet SwiftUI preview canvas.
• You want to take advantage of all the new Reminders features and continue syncing with your Mac.
• You have a usecase for viewing Mac windows on your iPad with Sidecar.
• You’re spooked by the idea of apps having the ability to access files in your documents folders and volumes without your knowledge or permission.
• You want to play Apple Arcade games with a keyboard and mouse.
• You want a first-party option to automatically switch to dark mode in the evening.
• You want time-synced lyrics in Music, which recently arrived in 10.15.4 Beta 2.