If you are running macOS High Sierra or earlier and are constantly getting prompts to upgrade to Mojave, it’s only natural to ask yourself “should I upgrade my Mac to Mojave?”. There are certainly many reasons to do this, but there are also reasons not to update your existing macOS version.

Many users find themselves in this dilemma as to whether they should go ahead and update their Macs or should they wait for an even more recent update. In situations like these, it is best to make the decision using logical facts. That way, you won’t be running behind the latest macOS updates and also you won’t regret your decision to update your Mac if you decide to do so.

Can I switch to Mojave?

Before proceeding further, the first thing you will want to do is check if your Mac is one of the compatible machines for the Mojave update. Not all Apple Macs out there are compatible with this version.

Apple’s official announcement mentions the compatibility of the following Macs with the macOS Mojave update.

• MacBook (early 2015 or later)
• MacBook Air (mid 2012 or later)
• MacBook Pro (mid 2012 or later)
• Mac mini (Late 2012 or later)
• iMac (Late 2012 or later)
• iMac Pro (any model)
• Mac Pro (mid 2010 and later, select models only)

If yours is one of these models, you can indeed switch to Mojave but the question of whether or not to do so remains unanswered.

Pros of upgrading a Mac to Mojave

If you’re looking to upgrade to Mojave, expect it to add more features to your machine. After all, that’s what updates are for.

However, like a coin, there are two sides to updating to a newer version of macOS on your Mac. The first brings all the new features and improvements you expect from an update. The other brings some elements that may not be good for you.

We discuss both of them here to get you to your conclusion.

1. Fewer bugs

Newer versions of the operating system should fix any bugs present in older versions of the operating system. macOS Mojave does exactly that for you and helps you get rid of many of the bugs you were previously facing on your Mac. It also makes improvements and enhancements to the machine’s overall system.

If you were facing a major problem in your Mac with High Sierra or Sierra, chances are the Mojave update will fix it for you.

2. A new native dark mode

Dark mode is one of the trending things nowadays and can be seen in almost every popular app available. With the macOS Mojave update, you get native dark mode functionality for your Mac computer.

If you have used a third party app to get the effect of this mode, this is no longer necessary as the native feature is now available for you. It can be enabled from the Mac settings menu.

3. Better handling of stacked files

If you’re someone who uses their desktop to put pretty much anything you work on, chances are your desktop is cluttered with all the files here and there. One of Mojave’s features is Stacks which solves exactly this problem for you.

A Desktop Stack combines multiple desktop icons into – Stacks. You can create custom Stacks to store your files on the desktop and access them, without cluttering the home screen.

4. Do more with photos from the Finder

Photographers or just about any photo lover will be happy to know that Mojave packs a feature that lets you do more with your photos from the Finder. Previously, you could only see a few details about a photo and its preview in the Finder.

The new Gallery view adds more functionality and allows you to view more metadata and previews of your photos. There is also a slider at the bottom to scroll through your photos.

5. An improved screenshot tool

Previous versions of macOS already had great screenshot tools, but the Mojave update takes it to a whole new level. In Mojave, when you take a screenshot, you are shown a small preview of the captured file. You can click on it to start editing immediately.

Plus, the feature is customizable, which means you can turn off previews if you don’t want them anymore. You will like it if you use and you will like the feature in iOS 11 on your iOS devices.

Cons of upgrading a Mac to Mojave

Below are some of the reasons not to upgrade to Mojave.

1. Slower Mac performance

If you have a really old Mac that you want to upgrade, you should refrain from doing so. The latest macOS updates, including Mojave, may not work very well with your machine’s older peripherals. As a result, your Mac’s performance may slow down.

2. 32-bit apps will show warnings

If you are using 32-bit apps on the current version of macOS, these apps will now show a warning message when you open them.

If a lot of your apps are 32-bit, you’ll probably want to refrain from getting the update.

3. It requires learning to use new tools

The new tools in Mojave require some learning before you can use them to their fullest. If you’re not ready or don’t have the time to learn something new, it’s probably best to use your current version of macOS.

Should I switch to Mojave?

Yes

If you don’t mind learning a few new things, replace your 32-bit apps with 64 or alternatives and use a relatively modern Mac.

No

If you have an older Mac, you are not looking for new features and everything works perfectly on your machine.