mac studio OS updates

So sorry, I missed the deep subtlety of your reply.

I read it too quickly and internalized that you were saying, "NO, you can't run older than the version it shipped with."

When I got an M1 MacBook Pro (after the announcement and shipping of the M2 models) it shipped with MacOS 14 Sonoma. One of the first things I did was install an older version, MacOS 13 Ventura on it. But at that point it has NO User files involved. Mine works great, but of course, "Your Mileage May Vary".

I

Grant Bennet-Alder wrote:

I agree that MacOS 13 Sonoma was the initially-installed MacOS on the later models. That is likely the only supported version.

You mean macOS 14 (Sonoma)?

According to MacTracker, M2-series Mac Studios originally came with Ventura 13.4. That suggests that all of them probably can run Ventura – just not the specific point release (13.2) that the OP asked about. I'd assume that there is some interlock preventing installation of 13.2, and that there is a possibility that 13.2 does not have all of the drivers that M2-series Mac Studios need.

IF you choose to experiment, the Prudent way to pursue this would be on an external drive, not compromising your working MacOS to run a possibly non-productive experiment.

If the OP wants to install Ventura on an external drive – and Sonoma will allow it – the OP can obtain the Ventura installer from here:

How to download and install macOS - Apple Support

I believe that Ventura is currently up to version 13.6.3.

The 2022 models – based on the M1 Max and M1 Ultra processors – are.

The 2023 models – based on the M2 Max and M2 Ultra processors – can run Ventura, but they require at least 13.4 (not 13.2). (Source: MacTracker)

I agree that MacOS 13 Sonoma was the initially-installed MacOS on the later models. That is likely the only supported version.

Whether you can 'get away with' installing Ventura instead, or it might be precluded by software interlock or might not install properly or might not run properly (it's unsupported software) is unknown.

IF you choose to experiment, the Prudent way to pursue this would be on an external drive, not compromising your working MacOS to run a possibly non-productive experiment.

<<. You mean macOS 14 (Sonoma)? >>

Yes, you are correct.

I was reading the news and Ventura seems to have huge waves cashing over it. The closeups of the shore I saw on the news could be anywhere. I realized I had NO IDEA what Ventura looked like.

The number of MacOS California-names that do not connect to actual visualizable things for non-Californians is becoming a problem. Not being able to visualize is made MUCH worse by MacOS after Big Sur using abstract pink and purple art -- meaningless and 'all blurred together' for those who have never seen the original.

Yes.

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