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Apple this week officially released macOS Catalina (also known as macOS 10.15), the first major update to its Mac operating system since Mojave last year. Because of that, many Mac users are likely eager to upgrade. But there may be a few key reasons to stay away, even more-so than past macOS releases, at least for the time being. Continue reading to learn 5 Reasons Not to Upgrade to macOS Catalina (Yet).
Catalina Doesn’t Support 32-Bit Apps
Oct 09, 2019 Apple on Monday released macOS Catalina to the public, allowing everyone to install the newest version of the operating system for the Mac. Based on reports on the MacRumors. Oct 09, 2019 Some Mac users have reported a variety of problems with MacOS Catalina, ranging from installations getting stuck or taking abnormally long, to problems with some apps not working, to issues with certain printers or accessories no longer working, App Store difficulties, iCloud and Apple ID issues, amongst other nuisances.
First off, if you rely on any 32-bit apps, you should stay away from macOS Catalina. At this point, you’re probably familiar with macOS 32-bit compatibility warnings. Those warnings won’t show up in Catalina. Your 32-bit apps simply won’t run on the new software.
Because of that, if you use any “mission-critical” software that’s currently 32-bit or that has 32-bit dependencies, you’ll want to avoid updating.
You can check for 32-bit software by:
- Clicking the Apple logo button in the menu bar.
- Click About This Mac.
- Click System Report.
- Find Legacy Software. Your 32-bit apps should show up here.
As far as what you should do if you do have critical 32-bit apps, it’s not as clear. You should try contacting the developer of those apps to see if they are planning to update to 64-bit. If they are, try to get a timeline for said update. If not, try to find an alternative app.
Security Features May Cause Trouble
As you might expect, Apple always works to increase the security and privacy of its devices. macOS Catalina, for its part, introduces a slew of new features that should make your Mac more private and secure. But those same features may cause problems for users and developers.
For one, macOS Catalina now runs on a read-only file system, which can break compatibility for backup apps (until they patch it). Apps are now required to request permissions for everything from keystrokes to screenshots — which could break older apps that don’t know how to request or deal with these permissions.
And then there’s the new app notarization requirement for apps distributed outside of the Mac App Store. These requirements won’t prevent you from running un-notarized apps, but they will make it a bit harder and more annoying to do so.
While Apple is hoping to ease the transition, it may be smart to wait until your favorite developers catch up.
Catalina May Be Buggier Than Usual
Search for opinions about macOS Catalina and you’ll find differing reports. Some users indicate that Catalina is fairly stable, while others suggest it’s one of the buggier macOS releases in recent history.
![Software Software](/uploads/1/2/6/2/126261601/534056317.jpeg)
(Your own mileage will likely depend on the Mac model you’re running and the software you use.)
If Apple’s other 2019 software releases are any indication, things may not look up for Catalina. iOS 13, iPadOS and watchOS 6 have all been unusually buggy. And Apple has actually taken to putting out rapid-fire releases to try and fix many of those issues.
Those quick bug fixes are appreciated. But, as an end user, you’ll probably want to wait for more stable releases. You may not run into significant problems on macOS Catalina, but it’s going to be best to err on the side of caution.
None of the Upgrades Are Mission-Critical
Here’s the kicker with the potential problems in macOS Catalina: they may not be worth it. Unlike past versions of macOS, many users report that the upgrades and new features in Catalina aren’t compelling enough reasons to update right away.
Sure, there’s a new Sidecar feature and the new security mechanisms will likely help consumers ward off attacks and malicious apps. But most of the marquee features in Catalina are aimed at entertainment — the addition of Apple Arcade; the new Music, Podcasts, and TV apps; etc.
Unless you use your Mac predominantly for entertainment or to consume media, those features and upgrades are likely not worth the risk. Or, at least, they aren’t worth upgrading immediately for.
Your Mac Is Probably Important
If you use a Mac in your day-to-day life, there’s a good chance that whatever you use it for is important. Whether it’s work, creative pursuits or education, the tasks you carry out on your Mac are likely much more important than the ones on your iPhone or iPad.
Because of that, we generally break away from the usual advice of updating to the latest software as soon as possible. It’s a risk and reward type of scenario. While Mac updates typically carry important security patches and other functionality, it’s simply not worth it if it impairs your ability to work.
Even without Catalina’s specific issues, we’d generally recommend waiting a few months before updating to a new major macOS version. Wait for a point release, particularly a “.2” one. By that time, many of the major issues will have been discovered by early adopters and hopefully addressed by Apple and third-party developers.
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You might experience issues such as these when you try to print from your Mac or print from your iOS device:
- You can't see your printer from your device, or you get a message that no printers were found.
- You get a message that software for your device isn't available.
- You have some other printing issue related to the software on your Mac or iOS device.
For help with an error light or other error condition on the printer itself, check the printer's documentation or contact its manufacturer.
If your printer is AirPrint-enabled
If your printer is AirPrint-enabled for printing from your Mac or iOS device, just make sure that it's connected to the same Wi-Fi network used by the Mac or iOS device.1
If you still can't print, try any of these solutions:
- Restart your Wi-Fi router. Then restart your printer.
- Move your printer closer to your Wi-Fi router.
- Update your printer and Wi-Fi router with the latest firmware from the manufacturer.2
- Update the software for your Mac or iOS device.
If you're using a Mac and you still can't print, it might help to reset the printing system. Otherwise, contact the printer manufacturer for support.
If your printer isn't AirPrint-enabled
Epson Software Causing Problems On Mac Os Catalina Island
If you're printing from your Mac to a printer that isn't AirPrint-enabled:
- If your printer is connected to your Mac with a cable, disconnect the cable from your Mac.
- Turn off your printer.
- Get software updates for your Mac. Your Mac automatically downloads the latest software for most printers as part of these updates, so it's best not to install software from the printer manufacturer.
- Reconnect your printer to your Mac, if applicable.
- Turn on your printer and wait for it to finish starting up.
- Choose Apple () menu > System Preferences, then click Printers & Scanners.
- Select your printer in the list of devices.
If your printer doesn't appear in the list of devices in Printers & Scanners preferences, click at the bottom of the list, then choose the command to add a printer or scanner. The window that opens offers more ways to find and add a printer, such as by IP address:
If you still can't print, and your printer is connected via Wi-Fi:
- Restart your Wi-Fi router. Then restart your printer.
- Move your printer closer to your Wi-Fi router.
- Update your printer and Wi-Fi router with the latest firmware from the manufacturer.2
Epson Software Causing Problems On Mac Os Catalina 10
Reset the printing system
If the issue continues, reset the printing system on your Mac. This removes all printers and scanners—including their print jobs and settings—from Printers & Scanners preferences.
- Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Printers & Scanners.
- While holding down the Control key on your keyboard, click anywhere in the list of devices.
- Choose “Reset printing system” from the menu that appears:
Remove printer drivers
If the issue continues on your Mac after resetting the printing system, take these final steps to remove any currently installed printer drivers. These steps don't apply to AirPrint printers.
Epson Software Causing Problems On Mac Os Catalina 2016
- From the menu bar in the Finder, choose Go > Go to Folder. Type
/Library/Printers/
and click Go. - The Printers folder opens. Choose Edit > Select All, which selects all items in the Printers folder.
- Choose File > New Folder with Selection, which puts all of the selected items into a new folder named New Folder With Items. To save storage space, you can delete this folder.
If the issue continues, contact the printer manufacturer for support.
Epson Software Causing Problems On Mac Os Catalina 2017
1. In corporate environments, DNS records can be configured to allow AirPrint-enabled printers to appear across other networks instead of just the network used by the device you're printing from. You can also use configuration profiles in iOS to set up AirPrint printers.
2. Firmware updates—such as for AirPort base stations—update the software on the printer or router, not the software on your Mac or iOS device. If the latest firmware from the manufacturer is several years old, the manufacturer might have stopped supporting or updating your device. If so, you might need a more up-to-date printer or router.